Rosh Hashanah 11b

ראש השנה י״א ע״ב

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

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Topic

The dispute between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע over ניסן and תשרי: the end of the slavery, the Exodus, the future גאולה, and the date of the מבול.

Overview

This amud continues the long ברייתא about which month is the month of great events. It first finishes the proof that יוסף left prison on ראש השנה. Then a גזירה שוה on the word 'burden' (סבל) shows that the slavery in מצרים stopped on ראש השנה. The Exodus itself was in ניסן, as the תורה says openly. The first opinion, רבי אליעזר, says the future גאולה will be in תשרי, learned from the word שופר. רבי יהושע says it will be in ניסן, because the night of פסח is a 'ליל שמורים', set aside for redemption since Creation. רבי אליעזר reads that verse instead as a night guarded from מזיקין. Finally the גמרא shows that both תנאים stay consistent in another argument: רבי יהושע says the מבול began in אייר through a change in nature, and רבי אליעזר says it began in מרחשון, the natural rainy season.

Opening lines

The steps (13)

1. ProofFinishing the proof that יוסף left prison on ראש השנה
2. StatementThe slavery in מצרים stopped on ראש השנה
3. ProofProof from the word 'burden'
4. StatementThe Exodus happened in ניסן
5. StatementThe future redemption will be in תשרי
6. ProofProof from the word 'שופר'
7. Statementרבי יהושע: both redemptions are in ניסן
8. QuestionAsking for רבי יהושע's source
9. ResponseThe night of watching since Creation
10. ResponseHow רבי אליעזר reads the verse 'ליל שמורים'
11. StatementBoth תנאים stay consistent: setting up the flood ברייתא
12. Statementרבי יהושע: the flood began in אייר through a change in nature
13. Statementרבי אליעזר: the flood began in מרחשון, the rainy season