Rosh Hashanah 24b

ראש השנה כ״ד ע״ב

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Topic

Which images are forbidden under לא תעשון אתי, and why רבן גמליאל's moon pictures were allowed

Overview

This amud asks why רבן גמליאל was allowed to have pictures of the moon. It first finishes a ברייתא about copying Temple objects: a seven-branched מנורה may not be made, even of other metals, though the חכמים reject רבי יוסי בר יהודה's claim that wood is also forbidden. The גמרא then tests the ban of לא תעשון אתי on picturing God's heavenly attendants. אביי limits it first to the four faces together, then to the attendants of the upper heaven. Along the way, the human face turns out to be forbidden from its own source, לא תעשון אותי. A ברייתא that clearly forbids making images of the sun and moon knocks out that approach. So the גמרא answers that others made רבן גמליאל's pictures for him, and it discusses the worry of suspicion with רב יהודה's ring and a בית כנסת in נהרדעא. It ends with three answers: a נשיא is never alone, the pictures were in pieces, or he made them in order to learn. A new משנה then begins about two witnesses who saw the moon in the morning in the east.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ProofA seven-branched מנורה may not be copied, even in other metals
2. Statementרבי יוסי בר יהודה adds that a wooden מנורה is also forbidden
3. RejectionThe חכמים reject the proof from the חשמונאים
4. ChallengeChallenge: images of heavenly attendants are forbidden even though they cannot be copied exactly
5. Resolutionאביי: only all four faces together are forbidden
6. ChallengeChallenge: then why is a human face alone forbidden?
7. ResolutionA separate source forbids the human face: 'Do not make Me'
8. ChallengeAre images of the other heavenly attendants allowed?
9. ResolutionOnly attendants of the upper heaven are forbidden
10. ChallengeAre the sun and moon really allowed?
11. ResolutionThat ברייתא is about worshipping them
12. ChallengeThen even a tiny worm should be included
13. ResolutionYes, the same ברייתא does include a tiny worm
14. ChallengeA ברייתא forbids just making images of the sun and moon
15. ResolutionOthers made the pictures for רבן גמליאל
16. ChallengeThe case of רב יהודה's ring
17. ResolutionThat ring had a raised image, so the problem was suspicion
18. ProofA ברייתא about raised and sunken ring seals
19. ChallengeGreat rabbis prayed in a שול with a statue
20. ResolutionA crowd is different
21. ChallengeBut רבן גמליאל was one person
22. ResolutionA נשיא is always surrounded by people
23. ResolutionThe pictures were made in pieces
24. Resolutionרבן גמליאל made the pictures in order to learn
25. StatementNew משנה: two witnesses saw the moon in the morning in the east