Rosh Hashanah 35a

ראש השנה ל״ה ע״א

Learn Rosh Hashanah 35a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The שליח ציבור and the ברכות of ראש השנה and יום הכיפורים: who agrees with רבן גמליאל, why, whom he exempts, and preparing one's תפילה.

Overview

רבי יוחנן said two things that seem to clash: that the חכמים agree with רבן גמליאל that the שליח ציבור fulfills everyone's obligation, and that 'the הלכה follows רבן גמליאל', which implies someone still disagrees. רבי אבא's first answer, that the two statements are about different prayers, is rejected. רב נחמן בר יצחק then explains that רבי מאיר is the one who agrees, while the רבנן still argue, and a ברייתא proves this. The גמרא explains that רבי מאיר makes this exception for ראש השנה and יום הכיפורים because those ברכות are many and long, not because of their פסוקים. רב rules that saying 'ובתורתך כתוב לאמר' is enough without reciting the פסוקים, and רבי יהושע בן לוי says this holds for a יחיד and a ציבור alike. רבי אלעזר teaches that a person should arrange his תפילה before praying, and רבי אבא limits this to rare prayers; רב יהודה's practice fits because he prayed only once a month. Finally, the גמרא concludes that רבן גמליאל let the שליח ציבור exempt only field workers, who are kept away by their work, and not people in the city. The amud ends with the הדרן that completes מסכת ראש השנה.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. Resolutionרבי אבא splits the two statements by type of prayer
2. ChallengeChallenge from רבי חנה ציפוראה
3. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק splits the statements by who is speaking
4. ProofA ברייתא shows the disagreement between רבי מאיר and the Sages
5. QuestionWhat makes these days different?
6. RejectionThe many verses cannot be the reason
7. ResponseBecause there are many blessings
8. StatementLooking again at רב's ruling
9. StatementSome thought it was only for an individual
10. RejectionIt applies to an individual and a congregation alike
11. StatementArrange your prayer before you pray
12. Statementרבי אבא limits it to rare prayers
13. ChallengeBut רב יהודה arranged even his regular prayers
14. Resolutionרב יהודה prayed only once a month
15. Statementרבן גמליאל exempted even the people in the fields
16. QuestionSo surely the people in the city are covered too
17. ChallengeOn the contrary: the field workers have an excuse, the city people do not
18. ProofSupport: people behind the כהנים are left out of the blessing
19. ResolutionCorrected report: only the people in the fields were exempted
20. ConclusionHadran: Closing פרק יום טוב and Finishing מסכת ראש השנה