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Rosh Hashanah 33a

ראש השנה ל״ג ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 33a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Rosh Hashanah 33a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The שופר on ראש השנה: what may be done to prepare it, whether women and children may blow, and training children even on שבת.

Overview

The גמרא goes through several lines of the משנה about the שופר on ראש השנה. First it explains that cutting the שופר is forbidden both with a sickle (a שבות) and with a knife (a לא תעשה), and that the משנה names both in a 'this, and certainly that' style. Next it learns from the משנה that water or wine may be poured into the שופר but urine may not, and says this follows אבא שאול, who forbids urine out of respect for the שופר. Then the משנה says we do not stop children from blowing, which suggests that women are stopped. A ברייתא says women are not stopped either. אביי settles this: the משנה follows רבי יהודה, and the ברייתא follows רבי יוסי ורבי שמעון, who argue in the same way about women doing סמיכה. Finally, רבי אלעזר and a ברייתא teach that we train children to blow even on שבת. The גמרא then points out that this ברייתא seems to contradict itself and begins to answer, an answer that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאֵין חוֹתְכִין אוֹתוֹ,

And one may not cut it,

בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁהוּא מִשּׁוּם שְׁבוּת

neither with something that is forbidden because of a rabbinic prohibition

וּבֵין בְּדָבָר שֶׁהוּא מִשּׁוּם לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.

nor with something that is forbidden because of a Torah prohibition.

מִשּׁוּם שְׁבוּת — מַגָּלָא.

Because of a rabbinic prohibition: a sickle.

The steps (19)

  1. StatementThe משנה: no cutting the שופר
  2. StatementSickle versus knife
  3. ChallengeWhy mention the obvious case?
  4. ResolutionThe 'this, and certainly that' style
  5. StatementThe משנה: water or wine may be added
  6. StatementInference: urine is not allowed
  7. QuestionWhose opinion is the משנה?
  8. ResponseIt is אבא שאול
  9. Proofאבא שאול's ברייתא: respect for the שופר
  10. StatementThe משנה: we do not stop children from blowing
  11. StatementInference: women would be stopped
  12. ChallengeA ברייתא says women are not stopped either
  13. Resolutionאביי: the two sources follow different תנאים
  14. ProofProof: their מחלוקת about women doing סמיכה
  15. StatementThe משנה: we work with children until they learn
  16. Statementרבי אלעזר: even on שבת
  17. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי אלעזר
  18. ChallengeThe ברייתא seems to contradict itself
  19. ResolutionThe answer begins: the two lines are not really in conflict