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Rosh Hashanah 24a

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Rosh Hashanah 24a

Rosh Hashanah 24a. The full printed text of this folio side — 20 numbered segments, about 431 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

גִּירֵי קָא מְשַׁדְּיָיא.

that the sun is shooting arrows at those who deny its divinity, using the rainbow as its bow. The concave side of the rainbow always faces away from the sun, so that it does not look like a bow held by the sun.

Segment 2

כַּמָּה הָיָה גָּבוֹהַּ, וּלְאַיִן הָיָה נוֹטֶה כּוּ׳. תָּנָא חֲדָא: לִצְפוֹנָהּ — דְּבָרָיו קַיָּימִין, לִדְרוֹמָהּ — לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. וְהָתַנְיָא אִיפְּכָא: לִדְרוֹמָהּ — דְּבָרָיו קַיָּימִין, לִצְפוֹנָהּ — לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם.

§ The mishna taught that the examination of the witnesses included the following questions: How high was the moon over the horizon, and in which direction did it tilt? It was taught in one baraita : If the witness testifies that he saw the moon to the north of the sun, his statement is valid. However, if he says that he saw it to its south, he has not said anything of significance, as this is impossible. The Gemara asks: Isn’t the opposite taught in a different baraita : If he testifies that he saw the moon to the south of the sun, his statement is valid. However, if he says he saw it to its north, he has not said anything.

Segment 3

לָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן, בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה. כָּאן, בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים.

The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. Here, in the second baraita mentioned above, it is referring to the summer, when the moon is to the south of the sun; there, in the first baraita mentioned above, it is referring to the rainy season, when the moon is to the north of the sun.

Segment 4

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֶחָד אוֹמֵר גָּבוֹהַּ שְׁתֵּי מַרְדְּעוֹת, וְאֶחָד אוֹמֵר שָׁלֹשׁ — עֵדוּתָן קַיֶּימֶת. אֶחָד אוֹמֵר שָׁלֹשׁ, וְאֶחָד אוֹמֵר חָמֵשׁ — עֵדוּתָן בְּטֵילָה. אֲבָל מִצְטָרְפִין לְעֵדוּת אַחֶרֶת.

The Sages taught in a baraita : If one witness says that he saw the moon two plow handles high above the horizon, and the other one says it was three plow handles high, their testimony is valid, as a small discrepancy of this kind is reasonable. However, if one says that he saw the moon three plow handles above the horizon, and the other one says it was five plow handles high, their testimony is void, as that discrepancy is unacceptable. However, this does not mean that the witnesses themselves are disqualified, as either of them may join with another testimony, i.e., he may combine his account with that of another witness who testifies likewise.

Segment 5

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: רְאִינוּהוּ בְּמַיִם, רְאִינוּהוּ בַּעֲשָׁשִׁית, רְאִינוּהוּ בֶּעָבִים — אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו. חֶצְיוֹ בְּמַיִם, חֶצְיוֹ בֶּעָבִים, חֶצְיוֹ בַּעֲשָׁשִׁית — אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו.

The Sages taught in another baraita that if the witnesses say: We did not actually see the moon, but we saw it reflected in the water, or we saw it reflected in a glass lantern, or we saw it through thin clouds, they may not testify about it, as only a direct sighting of the moon is acceptable. If they say: We saw half of the moon’s reflection in the water, or we saw half of it through the clouds, or we saw half of it in a lantern, they still may not testify about it.

Segment 6

הַשְׁתָּא כּוּלּוֹ אָמְרַתְּ לָא, חֶצְיוֹ מִבַּעְיָא?! אֶלָּא הָכִי קָאָמַר: חֶצְיוֹ בְּמַיִם חֶצְיוֹ בָּרָקִיעַ, חֶצְיוֹ בֶּעָבִים חֶצְיוֹ בָּרָקִיעַ, חֶצְיוֹ בַּעֲשָׁשִׁית חֶצְיוֹ בָּרָקִיעַ — אֵין מְעִידִין.

The Gemara analyzes this baraita : Now, if when one sees the entire moon in this manner, you said that this is not valid testimony, is it necessary to teach that one may not testify when he sees only half of it? Rather, this is what the baraita is saying: If the witnesses saw half of the moon’s reflection in water and half of it directly in the sky, or half of it through the clouds and half of it in the sky, or half of it in a lantern and half of it in the sky, although they saw half of the moon directly, they may not testify about it until they see the entire moon in the sky.

Segment 7

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: רְאִינוּהוּ וְשׁוּב לֹא רְאִינוּהוּ — אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו. כׇּל הָכִי חָזוּ לֵהּ וְאָזְלִי?!

The Sages taught in another baraita that if the witnesses say: One moment we saw the new moon, but we did not see it again, they may not testify about it. The Gemara asks: Must they go on watching it to such an extent, i.e., why should they have to see it for a long period of time?

Segment 8

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: רְאִינוּהוּ מֵאֵלֵינוּ, וְשַׁבְנוּ לִרְאוֹתוֹ מִדַּעְתֵּנוּ, וְלֹא רְאִינוּהוּ — אֵין מְעִידִין עָלָיו, מַאי טַעְמָא — אֵימוֹר כּוֹבִיתָא דְעֵיבָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא דְּחָזֵי.

Abaye said that this is what the baraita is saying: If the witnesses say: We saw the moon on our own accord, i.e., by chance, without looking for it, and then we returned to look for it on purpose, to deliver precise testimony about it, but we did not see it again, they may not testify about it. What is the reason? Because one can say that the first time it was merely a small round white cloud that they saw, which they mistook for the moon, and that is why when they looked for it again they could not find it.

Segment 9

מַתְנִי׳ רֹאשׁ בֵּית דִּין אוֹמֵר: ״מְקוּדָּשׁ״, וְכׇל הָעָם עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״מְקוּדָּשׁ מְקוּדָּשׁ״. בֵּין שֶׁנִּרְאָה בִּזְמַנּוֹ, בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא נִרְאָה בִּזְמַנּוֹ — מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ.

MISHNA: After the witnesses have been examined and their testimony accepted, the head of the court says: It is sanctified. And all the people respond after him: It is sanctified; it is sanctified. Whether the moon was seen at its anticipated time, on the thirtieth day of the previous month, or whether it was not seen at its anticipated time, in which case witnesses are not necessary to establish the following day as the New Moon, the court sanctifies it and formally proclaims the day as the New Moon.

Segment 10

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר: אִם לֹא נִרְאָה בִּזְמַנּוֹ — אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁכְּבָר קִידְּשׁוּהוּ שָׁמַיִם.

Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, says: If the new moon was not seen at its anticipated time, the court does not sanctify the New Moon on the following day, as the celestial court in Heaven has already sanctified it, precluding the need for the additional sanctification by the earthly court.

Segment 11

גְּמָ׳ רֹאשׁ בֵּית דִּין וְכוּ׳. מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר גַּמְדָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן שָׁאוּל אָמַר רַבִּי: אָמַר קְרָא ״וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶת מוֹעֲדֵי ה׳״ — מִכָּאן שֶׁרֹאשׁ בֵּית דִּין אוֹמֵר ״מְקוּדָּשׁ״.

GEMARA: The mishna teaches that the head of the court says: It is sanctified. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters, that the court must sanctify the New Moon, derived? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Gamda said that Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul said that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said that the verse states: “And Moses declared to the children of Israel the appointed seasons of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:44). From here it is derived that the head of the court says: It is sanctified, as it is evident from the verse that Moses, whose status was equivalent to that of the head of the Great Sanhedrin, declared the appointed times of the Festivals and New Moons in a formal manner.

Segment 12

וְכׇל הָעָם עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״מְקוּדָּשׁ מְקוּדָּשׁ״. מְנָלַן? אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: אָמַר קְרָא ״אֲשֶׁר תִּקְרְאוּ אוֹתָם״, קְרִי בֵּיהּ אַתֶּם. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: ״אֵלֶּה הֵם מוֹעֲדֵי״, הֵם יֹאמְרוּ מוֹעֲדֵי.

§ The mishna further teaches that after the head of the court says: It is sanctified, all the people respond after him: It is sanctified; it is sanctified. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? Rav Pappa said that the verse states: “Which you shall proclaim them [ otam ] to be sacred convocations” (Leviticus 23:2). Instead of otam , read into the verse: You [ atem ], as though the verse stated: Which you shall proclaim, you. This superfluous word you teaches that the month must be proclaimed not only by the head of the court, but also by you, the people. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said that it is derived from the phrase: “These are [ hem ] My appointed seasons” (Leviticus 23:2). The term hem can also mean: They, which indicates that they, the people, should likewise say and announce My appointed seasons.

Segment 13

״מְקוּדָּשׁ מְקוּדָּשׁ״ תְּרֵי זִימְנֵי לְמָה לִי? דִּכְתִיב: ״מִקְרָאֵי קוֹדֶשׁ״.

The Gemara further asks: Why do I need the people to declare: It is sanctified; it is sanctified, twice? The Gemara answers that the reason is that it is written: “Sacred convocations” (Leviticus 23:2) in the plural, which indicates that they must announce it twice.

Segment 14

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר: אִם לֹא נִרְאָה בִּזְמַנּוֹ — אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ. תַּנְיָא, פְּלֵימוֹ אוֹמֵר: בִּזְמַנּוֹ — אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא בִּזְמַנּוֹ — מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ.

§ The mishna taught that Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, says: If the new moon was not seen at its anticipated time, the court does not sanctify the New Moon on the following day. The Gemara cites other opinions in this regard: It is taught in a baraita that the Sage Palaimo says: If the new moon was seen at its anticipated time, the court does not sanctify the New Moon, as the new moon appeared as expected and there is no need for any special sanctification. However, if the new moon was seen not at its anticipated time, the court must sanctify the New Moon.

Segment 15

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם אֵת שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים״ — שָׁנִים אַתָּה מְקַדֵּשׁ, וְאִי אַתָּה מְקַדֵּשׁ חֳדָשִׁים. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק.

The baraita continues: Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, says: In either case, the court does not sanctify the New Moon formally, as it is stated: “And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year” (Leviticus 25:10), from which it is derived: You must formally sanctify years in court, but you do not have to formally sanctify months, as they are sanctified automatically by Heaven. Rather, it is enough merely to announce to the public that a certain day was established as the New Moon. Rabbi Yehuda said that Shmuel said: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, that if the new moon was seen at its anticipated time, the court sanctifies the new month; however, if it was not seen at its anticipated time, they do not sanctify it.

Segment 16

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, אַף אֲנַן נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא: רָאוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין וְכׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל, נֶחְקְרוּ הָעֵדִים וְלֹא הִסְפִּיקוּ לוֹמַר ״מְקוּדָּשׁ״ עַד שֶׁחָשֵׁיכָה — הֲרֵי זֶה מְעוּבָּר. מְעוּבָּר — אִין, מְקוּדָּשׁ — לָא.

Abaye said: We, too, learn in a mishna: If the court and all of the Jewish people saw the new moon, and the witnesses were interrogated, but the court did not manage to say: Sanctified, before nightfall, the previous month is rendered a full, thirty-day month. This indicates that full, yes; i.e., in this case, it is necessary to extend the previous month. However, sanctified, no; there is no need to formally sanctify the month, as the New Moon does not occur on its anticipated date in this case.

Segment 17

מְעוּבָּר אִיצְטְרִיכָא לֵיהּ, סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא: הוֹאִיל וְרָאוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין וְכׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אִיפַּרְסְמָא וְלָא לִיעְבְּרוּהּ, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

The Gemara rejects this argument: There is no proof from here, as it was necessary for the mishna to mention that the month is rendered a full, thirty-day month. The reason is that it might enter your mind to say that since the court and the entire Jewish people saw the new moon, it has become public knowledge and therefore there is no need to render the previous month a full, thirty-day month. Consequently, the mishna teaches us that even in this case the previous month must be extended. Nevertheless, it is still possible that the New Moon must be formally sanctified on the following day.

Segment 18

מַתְנִי׳ דְּמוּת צוּרוֹת לְבָנָה הָיוּ לוֹ לְרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בְּטַבְלָא וּבְכוֹתֶל בַּעֲלִיָּיתוֹ, שֶׁבָּהֶן מַרְאֶה אֶת הַהֶדְיוֹטוֹת, וְאוֹמֵר: הֲכָזֶה רָאִיתָ אוֹ כָּזֶה.

MISHNA: Rabban Gamliel had a diagram of the different forms of the moon drawn on a tablet that hung on the wall of his attic, which he would show to the laymen who came to testify about the new moon but were unable to describe adequately what they had seen. And he would say to them: Did you see a form like this or like this?

Segment 19

גְּמָ׳ וּמִי שְׁרֵי? וְהָכְתִיב: ״לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי״ — לֹא תַּעֲשׂוּן כִּדְמוּת שַׁמָּשַׁיי.

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: And is it permitted to create these types of forms? Isn’t it written: “You shall not make with Me gods of silver, or gods of gold” (Exodus 20:20), which is interpreted as teaching: You shall not make images of My attendants, i.e., those celestial bodies that were created to serve God, including the sun and the moon?

Segment 20

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: לָא אָסְרָה תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא שַׁמָּשִׁין שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּמוֹתָן, כִּדְתַנְיָא: לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בַּיִת תַּבְנִית הֵיכָל, אַכְסַדְרָה תַּבְנִית אוּלָם, חָצֵר כְּנֶגֶד עֲזָרָה, שֻׁלְחָן כְּנֶגֶד שֻׁלְחָן, מְנוֹרָה כְּנֶגֶד מְנוֹרָה. אֲבָל עוֹשֶׂה

§ Abaye said: The Torah prohibited only the images of those attendants with regard to which it is possible to reproduce an item in their likeness. Since it is impossible for anyone to reproduce the sun and the moon, the prohibition does not apply to these objects. As it is taught in a baraita : A person may not construct a house in the exact form of the Sanctuary, nor a portico in the exact form of the Entrance Hall of the Sanctuary, nor a courtyard corresponding to the Temple courtyard, nor a table corresponding to the table in the Temple, nor a candelabrum corresponding to the candelabrum in the Temple. However, one may fashion

Rosh Hashanah 24a

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