Yoma 38a

יומא ל״ח ע״א

Learn Yoma 38a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 38a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

ניקנור's miraculous doors, and the families who kept their Temple skills secret: בית גרמו and בית אבטינס

Overview

This amud opens with the last word of the earlier discussion about הלני המלכה's tablet. It then tells the story of the miracles of ניקנור's doors and explains why the שערי ניקנור were the only gates of the מקדש not changed to gold. Next, the משנה lists people remembered for disgrace: בית גרמו, בית אבטינס, הוגרס בן לוי and בן קמצר, who all refused to teach their special skills. It closes both lists with the פסוק ״זכר צדיק לברכה ושם רשעים ירקב״. The גמרא tells how the חכמים tried to replace בית גרמו (the לחם הפנים) and בית אבטינס (the קטורת) with craftsmen from Alexandria. The replacements failed, and the families came back only for double pay. Both families explain that they kept their secrets so the skills could never serve עבודה זרה after the חורבן. They are praised for staying above suspicion, ״והייתם נקיים מה׳ ומישראל״. Three stories about descendants of בית אבטינס follow, ending with רבי עקיבא ruling that one may no longer speak badly of them. בן עזאי then begins a lesson, continued on the next amud: what is truly yours will come back to you.

Opening lines

The steps (49)

1. RejectionThe Tablet Was Written in Alternating Form
2. StatementThe משנה: Miracles Happened to ניקנור's Doors
3. QuestionWhat Were the Miracles?
4. ResponseThe Storm and the First Door Thrown Overboard
5. Responseניקנור Embraces the Second Door
6. ResponseThe Lost Door Reappears at עכו
7. Proofשלמה's Verse: A Covenant with the Sea
8. StatementAll Gates Turned to Gold Except ניקנור's
9. StatementAnother Reason: Their Copper Was Brightly Colored
10. Statementרבי אליעזר בן יעקב: Refined Copper That Shone Like Gold
11. StatementThe משנה lists families remembered for disgrace
12. StatementTwo more individuals who kept their skills secret
13. ConclusionA verse contrasting the righteous and the wicked
14. StatementThe חכמים replace בית גרמו with Alexandrian bakers
15. StatementThe new bakers could not match בית גרמו
16. StatementThe חכמים decide to bring back בית גרמו
17. Statementבית גרמו return only for double pay
18. Statementרבי יהודה gives different wage numbers
19. QuestionThe חכמים ask בית גרמו why they refused to teach
20. Responseבית גרמו explain: fear that the skill would be used for idol worship
21. Statementבית גרמו are praised: their children never ate fine bread
22. StatementQuoting the משנה about בית אבטינס and the incense
23. StatementA ברייתא: Alexandrian craftsmen replace בית אבטינס
24. StatementThe Alexandrians' smoke did not rise straight
25. StatementThe חכמים decide to bring back בית אבטינס
26. Statementבית אבטינס return only for double wages
27. Statementרבי יהודה gives higher wage numbers
28. QuestionThe חכמים ask בית אבטינס why they refused to teach
29. Responseבית אבטינס give the same reason: fear of idol worship
30. Statementבית אבטינס are praised: their brides never wore perfume
31. Statementרבי ישמעאל scolds a descendant of the incense family
32. Statementרבי עקיבא relates a story of a descendant laughing and crying
33. QuestionWhy did you cry?
34. ResponseHe remembered his ancestors' honor
35. QuestionWhy did you laugh?
36. ResponseGod will restore it in the future
37. QuestionWhat reminded you now?
38. ResponseThe smoke-raising herb is in front of me
39. QuestionShow it to me
40. ResponseWe are bound by an oath not to show it
41. Statementרבי יוחנן בן נורי meets an old man with a spice scroll
42. QuestionWhere are you from?
43. ResponseI am from בית אבטינס
44. QuestionWhat is in your hand?
45. ResponseA scroll of spices
46. QuestionShow it to me
47. ResponseThe old man hands over the scroll
48. Conclusionרבי עקיבא: now it is forbidden to speak badly of them
49. Statementבן עזאי: they will call you by your name and seat you in your place