Sukka 6 a, b

The Mishna in daf 2(a) outlines many requirements of the sukka in a few short lines.  The first of these speaks of the height limitations of a fit sukka.  In a deep exploration of the importance of those measurements, amud (a) lines up other halachot where measurements are key.  For example, more than a fig-bulk cannot be eaten on Yom Kippur; a grain of barley tells us the size of a piece of bone that would change a priest's walking path if that bone fragment were found on the road.  

In addition, the Gemara reviews some of the laws surrounding immersion. In particular, they focus on how we measure interpositions between the body and the water of a mikvah.  Exactly how do we understand the different rules for the immersion of hair and skin?   The rabbis could have reminded us of a mikvah's measurements; instead they look at halachot regarding how we measure the barrier between skin and water.

In amud (b), we learn about the walls of the sukka.  Although there are supposed to be at least 2 and 1/2 walls in a fit sukka, the rabbis assume that three walls are standing. They then speak about the size of the walls in a fit sukka.  Perhaps, because we know that a fourth wall need only one handbreadth to be called a wall, the third wall need not be more than that, either?

Using Leviticus 23:42-3 as their source, the rabbis create meaning of each wall.  In fact, they argue, each wall reminds us about a halacha regarding the sukka iteslf.  There are some disagreements between rabbis, but they seem to generally agree that the walls of the sukka can be used as objects that help us to recall related halachaot.  

In an attempt to clarify, the rabbis often confound the questions at hand.  However, for a beginner like me, these are also good opportunities to better understand some of the more basic Talmudic facts and assumptions .