Rosh Hashanah 11a

ראש השנה י״א ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The מחלוקת of רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע over תשרי or ניסן as the month of creation, the אבות and the גאולה, and the sources for events tied to פסח and ראש השנה

Overview

This amud finishes רבי אליעזר's list of big events tied to תשרי. It then gives רבי יהושע's list, which moves creation, the birth and death of the אבות, and the future גאולה to ניסן. A ברייתא brings each side's proof that the world was created in their month, from the פסוקים of creation and from the season. Each side then explains away the other's פסוק. Next they argue over when the אבות were born, from 'ירח האיתנים' or 'חודש זיו'. This brings in רב יהודה's ברכה on blossoming trees. Both agree the אבות died in their birth month, because ה׳ completes the years of צדיקים exactly. The גמרא then proves that יצחק was born on פסח, working through pregnancy lengths and a leap year. It shows from two גזרות שוות that שרה, רחל and חנה were remembered on ראש השנה, and it begins the source that יוסף left prison on ראש השנה, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (36)

1. StatementEnd of רבי אליעזר's list: slavery ends, redemption past and future
2. Statementרבי יהושע's list: most events placed in ניסן
3. Proofרבי אליעזר's proof that the world was created in תשרי
4. Proofרבי אליעזר's second support: the rainy season
5. Proofרבי יהושע's proof that the world was created in ניסן
6. Proofרבי יהושע's second support: the mating season of animals
7. ChallengeChallenge to רבי אליעזר from 'a tree making fruit'
8. Resolution'Making fruit' is a blessing for the future
9. ChallengeChallenge to רבי יהושע from 'a fruit tree'
10. ResolutionCreation came out fully grown
11. ProofThe אבות were born in תשרי, the 'month of the mighty'
12. QuestionHow do we know 'איתן' means mighty?
13. Responseפסוקים showing 'איתן' means mighty, and the merit of the אבות
14. Proofרבי יהושע proves the אבות were born in ניסן
15. ChallengeHow does רבי יהושע explain 'ירח האיתנים'?
16. Resolutionתשרי is strong in מצוות
17. ChallengeHow does רבי אליעזר explain 'חודש זיו'?
18. Resolutionזיו means the shine of the trees
19. Proofרב יהודה's ברכה on blossoming trees
20. StatementThe אבות died in the same month they were born
21. Proofמשה said 'today' I am 120
22. Conclusionהקדוש ברוך הוא completes the years of צדיקים exactly
23. QuestionSource for יצחק being born on פסח
24. ResponseThe angel's promise: 'At the appointed time I will return'
25. ChallengeCould the angel have spoken on פסח?
26. ChallengeCould the angel have spoken on שבועות?
27. ResolutionThe angel spoke on סוכות about ניסן
28. ChallengeSix months is still too short
29. ResolutionThat year was a leap year
30. ChallengeSubtracting the days of impurity leaves less than seven months
31. ResolutionA seven-month baby can be born early
32. Questionשרה, רחל and חנה were remembered on ראש השנה
33. Responseרבי אלעזר's verbal link through 'remembering'
34. ResponseLinking שרה to חנה through the word 'visited' (פקידה)
35. QuestionAsking for the source that יוסף left prison on ראש השנה
36. ResponseA פסוק about blowing שופר on the festival at the new month