Yoma 55a

יומא נ״ה ע״א

Learn Yoma 55a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 55a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The sprinklings toward the כפורת on יום הכיפורים: where the blood goes, how many sprinklings there are, how they are counted, and רבי יהודה's concern about mix-ups

Overview

This amud explains how the כהן גדול sprinkles blood toward the כפורת on יום הכיפורים. A ברייתא teaches that the blood is aimed at the front edge of the כפורת, not onto its top. רבי זירא finds the source in an extra phrase about the שעיר, which shows that 'על' means 'not actually on.' The גמרא tries to reverse this with אדרבה, but rejects the reversal, because it would leave a phrase in the verse with no purpose. Next, a ברייתא works out that both the פר and the שעיר get one upward and seven downward sprinklings. After several competing comparisons, the extra words 'כאשר עשה' settle it. רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה give two styles of counting the sprinklings, and the גמרא says each simply followed his local custom. רבי אלעזר and רבי יוחנן give different reasons why the first sprinkling is counted with every later one. Finally, the גמרא turns to the golden stand and to רבי יהודה's worry about mix-ups in the bird-offering boxes, and the answer to אביי's challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. StatementFinishing the whip image
2. StatementA ברייתא: the blood is aimed at the front edge of the כפורת, not on top of it
3. QuestionWhat is the source that the blood does not land on the כפורת?
4. Responseרבי זירא: the downward sprinkling of the שעיר did not need to be written
5. ResponseThe היקש: 'upon' is like 'before', so it does not actually touch
6. ChallengeOn the contrary: maybe the extra words teach that 'before' means actually on
7. RejectionThe reversed reading fails because the bull's words are already used
8. StatementA ברייתא asks how many downward sprinklings the goat gets
9. ResponseFirst answer: learn seven from the bull's downward sprinklings
10. ChallengeChallenge: maybe learn one from the goat's own upward sprinkling
11. ResolutionResolution: downward is learned from downward
12. ChallengeOn the contrary: learn the goat from itself
13. ResolutionThe extra words 'as he did' make the goat equal to the bull
14. QuestionDownward is settled, but how many upward for the bull?
15. ResponseUpward from upward: the bull gets one
16. ChallengeOr learn the bull from itself: seven upward
17. ResolutionUpward is better learned from upward
18. ChallengeOn the contrary: learn the bull from itself
19. ConclusionAll actions equal: seven downward and one upward for both
20. StatementThe counting formula, and רבי מאיר's version
21. Statementרבי יהודה's version of the count
22. ResolutionNo real argument: each followed his local custom
23. QuestionWhy is the first sprinkling counted with every one?
24. Responseרבי אלעזר: so he won't lose count
25. Responseרבי יוחנן: learned from an extra word in the verse
26. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between the two reasons?
27. ResponseThe difference is when he did not count and did not make a mistake
28. StatementQuoting the משנה: he placed the blood on the golden stand
29. StatementA related source: רבי יהודה says there were no boxes for obligatory bird offerings
30. QuestionWhat mix-up does רבי יהודה mean?
31. Responseרב יוסף: obligatory money might mix with voluntary money
32. Challengeאביי: just make two boxes and label them
33. ResolutionThe answer begins with רבי יהודה