Rosh Hashanah 24a

ראש השנה כ״ד ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 24a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Examining witnesses of the new moon, the declaration of "מקודש", and רבן גמליאל's moon drawings

Overview

The amud opens with the last words of an earlier discussion about the shape of the rainbow. The גמרא then explains the משנה's questions for witnesses of the new moon: which side of the sun it was on (it depends on the season) and how much two witnesses may differ about its height. ברייתות teach that a moon seen in water, through clouds or through a lantern does not count, even if half of it was seen directly. A sighting that a careful second search cannot find is also rejected, because it may have been a cloud. A new משנה describes the ראש בית דין declaring "מקודש" and the people answering twice, and the גמרא brings פסוקים as sources for each part. The גמרא records a three-way argument about when a month is formally sanctified and rules like רבי אלעזר ברבי צדוק. Finally, רבן גמליאל's drawings of the moon raise the question of making images of heavenly bodies. אביי answers that only things that can truly be copied are forbidden, and a ברייתא supporting him continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. ConclusionThe end of the rainbow explanation
2. StatementWhich side of the sun was the moon on?
3. ChallengeA second ברייתא says the opposite
4. ResolutionSummer versus the rainy season
5. StatementHow much witnesses may differ about the moon's height
6. StatementA moon seen in water, a lantern, or clouds is not valid
7. ChallengeWhy teach half if the whole moon is already not valid?
8. ResolutionHalf was seen directly and half indirectly
9. StatementSeen once but not seen again
10. ChallengeMust witnesses keep watching the moon?
11. Resolutionאביי: they looked again on purpose and found nothing
12. StatementThe court head declares the month holy and the people answer
13. StatementNo declaration when the moon was not seen on time
14. QuestionWhere do we learn that the court head declares the month?
15. Responseמשה declared the festivals, so the court head declares
16. QuestionWhere do we learn that the people answer?
17. ResponseRead "them" as "you"
18. Response"They" shall say My appointed times
19. QuestionWhy say 'sanctified' twice?
20. ResponseThe plural 'sacred convocations'
21. Statementרבי אלעזר ברבי צדוק: no sanctifying if the moon was not seen on time
22. Statementפלימו: sanctify only when it is not on time
23. Statementרבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון: months are never sanctified
24. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רבי אלעזר ברבי צדוק
25. Proofאביי brings support from another משנה
26. RejectionThe word 'full month' had its own purpose, so there is no proof
27. Statementרבן גמליאל's pictures of the moon
28. ChallengeIsn't it forbidden to make images of God's attendants?
29. Resolutionאביי: only copyable attendants are forbidden
30. Proofברייתא: do not copy the Temple and its vessels