Rosh Hashanah 15a

ראש השנה ט״ו ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 15a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The new year of the אתרוג (שבט, by the calendar, even in a leap year), and how an אתרוג crossing into or out of שביעית is treated for מעשר and ביעור.

Overview

The גמרא shows that רבה בר רב הונא's earlier statement cannot be right, because a ברייתא that follows רבן גמליאל's 'picking' rule still uses שבט. So his statement is corrected: even for רבן גמליאל, the אתרוג's new year is שבט. The גמרא then explains why the אתרוג ברייתא uses the example of the third year going into the fourth. An אתרוג tree handled by everyone in שביעית gives no fruit for three years. רבי ינאי teaches that the אתרוג's new year is the calendar month of שבט, and that it stays there even in a leap year. רבה and רב המנונא disagree about an אתרוג that crosses into or out of שביעית, and they treat מעשר and ביעור differently. A ברייתא of רבי שמעון challenges them both. The גמרא answers that the matter is a מחלוקת תנאים, and it brings the testimony of the five Elders and the vote at אושא. The amud ends by asking why the אושא ruling mentions שביעית at all, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ChallengeThe ברייתא follows רבן גמליאל but says שבט
2. Resolutionרבה בר רב הונא's statement corrected to say שבט
3. QuestionWhy do the two ברייתות use different years as examples?
4. ResponseThe אתרוג tree is harmed by handling during שביעית
5. QuestionWhen is the new year of an אתרוג?
6. ResponseThe answer: שבט
7. QuestionWhich שבט: the calendar month or the solar season?
8. ResponseThe answer: the calendar month
9. QuestionWhat about a leap year?
10. ResponseFollow most years
11. Statementרבה's rule for an אתרוג crossing into or out of the שמיטה year
12. Challengeאביי: the first case seems to follow two different dates
13. Resolutionרבה explains why the first אתרוג is exempt from tithes
14. Statementרב המנונא says the אתרוג always follows the year it began growing
15. ChallengeA ברייתא says both אתרוגים are exempt from both tithes and elimination
16. ChallengePinpointing whom each half of the baraita challenges
17. ResolutionThe issue is a dispute among the תנאים
18. QuestionWhy does the ruling at אושא mention שביעית?