Gemara Clarity

Rosh Hashanah 22b

ראש השנה כ״ב ע״ב

Learn Rosh Hashanah 22b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Rosh Hashanah 22b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Witnesses for the new moon and how the new month was announced

Overview

The amud opens by asking how many people must vouch for an unknown witness of the new moon. רב פפא says the משנה's 'another' means another pair, and the word 'אותו' in the same משנה backs him up. A story about רבי נהוראי seems to show one person vouching alone. The גמרא explains that a second witness was really involved, and learns from the story that שבת may be broken for this even when it is uncertain the trip will help. עולא and רב כהנא then teach that even one ordinary person is believed when he reports that בית דין sanctified the month, because people do not lie about things that will come out. A ברייתא tells how the ביתוסים bribed false witnesses, which led the חכמים to accept only known witnesses. A new משנה describes the torch signals that relayed the news from mountain to mountain until the כותים ruined the system and messengers replaced it. The גמרא proves that מַשִּׂיאִין means burning. It then asks why torches were lit only after a 29-day month, and רבי זירא's answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְחַד מִי מְהֵימַן?!

But is one witness believed?!

וְהָתַנְיָא:

But isn't it taught in a ברייתא:

מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁבָּא הוּא

There was an incident in which he came to testify

וְעֵדָיו עִמּוֹ לְהָעִיד עָלָיו!

and his witnesses were with him to testify about him!

The steps (28)

  1. ChallengeCan one person vouch for a witness?
  2. Resolutionרב פפא: 'another' means another pair
  3. ProofSupport from the word 'אותו' in the same משנה
  4. ChallengeThe story of Rabbi Nehorai in Usha
  5. ResolutionA second witness came but was not named
  6. Resolutionרב אשי: the second witness was already in Usha
  7. ChallengeThen why tell the story at all?
  8. ResolutionThe story teaches that we break שבת even when it is uncertain
  9. Statementעולא reports that the month was sanctified in ארץ ישראל
  10. Statementרב כהנא: Even an ordinary person is believed about this
  11. ProofA ברייתא supports רב כהנא
  12. StatementQuoting the משנה: Testimony used to be accepted from anyone
  13. StatementThe ביתוסים hire two false witnesses
  14. StatementOur witness gives an absurd description and reveals the bribe
  15. QuestionThe Sages ask the witness why he did this
  16. ResponseThe witness explains he went to warn the Sages
  17. ConclusionThe witness keeps the money and the hirer is punished
  18. ConclusionEnactment to accept only known witnesses
  19. StatementNew משנה: torches at first, messengers later
  20. QuestionHow were the torches lit?
  21. ResponseThe torch method, mountain to mountain
  22. QuestionFrom which mountains were the torches lit?
  23. ResponseThe mountain-to-mountain route of the signal
  24. QuestionHow do we know מַשִּׂיאִין means lighting a fire?
  25. ResponseProof from דוד burning the idols
  26. StatementTorches only for a month declared on time
  27. QuestionWhy no torches after a full month?
  28. Responseרבי זירא: a גזירה because of ערב שבת