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Succah 51a

סוכה נ״א ע״א

Sukkah 51a

Learn Succah 51a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Succah 51a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The Temple song (voice or instruments), the dispute over the Water Drawing music on שבת, and the משנה describing שמחת בית השואבה

Overview

The גמרא first tries to find the argument over whether the Temple song is mainly the voice (בפה) or the instruments (בכלי) in a dispute of תנאים. That dispute is about who played the instruments: slaves of כהנים, distinguished Israelite families, or לוים. רבי יוסי's middle view fits neither side, so the גמרא concludes that everyone holds עיקר שירה בפה. The תנאים only disagree about what actually happened. That historical fact matters for whether playing on the דוכן proves pure lineage and the right to מעשר. Next, רבי ירמיה בר אבא says that רבי יוסי בר יהודה and the רבנן argue only about the extra-rejoicing music of the Water Drawing. A ברייתא and then the משנה refute רב יוסף on both counts: the dispute is about the Water Drawing, and everyone agrees the music of the קרבן overrides שבת. The גמרא then gives each side's verse for בפה or בכלי, and each side explains away the other's verse. Finally, a new משנה describes the glorious שמחת בית השואבה: giant golden מנורות, wicks from the כהנים' old clothes, light filling all of ירושלים, and חסידים dancing before the crowd.

Opening lines

כְּתַנָּאֵי, (דְּתַנְיָא):

It is like a dispute of tanna'im, as it was taught:

עַבְדֵי כֹהֲנִים הָיוּ,

They (the instrument players) were slaves of priests,

דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

these are the words of Rabbi Meir.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Yosei says:

The steps (26)

  1. StatementA tannaitic dispute about who the Temple musicians were
  2. ProofSuggesting the dispute depends on singing versus instruments
  3. Challengeרבי יוסי's view fits neither side
  4. ResolutionEveryone agrees singing is primary; the dispute is only historical
  5. QuestionWhat practical difference does it make who played?
  6. ResponseThe difference: proving lineage and tithe rights from the platform
  7. ResponseHow each of the three views rules on lineage and tithes
  8. Statementרבי ירמיה בר אבא: the dispute is about the music of the Water Drawing
  9. ChallengeA ברייתא shows the dispute is about the Water Drawing music
  10. Conclusionרב יוסף is conclusively refuted
  11. ChallengeSuggesting a double refutation of רב יוסף
  12. Resolutionרב יוסף: the dispute covers both kinds of music
  13. ChallengeThe משנה implies the offering flute overrides שבת
  14. Conclusionרב יוסף is refuted
  15. QuestionAsking for the source that the main song is instrumental
  16. ResponseThe verse about חזקיהו's offering
  17. QuestionWhat is the source for the view that the main song is with the mouth?
  18. ResponseThe source: trumpeters and singers made one sound
  19. ChallengeChallenge to the voice view from the חזקיהו verse
  20. ResolutionThe instruments were only to sweeten the voice
  21. ChallengeChallenge to the instrument view from the 'one sound' verse
  22. ResolutionSingers are compared to trumpeters: both use instruments
  23. StatementNo one has seen real joy without seeing שמחת בית השואבה
  24. StatementThe setup in עזרת נשים: golden מנורות, ladders, and young כהנים
  25. StatementWicks from the כהנים' old clothes lit up all of ירושלים
  26. StatementThe Pious Men Danced Before the Crowd