Yoma 6a

יומא ו׳ ע״א

Learn Yoma 6a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 6a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Finishing the dressing of אהרן and his sons, then why the כהן גדול leaves his wife before יום כיפור and when a בועל נדה immerses

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a side discussion about whether משה dressed אהרן and his sons together or אהרן first. Each view reads the belt (אבנט) verses as teaching whether the כהן גדול's belt matched the כהן הדיוט's belt, and the two separate girding verses are shown to teach that אהרן was girded first. The גמרא then returns to the משנה's rule that the כהן גדול is separated before יום כיפור. It clarifies that its real question is why he must also leave his wife. A ברייתא of רבי יהודה בן בתירה answers: he might be with her, and afterward she might be found to be a ספק נדה, making him טמא. רב חסדא shows that this concern works even according to the רבנן, when the blood is found right after relations. רבי זירא infers from the seven-day separation that a בועל נדה may immerse by day. רב שימי rejects that proof. The גמרא then tests the question with two ברייתות, and the challenge from the second ברייתא continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ResolutionThe 'together' view explains the two belt verses: the belts were different
2. ChallengeChallenge to the 'Aaron first' view from 'and you shall gird them'
3. ResolutionThe 'Aaron first' view explains the joint verse: the belts were identical
4. QuestionWhy does the Torah need two separate girding verses?
5. ResponseThe two verses teach that Aaron was girded first
6. ChallengeCould girding ever really happen 'at once'?
7. ResolutionThe verse is needed to teach that Aaron came first
8. QuestionBack to the משנה: why do we separate the כהן גדול?
9. ChallengeSurprise: we already know the reason from רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש
10. ResolutionThe real question is why he leaves his wife
11. Responseרבי יהודה בן בתירה: his wife might be a ספק נדה
12. ChallengeWould a כהן גדול knowingly sin?
13. ResolutionCorrected order: he is with her first, then the doubt appears
14. StatementThe Sages: this reason fits only רבי עקיבא
15. Rejectionרב חסדא: even the רבנן agree when the blood is found right after
16. Statementרבי זירא infers that a man who was with a נדה may immerse by day
17. ProofWhy the seven-day separation proves daytime immersion
18. Rejectionרב שימי: separate him an hour before sunset
19. ChallengeA ברייתא: only a נדה and a יולדת immerse at night
20. ResolutionThe word נדה includes the man who has relations with her
21. ChallengeA new ברייתא compares the בועל נדה to a טמא מת
22. ResolutionThe comparison is only about how long they are impure
23. ChallengeThe length of their impurity is already written in the Torah