Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 100a

סנהדרין ק׳ ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 100a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 100a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Disrespect for חכמים as אפיקורסות, and the future reward of צדיקים (סנהדרין 100a)

Overview

The גמרא continues defining an אפיקורס, someone who shows disrespect for the חכמים. רבא answers the mocker who said the rabbis never 'permit a raven or forbid a dove'. רב פפא, רב יהודה and רב נחמן add more examples: saying 'those rabbis', speaking lightly of the מגילת אסתר, or calling your teacher by name, as גיחזי did. A story about רבי יוחנן's teaching on giant jewel gates for ירושלים shows that a student who believes the חכמים only after seeing for himself is really mocking them. The גמרא then explains the 'healing leaves' of the river from the בית המקדש, and teaches that those who toil and go hungry for תורה will shine and be satisfied in עולם הבא. Finally it discusses how vast the reward of צדיקים is, and רבי מאיר's rule of 'measure for measure'. רבי מאיר's answer to רבי יהושע continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לָא שְׁרוֹ לַן עוֹרְבָא,

they have not permitted a raven for us,

וְלָא אֲסַרוּ לַן יוֹנָה.

and they have not forbidden a dove for us.

רָבָא, כִּי הֲווֹ מַיְיתִי

Rava: when they would bring

טְרֵיפְתָּא דְּבֵי בִנְיָמִין קַמֵּיהּ,

a possible tereifa of the house of Binyamin before him,

The steps (31)

  1. StatementThe complaint that the rabbis add nothing
  2. Rejectionרבא shows the rabbis really do permit 'ravens' and forbid 'doves'
  3. Statementרב פפא: saying 'those rabbis' is a sign of an אפיקורס
  4. Statementרב פפא slips and fasts
  5. StatementMending the covers of holy scrolls
  6. RejectionEven that kind of talk looks like disrespect
  7. Statementרב נחמן: Calling your teacher by his name
  8. ProofProof from Gehazi, who called Elisha by name
  9. Statementרבי ירמיה teaches about the river from the קדשי הקדשים
  10. QuestionIs saying 'well said' to a scholar disrespectful?
  11. Responseרבי זירא: He is supporting you
  12. Statementרבי יוחנן's teaching about giant gemstone gates
  13. ChallengeA student mocks רבי יוחנן
  14. ProofThe student sees angels cutting the giant jewels
  15. StatementThe student 'confirms' רבי יוחנן's teaching
  16. Conclusionרבי יוחנן rebukes and punishes the student
  17. ChallengeA ברייתא says people will be giants, so how will they fit through the gates?
  18. ResolutionThe 20-אמה openings are only windows for air
  19. QuestionWhat does 'its leaf for healing' mean?
  20. ResponseHealing the upper mouth or the lower mouth
  21. StatementAnother dispute: mutes, barren women, or real medicine
  22. QuestionWhat extra meaning does the word לתרופה carry?
  23. ResponseBeauty for the faces of those who learn with their mouths
  24. StatementDarkening the face for תורה brings shining in עולם הבא
  25. StatementStarving oneself for תורה brings being satisfied in עולם הבא
  26. StatementEvery righteous person will receive a full handful
  27. Challengeאביי asks how anyone could receive God's handful
  28. Resolutionרב דימי answers that each righteous person gets 310 worlds
  29. Statementרבי מאיר: You are measured out in the same measure you give
  30. Challengeרבי יהושע objects: God's handful is far too big
  31. Resolutionרבי מאיר answers: Which is greater, God's good or His punishment?