Review the “גמרא דף לו. “נסדק ניקב (two dots – first line of the Amud) until בעי רבא (third line)
https://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=7&daf=36&format=pdf
Review רמב״ם הלכות לולב פרק ח הלכה ז and the השגות הראב”ד on the side of the Rambam who argues on the Rambam.
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=58958&st=&pgnum=291
Write out the two opinions (Rashi & Raavad) who argue how to learn the Gemara as to what holes/dents disqualify an Esrog.
Learn ר”ן על המשנה דף יז. דפי הריף “נסדק” & ” ניקב
Carefully read the last few lines of the Ran
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14319&st=&pgnum=616
Does the Ran explain like Rashi or like the Raavad?
Question:
According to Rashi, Rambam, and Rosh why does a נקב מפולש or a hole the size of a coin disqualify the Esrog even though it is not חסר?
See ריטבא דף כט: “נמצינו למדין until “וכל שאמרנו שפסול
See חיי אדם כלל קנא ה’ לולב סעיף ב (last line)
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=49395&st=&pgnum=379
According to the Raavad if the reason why ניקב is pasul is only when part of the Esrog is missing – חסר why does the size of how much is missing differ when it’s מפולש or not מפולש?
Learn the Gemara דף לו. “בעי רבא (third line) until ת”ש
https://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=7&daf=36&format=pdf
Question:
Why do the סימני טריפה of an animal apply to an Esrog?
See פני יהושע https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=19251&st=&pgnum=520
Learn the ראש ס’ י”ח starting from “ניקב (third line) until וכן מסתבר
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14319&st=&pgnum=479&hilite=
Question:
According to the Rosh, why is an Esrog which is pierced to its core (where the seeds are located) Pasul?
Learn “תוספת “אי
Tosfos discusses three points
- How much has to be cracked to be disqualified from נסדק.
- The statement of תנינא by ניקב is different than by נקלף & נסדק.
- A hole that reaches to the core is considered a נקב מפולש.
How do we rule according to Halacha?
Learn שולחן ערוך ס’תרמ”ח סעיף ב & ג with the משנה ברורה
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=60391&st=&pgnum=234