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Yoma 71b

יומא ע״א ע״ב

Learn Yoma 71b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The story of שמעיה ואבטליון, the משנה of the eight בגדי כהונה, and the number of strands in the priestly threads

Overview

This amud opens with the last words of a פסוק from איוב that closes the previous אגדתא. The גמרא then quotes the משנה's line that the כהן גדול made a celebration for his friends. It brings a ברייתא about a כהן גדול who insulted שמעיה ואבטליון for coming from converts, and they answered that true descent from אהרן is measured by acting like אהרן. A new משנה teaches that the כהן גדול serves in eight garments and a regular כהן in four, and that the אורים ותומים are consulted only for the king, the אב בית דין, or someone the community needs. The גמרא brings a ברייתא listing how many strands go into each thread of the בגדי כהונה. It derives the six-strand rule from the repeated word שש, and proves that שש means linen in two ways: from the word בד and from a פסוק in יחזקאל, which is explained as an old tradition that יחזקאל attached to a verse. Next, the גמרא shows that the pomegranate threads have eight strands each, learned from the אבנט, with two further reasons given by רב מרי and רב אשי. Finally, it begins to give the source for the twelve strands of the מעיל, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מֵרֵיחַ מַיִם יַפְרִיחַ

from the scent of water it will blossom

וְעָשָׂה קָצִיר כְּמוֹ נָטַע״.

and put forth branches like a plant.

וְיוֹם טוֹב הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה לְאוֹהֲבָיו.

And he would make a feast for his loved ones.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן:

The Sages taught:

The steps (32)

  1. ProofEnd of the verse about water making a tree blossom
  2. StatementQuoting the משנה: the כהן גדול made a celebration
  3. StatementThe crowd leaves the כהן גדול to follow שמעיה ואבטליון
  4. StatementThe כהן גדול insults the sages for coming from converts
  5. RejectionThe sages answer that acting like אהרן is what counts
  6. StatementThe eight garments of the כהן גדול and the four of a regular כהן
  7. StatementWho may consult the אורים ותומים
  8. StatementHow many strands go into each thread
  9. QuestionWhere do we learn the six-strand rule?
  10. ResponseThe verse that repeats the word linen
  11. ResponseFive mentions, five lessons
  12. QuestionHow do we know שש means linen?
  13. ResponseThe word בד: growing stalk by stalk
  14. ChallengeMaybe it means wool
  15. ResolutionWool splits apart
  16. ChallengeFlax splits too
  17. ResolutionFlax splits only when beaten
  18. Responseרבינא's proof from יחזקאל
  19. ChallengeBefore יחזקאל, how was this known?
  20. Challengeרבינא points to the same problem in רב חסדא's teaching
  21. ResolutionIt was a tradition, and יחזקאל attached it to a verse
  22. QuestionWhere do we learn that 'twisted' means eight strands?
  23. ResponseLearning from the פרוכת with a גזירה שוה
  24. ChallengeWhy not learn from the חושן and אפוד?
  25. ResolutionLearn something without gold from something without gold
  26. ChallengeOn the contrary, learn a garment from a garment
  27. ConclusionThe final source: the אבנט, a garment without gold
  28. Resolutionרב מרי: The word תעשנו limits 28 strands to the חושן
  29. Resolutionרב אשי: The word ועשית means all the colors must be equal
  30. QuestionHow could 28 be split? Three threads of 10 make 30
  31. RejectionSplitting into 9, 9, and 10 breaks the rule that the colors must be equal
  32. QuestionWhere do we learn that the מעיל has 12 strands?