Yoma 54b

יומא נ״ד ע״ב

Learn Yoma 54b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 54b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The embracing כרובים, the אבן שתיה and where creation began, and the meaning of 'כמצליף'

Overview

This amud finishes explaining that the כרובים looked like a man embracing his companion. ריש לקיש then tells how the גוים who entered the היכל took the embracing כרובים out to the market and mocked ישראל, fulfilling the פסוק in איכה. Next the גמרא explains the משנה's name 'אבן שתיה': the world was founded from that stone. It says our משנה follows the view that the world was created from ציון. A ברייתא then brings three views: רבי אליעזר (from the center), רבי יהושע (from the sides), and חכמים (from ציון). רבי יצחק נפחא adds that God cast a stone into the sea. A second ברייתא records רבי אליעזר הגדול, who says heavenly things came from heaven and earthly things from earth, while חכמים say everything came from ציון. Finally the גמרא returns to the משנה's account of the כהן גדול sprinkling the blood and asks what 'כמצליף' means. רב יהודה begins to demonstrate the motion, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ResponseThe cherubs looked like a man embracing his companion
2. StatementThe gentiles mock the embracing cherubs
3. ProofThe gentiles debased ישראל, as the פסוק in איכה says
4. StatementWhy the stone was called שתיה
5. StatementOur משנה follows the view that the world was created from ציון
6. Statementרבי אליעזר: the world was created from its center
7. Statementרבי יהושע: the world was created from the sides
8. Statementרבי יצחק נפחא: a stone cast into the sea
9. Statementחכמים: the world was created from ציון
10. ProofFrom ציון the beauty of the world was perfected
11. StatementHeavenly things came from heaven, earthly things came from earth
12. Statementחכמים say both heaven and earth came from ציון
13. ProofA second פסוק: the world's beauty was completed from ציון
14. StatementBack to the משנה: taking the blood from the one stirring it
15. QuestionWhat does 'like one who whips' mean?
16. Responseרב יהודה shows the motion with his hand