Moed Katan 26a

מועד קטן כ״ו ע״א

Learn Moed Katan 26a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

קרעין שאין מתאחין: which mourning tears are never mended, the sources for each, and how to tear and stitch them

Overview

This amud opens with a ברייתא that lists the tears of mourning that may never be properly sewn back together. They are for a parent, one's רבו who taught him תורה, the נשיא, the אב בית דין, bad news, ברכת השם, a burned ספר תורה, and the ruined ערי יהודה, מקדש and ירושלים. The גמרא then finds a פסוק for each case. אלישע's cry as אליהו went up to heaven teaches the rule for parents and for a רבו, and the extra words 'into two pieces' show the tear stays forever. דוד's mourning for שאול and יהונתן teaches the rule for the נשיא, the אב בית דין and bad news. Bad news here means only a disaster that strikes most of the nation. חזקיהו's officials teach the rule for ברכת השם, and יהויקים burning ירמיהו's scroll teaches the rule for a burned ספר תורה. רב הונא adds that a torn ספר תורה needs two tears, and שמואל limits this to destruction by force. Finally, the גמרא gives the פסוקים to say over the ruined cities, ירושלים and the מקדש, and settles when one tear is enough. It ends with a ברייתא allowing rough stitching but not real mending, and begins a statement of רב חסדא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (46)

1. StatementThe list of tears that are never mended
2. QuestionWhere do we learn tearing for parents and a teacher?
3. Responseאלישע's cry teaches both cases
4. QuestionHow do 'chariots' mean a teacher?
5. Responseרב יוסף's translation: a teacher's prayers protect better than an army
6. QuestionWhere do we learn that these tears are never mended?
7. Response'Into two pieces' means torn forever
8. ChallengeBut אליהו did not die
9. ResolutionTo אלישע, it was as if אליהו died
10. QuestionWhere do we learn to tear for a נשיא, an אב בית דין, and bad news?
11. Responseדוד tears for שאול and יהונתן
12. ResponseMatching each part of the פסוק to a case
13. ChallengeMaybe you tear only when all of these happen together
14. ResolutionThe repeated word 'for' separates each case
15. ChallengeDid שמואל not tear for terrible news?
16. ResolutionOnly when most of the community is struck
17. ChallengeDid שבור ever kill Jews?
18. ResolutionThey brought it on themselves
19. QuestionSource for tearing on hearing ה׳'s name cursed
20. Responseחזקיהו's officials came with torn clothes
21. StatementWho must tear on hearing ה׳ cursed
22. ChallengeWhy not tear again when hearing it in court?
23. ResolutionOnly the king tore, not the messengers
24. QuestionSource that these tears are never sewn up
25. ResponseLearned from the word 'tearing'
26. QuestionSource for tearing over a burned ספר תורה
27. Responseיהויקים burned ירמיהו's scroll
28. QuestionWhat are 'three or four columns'?
29. Responseיהויקים hears the first verses of איכה
30. ResponseThe fifth פסוק and the burning of ה׳'s names
31. ProofThey did not tear, so they should have torn
32. ChallengeMaybe the tearing was for the bad news
33. ResolutionThe bad news had not happened yet
34. StatementTwo tears for a torn ספר תורה
35. Statementרבי אבא's תפילין and the ostrich
36. Statementרבי אבא thinks he would have needed two tears
37. ChallengeWhere do you get that from?
38. Rejectionשמואל: tearing applies only to destruction by force
39. QuestionWhat is the source for tearing over the cities of Judah?
40. ResponseMen came with torn clothes
41. StatementWhat to say and tear for the cities, Jerusalem, and the Temple
42. StatementTear for the Temple and extend it for Jerusalem
43. ChallengeAnother teaching says two separate tears
44. ResolutionIt depends on which place you reach first
45. StatementLoose stitching is allowed but proper mending is not
46. StatementIntroducing a statement of רב חסדא