Rosh Hashanah 26b

ראש השנה כ״ו ע״ב

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

Open Rosh Hashanah 26b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Rare words the חכמים learned from everyday speech, and the משנה and גמרא on which shape of שופר is blown on ראש השנה, the יובל, and fast days

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a series of stories about rare words. לוי did not know the word קבע, and the בית מדרש showed from a פסוק in מלאכי that it means 'rob.' רבא מברניש says he would have worked it out by asking the man questions, and the גמרא explains why לוי did not. Then the חכמים learn four words from רבי's maidservant (סירוגין, חלוגלוגות, סלסלה, and the words for 'sweep' and 'broom'), and a fifth, יהב ('load'), from an Arab traveler. Next comes a new משנה. On ראש השנה a straight ibex שופר is blown with trumpets beside it, and the שופר gets the long blast. On fast days curved ram horns are used, and the trumpets get the long blast. The יובל matches ראש השנה, but רבי יהודה disagrees about which horn is used. In the גמרא, רבי לוי rules that curved horns are used on ראש השנה and יום הכפורים of the יובל. The גמרא shows he follows רבי יהודה only in part. It ends by explaining that the dispute is about whether a day calls for a bent, humble mind or a straight one.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. QuestionA strange word: someone says 'so-and-so did קבע to me'
2. ResponseThe study hall explains: קבע means 'robbed'
3. Challengeרבא מברניש: I would have figured it out by asking questions
4. Resolutionלוי thought it was a matter of איסור
5. Proofסירוגין means 'on and off,' learned from רבי's maidservant
6. Proofחלוגלוגות means purslane
7. Proofסלסלה means 'turn it about,' like curling hair
8. ProofLearning the word for 'sweep' from the maidservant
9. ProofLearning the word for 'load' from an Arab traveler
10. StatementThe שופר and trumpets on ראש השנה
11. StatementThe שופרות and trumpets on fast days
12. Statementיום הכפורים of the יובל matches ראש השנה; רבי יהודה disagrees about the horn
13. Statementרבי לוי: curved horns on ראש השנה and יום הכפורים, straight horns the rest of the year
14. ChallengeBut the משנה says the ראש השנה שופר is a straight ibex horn
15. Resolutionרבי לוי follows רבי יהודה's ברייתא
16. ChallengeWhy not just say the הלכה follows רבי יהודה?
17. ResolutionHe only agrees with רבי יהודה about ראש השנה, not the יובל
18. QuestionWhat is the underlying disagreement?
19. ResponseBending the mind in humility versus keeping it straight