Siman - Yoma Daf 21
- The Ten Miracles in the Beis HaMikdash
The Gemara brings the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (5.5) that states, עשרה נסים נעשו בבית המקדש – Ten miracles were performed regularly in the Beis Hamikdash, such as, no women ever miscarried due to the aroma of the kodesh meat, no fly was ever seen in the עזרה בית המטבחים – the Azarah Butchering Place, a Kohen Gadol never became a ba’al keri on Yom Kippur, and
עומדים צפופים ומשתחוים רווחים – They stood crowded together, yet prostrated with ample space.
The Gemara challenges the Mishnah, suggesting there were more than ten miracles. Rebbe Levi said: דבר זה מסורת בידינו מאבותינו – The following statement is a tradition passed down to us from our fathers מקום ארון אינו מן המדה - The space taken up by the aron is not included in the dimensions of the Kodesh Kedoshim. The Gemara answers, that the Tanna listed only the miracles that were visible outside and thus publicized. When the Gemara asks why the fruit trees of gold that Shlomo Hamelech planted that miraculously brought forth their golden fruits at their appointed time were not included, the Gemara answers ניסי דקביעי לא קא חשיב – Miracles that were permanently fixed in the Temple were not included. He only listed miracles that were performed recurrently.
- The smoke from the ma’aracha
Two of the ten miracles listed were that rain never extinguished the smoke from the ma’aracha, and that the smoke never dispersed no matter how strong the winds were. The Gemara questions whether in fact there was smoke from the ma’aracha, based on a Baraisa that taught that five things were stated regarding the fire of the ma’aracha: 1. רבוצה כארי – It crouched in the shape of a lion. 2. וברה כחמה – It was clear as the sun. 3. ויש בה ממש – It had substance. 4. ואוכלת לחין כיבישין – It consumed moist articles just like dry ones. 5. ואינה מעלה עשן – It did not produce smoke. The Gemara answers that the smoke referred to in the list of miracles, was from the fire that was brought by the Kohanim, for it was taught in a Baraisa, the Torah states, ונתנו בני אהרן הכהן אש על המזבח – The sons of Aharon HaKohen shall place fire on the altar. אף על פי שאש יורדת מן השמים מצוה להביא מן ההדיוט – Even though that fire comes from the Heaven, there is a mitzvah to bring fire from ordinary sources.
- שש אשות הן
It was taught in a Baraisa שש אשות הן – There are six types of fire. The Baraisa explains יש אש אוכלת ואינה שותה – There is a fire that eats but does not drink, which is ordinary fire, which consumes solids and not liquids. שותה ואינה אוכלת – It drinks but does not eat, which refers to the fever of ill people which makes them thirsty but not hungry. אוכלת ושותה – It eats and drinks, which refers to the fire of Eliyahu which licked up the water in the trench, in the incident with the prophets of Baal. אוכלת לחין כיבשין – It consumes moist articles like dry ones, which refers to the fire of the ma’aracha. יש אש דוחה אש – There is a fire that repels fire, which is the fire of the malach Gavriel. ויש אש אוכלת אש – And there is a fire that consumes fire, which is the fire of the Shechinah, referring to Hashem burning up the fiery angels that argued against the creation of Man.
