Sanhedrin 41b

סנהדרין מ״א ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 41b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The two names of רבן יוחנן בן זכאי, how witnesses' 'I do not know' affects their testimony in חקירות and בדיקות, how long a date mix-up is excused, and how long one may bless the new moon.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an explanation: the משנה calls him 'בן זכאי' and a ברייתא calls him 'רבן יוחנן בן זכאי' because one name is from his student years and the other from his teaching years. The גמרא then asks why the משנה needs to say that in בדיקות the testimony stands 'even if two' witnesses do not know. רב ששת connects the phrase to חקירות, following רבי עקיבא. רבא rejects that reading and explains that even in חקירות, two witnesses who know are enough, which is not like רבי עקיבא. In a story, רמי בר חמא asks רב כהנא and רב ספרא why חקירות and בדיקות are treated differently when both come from the Torah. They answer that without time and place the testimony cannot be checked through הזמה, but missing side details still leave הזמה possible. Next, רבי יוחנן rules that witnesses who are one day apart can be excused only until most of the month has passed. רבא tries to prove this from the משנה, but the proof is pushed off with the reasoning about שופר blasts. The amud ends with another teaching from רבי יוחנן: the blessing on the new moon may be said until it is filled in, which is either seven days or sixteen days.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ResolutionHis name changed when he went from student to teacher
2. ConclusionEach source uses the name from a different stage
3. StatementQuoting the משנה about questioning witnesses
4. ChallengeWhy say 'even if two'? It's obvious
5. Resolutionרב ששת: the phrase belongs to the first clause
6. Rejectionרבא: but the משנה says the testimony stands
7. Resolutionרבא: even in חקירות, two who know are enough
8. Questionרמי בר חמא meets two students of רבה
9. ChallengeWhy are חקירות and בדיקות treated differently?
10. ResolutionThe difference is whether הזמה is possible
11. ConclusionPraise from רמי בר חמא and a humble reply
12. QuestionHow far into the month can a witness be confused?
13. ResponseUntil most of the month has passed
14. Proofרבא tries to prove רבי יוחנן's rule from the משנה
15. RejectionThe proof is rejected: it's about the שופר, not the time
16. StatementBlessing the new moon only until it fills out
17. QuestionHow many days is that?
18. ResponseSeven days or sixteen days