Sanhedrin - Daf 11
- Shmuel HaKatan and Rebbe Chiya taking blame to save someone from embarrassment
A Baraisa teaches that a leap year is only established by judges designated by the Nasi. Once, Rabban Gamliel instructed seven judges to come discuss extending the year but found eight judges there. He announced that whoever came without permission should leave. Shmuel HaKattan said it was he, but he had not come to participate, but to observe the process. Rabban Gamliel said, “Sit, my son, sit, ראויות כל השנים כולן להתעבר על ידך – it is fitting that all the leap years should be extended by you, but the Chochomim said that only designated judges may do so.” The Gemara says that in truth, Shmuel HaKatan was not the undesignated person, but he sought to save that person from embarrassment. In a similar incident, Rebbe was once teaching and smelled garlic, and said, “Whoever ate garlic, leave!” Rebbe Chiya rose and left, and all the students followed. The next morning, Rebbe’s son Rebbe Shimon said to Rebbe Chiya, “You were the one who upset my father by eating garlic?” Rebbe Chiya responded, “Heaven forbid! לא תהא כזאת בישראל – Such a thing should never happen among Yisroel!” Rather, he left to save the culprit from embarrassment.
- Factors for establishing a leap year
A Baraisa lists the factors for establishing a leap year: מפני הדרכים ומפני הגשרים – because of the roads and bridges which were damaged during the rainy season, and were not repaired in time for traveling to Yerushalayim for Pesach, ומפני תנורי פסחים – or because of the ovens used for roasting the korban pesach which needed to dry out, ומפני גליות ישראל שנעקרו ממקומן ועדיין לא הגיעו – or because Jews [outside Eretz Yisroel] who had left their places to come for Pesach and had not reached Yerushalayim. Another Baraisa states that we do not extend the year because of young goats, sheep, or birds which have not matured (and are needed for people’s korban pesach and taharah process, respectively), since smaller animals may be used. However, this qualifies as a supplemental reason to extend the year. This refers to a third Baraisa, which lists three factors for extending the year: האביב – the ripening of grain which must be before Pesach, פירות האילן – ripening of trees’ fruit in time for Shavuos (for ביכורים), and התקופה – ensuring the season begins in the correct month, as discussed on Daf 13a. The year is only extended if two of these three factors are present; the previous Baraisa is adding that if the required animals have not matured, this can be the second factor for extending the year.
- A leap year is established in Yehudah, and during the day
A Baraisa teaches that three regions are considered for extending the year because of late-ripening crops: Yehudah, עבר הירדן, and Galil. The year is extended if two of these regions are experiencing late crops, but not for one. If Yehudah is one of those regions, everyone is happy, because it means Yehudah’s grain, which is ideal for the עומר, will still be moist. A Baraisa teaches that the year must be extended in Yehudah, but if it was extended in Galil, the extension is effective. However, Chananiah of Ono testified that extending the year in Galil is not effective, because the passuk says: "לשכנו תדרשו ובאת שמה" – to His dwelling place you shall seek, and there you shall come, teaching: כל דרישה שאתה דורש – any investigation which you conduct regarding the entire nation, לא יהיו אלא בשכנו של מקום – should only be in Hashem’s dwelling place, in Yehudah. Another Baraisa states: אין מעברין את השנה אלא ביום – we can only extend the year during the day; if it was done at night, it is ineffective. קידוש החודש must also be done by day and is ineffective at night.
