Search

Rosh Hashanah 10

Want to dedicate learning? Get started here:

English
עברית
podcast placeholder

0:00
0:00




podcast placeholder

0:00
0:00




Summary

Today’s daf is sponsored by Heather (Hadar) Stone in honor of her daughter, Hila bat Hadar ve’Yehezkel on her commission as a second lieutenant in the IDF Education command. “So proud of you and your accomplishments. Can’t wait to see where you lead next.” And by Jordana Hyman “to our amazing daughter, Prielle Hyman Borowski, on her giyus today. We are bursting with pride and excitement as you begin your service. May Hashem protect you and bless you always, with your fellow soldiers. With love, Mum and Dad.”

A braita explains that if a tree was planted 30 thirty days before Rosh Hashanah, it will be counted as its second year on the first of Tishrei. However, the fruits are still considered orla after the third year until the 15th of Shvat (of the fourth year) if they budded before then. And the same holds true for laws of neta revai on the fifth year. Does the braita not work with Rabbi Meir’s opinion that even a day counts as a year when determining that an animal is a 3-year old bull (required for sacrifices that are to be brought with a bull), because the braita required thirty days? Perhaps one could distinguish between the end of a count (when the bull begins his third year – where one day counts) and the beginning of the count (planted before Rosh Hashanah – where one day would not count). The Gemara rejects this distinction based on a woman who is a Niddah who on the last day requires a complete day but on the first day, even a part of the day counts as a whole day. If the braita does not like Rabbi Meir, by default, it must hold like Rabbi Elazar who holds that the bull needs one month into its third year to be considered a bull. However, that is also difficult as then the braita should require 60 days – 30 for the tree to take root and 30 for it to be considered its own year. A braita is brought with different opinions regarding how much time is needed to take root – 30 days, 3 days or two weeks. None of the opinions match the original braita which seems to require no time for taking root, if in fact the thirty days are based on Rabbi Elazar. The braita is then explained according to Rabbi Meir who requires only one day for the year and thirty for it to take root. Why, then, does the braita not say 31? The thirtieth day counts for both. Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Elazar both derive their opinions from the same verse from Breishit 8:13 about when the waters of the flood dried – in the 601st year on the first day of the first month. Each one uses it to prove his opinion. A braita is brought with a debate about whether the world was created on the first of Nissan or Tishrei. Various other events are given a date as well.

 

Rosh Hashanah 10

וּפֵירוֹת נְטִיעָה זוֹ אֲסוּרִין עַד חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בִּשְׁבָט, אִם לְעׇרְלָה — עׇרְלָה, וְאִם לִרְבָעִי — רְבָעִי.

And if the planting, layering, or grafting took place more than thirty days before Rosh HaShana, the fruit of this planting is prohibited until the fifteenth of Shevat of the fourth year since the tree’s planting, even though the three years were already completed the previous Rosh HaShana. This principle applies both for orla during the year of orla, when it is prohibited to eat the fruit, and for fourth-year produce during the year of fourth-year produce, which must be eaten in Jerusalem or redeemed before it is eaten outside Jerusalem.

מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וּמָטוּ בָּהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יַנַּאי, אָמַר קְרָא: ״וּבַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית וּבַשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִישִׁית״.

The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived, that the prohibitions of orla and fourth-year produce extend past Tishrei until the fifteenth of Shevat? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said, and some determined that it was stated in the name of Rabbi Yannai: The verse states: “Three years shall it be as prohibited to you; it shall not be eaten. And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be sacred for praise-giving to the Lord. And in the fifth year shall you eat of its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase; I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:23–25).

פְּעָמִים שֶׁבָּרְבִיעִית וַעֲדַיִין אֲסוּרָה מִשּׁוּם עׇרְלָה, וּפְעָמִים שֶׁבַּחֲמִישִׁית וַעֲדַיִין אֲסוּרָה מִשּׁוּם רְבָעִי.

The baraita explains: The repetition of the word “and,” indicated by the conjunctive vav that joins these verses, teaches that there are times that the tree is already in its fourth year and yet the fruit is forbidden as orla, from the verses “three years…and in the fourth year”; and there are times that the tree is already in its fifth year and yet the fruit is forbidden as fourth-year produce, from the verses “in the fourth year…and in the fifth year.”

לֵימָא דְּלָא כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאִי רַבִּי מֵאִיר — הָא אָמַר: יוֹם אֶחָד בַּשָּׁנָה חָשׁוּב שָׁנָה. דְּתַנְיָא: פַּר הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה סְתָם — בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה חֹדֶשׁ וְיוֹם אֶחָד. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

The Gemara suggests: Let us say that this baraita is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, as, if it were in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, didn’t Rabbi Meir say that even one day in a year is considered a year? As it is taught in a baraita: The term bullock [par] mentioned in the Torah without specification is referring to a bullock that is twenty-four months and one day old, as although it is known by tradition that a bullock is three years old, once it is one day into its third year, it is already considered three years old; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה חֹדֶשׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עֵגֶל בַּתּוֹרָה סְתָם — בֶּן שָׁנָה, ״בֶּן בָּקָר״ — בֶּן שְׁתַּיִם, ״פַּר״ — בֶּן שָׁלֹשׁ.

The baraita continues: Rabbi Elazar says: The term bullock is referring to an animal that is twenty-four months and thirty days old. As Rabbi Meir would say: Wherever a calf [egel] is stated in the Torah without specification, the reference is to a calf that is one year old; a young ox [ben bakar] is referring to a cow that is two years old; and a bullock is referring to a cow that is three years old. Since the baraita dealing with planting requires that the tree be planted thirty days before Rosh HaShana, rather than one day, it would seem that it is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir.

אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבִּי מֵאִיר, כִּי קָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר יוֹם אֶחָד בַּשָּׁנָה חָשׁוּב שָׁנָה — בְּסוֹף שָׁנָה, אֲבָל בִּתְחִלַּת שָׁנָה — לָא.

The Gemara rejects this argument: Even if you say that the baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, it can be explained as follows. When Rabbi Meir said that one day in a year is considered a full year, this is only when the day is at the end of the year; since the count of a new year is about to begin, the day is considered like a whole year. But if the day is at the beginning of the year, that one day is not considered like a whole year.

אָמַר רָבָא: וְלָאו קַל וָחוֹמֶר הוּא? וּמָה נִדָּה, שֶׁאֵין תְּחִילַּת הַיּוֹם עוֹלָה לָהּ בְּסוֹפָהּ — סוֹף הַיּוֹם עוֹלֶה לָהּ בִּתְחִלָּתָהּ. שָׁנָה, שֶׁיּוֹם אֶחָד עוֹלֶה לָהּ בְּסוֹפָהּ —

Against this claim Rava said: But can we not invoke an a fortiori argument to prove just the opposite? Whereas in the case of a menstruating woman, where the beginning of the day is not counted as a full day at the end of her seven-day period of ritual impurity and instead she must wait until the end of the seventh day and immerse in a ritual bath only in the evening, yet nevertheless the end of the day is counted as a full day at the beginning of her ritually impure period, since if she experienced bleeding shortly before sunset that day is considered as the first day of her seven-day period of impurity; if so, in the case of a year, where one day is counted as a full year at the end of the year,

אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיּוֹם אֶחָד עוֹלֶה בִּתְחִלָּתָהּ?

is it not right that one day should count as a full year at the beginning of the year?

וְאֶלָּא מַאי — רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר? שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשִׁים בָּעֵי! דִּתְנַן: אֵין נוֹטְעִין וְאֵין מַבְרִיכִין וְאֵין מַרְכִּיבִין עֶרֶב שְׁבִיעִית פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וְאִם נָטַע וְהִבְרִיךְ וְהִרְכִּיב — יַעֲקוֹר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הַרְכָּבָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ קוֹלֶטֶת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים — שׁוּב אֵינָהּ קוֹלֶטֶת. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמְרִים: שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת.

Rather, what opinion does it follow? If the baraita was not taught in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, does it follow the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, who holds that only thirty days are considered like a year? If so, then thirty days and another thirty days are required: Thirty days for the planting to take root, and another thirty days to count as a year. As we learned in a mishna: One may not plant, layer, or graft trees on the eve of the Sabbatical Year less than thirty days before Rosh HaShana, and if one planted, layered, or grafted, he must uproot it, as the planting will take root only in the seventh year; this is the statement of Rabbi Elazar. Rabbi Yehuda says: Any grafting that does not take root within three days will never take root. Rabbi Yosei and Rabbi Shimon say: Two weeks are needed for the planting to take root.

וְאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ: לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר שְׁלֹשִׁים — צָרִיךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשִׁים, לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר שְׁלֹשָׁה — צָרִיךְ שְׁלֹשָׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים, לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת — צָרִיךְ שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. וְאִי נָמֵי, כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סְבִירָא לֵיהּ — שְׁלֹשָׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים בָּעֵי!

And on this topic Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: According to the statement of the one who says thirty days, this means that it requires thirty days for the planting to take root and another thirty days to count as a year. And according to the statement of the one who says three days, this means that it requires thirty-three days. And according to the statement of the one who says two weeks, this means that it requires two weeks for the planting to take root and another thirty days to count as a year. And if the tanna of the mishna holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda that only three days are needed for the planting to take root, it still requires three days for the planting to take root and thirty days to count as a year. If so, the baraita cannot be understood even in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Elazar.

אֶלָּא לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי מֵאִיר, וְכִי קָאָמַר שְׁלֹשִׁים — לִקְלִיטָה.

Rather, it must be understood as follows: The baraita was actually taught in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, and when it says thirty days, it is referring to the time needed for the planting to take root.

אִי הָכִי, שְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד בָּעֵי! קָא סָבַר: יוֹם שְׁלֹשִׁים עוֹלֶה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן.

The Gemara raises a difficulty: If so, it requires thirty-one days; thirty days for the planting to take root and one more day to count as a year. The Gemara answers: This is theoretically correct, but he holds that the thirtieth day is counted for here and for there, i.e., it counts as both the thirtieth day for taking root and as a day that is counted as a year.

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וּשְׁנֵיהֶן מִקְרָא אֶחָד דָּרְשׁוּ: ״וַיְהִי בְּאַחַת וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לְחֹדֶשׁ״, רַבִּי מֵאִיר סָבַר: מִדְּאַכַּתִּי יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא דְּעָיֵיל בַּשָּׁנָה וְקָא קָרֵי לַהּ שָׁנָה, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: יוֹם אֶחָד בַּשָּׁנָה חָשׁוּב שָׁנָה.

Rabbi Yoḥanan said: And both of them, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Elazar, who disagree about how much time must pass to count as a year, expounded the same verse. As the verse states: “And it came to pass in the one and six hundredth year, in the first month on the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from off the earth” (Genesis 8:13). Rabbi Meir holds: From the fact that it was only one day into the year, as it was still the first day of the first month, and yet it is called the six hundred and first year, learn from here that one day in a year is already considered a year.

וְאִידַּךְ: אִי כְּתִיב בְּ״שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וְאַחַת שָׁנָה״ — כִּדְקָאָמְרַתְּ. הַשְׁתָּא דִּכְתִיב ״בְּאַחַת וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה״, ״שָׁנָה״ אַ״שֵּׁשׁ מֵאוֹת״ קָאֵי. וּמַאי ״אַחַת״ — אַתְחַלְתָּא דְּאַחַת קָאָמַר.

And the other tanna, Rabbi Elazar, expounds the verse as follows. If it had written: In the six hundred and first year, it would be as you said. However, now that it is written: “In the one and six hundredth year,” I can say that the word “year” relates to “six hundredth,” thereby teaching that it is still considered the six hundredth year. And what is meant by “one”? That it is the beginning of one year, but not that the first day counts as a year.

וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מַאי טַעְמָא? דִּכְתִיב: ״בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ״, מִדְּאַכַּתִּי יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא דְּעָיֵיל בַּחֹדֶשׁ וְקָא קָרֵי לֵיהּ חֹדֶשׁ — שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: יוֹם אֶחָד בַּחֹדֶשׁ חָשׁוּב חֹדֶשׁ, וּמִדְּיוֹם אֶחָד בַּחֹדֶשׁ חָשׁוּב חֹדֶשׁ — שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם בַּשָּׁנָה חֲשׁוּבִין שָׁנָה. וְחֹדֶשׁ לִמְנוּיָיו, וְשָׁנָה לִמְנוּיֶיהָ.

The Gemara asks: And with regard to Rabbi Elazar, what is the rationale for his opinion? From where does he learn that thirty days are counted as a year? As it is written: “In the first month on the first day of the month.” Since it was only one day into the month, and yet it is called a month, learn from here that one day in a month is already considered a month. And since one day in a month is already considered a month, likewise thirty days in a year are already considered a year, as a month is calculated according to its unit, and a year is calculated according to its unit. If one unit by which a month is calculated, i.e., a day, counts as a full month, so too, one unit by which a year is calculated, i.e., a month, counts as a full year.

מִכְּלַל דְּתַרְוַיְיהוּ סְבִירָא לְהוּ בְּנִיסָן נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם.

§ The Gemara comments: By inference, both of them, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Elazar, hold that the world was created in Nisan and that the years are counted from that month, as, if the world were created in Tishrei and the count started then, the first day of the first month of the six hundred and first year would already have been six months into the year for the purpose of counting years.

תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בְּתִשְׁרִי נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, בְּתִשְׁרִי נוֹלְדוּ אָבוֹת, בְּתִשְׁרִי מֵתוּ אָבוֹת, בַּפֶּסַח נוֹלַד יִצְחָק, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה נִפְקְדָה שָׂרָה רָחֵל וְחַנָּה, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה יָצָא יוֹסֵף מִבֵּית הָאֲסוּרִין.

It is taught in a baraita that the tanna’im disagreed about this point: Rabbi Eliezer says: In Tishrei the world was created; in Tishrei the Patriarchs were born; in Tishrei the Patriarchs died; on Passover Isaac was born; on Rosh HaShana Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah were remembered by God and conceived; on Rosh HaShana Joseph came out from prison;

New to Talmud?

Check out our resources designed to help you navigate a page of Talmud – and study at the pace, level and style that fits you. 

The Hadran Women’s Tapestry

Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories. 

With Rabbanit Dr. Naomi Cohen in the Women’s Talmud class, over 30 years ago. It was a “known” class and it was accepted, because of who taught. Since then I have also studied with Avigail Gross-Gelman and Dr. Gabriel Hazut for about a year). Years ago, in a shiur in my shul, I did know about Persians doing 3 things with their clothes on. They opened the shiur to woman after that!

Sharon Mink
Sharon Mink

Haifa, Israel

When I began the previous cycle, I promised myself that if I stuck with it, I would reward myself with a trip to Israel. Little did I know that the trip would involve attending the first ever women’s siyum and being inspired by so many learners. I am now over 2 years into my second cycle and being part of this large, diverse, fascinating learning family has enhanced my learning exponentially.

Shira Krebs
Shira Krebs

Minnesota, United States

I’ve been studying Talmud since the ’90s, and decided to take on Daf Yomi two years ago. I wanted to attempt the challenge of a day-to-day, very Jewish activity. Some days are so interesting and some days are so boring. But I’m still here.
Sarene Shanus
Sarene Shanus

Mamaroneck, NY, United States

I started learning Daf in Jan 2020 with Brachot b/c I had never seen the Jewish people united around something so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, I wanted to broaden my background in Torah Shebal Peh- Maayanot gave me a great gemara education, but I knew that I could hold a conversation in most parts of tanach but almost no TSB. I’m so thankful for Daf and have gained immensely.

Meira Shapiro
Meira Shapiro

NJ, United States

My husband learns Daf, my son learns Daf, my son-in-law learns Daf.
When I read about Hadran’s Siyyum HaShas 2 years ago, I thought- I can learn Daf too!
I had learned Gemara in Hillel HS in NJ, & I remembered loving it.
Rabbanit Michelle & Hadran have opened my eyes & expanding my learning so much in the past few years. We can now discuss Gemara as a family.
This was a life saver during Covid

Renee Braha
Renee Braha

Brooklyn, NY, United States

I began learning the daf in January 2022. I initially “flew under the radar,” sharing my journey with my husband and a few close friends. I was apprehensive – who, me? Gemara? Now, 2 years in, I feel changed. The rigor of a daily commitment frames my days. The intellectual engagement enhances my knowledge. And the virtual community of learners has become a new family, weaving a glorious tapestry.

Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld
Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld

Far Rockaway, United States

I started at the beginning of this cycle. No 1 reason, but here’s 5.
In 2019 I read about the upcoming siyum hashas.
There was a sermon at shul about how anyone can learn Talmud.
Talmud references come up when I am studying. I wanted to know more.
Yentl was on telly. Not a great movie but it’s about studying Talmud.
I went to the Hadran website: A new cycle is starting. I’m gonna do this

Denise Neapolitan
Denise Neapolitan

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Retirement and Covid converged to provide me with the opportunity to commit to daily Talmud study in October 2020. I dove into the middle of Eruvin and continued to navigate Seder Moed, with Rabannit Michelle as my guide. I have developed more confidence in my learning as I completed each masechet and look forward to completing the Daf Yomi cycle so that I can begin again!

Rhona Fink
Rhona Fink

San Diego, United States

A few years back, after reading Ilana Kurshan’s book, “If All The Seas Were Ink,” I began pondering the crazy, outlandish idea of beginning the Daf Yomi cycle. Beginning in December, 2019, a month before the previous cycle ended, I “auditioned” 30 different podcasts in 30 days, and ultimately chose to take the plunge with Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle. Such joy!

Cindy Dolgin
Cindy Dolgin

HUNTINGTON, United States

A beautiful world of Talmudic sages now fill my daily life with discussion and debate.
bringing alive our traditions and texts that has brought new meaning to my life.
I am a מגילת אסתר reader for women . the words in the Mishna of מסכת megillah 17a
הקורא את המגילה למפרע לא יצא were powerful to me.
I hope to have the zchut to complete the cycle for my 70th birthday.

Sheila Hauser
Sheila Hauser

Jerusalem, Israel

I had tried to start after being inspired by the hadran siyum, but did not manage to stick to it. However, just before masechet taanit, our rav wrote a message to the shul WhatsApp encouraging people to start with masechet taanit, so I did! And this time, I’m hooked! I listen to the shiur every day , and am also trying to improve my skills.

Laura Major
Laura Major

Yad Binyamin, Israel

I started my Daf Yomi journey at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic.

Karena Perry
Karena Perry

Los Angeles, United States

I began learning with Rabbanit Michelle’s wonderful Talmud Skills class on Pesachim, which really enriched my Pesach seder, and I have been learning Daf Yomi off and on over the past year. Because I’m relatively new at this, there is a “chiddush” for me every time I learn, and the knowledge and insights of the group members add so much to my experience. I feel very lucky to be a part of this.

Julie-Landau-Photo
Julie Landau

Karmiel, Israel

See video

Susan Fisher
Susan Fisher

Raanana, Israel

After enthusing to my friend Ruth Kahan about how much I had enjoyed remote Jewish learning during the earlier part of the pandemic, she challenged me to join her in learning the daf yomi cycle. I had always wanted to do daf yomi but now had no excuse. The beginning was particularly hard as I had never studied Talmud but has become easier, as I have gained some familiarity with it.

Susan-Vishner-Hadran-photo-scaled
Susan Vishner

Brookline, United States

Since I started in January of 2020, Daf Yomi has changed my life. It connects me to Jews all over the world, especially learned women. It makes cooking, gardening, and folding laundry into acts of Torah study. Daf Yomi enables me to participate in a conversation with and about our heritage that has been going on for more than 2000 years.

Shira Eliaser
Shira Eliaser

Skokie, IL, United States

תמיד רציתי. למדתי גמרא בבית ספר בטורונטו קנדה. עליתי ארצה ולמדתי שזה לא מקובל. הופתעתי.
יצאתי לגימלאות לפני שנתיים וזה מאפשר את המחוייבות לדף יומי.
עבורי ההתמדה בלימוד מעגן אותי בקשר שלי ליהדות. אני תמיד מחפשת ותמיד. מוצאת מקור לקשר. ללימוד חדש ומחדש. קשר עם נשים לומדות מעמיק את החוויה ומשמעותית מאוד.

Vitti Kones
Vitti Kones

מיתר, ישראל

I began my journey with Rabbanit Michelle more than five years ago. My friend came up with a great idea for about 15 of us to learn the daf and one of us would summarize weekly what we learned.
It was fun but after 2-3 months people began to leave. I have continued. Since the cycle began Again I have joined the Teaneck women.. I find it most rewarding in so many ways. Thank you

Dena Heller
Dena Heller

New Jersey, United States

I started learning Dec 2019 after reading “If all the Seas Were Ink”. I found
Daily daf sessions of Rabbanit Michelle in her house teaching, I then heard about the siyum and a new cycle starting wow I am in! Afternoon here in Sydney, my family and friends know this is my sacred time to hide away to live zoom and learn. Often it’s hard to absorb and relate then a gem shines touching my heart.

Dianne Kuchar
Dianne Kuchar

Dover Heights, Australia

I started learning Daf Yomi because my sister, Ruth Leah Kahan, attended Michelle’s class in person and suggested I listen remotely. She always sat near Michelle and spoke up during class so that I could hear her voice. Our mom had just died unexpectedly and it made me feel connected to hear Ruth Leah’s voice, and now to know we are both listening to the same thing daily, continents apart.
Jessica Shklar
Jessica Shklar

Philadelphia, United States

Rosh Hashanah 10

וּפֵירוֹת נְטִיעָה זוֹ אֲסוּרִין עַד חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בִּשְׁבָט, אִם לְעׇרְלָה — עׇרְלָה, וְאִם לִרְבָעִי — רְבָעִי.

And if the planting, layering, or grafting took place more than thirty days before Rosh HaShana, the fruit of this planting is prohibited until the fifteenth of Shevat of the fourth year since the tree’s planting, even though the three years were already completed the previous Rosh HaShana. This principle applies both for orla during the year of orla, when it is prohibited to eat the fruit, and for fourth-year produce during the year of fourth-year produce, which must be eaten in Jerusalem or redeemed before it is eaten outside Jerusalem.

מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וּמָטוּ בָּהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יַנַּאי, אָמַר קְרָא: ״וּבַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית וּבַשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִישִׁית״.

The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived, that the prohibitions of orla and fourth-year produce extend past Tishrei until the fifteenth of Shevat? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said, and some determined that it was stated in the name of Rabbi Yannai: The verse states: “Three years shall it be as prohibited to you; it shall not be eaten. And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be sacred for praise-giving to the Lord. And in the fifth year shall you eat of its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase; I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:23–25).

פְּעָמִים שֶׁבָּרְבִיעִית וַעֲדַיִין אֲסוּרָה מִשּׁוּם עׇרְלָה, וּפְעָמִים שֶׁבַּחֲמִישִׁית וַעֲדַיִין אֲסוּרָה מִשּׁוּם רְבָעִי.

The baraita explains: The repetition of the word “and,” indicated by the conjunctive vav that joins these verses, teaches that there are times that the tree is already in its fourth year and yet the fruit is forbidden as orla, from the verses “three years…and in the fourth year”; and there are times that the tree is already in its fifth year and yet the fruit is forbidden as fourth-year produce, from the verses “in the fourth year…and in the fifth year.”

לֵימָא דְּלָא כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאִי רַבִּי מֵאִיר — הָא אָמַר: יוֹם אֶחָד בַּשָּׁנָה חָשׁוּב שָׁנָה. דְּתַנְיָא: פַּר הָאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה סְתָם — בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה חֹדֶשׁ וְיוֹם אֶחָד. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

The Gemara suggests: Let us say that this baraita is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, as, if it were in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, didn’t Rabbi Meir say that even one day in a year is considered a year? As it is taught in a baraita: The term bullock [par] mentioned in the Torah without specification is referring to a bullock that is twenty-four months and one day old, as although it is known by tradition that a bullock is three years old, once it is one day into its third year, it is already considered three years old; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה חֹדֶשׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עֵגֶל בַּתּוֹרָה סְתָם — בֶּן שָׁנָה, ״בֶּן בָּקָר״ — בֶּן שְׁתַּיִם, ״פַּר״ — בֶּן שָׁלֹשׁ.

The baraita continues: Rabbi Elazar says: The term bullock is referring to an animal that is twenty-four months and thirty days old. As Rabbi Meir would say: Wherever a calf [egel] is stated in the Torah without specification, the reference is to a calf that is one year old; a young ox [ben bakar] is referring to a cow that is two years old; and a bullock is referring to a cow that is three years old. Since the baraita dealing with planting requires that the tree be planted thirty days before Rosh HaShana, rather than one day, it would seem that it is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir.

אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבִּי מֵאִיר, כִּי קָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר יוֹם אֶחָד בַּשָּׁנָה חָשׁוּב שָׁנָה — בְּסוֹף שָׁנָה, אֲבָל בִּתְחִלַּת שָׁנָה — לָא.

The Gemara rejects this argument: Even if you say that the baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, it can be explained as follows. When Rabbi Meir said that one day in a year is considered a full year, this is only when the day is at the end of the year; since the count of a new year is about to begin, the day is considered like a whole year. But if the day is at the beginning of the year, that one day is not considered like a whole year.

אָמַר רָבָא: וְלָאו קַל וָחוֹמֶר הוּא? וּמָה נִדָּה, שֶׁאֵין תְּחִילַּת הַיּוֹם עוֹלָה לָהּ בְּסוֹפָהּ — סוֹף הַיּוֹם עוֹלֶה לָהּ בִּתְחִלָּתָהּ. שָׁנָה, שֶׁיּוֹם אֶחָד עוֹלֶה לָהּ בְּסוֹפָהּ —

Against this claim Rava said: But can we not invoke an a fortiori argument to prove just the opposite? Whereas in the case of a menstruating woman, where the beginning of the day is not counted as a full day at the end of her seven-day period of ritual impurity and instead she must wait until the end of the seventh day and immerse in a ritual bath only in the evening, yet nevertheless the end of the day is counted as a full day at the beginning of her ritually impure period, since if she experienced bleeding shortly before sunset that day is considered as the first day of her seven-day period of impurity; if so, in the case of a year, where one day is counted as a full year at the end of the year,

אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיּוֹם אֶחָד עוֹלֶה בִּתְחִלָּתָהּ?

is it not right that one day should count as a full year at the beginning of the year?

וְאֶלָּא מַאי — רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר? שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשִׁים בָּעֵי! דִּתְנַן: אֵין נוֹטְעִין וְאֵין מַבְרִיכִין וְאֵין מַרְכִּיבִין עֶרֶב שְׁבִיעִית פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם לִפְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וְאִם נָטַע וְהִבְרִיךְ וְהִרְכִּיב — יַעֲקוֹר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הַרְכָּבָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ קוֹלֶטֶת בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים — שׁוּב אֵינָהּ קוֹלֶטֶת. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמְרִים: שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת.

Rather, what opinion does it follow? If the baraita was not taught in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, does it follow the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, who holds that only thirty days are considered like a year? If so, then thirty days and another thirty days are required: Thirty days for the planting to take root, and another thirty days to count as a year. As we learned in a mishna: One may not plant, layer, or graft trees on the eve of the Sabbatical Year less than thirty days before Rosh HaShana, and if one planted, layered, or grafted, he must uproot it, as the planting will take root only in the seventh year; this is the statement of Rabbi Elazar. Rabbi Yehuda says: Any grafting that does not take root within three days will never take root. Rabbi Yosei and Rabbi Shimon say: Two weeks are needed for the planting to take root.

וְאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ: לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר שְׁלֹשִׁים — צָרִיךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשִׁים, לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר שְׁלֹשָׁה — צָרִיךְ שְׁלֹשָׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים, לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת — צָרִיךְ שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. וְאִי נָמֵי, כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סְבִירָא לֵיהּ — שְׁלֹשָׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים בָּעֵי!

And on this topic Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: According to the statement of the one who says thirty days, this means that it requires thirty days for the planting to take root and another thirty days to count as a year. And according to the statement of the one who says three days, this means that it requires thirty-three days. And according to the statement of the one who says two weeks, this means that it requires two weeks for the planting to take root and another thirty days to count as a year. And if the tanna of the mishna holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda that only three days are needed for the planting to take root, it still requires three days for the planting to take root and thirty days to count as a year. If so, the baraita cannot be understood even in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Elazar.

אֶלָּא לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי מֵאִיר, וְכִי קָאָמַר שְׁלֹשִׁים — לִקְלִיטָה.

Rather, it must be understood as follows: The baraita was actually taught in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, and when it says thirty days, it is referring to the time needed for the planting to take root.

אִי הָכִי, שְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד בָּעֵי! קָא סָבַר: יוֹם שְׁלֹשִׁים עוֹלֶה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן.

The Gemara raises a difficulty: If so, it requires thirty-one days; thirty days for the planting to take root and one more day to count as a year. The Gemara answers: This is theoretically correct, but he holds that the thirtieth day is counted for here and for there, i.e., it counts as both the thirtieth day for taking root and as a day that is counted as a year.

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וּשְׁנֵיהֶן מִקְרָא אֶחָד דָּרְשׁוּ: ״וַיְהִי בְּאַחַת וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לְחֹדֶשׁ״, רַבִּי מֵאִיר סָבַר: מִדְּאַכַּתִּי יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא דְּעָיֵיל בַּשָּׁנָה וְקָא קָרֵי לַהּ שָׁנָה, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: יוֹם אֶחָד בַּשָּׁנָה חָשׁוּב שָׁנָה.

Rabbi Yoḥanan said: And both of them, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Elazar, who disagree about how much time must pass to count as a year, expounded the same verse. As the verse states: “And it came to pass in the one and six hundredth year, in the first month on the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from off the earth” (Genesis 8:13). Rabbi Meir holds: From the fact that it was only one day into the year, as it was still the first day of the first month, and yet it is called the six hundred and first year, learn from here that one day in a year is already considered a year.

וְאִידַּךְ: אִי כְּתִיב בְּ״שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וְאַחַת שָׁנָה״ — כִּדְקָאָמְרַתְּ. הַשְׁתָּא דִּכְתִיב ״בְּאַחַת וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה״, ״שָׁנָה״ אַ״שֵּׁשׁ מֵאוֹת״ קָאֵי. וּמַאי ״אַחַת״ — אַתְחַלְתָּא דְּאַחַת קָאָמַר.

And the other tanna, Rabbi Elazar, expounds the verse as follows. If it had written: In the six hundred and first year, it would be as you said. However, now that it is written: “In the one and six hundredth year,” I can say that the word “year” relates to “six hundredth,” thereby teaching that it is still considered the six hundredth year. And what is meant by “one”? That it is the beginning of one year, but not that the first day counts as a year.

וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מַאי טַעְמָא? דִּכְתִיב: ״בָּרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ״, מִדְּאַכַּתִּי יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא דְּעָיֵיל בַּחֹדֶשׁ וְקָא קָרֵי לֵיהּ חֹדֶשׁ — שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: יוֹם אֶחָד בַּחֹדֶשׁ חָשׁוּב חֹדֶשׁ, וּמִדְּיוֹם אֶחָד בַּחֹדֶשׁ חָשׁוּב חֹדֶשׁ — שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם בַּשָּׁנָה חֲשׁוּבִין שָׁנָה. וְחֹדֶשׁ לִמְנוּיָיו, וְשָׁנָה לִמְנוּיֶיהָ.

The Gemara asks: And with regard to Rabbi Elazar, what is the rationale for his opinion? From where does he learn that thirty days are counted as a year? As it is written: “In the first month on the first day of the month.” Since it was only one day into the month, and yet it is called a month, learn from here that one day in a month is already considered a month. And since one day in a month is already considered a month, likewise thirty days in a year are already considered a year, as a month is calculated according to its unit, and a year is calculated according to its unit. If one unit by which a month is calculated, i.e., a day, counts as a full month, so too, one unit by which a year is calculated, i.e., a month, counts as a full year.

מִכְּלַל דְּתַרְוַיְיהוּ סְבִירָא לְהוּ בְּנִיסָן נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם.

§ The Gemara comments: By inference, both of them, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Elazar, hold that the world was created in Nisan and that the years are counted from that month, as, if the world were created in Tishrei and the count started then, the first day of the first month of the six hundred and first year would already have been six months into the year for the purpose of counting years.

תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בְּתִשְׁרִי נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, בְּתִשְׁרִי נוֹלְדוּ אָבוֹת, בְּתִשְׁרִי מֵתוּ אָבוֹת, בַּפֶּסַח נוֹלַד יִצְחָק, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה נִפְקְדָה שָׂרָה רָחֵל וְחַנָּה, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה יָצָא יוֹסֵף מִבֵּית הָאֲסוּרִין.

It is taught in a baraita that the tanna’im disagreed about this point: Rabbi Eliezer says: In Tishrei the world was created; in Tishrei the Patriarchs were born; in Tishrei the Patriarchs died; on Passover Isaac was born; on Rosh HaShana Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah were remembered by God and conceived; on Rosh HaShana Joseph came out from prison;

Want to follow content and continue where you left off?

Create an account today to track your progress, mark what you’ve learned, and follow the shiurim that speak to you.

Clear all items from this list?

This will remove ALL the items in this section. You will lose any progress or history connected to them. This is irreversible.

Cancel
Yes, clear all

Are you sure you want to delete this item?

You will lose any progress or history connected to this item.

Cancel
Yes, delete