Gemara Clarity

Yoma 40a

יומא מ׳ ע״א

Learn Yoma 40a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Is the lottery (הגרלה) over the two goats of יום הכיפורים indispensable (מעכבא)? Testing the second version of the dispute between רבי ינאי and רבי יוחנן against ברייתות

Overview

This amud asks whether the lottery (הגרלה) over the two goats of יום הכיפורים is מעכבא, meaning the service is invalid without it. It tests the second version (לישנא) of the dispute, where רבי ינאי holds that both רבי יהודה and רבי נחמיה require the lottery. First, a ברייתא saying 'if he did not draw lots, it is valid' is fixed by reading it as 'placing' the lots (להניח). A second ברייתא quotes רבי שמעון, who elsewhere allows a replacement goat with no lottery at all. That seems to block the fix. The גמרא answers that רבי שמעון was replying to both possible meanings of the רבנן. Then a third ברייתא about the order of the פר and the שעיר seems to show that the lottery can come late, and so is not required. The גמרא defends רבי ינאי in two ways. The ברייתא may follow רבי שמעון, or it may follow רבי יהודה and only free the lottery's order, not the lottery itself. The amud ends by introducing a ברייתא, on the next amud, showing that רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון are consistent with these views.

Opening lines

אֶלָּא לְהָךְ לִישָּׁנָא דְּאָמְרַתְּ פְּלִיגִי,

But according to that version in which you said they disagree,

בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר לָא מְעַכְּבָא,

granted, according to the one who said it is not indispensable,

הָא מַנִּי — רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא,

whose is this? It is Rabbi Yehuda's,

אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר מְעַכְּבָא,

but according to the one who said it is indispensable,

The steps (16)

  1. ChallengeUnder the second version, the ברייתא fits רבי יוחנן but not רבי ינאי
  2. ResolutionChange the wording: it is a מצוה to place the lots
  3. ChallengeA second ברייתא: no lottery and no confession, still valid
  4. RejectionThe same fix fails because of רבי שמעון in the second half
  5. QuestionWhat does 'did not draw lots' mean in רבי שמעון's words?
  6. Challengeרבי שמעון allows a replacement goat with no lottery at all
  7. Resolutionרבי שמעון was answering both possible meanings
  8. ChallengeA new ברייתא about the order of the bull and the goat
  9. QuestionWhat case is 'the goat does not hold back the bull'?
  10. RejectionFirst suggested case is ruled out by the word 'statute'
  11. ChallengeThe remaining case would show the lottery is not required
  12. ResolutionAnother possible case that follows רבי יהודה
  13. RejectionBut the ברייתא is talking about the inner applications
  14. ResolutionThe ברייתא follows רבי שמעון
  15. ResolutionThe ברייתא may still follow רבי יהודה: the order is optional, but the lottery is required
  16. Proofרבי יהודה and רבי שמעון are consistent: introducing a ברייתא