I am copying part of your shiur and has underlined a statement on which I have
a question:
"The Gemara gives two opinions concerning what an Amaltera is. According to
one opinion, it is a decorative beam adorned with carved figures of birds'
nests. According to another opinion, it is comprised of long strips of cedar
wood. According to the first opinion, only decorations of birds' nests
constitute an Amaltera, since they are very decorative and eye-catching.
According to the second opinion, strips of cedar wood catch the eye as well,
since they are longer than normal beams . "
I appears, when reading the gemara that on the final analysis, it's not the
length of the cedar wood which catches the eye, but rather the fact that the very expensive
cedar wood was used, no matter how small or big the Amaltera is. The gemara is forced to
change its original assumption that the length is the eye catcher because when it comes to
the schach of the sukka, although the schach can be 100 feet long, yet if it's above 20
Amos high, it won't catch the eye, and the Sukah is Posul. Therefore, concludes the gemara, it's
the type of wood used, not the length that makes the difference. In fact, if the opening
of the Movu is only 4 Amos wide , but decorated with a short cedar wood Amaltera, then the Korah
may be higher than 20 Amos because the expensive looking Amaltera is an eye catcher.
I am understanding the gemara correctly ?
Your are absolutely correct. Thank you for pointing out my oversight in not mentioning the difference between the Hava Amina and the Maskana of the Gemara. Rashi's words, too, that we quoted in that Insight are only according to the Hava Amina. We were explaining what the Gemara meant originally, before it concluded that cedar wood works because it it more expensive.
Thanks!
Y. SHAW