Monday, December 18, 2006

Daf Yomi - Rosh Hashana 14 - Highlights

VEGETABLES – WHEN THEY ARE PICKED

The Gemora proceeds to provide Scriptural proof that the assignment for vegetables pertaining to maaser will depend on when they are picked. Rabbi Yosi Haglili learns that the verse states that grain and grapes grow from the previous year’s water and their maaser belongs to last year, providing that they grew a third of their growth before the first of Tishrei. Vegetables do not require the water from last year and will grow from this year’s water; therefore their maaser status will depend on when they are picked. Rabbi Akiva understands the distinction between fruits and vegetables in the following way: Fruits grow from last year’s rain water but vegetables can grow through irrigation and therefore are not comparable to fruits.

Rabbi Avahu states that the difference between the two opinions would be regarding Egyptian beans and small onions that water was withdrawn from them thirty days prior to Rosh Hashanah. (14a)...Read more

FRUITS AND ESROGIM

The first day of Shevat is the New Year for the trees according to Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel maintains that it is on the fifteenth. The Gemora explains the reasoning for this. Since most of the rainy season has passed by this time and the fruits of the trees are ready to come out.

The Gemora cites an incident with Rabbi Akiva that he picked esrogim from a tree on the first of Shevat. He separated maaser sheini as if it was the second year of the Shemitah cycle and he also separated maaser oni as if it was the third year of the Shemitah cycle. He took the maaser sheini in accordance with Beis Hillel who maintain that the New Year for trees is the fifteenth of Shevat and he took maaser oni in accordance with Beis Shamai who holds that the New Year for trees is the first day of Shevat.

Rabbi Yosi understood the reason of Rabbi Akiva differently. There is a dispute between Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Eliezer if an esrog has the laws of a tree in regards to maaser and therefore it’s year would depend on when the esrog emerges or does it have the laws of a vegetable and it would depend on when it was picked. Rabbi Akiva was concerned for both opinions and gave maaser sheini as if it was a fruit and maaser oni as if it was a vegetable. (14a – 14b)

CONTRADICTORY STRINGENCIES

The Gemora questions the first view in understanding Rabbi Akiva that he took both maasros, one according to Beis Shamai and one according to Beis Hillel from a braisa which states that one who follows the stringencies of both Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel is considered a fool. The esrogim should either be regarded as being from the second year in accordance with Beis Hillel or the third year like Beis Shamai but it cannot be both.

The Gemora answers that Rabbi Akiva ruled in accordance with Beis Hillel, however he was uncertain if Beis Hillel stated that the New Year for the trees is the first of Shevat or the fifteenth and that is why he separated both maasros. (14b)

BEIS SHAMAI OR BEIS HILLEL?

The Gemora asks on the interpretation of the incident involving Rabbi Akiva according to Rabbi Yosi. If the esrogim were picked on the first of Shevat, they should still be regarded as being from the second year according to Beis Hillel who maintains that the New Year begins on the fifteenth of Shevat. It would seem that Rabbi Akiva is going in accordance with Beis Shamai’s opinion which is what Rabbi Yosi clearly desires to avoid.

Rabbi Chanina answers that we are referring to esrogim that blossomed prior to the fifteenth of Shevat of the previous year.

Ravina answers that we must emend the language of the Gemora to state that Rabbi Akiva picked the esrogim on the fifteenth of Shevat and not on the first. (14b)

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