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Sanhedrin 97b

סנהדרין צ״ז ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 97b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When will משיח come? Warnings against calculating the קץ, the 36 צדיקים, and whether the גאולה depends on תשובה

Overview

This amud continues the גמרא's discussion of when משיח will come. It first admits that our sins have delayed משיח, so years meant for him have already passed. Next come several attempts to date the end: אליהו's words to רב יהודה about 85 יובלות, which רב אשי explains, and a mysterious scroll found in Rome's archives. A ברייתא of רבי נתן then rejects every calculation of the קץ from פסוקים, and רבי יונתן curses those who calculate the end, because people lose hope when the date passes. The גמרא teaches that we must keep waiting, since ה׳ is waiting too, and that only מדת הדין holds the גאולה back. We wait in order to receive reward. From the same פסוק, אביי learns that there are at least 36 צדיקים in every generation who greet the שכינה, and the גמרא settles two challenges to this number. Finally, רב and שמואל argue whether the גאולה depends on תשובה, matching a dispute between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע. Each of them brings פסוקים, and their exchange continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁרַבּוּ,

But because of our many sins,

יָצְאוּ מֵהֶם מָה שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ.

of them has passed what has passed.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֵלִיָּהוּ

Elijah said to

לְרַב יְהוּדָה אֲחוּהּ דְּרַב סַלָּא חֲסִידָא:

Rav Yehuda, brother of Rav Sala the pious:

The steps (35)

  1. ConclusionOur sins delayed the time of משיח
  2. Statementאליהו says משיח comes in the 85th Jubilee
  3. Questionרב יהודה asks for details and אליהו does not know
  4. Statementרב אשי explains what אליהו really meant
  5. StatementA mysterious scroll found in the Roman archives
  6. StatementThe scroll's timeline for the end of the world
  7. Statementרב אחא בריה דרבא's different version: 5000 years
  8. Statementרבי נתן: a פסוק too deep to measure
  9. StatementNot like the calculation of our Rabbis from דניאל
  10. StatementNot like the calculation of רבי שמלאי from תהלים
  11. StatementNot like the reading of רבי עקיבא from חגי
  12. StatementThe real meaning: three kingdoms that already passed
  13. QuestionWhat does 'it declares of the end and does not lie' mean?
  14. ResponseA curse on those who calculate the end
  15. ChallengeMaybe only we are waiting, not הקדוש ברוך הוא
  16. Resolutionהקדוש ברוך הוא is also waiting
  17. QuestionIf everyone is waiting, what is holding it back?
  18. Responseמדת הדין is holding it back
  19. QuestionThen why should we wait?
  20. ResponseWe wait to receive reward
  21. StatementThirty-six צדיקים greet the שכינה in every generation
  22. Challengeרבא says the row of צדיקים is huge
  23. ResolutionTwo levels of seeing the שכינה
  24. ChallengeAre there really that many top צדיקים?
  25. ResolutionTwo levels: entering with permission and entering without it
  26. Statementרב: All the set dates have passed, so it depends on repentance
  27. Statementשמואל: The suffering of exile is enough
  28. StatementAn older dispute: רבי אליעזר says no repentance means no redemption
  29. Challengeרבי יהושע: Redemption will come anyway, through harsh decrees
  30. ProofAnother ברייתא: רבי אליעזר brings a פסוק about returning
  31. Challengeרבי יהושע: "Not with money will you be redeemed"
  32. Challengeרבי אליעזר: "Return to Me and I will return to you"
  33. Challengeרבי יהושע: "I will bring you to Zion" with no condition
  34. Challengeרבי אליעזר brings a verse tying salvation to returning
  35. Challengeרבי יהושע begins quoting a verse about a despised, enslaved people