Sanhedrin 27b

סנהדרין כ״ז ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 27b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether a money-sinner may testify in capital cases (רבי מאיר vs. רבי יוסי, settled by a סתם משנה), the list of relatives disqualified from testifying, and the Torah source for that rule.

Overview

The amud opens with the end of בר חמא's trial. The witnesses against him were said to have stolen, which is a money-type sin. רב אבא בר יעקב objects that disqualifying them works only according to רבי מאיר, while the הלכה usually follows רבי יוסי. רבי יוסי says someone disqualified in money matters can still testify in capital cases. רב פפי answers that an unnamed משנה follows רבי מאיר here. After rejecting one possible source, the גמרא proves this from the משנה listing dice players, lenders on interest and others as unfit wherever a woman is unfit. בר חמא is freed and thanks רב פפי. A new משנה then lists the relatives who cannot testify or judge, gives רבי יוסי's earlier version, and discusses former relatives and רבי יהודה's view on friends and enemies. The גמרא learns the relatives rule from 'לא יומתו אבות על בנים', meaning not through each other's testimony. It then explains that children are punished for their parents' sins only when they continue them, and that ערבות applies when people could have protested and did not.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementThe end of the testimony: a spear handle
2. ChallengeDo you hold like רבי מאיר? The הלכה follows רבי יוסי
3. Resolutionרב פפי: a סתם משנה follows רבי מאיר here
4. QuestionWhich משנה follows רבי מאיר?
5. ProofTrying out a source: 'Anyone fit for capital cases is fit for money cases'
6. RejectionMaybe that משנה is about family background, not sin
7. ProofThe second half of that משנה shows it is about lineage
8. ResponseA new source: the list of people unfit to testify
9. ProofThis משנה can only be רבי מאיר
10. Conclusionבר חמא thanks רב פפי
11. StatementThe list of relatives who cannot testify or judge
12. Statementרבי יוסי: the earlier version of the list
13. StatementSomeone who is no longer related may testify
14. Statementרבי יהודה: children keep the relationship alive
15. StatementA friend and an enemy are also disqualified
16. RejectionThe חכמים reject the friend and enemy rule
17. QuestionWhere do we learn that relatives cannot testify?
18. ResponseThe answer begins with a פסוק about fathers and sons
19. QuestionThe plain meaning of the פסוק is already taught elsewhere
20. ResponseThe פסוק means relatives cannot testify against each other
21. ChallengeBut the Torah says children are punished for fathers' sins
22. ResolutionChildren are punished only when they continue their parents' ways
23. ProofA ברייתא supports the answer
24. ChallengeBut all Jews are responsible for one another
25. ResolutionResponsibility comes from failing to protest