Rosh Hashanah 9b

ראש השנה ט׳ ע״ב

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Topic

Which מצוות are essential for יובל to take effect, and why the years of ערלה are counted from תשרי.

Overview

This amud opens with the last words of the previous teaching: eating on ערב יום כיפור counts as if one fasted on both the ninth and the tenth. Then a ברייתא asks what makes יובל a real יובל. רבי יהודה says the year cannot be יובל without שילוח עבדים (freeing slaves). רבי יוסי says it cannot be יובל without תקיעת שופר (blowing the שופר). רבי יוסי gives two reasons: a שופר can always be blown, and blowing it is the job of the בית דין. רבי יהודה's reason is that the limiting word ״היא״ refers only to the phrase right before it, ״וקראתם דרור״, and דרור means freedom. רבי יוחנן adds that the חכמים say all three מצוות are essential. The גמרא then explains that the word ״יובל״ teaches that יובל applies outside ארץ ישראל, but only when it is in force in ארץ ישראל. Finally, the גמרא proves through a גזירה שוה that the years of ערלה are counted from תשרי. A ברייתא then teaches that planting at least thirty days before ראש השנה counts as a year.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ConclusionEating on the ninth counts like fasting on the ninth and the tenth
2. Statementרבי יהודה: freeing slaves is essential for יובל
3. Statementרבי יוסי: blowing the שופר is essential for יובל
4. Questionרבי יוסי asks why he chose the שופר as the essential מצוה
5. ResponseThere may be no slaves, but a שופר can always be blown
6. ResponseA second reason: the שופר is the court's job
7. QuestionWhy was a second reason needed?
8. ResponseIn case someone rejects the first reason
9. QuestionWhat is רבי יהודה's reason?
10. ResponseThe limiting word refers only to the clause right before it
11. QuestionHow do we know דרור means freedom?
12. ResponseA ברייתא: דרור only means freedom
13. Statementרבי יהודה explains the word דרור
14. StatementThe חכמים say all three parts of יובל are required
15. ChallengeThe word ״יובל״ seems to include even an incomplete year
16. Resolution״יובל״ teaches that it applies even outside ארץ ישראל
17. ChallengeBut the verse says 'in the land'
18. ResolutionOutside the Land follows the Land
19. QuestionSource for תשרי as the new year for planting
20. ResponseLearning 'year' from 'year' in תשרי
21. ChallengeWhy not learn 'year' from ניסן instead
22. ResolutionCompare 'year' without months to 'year' without months
23. StatementPlanting thirty days before ראש השנה counts as a year