Rosh Hashanah 28a

ראש השנה כ״ח ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 28a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Hearing part of a שופר blast, blowing a שופר that is forbidden for benefit, the rule מצוות לאו ליהנות ניתנו, and doing a מצוה without intention.

Overview

רבה rules that a שופר blast heard partly in a pit and partly at its edge counts, but one heard partly before dawn and partly after dawn does not. The גמרא defends the difference: night is never a time for the מצוה, while a pit is a valid place for those inside it. After testing whether part of a blast is enough, the גמרא concludes that it is not, and explains that רבה meant a blower climbing out of the pit who hears the whole blast himself. רב יהודה then rules on a שופר from an עולה or from שלמים. רבא first says neither works and then rules that both work, because מצוות לאו ליהנות ניתנו. רב יהודה adds that a שופר of עבודה זרה works after the fact, but one from an עיר הנדחת does not, since its size counts as already crushed. רבא applies his principle to vows against benefit, unless the מצוה also brings physical pleasure. Finally, from the ruling that one forced to eat מצה is יצא, רבא learns that one who blows שופר for music is יצא, and the גמרא begins explaining why this needed to be said, continuing on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. Statementרבה's two rulings: pit and edge counts, before and after dawn does not
2. Challengeאביי asks why the two cases are different
3. ResolutionNight is never valid, but a pit is valid for those inside it
4. QuestionDoes רבה hold that only the end, or only the beginning, is enough?
5. ProofProof attempt from the stretched blast
6. RejectionWe never split one blast into two
7. ChallengeProof from blowing into a pit
8. Resolutionרבה meant the blower himself climbing out
9. ChallengeThen why did רבה need to say it?
10. ResolutionHis head may come out before the שופר
11. StatementA שופר from an עולה versus from שלמים
12. QuestionWhy the difference?
13. ResponseThe answer: מעילה makes the עולה non-holy
14. Challengeרבא: The misuse only happens after the blowing
15. Statementרבא's first ruling: neither one works
16. Conclusionרבא changes his mind: both work
17. Statementרב יהודה on a שופר of עבודה זרה and of an עיר הנדחת
18. QuestionWhy the עיר הנדחת שופר does not work
19. ResponseThe condemned city's property counts as already crushed
20. StatementA vow against benefit does not block blowing for a מצוה
21. StatementSprinkling and immersion are allowed only when there is no pleasure
22. StatementA ruling sent: forced to eat מצה, he is יצא
23. QuestionWho forced him?
24. ChallengeIt can't mean a שד, since an insane person is exempt
25. Resolutionרב אשי: Persians forced him to eat
26. Statementרבא: Blowing שופר for music still counts
27. ChallengeIsn't this the same as the מצה case?
28. ResolutionWhy שופר might have seemed different: the תורה said 'eat,' and he ate