Yoma 39a

יומא ל״ט ע״א

Learn Yoma 39a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Heaven's help toward holiness, and the יום כיפור lottery: how the lots were drawn, the lottery box, who draws, and the miracles of שמעון הצדיק's era.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a משל from תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל. A naphtha seller lets the buyer measure alone, but a balsam seller joins in. In the same way, Heaven only opens the door to sin but actively helps a person who does good. Next comes a teaching that sin dulls the heart, followed by two ברייתות: a little impurity leads to much impurity, and a little holiness leads to much holiness. Then the chapter אמר להם הממונה ends, and a new משנה describes the יום כיפור lottery. The כהן גדול mixes the lots in a קלפי, draws one in each hand, places them on the two goats, and declares 'לה׳ חטאת'. The גמרא explains that the mixing keeps the draw random. It also explains why the box was wooden, not holy, and only big enough for two hands. It then contrasts our משנה with רבי יהודה, who has the סגן draw too, and names רבי חנינא סגן הכהנים as the opposing view. Finally, a ברייתא lists the miracles of שמעון הצדיק's forty years and how they faded after him. It ends with a story about a greedy כהן whose nickname continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementThe parable of the naphtha seller and the balsam seller
2. StatementSin dulls a person's heart
3. StatementA little impurity leads to much impurity
4. StatementA little holiness leads to much holiness
5. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter אמר להם הממונה
6. StatementThe new chapter opens: drawing the two lots
7. StatementPlacing the lots on the goats and the declaration
8. QuestionWhy mix the lots in a box?
9. ResponseSo he cannot deliberately pick the lot
10. Statementרבא describes the lottery box
11. Challengeרבינא asks why the box was not made holy
12. ResolutionA holy vessel cannot be made of wood
13. ChallengeWhy not make it of silver or gold?
14. ResolutionThe Torah spares the people's money
15. StatementA ברייתא where the סגן also draws a lot
16. QuestionWhy not have the סגן speak?
17. ResponseTo spare the כהן גדול's feelings
18. QuestionWhat is the root of the disagreement?
19. ResponseIs the סגן's right hand better than the כהן גדול's left?
20. QuestionWho is the תנא who argues with רבי יהודה?
21. ResponseIt is רבי חנינא סגן הכהנים
22. ProofThe סגן stands ready only as a backup
23. StatementIn the days of שמעון הצדיק, the lot always came up on the right
24. StatementThe red strip always turned white
25. StatementThe western lamp kept burning
26. StatementThe altar fire stayed strong
27. StatementA tiny portion of the holy breads filled each כהן
28. StatementAfter שמעון הצדיק the blessing turned to a curse
29. StatementThe story of the כהן who took his friend's share