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Yoma 10

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Summary

Today’s daf is sponsored by Ellen Golub in loving memory of her aunt, Lottie Cohen, on her seventh yahrzeit. “Auntie Lottie spoke a beautiful Yiddish and was a woman of extraordinary patience, love, and generosity of spirit. Yehi zichrona li’vracha.” And by Yoni Bock to his partner Ron Kaplan on achieving a half-century milestone. “From never having studied a page of Talmud to taking time to tackle daf yomi daily, you are an inspiration. Happy birthday! Ad meah v’esrim.” And for a refuah shleima for  Noach Avraham ben Batya Shana.

How do we know the Persians came from Yefet? The gemara brings lists of names in Genesis Chapter 10 and explains what they are referring to. Will the Persians fall into the hands of the Romans or the reverse? Is the Lishkat Parhedrin obligated in a mezuza or not? Rabbi Yehuda and the rabbis disagree. They also have the same a similar debate regarding a mezuza on a sukka but their opinions there contradict their opinions here. How is that contradiction resolved?

Yoma 10

אַף עַל גַּב דְּ״יַפְתְּ אֱלֹהִים לְיֶפֶת״ — אֵין הַשְּׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה אֶלָּא בְּאׇהֳלֵי שֵׁם.

The Gemara explains: Although God will enlarge Japheth, referring to the Persians, who descended from Japheth and who assisted in constructing the Second Temple, the Divine Presence rests only in the tents of Shem, in the First Temple, which was built by King Solomon without the patronage of a foreign power.

וּפָרְסָאֵי מְנָא לַן דְּמִיֶּפֶת קָאָתוּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״בְּנֵי יֶפֶת גּוֹמֶר וּמָגוֹג וּמָדַי וְיָוָן וְתוּבָל וּמֶשֶׁךְ וְתִירָס״. גּוֹמֶר — זֶה גֶּרְמַמְיָא, מָגוֹג — זוֹ קַנְדִּיָּא, מָדַי — זוֹ מַקֵדוֹנְיָא, יָוָן — כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, תּוּבָל — זֶה בֵּית אוּנַיְיקִי, מֶשֶׁךְ — זוֹ מוּסְיָא, תִּירָס, פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי סִימַאי וְרַבָּנַן, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רַבִּי סִימוֹן וְרַבָּנַן, חַד אָמַר: זוֹ בֵּית תְּרַיְיקִי, וְחַד אָמַר: זוֹ פָּרַס. תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: תִּירָס — זוֹ פָּרַס.

§ The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that the Persians descend from Japheth? The Gemara answers: As it is written: “The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tuval and Meshech and Tiras (Genesis 10:2). The Gemara explains: Gomer, that is Germamya; Magog, that is Kandiya; Madai, that is Macedonia; Javan, in accordance with its plain meaning, Greece; Tuval, that is the nation called Beit Unaiki; Meshech, that is Musya. With regard to Tiras, Rabbi Simai and the Rabbis disagree, and some say the dispute is between Rabbi Simon and the Rabbis: One said: That is Beit Teraiki, and one said: That is Persia. According to that approach, Persia is listed among the descendants of Japheth. Rav Yosef taught: Tiras is Persia.

״סַבְתָּה וְרַעְמָה וְסַבְתְּכָא״, תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: סַקִּיסְתָּן גַּוָּיְיתָא וְסַקִּיסְתָּן בָּרַיְיתָא, בֵּין חֲדָא לַחֲדָא מְאָה פַּרְסֵי, וְהֶיקֵּפַהּ אַלְפָּא פַּרְסֵי.

The list of nations continues: “And Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca” (Genesis 10:7). Rav Yosef taught: These are the inner Sakistan and the outer Sakistan. Between one and the other there was a distance of one hundred parasangs, and the circumference of the land was one thousand parasangs.

״וַתְּהִי רֵאשִׁית מַמְלַכְתּוֹ בָּבֶל וְאֶרֶךְ וְאַכַּד וְכַלְנֵה״, בָּבֶל — כְּמַשְׁמְעָה, אֶרֶךְ — זֶה אוֹרִיכוּת, וְאַכַּד — זֶה בַּשְׁכַּר, כַּלְנֵה — זֶה נוּפַר נִינְפִי.

The Gemara continues interpreting the verses. It is stated: “And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar” (Genesis 10:10). Babel in accordance with its plain meaning, Babylonia; Erech, that is the city known then as Orikhut; and Accad, that is the place known then as Baskar; Calneh, that is Nofer Ninefi.

״מִן הָאָרֶץ הָהִיא יָצָא אַשּׁוּר״, תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: אַשּׁוּר — זֶה סִילַק. ״וַיִּבֶן אֶת נִינְוֵה וְאֶת רְחוֹבוֹת עִיר וְאֶת כָּלַח״, נִינְוֵה — כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, רְחוֹבוֹת עִיר — זוֹ פְּרָת דְּמֵישָׁן, כָּלַח — זוֹ פְּרָת דְּבוֹרְסִיף. ״וְאֶת רֶסֶן בֵּין נִינְוֵה וּבֵין כָּלַח הִיא הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה״, רֶסֶן — זֶה אַקְטִיסְפוֹן. ״הִיא הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה״ — אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה, אִם רֶסֶן הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה. כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״וְנִינְוֵה הָיְתָה עִיר גְּדוֹלָה לֵאלֹהִים מַהֲלַךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים״, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: נִינְוֵה הִיא הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה.

The Torah continues: “Out of that land went forth Asshur (Genesis 10:11). Rav Yosef taught: Asshur, that is Silek, meaning that is the region where the town Silkiya was built. “And built Nineveh and Rehoboth-ir and Calah” (Genesis 10:11). Nineveh, in accordance with its plain meaning; Rehovoth-ir, that is the town later known as Perat of Meishan; Calah, that is Perat of Bursif. “And Resen between Nineveh and Calah, it is the great city” (Genesis 10:12). Resen, that is the town later known as Akteisfon. It is the great city; I do not know whether this means that Nineveh is the great city, or whether it means that Resen is the great city. When it says: “And Nineveh was a great city of God, a three-day journey across” (Jonah 3:3), you must say that Nineveh is the great city.

״וְשָׁם אֲחִימַן שֵׁשַׁי וְתַלְמַי יְלִידֵי הָעֲנָק״, תָּנָא: אֲחִימַן — מְיוּמָּן שֶׁבָּאַחִים, שֵׁשַׁי — שֶׁמֵּשִׂים אֶת הָאָרֶץ כִּשְׁחִיתוֹת, תַּלְמַי — שֶׁמֵּשִׂים אֶת הָאָרֶץ תְּלָמִים תְּלָמִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר: אֲחִימַן בָּנָה עֲנָת, שֵׁשַׁי בָּנָה אָלוּשׁ, תַּלְמַי בָּנָה תַּלְבּוּשׁ. ״יְלִידֵי הָעֲנָק״ — שֶׁמַּעֲנִיקִין הַחַמָּה בְּקוֹמָתָן.

The Gemara continues to discuss the interpretation of names in the Bible. The Torah says: “And there were Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak” (Numbers 13:22). It was taught: Ahiman was so called because he was the greatest and most skillful [meyuman] of his brothers. Ahiman is a contraction of brother [aḥ] and right [yamin], which is the skilled hand. Sheshai was so called because he renders the ground like pits [sheḥitot] with his strides. Talmai was so called because he renders the ground filled with furrows [telamim] with his strides. Alternatively: Ahiman built the city of Anat; Sheshai built the town Alush; Talmai built the city of Talbush. The children of Anak is referring to the fact that it appears that the sun is a necklace [shema’anikin] around their necks because of their height.

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר רַבִּי: עֲתִידָה רוֹמִי שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד פָּרַס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָכֵן שִׁמְעוּ עֲצַת ה׳ אֲשֶׁר יָעַץ (עַל) אֱדוֹם וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר חָשַׁב (עַל) יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵימָן אִם לֹא יִסְחָבוּם צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן אִם לֹא יַשִּׁים עֲלֵיהֶם נְוֵהֶם״.

§ Apropos the opinion that Tiras is Persia, the Gemara addresses a related matter. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: Rome is destined to fall into the hands of Persia, as it is stated: “Now hear the plan that the Lord has devised for Edom, and the thoughts He has considered for the residents of Teiman. Surely the youngest of the flock will drag them away, surely their habitation will be appalled due to them” (Jeremiah 49:20).

מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַבָּה בַּר עוּלָּא: מַאי מַשְׁמַע דְּהַאי ״צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן״ פָּרַס הוּא — דִּכְתִיב: ״הָאַיִל אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ בַּעַל הַקְּרָנָיִם (הוּא) מַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרָס״. וְאֵימָא יָוָן, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהַצָּפִיר הַשָּׂעִיר מֶלֶךְ יָוָן״!

Rabba bar Ulla strongly objected to this. From where may it be inferred that this phrase: Youngest of the flock, is Persia? It is as it is written: “The ram that you saw sporting two horns are the kings of Media and Persia” (Daniel 8:20), and the ram is a member of the flock mentioned in the verse. Still, how is that proof? And say that youngest of the flock refers to Greece, who will overthrow Rome, as it is written: “The goat is the king of Greece” (Daniel 8:21). The goat, too, could be characterized as a member of the flock.

כִּי סְלֵיק רַב חֲבִיבָא בַּר סוֹרְמַקִי, אַמְרַהּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּהָהוּא מֵרַבָּנַן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאן דְּלָא יָדַע פָּרוֹשֵׁי קְרָאֵי מוֹתֵיב תְּיוּבְתָּא לְרַבִּי?! מַאי ״צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן״ — זוּטְרָא דַּאֲחוֹהִי. דְּתָנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: תִּירָס — זֶה פָּרַס.

When Rav Ḥaviva bar Surmakei ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael, he stated this difficulty before a certain one of the Sages. That Sage said to him: One who does not know how to interpret verses is so arrogant that he raises an objection to the opinion of the great Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? Indeed, Rabba bar Ulla misunderstood the basis of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s interpretation. What is the meaning of the phrase: The youngest of the flock? It means the youngest of the brothers, a reference to Persia, as Rav Yosef taught: Tiras, the youngest of Japheth’s sons, that is Persia.

אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעַאי: עֲתִידָה רוֹמִי שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד פָּרַס, קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה מִקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁבְּנָאוּהוּ בְּנֵי שֵׁם וְהֶחְרִיבוּהוּ כַּשְׂדִּיִּים — נָפְלוּ כַּשְׂדִּיִּים בְּיַד פָּרְסִיִּים. מִקְדָּשׁ שֵׁנִי שֶׁבְּנָאוּהוּ פָּרְסִיִּים וְהֶחְרִיבוּהוּ רוֹמִיִּים — אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיִּפְּלוּ רוֹמִיִּים בְּיַד פָּרְסִיִּים?

Similarly, Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Elai: Rome is destined to fall into the hands of Persia. This is derived by means of an a fortiori inference: Just as the First Temple, that the descendants of Shem built it and the Chaldeans destroyed it, and in turn the Chaldeans, ruled by Belshazzar, fell to Persians, ruled by Darius the Mede and his son-in-law Cyrus the Persian; the Second Temple, that the Persians built it and the Romans destroyed it, is it not right that the Romans will fall into the hands of the Persians?

אָמַר רַב: עֲתִידָה פָּרַס שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד רוֹמִי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא וְרַב אַסִּי לְרַב: בָּנוֹיֵי בְּיַד סָתוֹרֵי?! אֲמַר לְהוּ: אִין, גְּזֵירַת מֶלֶךְ הִיא. אִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי, אֲמַר (לֵיהּ): אִינְהוּ נָמֵי הָא קָא סָתְרִי בֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא.

In contrast, Rav said: Persia is destined to fall into the hands of Rome. Rav Kahana and Rav Asi, Rav’s students, said to Rav: The builders will fall into the hands of the destroyers? Is that justice? He said to them: Although it seems unjust, yes, that is the King’s decree. Some say that he said this to them: They, too, are destroyers of synagogues, and they are no better than the Romans.

תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי: עֲתִידָה פָּרַס שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד רוֹמִי, חֲדָא — דְּסָתְרִי בֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא, וְעוֹד: גְּזֵירַת מֶלֶךְ הוּא שֶׁיִּפְּלוּ בּוֹנִין בְּיַד סוֹתְרִין. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אֵין בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא עַד שֶׁתִּפְשׁוֹט מַלְכוּת רוֹמִי הָרְשָׁעָה בְּכׇל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ תִּשְׁעָה חֳדָשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָכֵן יִתְּנֵם עַד עֵת יוֹלֵדָה יָלָדָה וְיֶתֶר אֶחָיו יְשׁוּבוּן עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

That was also taught in a baraita: Persia is destined to fall into the hands of Rome. One reason is that they destroyed synagogues. And furthermore, it is the King’s decree that the builders will fall into the hands of the destroyers, as Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: The son of David will come only when the wicked kingdom of Rome spreads its dominance throughout the world for nine months, as it is stated: “Therefore He will give them up until she who is to bear has borne; then the remnants of his brethren will return with the children of Israel (Micah 5:2). The duration of Rome’s rule over the world will be the duration of a pregnancy, nine months.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כׇּל הַלְּשָׁכוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בְּמִקְדָּשׁ לֹא הָיוּ לָהֶן מְזוּזָה, חוּץ מִלִּשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין, שֶׁהָיָה בָּהּ בֵּית דִּירָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל.

§ The Gemara resumes the discussion of the High Priest’s relocation to the Parhedrin chamber. The Rabbis taught: None of the chambers in the Temple had a mezuza except for the Chamber of Parhedrin, in which there was a place of residence of the High Priest. Only residences in which one sleeps require a mezuza, and the only chamber in the Temple that fits that description was the Parhedrin chamber.

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: וַהֲלֹא כַּמָּה לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ בְּמִקְדָּשׁ שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן בֵּית דִּירָה, וְלֹא הָיָה לָהֶן מְזוּזָה? אֶלָּא לִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין גְּזֵירָה הָיְתָה.

Rabbi Yehuda said: That is not the reason; after all, weren’t there several chambers in the Temple in which there was a place of residence designated for priests to sit and sleep, and yet they did not have a mezuza? Rather, the mezuza in the Chamber of Parhedrin was there because there was a rabbinic decree.

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה? אָמַר (רָבָא): קָסָבַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: כׇּל בַּיִת שֶׁאֵינוֹ עָשׂוּי לִימוֹת הַחַמָּה וְלִימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים — אֵינוֹ בַּיִת. אֵיתִיבֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי, וְהָכְתִיב: ״וְהִכֵּיתִי (אֶת) בֵּית הַחוֹרֶף עַל בֵּית הַקָּיִץ״! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״בֵּית חוֹרֶף״ וּ״בֵית קַיִץ״ אִיקְּרִי, ״בַּיִת״ סְתָמָא לָא אִיקְּרִי.

The Gemara asks: What is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda that there was no fundamental obligation to affix a mezuza in the Parhedrin chamber, and that one was affixed there due to a decree? Rava said that Rabbi Yehuda holds: The legal status of any house that is not designated for residence both for the summer and for the rainy season is not that of a house and therefore does not require a mezuza. Abaye raised an objection to his opinion from a verse. How could you suggest that the legal status of a residence occupied for only part of the year is not that of a house? Isn’t it written: “I will strike the winter-house with the summer-house” (Amos 3:15)? Apparently, even a residence occupied only half the year is a house. Rava said to him: A residence occupied only part of the year may be called the winter-house or the summer-house. It is not called a house unmodified. A house is a structure used year round.

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: סוּכַּת הֶחָג בֶּחָג, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מְחַיֵּיב וַחֲכָמִים פּוֹטְרִין. וְתָנֵי עֲלַהּ: רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מְחַיֵּיב בְּעֵירוּב וּבִמְזוּזָה וּבְמַעֲשֵׂר!

Abaye raised a different objection to the opinion of Rava, from a mishna: If one brought produce from the field into the sukka that he constructed for the festival of Sukkot on the festival of Sukkot, Rabbi Yehuda obligates him to tithe the produce and the Rabbis exempt him from tithing the produce. And it was taught concerning the mishna: Rabbi Yehuda obligates the owner of that sukka to include the sukka in the joining of courtyards, like any of the houses in the courtyard; and in the mitzva of affixing a mezuza in the sukka; and in separating tithes from produce brought into the sukka. One is obligated to tithe his produce only when its processing has been completed. When he brings the produce into the house, he is obligated to tithe it. Rabbi Yehuda holds that the legal status of a sukka, in which one resides for a mere seven days, is that of a house in terms of the mitzva of mezuza.

וְכִי תֵּימָא מִדְּרַבָּנַן, בִּשְׁלָמָא עֵירוּב וּמְזוּזָה אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר מִדְּרַבָּנַן, אֶלָּא מַעֲשֵׂר, מִי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר מִדְּרַבָּנַן?

And if you say that Rabbi Yehuda rules that by rabbinic law the status of the sukka is like that of a house, but that by Torah law his opinion is consistent with Rava’s opinion, granted, with regard to the joining of courtyards and mezuza, it is possible to say that the obligation is by rabbinic law; however, with regard to tithes, is it possible to say that according to Rabbi Yehuda the obligation is by rabbinic law?

דִּילְמָא אָתֵי לְאַפְרוֹשֵׁי מִן הַחִיּוּב עַל הַפְּטוּר וּמִן הַפְּטוּר עַל הַחִיּוּב.

In that case, there is the concern lest one come to separate tithes from the obligated produce to fulfill the obligation for the exempt produce, or from the exempt produce to fulfill the obligation for the obligated produce. Produce that one is obligated to tithe by rabbinic law has the status of exempt produce by Torah law. Since it is difficult to distinguish between produce that one is obligated to tithe by Torah law and produce that one is obligated to tithe by rabbinic law, one might seek to fulfill his obligation by separating tithes from one for the other. In both cases, both the produce designated as a tithe and the produce for which it was tithed would retain the status of untithed produce. Therefore, Rabbi Yehuda could not have said that a sukka is considered a house by rabbinic law.

אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: בְּשִׁבְעָה — דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּמִיחַיְּיבָא. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה. רַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: גָּזְרִינַן שְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה אַטּוּ שִׁבְעָה, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: לָא גָּזְרִינַן.

Rather, Abaye said: The dispute with regard to the mezuza in the Parhedrin chamber must be explained differently. During the seven days that the High Priest lives in the Parhedrin chamber during his sequestering, everyone agrees that the chamber is obligated in the mitzva to affix a mezuza there. When they disagree is with regard to the rest of the days of the year, when no one resides there. The Rabbis hold: We issue a decree and require that a mezuza be affixed during the rest of the year due to those seven days that the High Priest lives there; and Rabbi Yehuda holds: We do not issue that decree, and there is no obligation to affix a mezuza to the chamber the rest of the year.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: וְהָא סוּכַּת הֶחָג בֶּחָג קָתָנֵי?

Rava said to him: But isn’t it taught in the mishna cited above: The sukka that he constructed for the festival of Sukkot on the festival of Sukkot? Apparently, contrary to the opinion of Abaye, the dispute is whether or not there is an obligation to affix a mezuza to the sukka during the Festival itself. If, as Abaye said, the tanna’im agree that there is an obligation to affix a mezuza during the festival of Sukkot even though it is used for only a brief period, on what basis do the Rabbis rule that there is no obligation even on the Festival itself?

אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דִּפְטוּרָה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּשִׁבְעָה. וְסוּכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד, וְלִשְׁכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד.

Rather, Rava said: During the rest of the days of the year, everyone agrees that the Parhedrin chamber is exempt from the obligation to affix a mezuza there. When they disagree is with regard to the seven days that the High Priest lives there, and with regard to a sukka during the Festival. And in order to resolve the contradiction between the opinions about the obligation of the chamber and of the sukka, the Gemara asserts: With regard to the sukka the reason is discrete, and with regard to the chamber the reason is discrete.

סוּכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד — רַבִּי יְהוּדָה לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר: סוּכָּה דִּירַת קֶבַע בָּעֵינַן, וּמִיחַיְּיבָא בִּמְזוּזָה. וְרַבָּנַן לְטַעְמַיְיהוּ, דְּאָמְרִי: סוּכָּה דִּירַת עֲרַאי בָּעֵינַן, וְלָא מִיחַיְּיבָא בִּמְזוּזָה.

The Gemara explains: With regard to sukka, the reason is discrete. Rabbi Yehuda conforms to his standard line of reasoning, as he said: In order to fulfill the mitzva of sukka, we require a well-built permanent residence. A permanent residence is obligated in the mitzva of mezuza. The Rabbis conform to their standard line of reasoning, as they say: In order to fulfill the mitzva of sukka, we require a temporary residence, not a full-fledged house. A temporary residence is not obligated in the mitzva of mezuza.

וְלִשְׁכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד, רַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: דִּירָה בְּעַל כׇּרְחָהּ שְׁמָהּ דִּירָה. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: דִּירָה בְּעַל כׇּרְחָהּ לֹא שְׁמָהּ דִּירָה, וּמִדְּרַבָּנַן הוּא דְּתַקִּינוּ לַהּ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ: כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין.

And similarly, with regard to the chamber, the reason is discrete. The Rabbis hold: A residence in which one resides involuntarily is nevertheless considered a residence. Although the High Priest resides in the Parhedrin chamber due to a mitzva and not of his own volition, its legal status is that of a residence and a mezuza must be affixed. And Rabbi Yehuda holds: A residence in which one resides involuntarily is not considered a residence. Therefore, there should be no obligation to affix a mezuza in the Parhedrin chamber, just as there is no obligation to do so in the other Temple chambers in which priests reside. However, the Sages instituted this obligation by rabbinic law so that people will not say: The High Priest is imprisoned in jail, as only in substandard residences that appear unfit for residence is there no obligation to affix a mezuza.

מַאן תְּנָא לְהָא דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן:

Who is the tanna who taught the following baraita? As the Sages taught:

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The Hadran Women’s Tapestry

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

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

When I was working and taking care of my children, learning was never on the list. Now that I have more time I have two different Gemora classes and the nach yomi as well as the mishna yomi daily.

Shoshana Shinnar
Shoshana Shinnar

Jerusalem, Israel

Hearing and reading about the siyumim at the completion of the 13 th cycle Daf Yomi asked our shul rabbi about starting the Daf – he directed me to another shiur in town he thought would allow a woman to join, and so I did! Love seeing the sources for the Divrei Torah I’ve been hearing for the past decades of living an observant life and raising 5 children .

Jill Felder
Jill Felder

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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

I started the daf at the beginning of this cycle in January 2020. My husband, my children, grandchildren and siblings have been very supportive. As someone who learned and taught Tanach and mefarshim for many years, it has been an amazing adventure to complete the six sedarim of Mishnah, and now to study Talmud on a daily basis along with Rabbanit Michelle and the wonderful women of Hadran.

Rookie Billet
Rookie Billet

Jerusalem, Israel

I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!

Debbie Engelen-Eigles
Debbie Engelen-Eigles

Minnesota, United States

Years ago, I attended the local Siyum HaShas with my high school class. It was inspiring! Through that cycle and the next one, I studied masekhtot on my own and then did “daf yomi practice.” The amazing Hadran Siyum HaShas event firmed my resolve to “really do” Daf Yomi this time. It has become a family goal. We’ve supported each other through challenges, and now we’re at the Siyum of Seder Moed!

Elisheva Brauner
Elisheva Brauner

Jerusalem, Israel

Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.

Nancy Kolodny
Nancy Kolodny

Newton, United States

I had dreamed of doing daf yomi since I had my first serious Talmud class 18 years ago at Pardes with Rahel Berkovitz, and then a couple of summers with Leah Rosenthal. There is no way I would be able to do it without another wonderful teacher, Michelle, and the Hadran organization. I wake up and am excited to start each day with the next daf.

Beth Elster
Beth Elster

Irvine, United States

I started learning at the beginning of this cycle more than 2 years ago, and I have not missed a day or a daf. It’s been challenging and enlightening and even mind-numbing at times, but the learning and the shared experience have all been worth it. If you are open to it, there’s no telling what might come into your life.

Patti Evans
Patti Evans

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

I learned Mishnayot more than twenty years ago and started with Gemara much later in life. Although I never managed to learn Daf Yomi consistently, I am learning since some years Gemara in depth and with much joy. Since last year I am studying at the International Halakha Scholars Program at the WIHL. I often listen to Rabbanit Farbers Gemara shiurim to understand better a specific sugyiah. I am grateful for the help and inspiration!

Shoshana Ruerup
Shoshana Ruerup

Berlin, Germany

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 began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!

Lori Stark
Lori Stark

Highland Park, United States

I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.

Adina Hagege
Adina Hagege

Zichron Yaakov, Israel

My Daf journey began in August 2012 after participating in the Siyum Hashas where I was blessed as an “enabler” of others.  Galvanized into my own learning I recited the Hadran on Shas in January 2020 with Rabbanit Michelle. That Siyum was a highlight in my life.  Now, on round two, Daf has become my spiritual anchor to which I attribute manifold blessings.

Rina Goldberg
Rina Goldberg

Englewood NJ, United States

I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!

Debbie Engelen-Eigles
Debbie Engelen-Eigles

Minnesota, United States

It has been a pleasure keeping pace with this wonderful and scholarly group of women.

Janice Block
Janice Block

Beit Shemesh, Israel

What a great experience to learn with Rabbanit Michelle Farber. I began with this cycle in January 2020 and have been comforted by the consistency and energy of this process throughout the isolation period of Covid. Week by week, I feel like I am exploring a treasure chest with sparkling gems and puzzling antiquities. The hunt is exhilarating.

Marian Frankston
Marian Frankston

Pennsylvania, 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 curiosity was peaked after seeing posts about the end of the last cycle. I am always looking for opportunities to increase my Jewish literacy & I am someone that is drawn to habit and consistency. Dinnertime includes a “Guess what I learned on the daf” segment for my husband and 18 year old twins. I also love the feelings of connection with my colleagues who are also learning.

Diana Bloom
Diana Bloom

Tampa, United States

Yoma 10

אַף עַל גַּב דְּ״יַפְתְּ אֱלֹהִים לְיֶפֶת״ — אֵין הַשְּׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה אֶלָּא בְּאׇהֳלֵי שֵׁם.

The Gemara explains: Although God will enlarge Japheth, referring to the Persians, who descended from Japheth and who assisted in constructing the Second Temple, the Divine Presence rests only in the tents of Shem, in the First Temple, which was built by King Solomon without the patronage of a foreign power.

וּפָרְסָאֵי מְנָא לַן דְּמִיֶּפֶת קָאָתוּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״בְּנֵי יֶפֶת גּוֹמֶר וּמָגוֹג וּמָדַי וְיָוָן וְתוּבָל וּמֶשֶׁךְ וְתִירָס״. גּוֹמֶר — זֶה גֶּרְמַמְיָא, מָגוֹג — זוֹ קַנְדִּיָּא, מָדַי — זוֹ מַקֵדוֹנְיָא, יָוָן — כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, תּוּבָל — זֶה בֵּית אוּנַיְיקִי, מֶשֶׁךְ — זוֹ מוּסְיָא, תִּירָס, פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי סִימַאי וְרַבָּנַן, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רַבִּי סִימוֹן וְרַבָּנַן, חַד אָמַר: זוֹ בֵּית תְּרַיְיקִי, וְחַד אָמַר: זוֹ פָּרַס. תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: תִּירָס — זוֹ פָּרַס.

§ The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that the Persians descend from Japheth? The Gemara answers: As it is written: “The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tuval and Meshech and Tiras (Genesis 10:2). The Gemara explains: Gomer, that is Germamya; Magog, that is Kandiya; Madai, that is Macedonia; Javan, in accordance with its plain meaning, Greece; Tuval, that is the nation called Beit Unaiki; Meshech, that is Musya. With regard to Tiras, Rabbi Simai and the Rabbis disagree, and some say the dispute is between Rabbi Simon and the Rabbis: One said: That is Beit Teraiki, and one said: That is Persia. According to that approach, Persia is listed among the descendants of Japheth. Rav Yosef taught: Tiras is Persia.

״סַבְתָּה וְרַעְמָה וְסַבְתְּכָא״, תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: סַקִּיסְתָּן גַּוָּיְיתָא וְסַקִּיסְתָּן בָּרַיְיתָא, בֵּין חֲדָא לַחֲדָא מְאָה פַּרְסֵי, וְהֶיקֵּפַהּ אַלְפָּא פַּרְסֵי.

The list of nations continues: “And Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca” (Genesis 10:7). Rav Yosef taught: These are the inner Sakistan and the outer Sakistan. Between one and the other there was a distance of one hundred parasangs, and the circumference of the land was one thousand parasangs.

״וַתְּהִי רֵאשִׁית מַמְלַכְתּוֹ בָּבֶל וְאֶרֶךְ וְאַכַּד וְכַלְנֵה״, בָּבֶל — כְּמַשְׁמְעָה, אֶרֶךְ — זֶה אוֹרִיכוּת, וְאַכַּד — זֶה בַּשְׁכַּר, כַּלְנֵה — זֶה נוּפַר נִינְפִי.

The Gemara continues interpreting the verses. It is stated: “And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar” (Genesis 10:10). Babel in accordance with its plain meaning, Babylonia; Erech, that is the city known then as Orikhut; and Accad, that is the place known then as Baskar; Calneh, that is Nofer Ninefi.

״מִן הָאָרֶץ הָהִיא יָצָא אַשּׁוּר״, תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: אַשּׁוּר — זֶה סִילַק. ״וַיִּבֶן אֶת נִינְוֵה וְאֶת רְחוֹבוֹת עִיר וְאֶת כָּלַח״, נִינְוֵה — כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, רְחוֹבוֹת עִיר — זוֹ פְּרָת דְּמֵישָׁן, כָּלַח — זוֹ פְּרָת דְּבוֹרְסִיף. ״וְאֶת רֶסֶן בֵּין נִינְוֵה וּבֵין כָּלַח הִיא הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה״, רֶסֶן — זֶה אַקְטִיסְפוֹן. ״הִיא הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה״ — אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה, אִם רֶסֶן הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה. כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״וְנִינְוֵה הָיְתָה עִיר גְּדוֹלָה לֵאלֹהִים מַהֲלַךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים״, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: נִינְוֵה הִיא הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה.

The Torah continues: “Out of that land went forth Asshur (Genesis 10:11). Rav Yosef taught: Asshur, that is Silek, meaning that is the region where the town Silkiya was built. “And built Nineveh and Rehoboth-ir and Calah” (Genesis 10:11). Nineveh, in accordance with its plain meaning; Rehovoth-ir, that is the town later known as Perat of Meishan; Calah, that is Perat of Bursif. “And Resen between Nineveh and Calah, it is the great city” (Genesis 10:12). Resen, that is the town later known as Akteisfon. It is the great city; I do not know whether this means that Nineveh is the great city, or whether it means that Resen is the great city. When it says: “And Nineveh was a great city of God, a three-day journey across” (Jonah 3:3), you must say that Nineveh is the great city.

״וְשָׁם אֲחִימַן שֵׁשַׁי וְתַלְמַי יְלִידֵי הָעֲנָק״, תָּנָא: אֲחִימַן — מְיוּמָּן שֶׁבָּאַחִים, שֵׁשַׁי — שֶׁמֵּשִׂים אֶת הָאָרֶץ כִּשְׁחִיתוֹת, תַּלְמַי — שֶׁמֵּשִׂים אֶת הָאָרֶץ תְּלָמִים תְּלָמִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר: אֲחִימַן בָּנָה עֲנָת, שֵׁשַׁי בָּנָה אָלוּשׁ, תַּלְמַי בָּנָה תַּלְבּוּשׁ. ״יְלִידֵי הָעֲנָק״ — שֶׁמַּעֲנִיקִין הַחַמָּה בְּקוֹמָתָן.

The Gemara continues to discuss the interpretation of names in the Bible. The Torah says: “And there were Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak” (Numbers 13:22). It was taught: Ahiman was so called because he was the greatest and most skillful [meyuman] of his brothers. Ahiman is a contraction of brother [aḥ] and right [yamin], which is the skilled hand. Sheshai was so called because he renders the ground like pits [sheḥitot] with his strides. Talmai was so called because he renders the ground filled with furrows [telamim] with his strides. Alternatively: Ahiman built the city of Anat; Sheshai built the town Alush; Talmai built the city of Talbush. The children of Anak is referring to the fact that it appears that the sun is a necklace [shema’anikin] around their necks because of their height.

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר רַבִּי: עֲתִידָה רוֹמִי שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד פָּרַס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָכֵן שִׁמְעוּ עֲצַת ה׳ אֲשֶׁר יָעַץ (עַל) אֱדוֹם וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר חָשַׁב (עַל) יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵימָן אִם לֹא יִסְחָבוּם צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן אִם לֹא יַשִּׁים עֲלֵיהֶם נְוֵהֶם״.

§ Apropos the opinion that Tiras is Persia, the Gemara addresses a related matter. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: Rome is destined to fall into the hands of Persia, as it is stated: “Now hear the plan that the Lord has devised for Edom, and the thoughts He has considered for the residents of Teiman. Surely the youngest of the flock will drag them away, surely their habitation will be appalled due to them” (Jeremiah 49:20).

מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַבָּה בַּר עוּלָּא: מַאי מַשְׁמַע דְּהַאי ״צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן״ פָּרַס הוּא — דִּכְתִיב: ״הָאַיִל אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ בַּעַל הַקְּרָנָיִם (הוּא) מַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרָס״. וְאֵימָא יָוָן, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהַצָּפִיר הַשָּׂעִיר מֶלֶךְ יָוָן״!

Rabba bar Ulla strongly objected to this. From where may it be inferred that this phrase: Youngest of the flock, is Persia? It is as it is written: “The ram that you saw sporting two horns are the kings of Media and Persia” (Daniel 8:20), and the ram is a member of the flock mentioned in the verse. Still, how is that proof? And say that youngest of the flock refers to Greece, who will overthrow Rome, as it is written: “The goat is the king of Greece” (Daniel 8:21). The goat, too, could be characterized as a member of the flock.

כִּי סְלֵיק רַב חֲבִיבָא בַּר סוֹרְמַקִי, אַמְרַהּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּהָהוּא מֵרַבָּנַן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאן דְּלָא יָדַע פָּרוֹשֵׁי קְרָאֵי מוֹתֵיב תְּיוּבְתָּא לְרַבִּי?! מַאי ״צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן״ — זוּטְרָא דַּאֲחוֹהִי. דְּתָנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: תִּירָס — זֶה פָּרַס.

When Rav Ḥaviva bar Surmakei ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael, he stated this difficulty before a certain one of the Sages. That Sage said to him: One who does not know how to interpret verses is so arrogant that he raises an objection to the opinion of the great Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? Indeed, Rabba bar Ulla misunderstood the basis of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s interpretation. What is the meaning of the phrase: The youngest of the flock? It means the youngest of the brothers, a reference to Persia, as Rav Yosef taught: Tiras, the youngest of Japheth’s sons, that is Persia.

אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעַאי: עֲתִידָה רוֹמִי שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד פָּרַס, קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה מִקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁבְּנָאוּהוּ בְּנֵי שֵׁם וְהֶחְרִיבוּהוּ כַּשְׂדִּיִּים — נָפְלוּ כַּשְׂדִּיִּים בְּיַד פָּרְסִיִּים. מִקְדָּשׁ שֵׁנִי שֶׁבְּנָאוּהוּ פָּרְסִיִּים וְהֶחְרִיבוּהוּ רוֹמִיִּים — אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיִּפְּלוּ רוֹמִיִּים בְּיַד פָּרְסִיִּים?

Similarly, Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Elai: Rome is destined to fall into the hands of Persia. This is derived by means of an a fortiori inference: Just as the First Temple, that the descendants of Shem built it and the Chaldeans destroyed it, and in turn the Chaldeans, ruled by Belshazzar, fell to Persians, ruled by Darius the Mede and his son-in-law Cyrus the Persian; the Second Temple, that the Persians built it and the Romans destroyed it, is it not right that the Romans will fall into the hands of the Persians?

אָמַר רַב: עֲתִידָה פָּרַס שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד רוֹמִי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא וְרַב אַסִּי לְרַב: בָּנוֹיֵי בְּיַד סָתוֹרֵי?! אֲמַר לְהוּ: אִין, גְּזֵירַת מֶלֶךְ הִיא. אִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי, אֲמַר (לֵיהּ): אִינְהוּ נָמֵי הָא קָא סָתְרִי בֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא.

In contrast, Rav said: Persia is destined to fall into the hands of Rome. Rav Kahana and Rav Asi, Rav’s students, said to Rav: The builders will fall into the hands of the destroyers? Is that justice? He said to them: Although it seems unjust, yes, that is the King’s decree. Some say that he said this to them: They, too, are destroyers of synagogues, and they are no better than the Romans.

תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי: עֲתִידָה פָּרַס שֶׁתִּפּוֹל בְּיַד רוֹמִי, חֲדָא — דְּסָתְרִי בֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא, וְעוֹד: גְּזֵירַת מֶלֶךְ הוּא שֶׁיִּפְּלוּ בּוֹנִין בְּיַד סוֹתְרִין. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אֵין בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא עַד שֶׁתִּפְשׁוֹט מַלְכוּת רוֹמִי הָרְשָׁעָה בְּכׇל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ תִּשְׁעָה חֳדָשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָכֵן יִתְּנֵם עַד עֵת יוֹלֵדָה יָלָדָה וְיֶתֶר אֶחָיו יְשׁוּבוּן עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

That was also taught in a baraita: Persia is destined to fall into the hands of Rome. One reason is that they destroyed synagogues. And furthermore, it is the King’s decree that the builders will fall into the hands of the destroyers, as Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: The son of David will come only when the wicked kingdom of Rome spreads its dominance throughout the world for nine months, as it is stated: “Therefore He will give them up until she who is to bear has borne; then the remnants of his brethren will return with the children of Israel (Micah 5:2). The duration of Rome’s rule over the world will be the duration of a pregnancy, nine months.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כׇּל הַלְּשָׁכוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בְּמִקְדָּשׁ לֹא הָיוּ לָהֶן מְזוּזָה, חוּץ מִלִּשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין, שֶׁהָיָה בָּהּ בֵּית דִּירָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל.

§ The Gemara resumes the discussion of the High Priest’s relocation to the Parhedrin chamber. The Rabbis taught: None of the chambers in the Temple had a mezuza except for the Chamber of Parhedrin, in which there was a place of residence of the High Priest. Only residences in which one sleeps require a mezuza, and the only chamber in the Temple that fits that description was the Parhedrin chamber.

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: וַהֲלֹא כַּמָּה לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ בְּמִקְדָּשׁ שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן בֵּית דִּירָה, וְלֹא הָיָה לָהֶן מְזוּזָה? אֶלָּא לִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין גְּזֵירָה הָיְתָה.

Rabbi Yehuda said: That is not the reason; after all, weren’t there several chambers in the Temple in which there was a place of residence designated for priests to sit and sleep, and yet they did not have a mezuza? Rather, the mezuza in the Chamber of Parhedrin was there because there was a rabbinic decree.

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה? אָמַר (רָבָא): קָסָבַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: כׇּל בַּיִת שֶׁאֵינוֹ עָשׂוּי לִימוֹת הַחַמָּה וְלִימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים — אֵינוֹ בַּיִת. אֵיתִיבֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי, וְהָכְתִיב: ״וְהִכֵּיתִי (אֶת) בֵּית הַחוֹרֶף עַל בֵּית הַקָּיִץ״! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״בֵּית חוֹרֶף״ וּ״בֵית קַיִץ״ אִיקְּרִי, ״בַּיִת״ סְתָמָא לָא אִיקְּרִי.

The Gemara asks: What is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda that there was no fundamental obligation to affix a mezuza in the Parhedrin chamber, and that one was affixed there due to a decree? Rava said that Rabbi Yehuda holds: The legal status of any house that is not designated for residence both for the summer and for the rainy season is not that of a house and therefore does not require a mezuza. Abaye raised an objection to his opinion from a verse. How could you suggest that the legal status of a residence occupied for only part of the year is not that of a house? Isn’t it written: “I will strike the winter-house with the summer-house” (Amos 3:15)? Apparently, even a residence occupied only half the year is a house. Rava said to him: A residence occupied only part of the year may be called the winter-house or the summer-house. It is not called a house unmodified. A house is a structure used year round.

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: סוּכַּת הֶחָג בֶּחָג, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מְחַיֵּיב וַחֲכָמִים פּוֹטְרִין. וְתָנֵי עֲלַהּ: רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מְחַיֵּיב בְּעֵירוּב וּבִמְזוּזָה וּבְמַעֲשֵׂר!

Abaye raised a different objection to the opinion of Rava, from a mishna: If one brought produce from the field into the sukka that he constructed for the festival of Sukkot on the festival of Sukkot, Rabbi Yehuda obligates him to tithe the produce and the Rabbis exempt him from tithing the produce. And it was taught concerning the mishna: Rabbi Yehuda obligates the owner of that sukka to include the sukka in the joining of courtyards, like any of the houses in the courtyard; and in the mitzva of affixing a mezuza in the sukka; and in separating tithes from produce brought into the sukka. One is obligated to tithe his produce only when its processing has been completed. When he brings the produce into the house, he is obligated to tithe it. Rabbi Yehuda holds that the legal status of a sukka, in which one resides for a mere seven days, is that of a house in terms of the mitzva of mezuza.

וְכִי תֵּימָא מִדְּרַבָּנַן, בִּשְׁלָמָא עֵירוּב וּמְזוּזָה אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר מִדְּרַבָּנַן, אֶלָּא מַעֲשֵׂר, מִי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר מִדְּרַבָּנַן?

And if you say that Rabbi Yehuda rules that by rabbinic law the status of the sukka is like that of a house, but that by Torah law his opinion is consistent with Rava’s opinion, granted, with regard to the joining of courtyards and mezuza, it is possible to say that the obligation is by rabbinic law; however, with regard to tithes, is it possible to say that according to Rabbi Yehuda the obligation is by rabbinic law?

דִּילְמָא אָתֵי לְאַפְרוֹשֵׁי מִן הַחִיּוּב עַל הַפְּטוּר וּמִן הַפְּטוּר עַל הַחִיּוּב.

In that case, there is the concern lest one come to separate tithes from the obligated produce to fulfill the obligation for the exempt produce, or from the exempt produce to fulfill the obligation for the obligated produce. Produce that one is obligated to tithe by rabbinic law has the status of exempt produce by Torah law. Since it is difficult to distinguish between produce that one is obligated to tithe by Torah law and produce that one is obligated to tithe by rabbinic law, one might seek to fulfill his obligation by separating tithes from one for the other. In both cases, both the produce designated as a tithe and the produce for which it was tithed would retain the status of untithed produce. Therefore, Rabbi Yehuda could not have said that a sukka is considered a house by rabbinic law.

אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: בְּשִׁבְעָה — דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּמִיחַיְּיבָא. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה. רַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: גָּזְרִינַן שְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה אַטּוּ שִׁבְעָה, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: לָא גָּזְרִינַן.

Rather, Abaye said: The dispute with regard to the mezuza in the Parhedrin chamber must be explained differently. During the seven days that the High Priest lives in the Parhedrin chamber during his sequestering, everyone agrees that the chamber is obligated in the mitzva to affix a mezuza there. When they disagree is with regard to the rest of the days of the year, when no one resides there. The Rabbis hold: We issue a decree and require that a mezuza be affixed during the rest of the year due to those seven days that the High Priest lives there; and Rabbi Yehuda holds: We do not issue that decree, and there is no obligation to affix a mezuza to the chamber the rest of the year.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: וְהָא סוּכַּת הֶחָג בֶּחָג קָתָנֵי?

Rava said to him: But isn’t it taught in the mishna cited above: The sukka that he constructed for the festival of Sukkot on the festival of Sukkot? Apparently, contrary to the opinion of Abaye, the dispute is whether or not there is an obligation to affix a mezuza to the sukka during the Festival itself. If, as Abaye said, the tanna’im agree that there is an obligation to affix a mezuza during the festival of Sukkot even though it is used for only a brief period, on what basis do the Rabbis rule that there is no obligation even on the Festival itself?

אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דִּפְטוּרָה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּשִׁבְעָה. וְסוּכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד, וְלִשְׁכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד.

Rather, Rava said: During the rest of the days of the year, everyone agrees that the Parhedrin chamber is exempt from the obligation to affix a mezuza there. When they disagree is with regard to the seven days that the High Priest lives there, and with regard to a sukka during the Festival. And in order to resolve the contradiction between the opinions about the obligation of the chamber and of the sukka, the Gemara asserts: With regard to the sukka the reason is discrete, and with regard to the chamber the reason is discrete.

סוּכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד — רַבִּי יְהוּדָה לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר: סוּכָּה דִּירַת קֶבַע בָּעֵינַן, וּמִיחַיְּיבָא בִּמְזוּזָה. וְרַבָּנַן לְטַעְמַיְיהוּ, דְּאָמְרִי: סוּכָּה דִּירַת עֲרַאי בָּעֵינַן, וְלָא מִיחַיְּיבָא בִּמְזוּזָה.

The Gemara explains: With regard to sukka, the reason is discrete. Rabbi Yehuda conforms to his standard line of reasoning, as he said: In order to fulfill the mitzva of sukka, we require a well-built permanent residence. A permanent residence is obligated in the mitzva of mezuza. The Rabbis conform to their standard line of reasoning, as they say: In order to fulfill the mitzva of sukka, we require a temporary residence, not a full-fledged house. A temporary residence is not obligated in the mitzva of mezuza.

וְלִשְׁכָּה טַעְמָא לְחוּד, רַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: דִּירָה בְּעַל כׇּרְחָהּ שְׁמָהּ דִּירָה. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: דִּירָה בְּעַל כׇּרְחָהּ לֹא שְׁמָהּ דִּירָה, וּמִדְּרַבָּנַן הוּא דְּתַקִּינוּ לַהּ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ: כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין.

And similarly, with regard to the chamber, the reason is discrete. The Rabbis hold: A residence in which one resides involuntarily is nevertheless considered a residence. Although the High Priest resides in the Parhedrin chamber due to a mitzva and not of his own volition, its legal status is that of a residence and a mezuza must be affixed. And Rabbi Yehuda holds: A residence in which one resides involuntarily is not considered a residence. Therefore, there should be no obligation to affix a mezuza in the Parhedrin chamber, just as there is no obligation to do so in the other Temple chambers in which priests reside. However, the Sages instituted this obligation by rabbinic law so that people will not say: The High Priest is imprisoned in jail, as only in substandard residences that appear unfit for residence is there no obligation to affix a mezuza.

מַאן תְּנָא לְהָא דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן:

Who is the tanna who taught the following baraita? As the Sages taught:

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