Rosh Hashanah 26a

ראש השנה כ״ו ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 26a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Rosh Hashanah 26a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Witnesses as judges for קידוש החודש; why the רבנן disqualify a cow's horn as a שופר; foreign words that explain words in תנ״ך

Overview

The גמרא finishes a question about witnesses to the new moon: רבי עקיבא says a witness cannot become a judge, but only in דיני נפשות, where judges must look for זכות, so he agrees for קידוש החודש. A new משנה then says all שופרות are kosher except a cow's horn, because it is a קרן, and רבי יוסי objects that every שופר is called קרן. The רבנן answer that a cow's horn is never called שופר, and the two sides argue over the פסוק 'שׁוֹר פָּר'. עולא gives another reason for the רבנן: a cow's horn recalls the golden calf, and an accuser cannot become a defender. After a series of challenges about gold in the קודש הקדשים, the rule is that this applies inside, and a שופר counts as inside because it is for remembrance. אביי gives a third reason: a cow's horn is layered, so it looks like several שופרות. רבי יוסי rejects each reason. The גמרא then proves that יובל means a ram, and brings a list of words the חכמים heard in other lands that explain words in תנ״ך. The amud ends as a story about לוי begins, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (40)

1. ChallengeA ברייתא where רבי עקיבא says a witness cannot become a judge
2. Resolutionרבי עקיבא's rule applies only to capital cases
3. StatementNew משנה: all horns are kosher except a cow's
4. Challengeרבי יוסי: every שופר is called a קרן
5. ChallengeThe גמרא: רבי יוסי's point sounds convincing
6. ResolutionThe רבנן: a cow's horn is called only קרן, never שופר
7. Resolutionרבי יוסי: a cow's horn is also called a שופר
8. ResolutionThe רבנן read the פסוק like רב מתנה
9. Statementעולא: a prosecutor cannot become a defender
10. ChallengeBut the bull's blood is brought inside
11. ResolutionBlood is different because it has changed
12. ChallengeBut the Ark, its cover and the cherubs are gold
13. ResolutionThe rule is only about what a sinner brings in
14. ChallengeBut the spoon and coal pan are gold and brought in
15. ResolutionThe rule is only about wearing gold
16. ChallengeBut he wears gold clothes outside
17. ResolutionThe rule is only inside
18. ChallengeBut a שופר is blown outside too
19. ResolutionA שופר is for remembrance, so it counts as inside
20. ChallengeBut the תנא said the reason is 'it is a קרן'
21. ResolutionThe תנא gave two reasons
22. QuestionHow would רבי יוסי answer?
23. Responseרבי יוסי rejects both reasons
24. Statementאביי's reason: one shofar, not several
25. ChallengeBut the משנה says 'because it is a קרן'
26. ResolutionThe תנא gave two reasons
27. Rejectionרבי יוסי: the layers are joined, so it is one שופר
28. QuestionHow do we know יובל means a ram?
29. ResponseIn Arabia they called a ram יובלא
30. StatementIn Galia a נדה was called גלמודה
31. StatementIn Africa a מעה was called קשיטה
32. QuestionWhy does knowing about קשיטה matter?
33. ResponseIt explains 'one hundred קשיטה' in the תורה
34. StatementIn the sea towns a sale was called כירה
35. QuestionWhy does knowing about כירה matter?
36. ResponseIt explains 'אשר כריתי לי'
37. StatementA bride is called נינפי and a rooster שכוי
38. ProofThe פסוק for נינפי: 'יפה נוף'
39. ProofThe פסוק for שכוי: the rooster's understanding
40. Statementלוי arrives in a town and a man approaches him