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Sanhedrin 55b

סנהדרין נ״ה ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 55b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Is the animal killed with קלון alone or תקלה alone? Includes רב המנונא's question and failed proofs from minors, and the opening of the משנה about the מגדף.

Overview

The משנה gave two reasons for killing an animal used in a sin: תקלה (a person was executed because of it) and קלון (shame, since people will point at it). The גמרא asks whether both are needed. It tries to prove that תקלה alone is enough, in the case of a גוי, but this is pushed off: the משנה could instead mean that קלון alone is enough, as with a ישראל who sinned בשוגג. That is exactly רב המנונא's question. רב יוסף brings a proof from a girl aged three years and one day, and רבא brings one from a boy aged nine years and one day. Both proofs are rejected, because a minor who acts on purpose does cause real תקלה; the תורה only spares the minor, not the animal. A last attempt from the wording of the משנה also fails, because it can be read either way. So neither רב המנונא's question nor the question asked of רב ששת is settled. The amud ends by opening a new משנה: a מגדף is liable only if he says the actual Name of ה'.

Opening lines

מִדְּסֵיפָא תַּקָּלָה וְקָלוֹן,

From the fact that the latter clause says calamity and shame,

רֵישָׁא תַּקָּלָה בְּלֹא קָלוֹן.

the first clause must mean calamity without shame.

וְהֵיכִי דָּמֵי?

And what is the case?

גּוֹי הַבָּא עַל הַבְּהֵמָה.

A gentile who has relations with an animal.

The steps (15)

  1. ProofProof from the two clauses of the משנה
  2. RejectionThe first clause may mean shame without calamity
  3. Questionרב המנונא's question about an unintentional sinner
  4. Proofרב יוסף brings a source about a three-year-old girl
  5. ProofThe quoted משנה continues: more laws about the young girl
  6. ProofThe animal is killed even though the girl is not punished
  7. RejectionShe acted on purpose, so there is a calamity after all
  8. Proofרבא quotes the case of a nine-year-old boy
  9. ProofThe animal is stoned because of the boy
  10. ProofShame without harm, yet the animal is stoned
  11. RejectionThe boy acted on purpose, so there is real harm
  12. ProofA new proof from the second reason in the משנה
  13. ProofInferring that the first reason means shame without sin
  14. RejectionRejected: the first reason may mean sin without shame
  15. StatementNew משנה: the blasphemer is liable only for saying the Name