How many shofar blasts were in the mikdash? How many musical instruments? What days do we say full Hallel – why specifically on those days? Stories are told of instruments that they tried to glorify or fix but it distorted the sound and they returned them to their orginal state.
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Arakhin 10
וְעִיבּוּר שָׁנָה שְׁלֹשִׁים (אישתקד) [וְאִישְׁתָּקַד] עָשִׂינוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם מְלֵאִין, דַּל תְּלָתָא לְבַהֲדֵי תְּלָתָא וְקָם לֵיהּ בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: נֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל! כֵּן הָוֵה.
and the month that was intercalated, added for the leap year, was thirty days, and last year we turned two months that are generally deficient into full months, which meant that it had eight full months instead of the usual six. Consequently, remove from consideration the three months that were made deficient this year corresponding to the three extra months that were made full last year, and the moon is restored to its place, i.e., it is properly aligned with the months. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: Lamp of Israel! Indeed, so it was.
מַתְנִי׳ אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַחַת תְּקִיעוֹת בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה.
MISHNA: No fewer than twenty-one trumpet blasts are sounded daily in the Temple, as each day three blasts were sounded for the opening of the gates in the morning, nine for the daily morning offering, and nine for the daily afternoon offering, totaling twenty-one. And no more than forty-eight are ever sounded on a single day. This would occur on the Friday of Sukkot, when they would sound an additional twelve blasts during the ritual of drawing the water for the water libation; nine for the additional offerings; three to signal the population to cease their work before Shabbat; and three more to mark the beginning of Shabbat.
אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשְּׁנֵי נְבָלִים, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל שִׁשָּׁה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשְּׁנֵי חֲלִילִין, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, וּבִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר יוֹם בַּשָּׁנָה הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה לִפְנֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ: בִּשְׁחִיטַת פֶּסַח רִאשׁוֹן, וּבִשְׁחִיטַת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי, וְיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח, וּבְיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת, וּבִשְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי הֶחָג. וְלֹא הָיָה מַכֶּה בְּאַבּוּב שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת, אֶלָּא בְּאַבּוּב שֶׁל קָנֶה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ עָרֵב; וְלֹא הָיָה מְחַלֵּק אֶלָּא בְּאַבּוּב יְחִידִי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מְחַלֵּיק יָפֶה.
When accompanying their song with instruments, the Levites do not use fewer than two lyres and do not use more than six. When flutes are played, they do not use fewer than two flutes and do not use more than twelve. And there are twelve days during the year when the flute plays before the altar: At the time of the slaughter of the first Paschal offering, on the fourteenth of Nisan; and at the time of the slaughter of the second Paschal offering, on the fourteenth of Iyyar; and on the first festival day of Passover; and on the festival of Shavuot; and on all eight days of the festival of Sukkot. And one would not play with a copper flute; rather, one would play with a flute of reed, because its sound is more pleasant. And one would conclude the music only with a single flute, because it concludes the music nicely.
וְעַבְדֵי כֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר; רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית פְּגָרִים וּבֵית צִיפְּרָא מֵעֶמָּאוּם הָיוּ מַשִּׂיאִין לַכְּהוּנָּה; רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר: לְוִיִּם הָיוּ.
The Temple musicians were slaves of priests; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosei says: The musicians were not slaves, but Israelites from the family of the house of Pegarim and the family of the house of Tzippara from the city of Emaum, and their lineage was sufficiently pure that they would marry their daughters to members of the priesthood. Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says: They were Levites.
גּמ׳: מַתְנִיתִין דְּלָא כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה, דְּתַנְיָא: רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא יִפְחוֹת מִשֶּׁבַע, וְלֹא יוֹסִיף עַל שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.
GEMARA: The mishna teaches that no fewer than twenty-one trumpet blasts are sounded daily in the Temple and no more than forty-eight. The Gemara notes: The mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda says: One may not blow fewer than seven blasts, and one may not blow more than sixteen blasts.
בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי? רַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה חֲדָא הִיא, וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: תְּקִיעָה לְחוּד, וּתְרוּעָה לְחוּד, וּתְקִיעָה לְחוּד.
The Gemara asks: With regard to what principle do the tanna of the mishna and Rabbi Yehuda disagree? The Gemara explains that Rabbi Yehuda holds: A series of blasts consisting of tekia, terua, tekia is counted as one unit. And the Rabbis hold: A tekia is counted as a discrete unit and a terua is also counted as a discrete unit, and the final tekia is again counted as a discrete unit. They agree with regard to the sequence and the number of the blasts; their disgreement is only with regard to how the blasts are tallied.
מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה? כְּתִיב ״וּתְקַעְתֶּם תְּרוּעָה״, וּכְתִיב ״תְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ״ (לָכֶם), שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה — חֲדָא הִיא. וְרַבָּנַן? הַהוּא לִפְשׁוּטָה לְפָנֶיהָ וּפְשׁוּטָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ הוּא דַּאֲתָא.
The Gemara asks: What is the reasoning of Rabbi Yehuda? As it is written in the verse: “And you shall sound [utkatem] a terua” (Numbers 10:5), and it is written: “A terua they will sound [yitke’u]” (Numbers 10:6). Conclude from the fact that the Torah uses a verb from the root tekia when referring to a terua that a tekia, terua, and tekia together constitute one unit. And how do the Rabbis interpret these verses? They explain that these verses come to teach that each terua blast is accompanied by a plain blast, a tekia, preceding it and another plain blast following it.
וְרַבָּנַן מַאי טַעְמָא? דִּכְתִיב: ״וּבְהַקְהִיל אֶת הַקָּהָל תִּתְקְעוּ וְלֹא תָרִיעוּ״, וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה חֲדָא הִיא, אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא עֲבֵיד פַּלְגָא דְּמִצְוָה? וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה — סִימָנָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא.
The Gemara asks: And what is the reasoning of the Rabbis? As it is written: “And when congregating the people you shall sound a tekia and shall not sound a terua” (Numbers 10:7). And if it enters your mind that a series of tekia, terua, and tekia are considered one unit, would the Merciful One say to perform only half a mitzva? Rather, each sound constitutes a separate mitzva. The Gemara asks: And how does Rabbi Yehuda explain this verse? The Gemara answers: That single tekia mentioned in the context of congregating the people was blown merely as a signal to the people to assemble, not for the purpose of fulfilling a mitzva, which, in Rabbi Yehuda’s opinion, always comes in units of three sounds.
כְּמַאן אָזְלָא הָא דְּאָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: אֵין בֵּין תְּקִיעָה לִתְרוּעָה וְלֹא כְּלוּם? כְּמַאן? כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה. פְּשִׁיטָא!
The Gemara asks: In accordance with whose opinion is that which Rav Kahana said? As Rav Kahana said: There is to be no pause between a tekia and a terua at all, but rather they are sounded in one continuous series of blasts. In accordance with whose opinion is this statement? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. The Gemara asks: Isn’t that obvious? Why was it necessary to point this out?
מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: אֲפִילּוּ כְּרַבָּנַן אָתְיָא, וּלְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן דְּאָמַר: שָׁמַע תֵּשַׁע תְּקִיעוֹת בְּתֵשַׁע שָׁעוֹת בַּיּוֹם — יָצָא. קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
The Gemara answers: It is not obvious that Rav Kahana’s statement is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. Lest you say that Rav Kahana comes to teach his halakha even in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, and that he is coming to exclude only the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, who says: If one heard nine blasts in nine different hours on the day of Rosh HaShana, despite the considerable gap between them, he has fulfilled his obligation. One might have thought that Rav Kahana meant only that there should not be such long gaps between the sounds. Therefore, the Gemara teaches us that Rav Kahana’s ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, as he does not allow any pause at all between the shofar blasts.
וְאֵימָא הָכִי נָמֵי! אִם כֵּן, מַאי ״וְלֹא כְּלוּם״?
The Gemara asks: And how do you know that this was Rav Kahana’s intent? One can say it is indeed so, that Rav Kahana holds in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis and he merely excludes the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan. The Gemara answers that if so, what is the meaning of the phrase “at all” when Rav Kahana said that there is no pause between a tekia and a terua at all? This phrase indicates that Rav Kahana does not allow even a slight pause between blasts, which is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda.
שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר יוֹם בַּשָּׁנָה מַכֶּה בֶּחָלִיל וְכוּ׳. מַאי שְׁנָא הָנֵי? הוֹאִיל וְיָחִיד גּוֹמֵר בָּהֶן אֶת הַהַלֵּל.
§ The mishna teaches that there are twelve days during the year when the flute plays before the altar, and it proceeds to list them. The Gemara asks: What is different about these days enumerated in the mishna that the flute is played before the altar specifically on those occasions? The Gemara answers: They are unique, since these are the days on which the individual completes the full hallel.
דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק: שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר יָמִים שֶׁהַיָּחִיד גּוֹמֵר בָּהֶן אֶת הַהַלֵּל: שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי הַחַג, וּשְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי חֲנוּכָּה, וְיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח, וְיוֹם טוֹב (הָרִאשׁוֹן) שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת; וּבַגּוֹלָה עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד: תִּשְׁעָה יְמֵי הַחַג, וּשְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי חֲנוּכָּה, וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל פֶּסַח, וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת.
As Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak: There are eighteen days a year on which the individual completes the full hallel: The eight days of the festival of Sukkot, including the Eighth Day of Assembly; and the eight days of Hanukkah; and the first festival day of Passover; and the festival day of Assembly, i.e., Shavuot. And in the Diaspora, where a second day is added to each Festival due to uncertainty over the precise date, there are twenty-one days: The nine days of the festival of Sukkot; and the eight days of Hanukkah; and the first two festival days of Passover; and the two festival days of Assembly, i.e., Shavuot.
מַאי שְׁנָא בְּחַג דְּאָמְרִינַן כֹּל יוֹמָא, וּמַאי שְׁנָא בְּפֶסַח דְּלָא אָמְרִינַן
The Gemara asks: What is different about the festival of Sukkot, that we say hallel every day, and what is different about Passover, that we do not say hallel
כֹּל יוֹמָא? דְּחַג חֲלוּקִין בְּקׇרְבְּנוֹתֵיהֶן, דְּפֶסַח אֵין חֲלוּקִין בְּקׇרְבְּנוֹתֵיהֶן.
every day, but only on the first day? The Gemara answers: The days of the festival of Sukkot are distinct from one another with regard to their additional offerings, as the number of bulls offered changes each day of Sukkot (see Numbers 29:12–38). Since each day is unique, the full hallel is recited on each day. By contrast, the days of Passover are not distinct from one another with regard to their additional offerings (see Numbers 28:24), and therefore the full hallel is recited only on the first day, which is the first day on which the additional offerings for a Festival are sacrificed.
שַׁבָּת דַּחֲלוּקָה בְּקָרְבְּנוֹתֶיהָ, לֵימָא! לָא אִיקְּרִי ״מוֹעֵד״.
The Gemara objects: On Shabbat, which is also distinct from the other days of the week with regard to its additional offerings, let us say hallel. The Gemara explains: Shabbat is not called an appointed day in the Torah, and hallel is recited only on days that are referred to in the Torah as appointed days (see Leviticus 23:4), which are days of rejoicing.
רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ דְּאִיקְּרִי ״מוֹעֵד״, לֵימָא! לָא אִיקַּדַּישׁ בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלָאכָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״הַשִּׁיר יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כְּלֵיל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ חָג״ — לַיְלָה הַמְקוּדָּשׁ לֶחָג טָעוּן שִׁירָה, וְשֶׁאֵין מְקוּדָּשׁ לֶחָג אֵין טָעוּן שִׁירָה.
The Gemara objects: On the New Moon, which is called an appointed day, let us say hallel. The Gemara explains: The New Moon is not sanctified with regard to the prohibition against the performance of labor, and hallel is recited only on a day that is sanctified, as it is written: “You shall have a song as in the night when a festival is sanctified” (Isaiah 30:29), which indicates that a night that is sanctified as a Festival, which includes a prohibition of labor, requires song, but one that is not sanctified as a Festival does not require song.
רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּיפּוּרִים, דְּאִיקְּרוֹ ״מוֹעֵד״, וְאִיקַּדּוּשׁ בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלָאכָה, לֵימָא! מִשּׁוּם דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ.
The Gemara objects: On Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, which are called an appointed day and also are sanctified with regard to the prohibition against the performance of labor, let us say hallel. The Gemara explains: Hallel is not recited on those days due to the statement of Rabbi Abbahu.
דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, אָמְרוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנֶיךָ בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים? אָמַר לָהֶן: אֶפְשָׁר, מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא הַדִּין, וְסִפְרֵי חַיִּים וְסִפְרֵי מֵתִים פְּתוּחִין לְפָנָיו, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנַי?
As Rabbi Abbahu said that the ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, for what reason do the Jewish people not recite songs of praise, i.e., hallel, before You on Rosh HaShana and on Yom Kippur? He said to them: Is it possible that while the King is sitting on the throne of judgment and the books of life and the books of death are open before Him, the Jewish people would be reciting joyous songs of praise before Me? Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur are somber days of judgment whose mood is incompatible with the recitation of hallel.
וְהָא חֲנוּכָּה דְּלָא הָכִי וְלָא הָכִי, וְקָאָמַר! מִשּׁוּם נִיסָּא. פּוּרִים דְּאִיכָּא נִיסָּא, לֵימָא! אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: לְפִי שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה עַל נֵס שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
The Gemara objects: But what about Hanukkah, which has neither this or that, i.e., there is no special offering on it, nor is labor prohibited, and yet one says hallel. The Gemara explains: Hallel is recited on Hanukkah not because of its status as a Festival, but because of the miracle that occurred on those days. The Gemara objects: If so, on Purim, when there is also this factor, i.e., a miracle occurred on that day, let us say hallel. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Hallel is not recited on Purim because one does not recite a song of praise for a miracle that occurred outside of Eretz Yisrael.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: וַהֲרֵי יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם, דְּנֵס שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ הוּא, וְאָמְרִינַן הַלֵּל! כִּדְתַנְיָא: עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִכְנְסוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאָרֶץ — הוּכְשְׁרוּ כׇּל הָאֲרָצוֹת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה, מִשֶּׁנִּכְנְסוּ לְאָרֶץ — לֹא הוּכְשְׁרוּ כׇּל אֲרָצוֹת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה.
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak objects to this explanation: But there is the exodus from Egypt, which was a miracle that took place outside of Eretz Yisrael, and yet we say hallel on Passover night in commemoration of it? The Gemara responds that this is as it is taught in a baraita: Until the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisrael, all lands were deemed fit for songs of praise to be recited for miracles performed within their borders, as all lands were treated equally. But once the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisrael, that land became endowed with greater sanctity, and all the other lands were no longer deemed fit for songs of praise to be recited for miracles performed within them.
רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר: קְרִיָּיתָהּ זוֹ הִיא הַלֵּילָאּ. רָבָא אָמַר: בִּשְׁלָמָא הָתָם ״הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי ה׳״ — וְלֹא עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה, הָכָא ״הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי ה׳״ — וְלֹא עַבְדֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ? אַכַּתִּי עַבְדֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אֲנַן!
Rav Naḥman says an alternative answer as to why hallel is not recited on Purim: The reading of the Megilla, i.e., the Scroll of Esther, is equivalent to reciting hallel. Rava says a third reason: Granted, hallel is said there, when recalling the exodus from Egypt, as after that salvation one can recite the phrase in hallel: “Give praise, O servants of the Lord” (Psalms 113:1), since after the Israelites’ servitude to Pharaoh ended with their salvation, they were truly servants of the Lord and not servants of Pharaoh. But can it be said here, after the salvation commemorated on Purim: “Give praise, O servants of the Lord,” which would indicate that after the salvation the Jewish people were only servants of the Lord and not servants of Ahasuerus? Not so, as even after the miracle of Purim, we are still the servants of Ahasuerus, since the Jews remained in exile under Persian rule.
וּלְרַב נַחְמָן דְּאָמַר: קְרִיָּיתָהּ זוֹ הִיא הַלֵּילָאּ, הָתַנְיָא: מִשֶּׁנִּכְנְסוּ לְאָרֶץ לֹא הוּכְשְׁרוּ כׇּל אֲרָצוֹת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָּלוּ חָזְרוּ לְהֶיתֵּירָן הָרִאשׁוֹן.
The Gemara objects: And according to the opinion of Rav Naḥman, who says that the reading of the Megilla itself is an act of reciting hallel, there is a difficulty: Isn’t it taught in a baraita: Once the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisrael, that land became endowed with greater sanctity, and all the other lands were no longer deemed fit for songs of praise to be recited for miracles performed within them. How, then, may one recite a form of hallel by reading the Megilla? The Gemara answers: He maintains that once the people were exiled from Eretz Yisrael, the other lands returned to their initial suitability, and were once again deemed fit for reciting hallel, in commemoration of miracles performed within them.
לֹא הָיָה מַכֶּה בְּאַבּוּב שֶׁל נְחוֹשֶׁת וְכוּ׳. פָּתַח בְּחָלִיל וּמְסַיֵּים בְּאַבּוּב. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: הַיְינוּ חָלִיל הַיְינוּ אַבּוּב, וְאַמַּאי קָרֵי לֵיהּ ״חָלִיל״? דַּחֲלֵי קָלֵיהּ.
§ The mishna teaches: And one would not play a copper flute [abuv]; rather, one would play a flute [abuv] of reed, because its sound is pleasant. The Gemara asks: The mishna opens by referring to flutes and calls them ḥalil and then concludes by referring to playing an abuv. Rav Pappa said: A ḥalil is the same as an abuv. Its original name was abuv; and why does the mishna call it a ḥalil? The reason is that its sound is sweet [ḥali].
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַבּוּב הָיָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, חָלָק הָיָה, דַּק הָיָה, שֶׁל קָנֶה הָיָה, וּמִימוֹת מֹשֶׁה הָיָה. צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְצִיפּוּהוּ זָהָב, וְלֹא הָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, נָטְלוּ אֶת צִפּוּיוֹ וְהָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה. צִלְצוֹל הָיָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁל נְחוֹשֶׁת הָיָה, וְהָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, וְנִפְגַּם, וְשָׁלְחוּ חֲכָמִים וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָּנִין מֵאֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּא שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם וְתִקְּנוּהוּ, וְלֹא הָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, נָטְלוּ אֶת תִּיקּוּנוֹ וְהָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה.
The Sages taught in a baraita: There was a flute in the Temple; it was smooth and it was thin, i.e., its sides were thin; it was made from reed, and it was in existence from the days of Moses. The king issued a command and they plated the flute with gold, but then its sound was not as pleasant as it was previously. They therefore removed its plating and its sound was then as pleasant as it was before. Similarly, there was a cymbal in the Temple; it was made from copper and its sound was pleasant. It became damaged and the Sages sent for and brought artisans from Alexandria in Egypt and they repaired it, but its sound was not as pleasant as before. They removed the materials with which the cymbal had been repaired and its sound was then as pleasant as it had been before the repair.
מַכְתֶּשֶׁת הָיְתָה בְּמִקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁל נְחוֹשֶׁת הָיְתָה, וּמִימוֹת מֹשֶׁה הָיְתָה, וְהָיְתָה מְפַטֶּמֶת אֶת הַבְּשָׂמִים, נִתְפַּגְּמָה וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָּנִין מֵאֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּא שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם וְתִיקְנוּהָ, וְלֹא הָיְתָה מְפַטֶּמֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה, נָטְלוּ אֶת תִּיקּוּנָהּ וְהָיְתָה מְפַטֶּמֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה.
There was a mortar in the Temple; it was made of copper and it was from the days of Moses, and it was used to compound the spices for the incense. It became damaged and they brought artisans from Alexandria in Egypt and they repaired it, but it did not compound the spices as well as it had before. They removed the materials with which the mortar had been repaired and it then compounded the spices as it had before it was repaired.
אֵלּוּ שְׁנֵי כֵלִים נִשְׁתַּיְּירוּ מִמִּקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן, וְנִתְפַּגְּמוּ וְלֹא הָיָה לָהֶם אֲרוּכָה, וַעֲלֵיהֶם אָמַר דָּוִד: ״נְחוֹשֶׁת מְמוֹרָט״, ״נְחוֹשֶׁת מְמוֹרָק״, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וּכְלֵי נְחֹשֶׁת מוּצְהָב שְׁנַיִם חֲמוּדוֹת מִזָּהָב״.
The baraita concludes: These two copper vessels, the cymbal and the mortar, were remnants from the First Temple and they were damaged and they could not be repaired in an effective manner. And it was with regard to the copper vessels constructed for the First Temple that David said: “All these vessels, which Hiram made for King Solomon, in the House of the Lord, were of burnished brass” (I Kings 7:45), and, in a parallel verse, “bright brass” (II Chronicles 4:16). And with regard to these two items it states in the verse describing the vessels that Ezra brought to Jerusalem: “And vessels of fine golden brass, two, precious as gold” (Ezra 8:27).
רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, חַד אָמַר: כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שָׁקוּל כִּשְׁנַיִם שֶׁל זָהָב, וְחַד אָמַר: שְׁנֵיהֶם שְׁקוּלִין כְּאֶחָד שֶׁל זָהָב. תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: שְׁנֵיהֶם שְׁקוּלִין כְּאֶחָד שֶׁל זָהָב.
Rav and Shmuel disagree as to the meaning of the phrase: Two, precious as gold. One said: Each and every one of these brass vessels was as valuable as two vessels made from gold. And the other one said: The two of them together were as valuable as one vessel made from gold. Similarly, Rav Yosef teaches the following explanation found in a baraita: The two of them together were as valuable as one vessel made from gold.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: שְׁנִיִּים הָיוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שְׁנַיִם״, אַל תִּיקְרֵי ״שְׁנַיִם״ אֶלָּא ״שְׁנִיִּים״.
The Gemara cites another explanation of the verse in Ezra. It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Natan says: The cymbals and mortars were pairs, i.e., there were two cymbals and two mortars, as it is stated in the aforementioned verse “two”; do not read it as two [shenayim], but as pairs [sheniyyim].
תָּנֵי רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: שִׁילוֹחַ הָיָה מְקַלֵּחַ מַיִם בִּכְאִיסָּר, צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהִרְחִיבוּהוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְרַבּוּ מֵימָיו, וְנִתְמַעֲטוּ, וְחָזְרוּ וּמִיעֲטוּהוּ וְהָיָה מְקַלֵּחַ מַיִם, לְקַיֵּים מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַל יִתְהַלֵּל חָכָם בְּחׇכְמָתוֹ וְאַל יִתְהַלֵּל גִּבּוֹר בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״.
§ Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel teaches in a baraita: The Siloam pool used to spurt forth water through an opening with a diameter like that of an issar coin.The king issued a command and they widened the opening so that its waters would increase, but the waters actually decreased. And they subsequently decreased the size of the opening again and it once again spurted forth water as it had before. All this serves to uphold that which is stated in the verse: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might” (Jeremiah 9:22), i.e., man should not think that he can accomplish anything he wishes.
וְכֵן הָיָה רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: הִרְדַּוְלִים לֹא הָיָה בְּמִקְדָּשׁ. מַאי הִרְדַּוְלִים? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: טַבְלָא גּוּרְגְּדָנָא, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ עָרֵב וּמְעַרְבֵּב אֶת הַנְּעִימָה.
And likewise Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel would say, with regard to the musical instruments in the Temple: There was no hirdolim in the Temple. The Gemara asks: What is a hirdolim? Abaye said: It is a hydraulic organ. It was not used in the Temple because its sound is pleasant but it disrupts the melody.
אָמַר רָבָא בַּר שֵׁילָא אָמַר רַב מַתְנָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: מַגְרֵיפָה הָיְתָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ,
Rava bar Sheila said that Rav Mattana said that Shmuel said: There was an instrument called magreifa in the Temple.
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I tried Daf Yomi in the middle of the last cycle after realizing I could listen to Michelle’s shiurim online. It lasted all of 2 days! Then the new cycle started just days before my father’s first yahrzeit and my youngest daughter’s bat mitzvah. It seemed the right time for a new beginning. My family, friends, colleagues are immensely supportive!
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I started my journey on the day I realized that the Siyum was happening in Yerushalayim and I was missing out. What? I told myself. How could I have not known about this? How can I have missed out on this opportunity? I decided that moment, I would start Daf Yomi and Nach Yomi the very next day. I am so grateful to Hadran. I am changed forever because I learn Gemara with women. Thank you.
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Mitspe, Israel
It has been a pleasure keeping pace with this wonderful and scholarly group of women.
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Beit Shemesh, Israel
After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.
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London, United Kingdom
When we heard that R. Michelle was starting daf yomi, my 11-year-old suggested that I go. Little did she know that she would lose me every morning from then on. I remember standing at the Farbers’ door, almost too shy to enter. After that first class, I said that I would come the next day but couldn’t commit to more. A decade later, I still look forward to learning from R. Michelle every morning.
Ruth Leah Kahan
Ra’anana, Israel
I began Daf Yomi with the last cycle. I was inspired by the Hadran Siyum in Yerushalayim to continue with this cycle. I have learned Daf Yomi with Rabanit Michelle in over 25 countries on 6 continents ( missing Australia)
Barbara Goldschlag
Silver Spring, MD, United States
Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.
Nancy Kolodny
Newton, United States
תמיד רציתי. למדתי גמרא בבית ספר בטורונטו קנדה. עליתי ארצה ולמדתי שזה לא מקובל. הופתעתי.
יצאתי לגימלאות לפני שנתיים וזה מאפשר את המחוייבות לדף יומי.
עבורי ההתמדה בלימוד מעגן אותי בקשר שלי ליהדות. אני תמיד מחפשת ותמיד. מוצאת מקור לקשר. ללימוד חדש ומחדש. קשר עם נשים לומדות מעמיק את החוויה ומשמעותית מאוד.
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מיתר, ישראל
I began my journey with Rabbanit Michelle more than five years ago. My friend came up with a great idea for about 15 of us to learn the daf and one of us would summarize weekly what we learned.
It was fun but after 2-3 months people began to leave. I have continued. Since the cycle began Again I have joined the Teaneck women.. I find it most rewarding in so many ways. Thank you
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New Jersey, United States
I started learning at the beginning of the cycle after a friend persuaded me that it would be right up my alley. I was lucky enough to learn at Rabbanit Michelle’s house before it started on zoom and it was quickly part of my daily routine. I find it so important to see for myself where halachot were derived, where stories were told and to get more insight into how the Rabbis interacted.
Deborah Dickson
Ra’anana, Israel
When I was working and taking care of my children, learning was never on the list. Now that I have more time I have two different Gemora classes and the nach yomi as well as the mishna yomi daily.
Shoshana Shinnar
Jerusalem, Israel
I started learning Dec 2019 after reading “If all the Seas Were Ink”. I found
Daily daf sessions of Rabbanit Michelle in her house teaching, I then heard about the siyum and a new cycle starting wow I am in! Afternoon here in Sydney, my family and friends know this is my sacred time to hide away to live zoom and learn. Often it’s hard to absorb and relate then a gem shines touching my heart.
Dianne Kuchar
Dover Heights, Australia
It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.
Joanna Rom
Northwest Washington, United States
I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!
Debbie Engelen-Eigles
Minnesota, United States
I started learning daf in January, 2020, being inspired by watching the Siyyum Hashas in Binyanei Haumah. I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep up with the task. When I went to school, Gemara was not an option. Fast forward to March, 2022, and each day starts with the daf. The challenge is now learning the intricacies of delving into the actual learning. Hadran community, thank you!
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Riverdale, NY, United States
I am grateful for the structure of the Daf Yomi. When I am freer to learn to my heart’s content, I learn other passages in addition. But even in times of difficulty, I always know that I can rely on the structure and social support of Daf Yomi learners all over the world.
I am also grateful for this forum. It is very helpful to learn with a group of enthusiastic and committed women.
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Beit Shemesh, Israel
At almost 70 I am just beginning my journey with Talmud and Hadran. I began not late, but right when I was called to learn. It is never too late to begin! The understanding patience of staff and participants with more experience and knowledge has been fabulous. The joy of learning never stops and for me. It is a new life, a new light, a new depth of love of The Holy One, Blessed be He.
Deborah Hoffman-Wade
Richmond, CA, United States
Geri Goldstein got me started learning daf yomi when I was in Israel 2 years ago. It’s been a challenge and I’ve learned a lot though I’m sure I miss a lot. I quilt as I listen and I want to share what I’ve been working on.
Rebecca Stulberg
Ottawa, Canada
Since I started in January of 2020, Daf Yomi has changed my life. It connects me to Jews all over the world, especially learned women. It makes cooking, gardening, and folding laundry into acts of Torah study. Daf Yomi enables me to participate in a conversation with and about our heritage that has been going on for more than 2000 years.
Shira Eliaser
Skokie, IL, United States
When we heard that R. Michelle was starting daf yomi, my 11-year-old suggested that I go. Little did she know that she would lose me every morning from then on. I remember standing at the Farbers’ door, almost too shy to enter. After that first class, I said that I would come the next day but couldn’t commit to more. A decade later, I still look forward to learning from R. Michelle every morning.
Ruth Leah Kahan
Ra’anana, Israel
Arakhin 10
וְעִיבּוּר שָׁנָה שְׁלֹשִׁים (אישתקד) [וְאִישְׁתָּקַד] עָשִׂינוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם מְלֵאִין, דַּל תְּלָתָא לְבַהֲדֵי תְּלָתָא וְקָם לֵיהּ בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: נֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל! כֵּן הָוֵה.
and the month that was intercalated, added for the leap year, was thirty days, and last year we turned two months that are generally deficient into full months, which meant that it had eight full months instead of the usual six. Consequently, remove from consideration the three months that were made deficient this year corresponding to the three extra months that were made full last year, and the moon is restored to its place, i.e., it is properly aligned with the months. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: Lamp of Israel! Indeed, so it was.
מַתְנִי׳ אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַחַת תְּקִיעוֹת בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה.
MISHNA: No fewer than twenty-one trumpet blasts are sounded daily in the Temple, as each day three blasts were sounded for the opening of the gates in the morning, nine for the daily morning offering, and nine for the daily afternoon offering, totaling twenty-one. And no more than forty-eight are ever sounded on a single day. This would occur on the Friday of Sukkot, when they would sound an additional twelve blasts during the ritual of drawing the water for the water libation; nine for the additional offerings; three to signal the population to cease their work before Shabbat; and three more to mark the beginning of Shabbat.
אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשְּׁנֵי נְבָלִים, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל שִׁשָּׁה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשְּׁנֵי חֲלִילִין, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, וּבִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר יוֹם בַּשָּׁנָה הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה לִפְנֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ: בִּשְׁחִיטַת פֶּסַח רִאשׁוֹן, וּבִשְׁחִיטַת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי, וְיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח, וּבְיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת, וּבִשְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי הֶחָג. וְלֹא הָיָה מַכֶּה בְּאַבּוּב שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת, אֶלָּא בְּאַבּוּב שֶׁל קָנֶה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ עָרֵב; וְלֹא הָיָה מְחַלֵּק אֶלָּא בְּאַבּוּב יְחִידִי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מְחַלֵּיק יָפֶה.
When accompanying their song with instruments, the Levites do not use fewer than two lyres and do not use more than six. When flutes are played, they do not use fewer than two flutes and do not use more than twelve. And there are twelve days during the year when the flute plays before the altar: At the time of the slaughter of the first Paschal offering, on the fourteenth of Nisan; and at the time of the slaughter of the second Paschal offering, on the fourteenth of Iyyar; and on the first festival day of Passover; and on the festival of Shavuot; and on all eight days of the festival of Sukkot. And one would not play with a copper flute; rather, one would play with a flute of reed, because its sound is more pleasant. And one would conclude the music only with a single flute, because it concludes the music nicely.
וְעַבְדֵי כֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר; רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית פְּגָרִים וּבֵית צִיפְּרָא מֵעֶמָּאוּם הָיוּ מַשִּׂיאִין לַכְּהוּנָּה; רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר: לְוִיִּם הָיוּ.
The Temple musicians were slaves of priests; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosei says: The musicians were not slaves, but Israelites from the family of the house of Pegarim and the family of the house of Tzippara from the city of Emaum, and their lineage was sufficiently pure that they would marry their daughters to members of the priesthood. Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says: They were Levites.
גּמ׳: מַתְנִיתִין דְּלָא כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה, דְּתַנְיָא: רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא יִפְחוֹת מִשֶּׁבַע, וְלֹא יוֹסִיף עַל שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.
GEMARA: The mishna teaches that no fewer than twenty-one trumpet blasts are sounded daily in the Temple and no more than forty-eight. The Gemara notes: The mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda says: One may not blow fewer than seven blasts, and one may not blow more than sixteen blasts.
בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי? רַבִּי יְהוּדָה סָבַר: תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה חֲדָא הִיא, וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: תְּקִיעָה לְחוּד, וּתְרוּעָה לְחוּד, וּתְקִיעָה לְחוּד.
The Gemara asks: With regard to what principle do the tanna of the mishna and Rabbi Yehuda disagree? The Gemara explains that Rabbi Yehuda holds: A series of blasts consisting of tekia, terua, tekia is counted as one unit. And the Rabbis hold: A tekia is counted as a discrete unit and a terua is also counted as a discrete unit, and the final tekia is again counted as a discrete unit. They agree with regard to the sequence and the number of the blasts; their disgreement is only with regard to how the blasts are tallied.
מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה? כְּתִיב ״וּתְקַעְתֶּם תְּרוּעָה״, וּכְתִיב ״תְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ״ (לָכֶם), שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה — חֲדָא הִיא. וְרַבָּנַן? הַהוּא לִפְשׁוּטָה לְפָנֶיהָ וּפְשׁוּטָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ הוּא דַּאֲתָא.
The Gemara asks: What is the reasoning of Rabbi Yehuda? As it is written in the verse: “And you shall sound [utkatem] a terua” (Numbers 10:5), and it is written: “A terua they will sound [yitke’u]” (Numbers 10:6). Conclude from the fact that the Torah uses a verb from the root tekia when referring to a terua that a tekia, terua, and tekia together constitute one unit. And how do the Rabbis interpret these verses? They explain that these verses come to teach that each terua blast is accompanied by a plain blast, a tekia, preceding it and another plain blast following it.
וְרַבָּנַן מַאי טַעְמָא? דִּכְתִיב: ״וּבְהַקְהִיל אֶת הַקָּהָל תִּתְקְעוּ וְלֹא תָרִיעוּ״, וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה חֲדָא הִיא, אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא עֲבֵיד פַּלְגָא דְּמִצְוָה? וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה — סִימָנָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא.
The Gemara asks: And what is the reasoning of the Rabbis? As it is written: “And when congregating the people you shall sound a tekia and shall not sound a terua” (Numbers 10:7). And if it enters your mind that a series of tekia, terua, and tekia are considered one unit, would the Merciful One say to perform only half a mitzva? Rather, each sound constitutes a separate mitzva. The Gemara asks: And how does Rabbi Yehuda explain this verse? The Gemara answers: That single tekia mentioned in the context of congregating the people was blown merely as a signal to the people to assemble, not for the purpose of fulfilling a mitzva, which, in Rabbi Yehuda’s opinion, always comes in units of three sounds.
כְּמַאן אָזְלָא הָא דְּאָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: אֵין בֵּין תְּקִיעָה לִתְרוּעָה וְלֹא כְּלוּם? כְּמַאן? כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה. פְּשִׁיטָא!
The Gemara asks: In accordance with whose opinion is that which Rav Kahana said? As Rav Kahana said: There is to be no pause between a tekia and a terua at all, but rather they are sounded in one continuous series of blasts. In accordance with whose opinion is this statement? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. The Gemara asks: Isn’t that obvious? Why was it necessary to point this out?
מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: אֲפִילּוּ כְּרַבָּנַן אָתְיָא, וּלְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן דְּאָמַר: שָׁמַע תֵּשַׁע תְּקִיעוֹת בְּתֵשַׁע שָׁעוֹת בַּיּוֹם — יָצָא. קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
The Gemara answers: It is not obvious that Rav Kahana’s statement is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. Lest you say that Rav Kahana comes to teach his halakha even in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, and that he is coming to exclude only the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, who says: If one heard nine blasts in nine different hours on the day of Rosh HaShana, despite the considerable gap between them, he has fulfilled his obligation. One might have thought that Rav Kahana meant only that there should not be such long gaps between the sounds. Therefore, the Gemara teaches us that Rav Kahana’s ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, as he does not allow any pause at all between the shofar blasts.
וְאֵימָא הָכִי נָמֵי! אִם כֵּן, מַאי ״וְלֹא כְּלוּם״?
The Gemara asks: And how do you know that this was Rav Kahana’s intent? One can say it is indeed so, that Rav Kahana holds in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis and he merely excludes the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan. The Gemara answers that if so, what is the meaning of the phrase “at all” when Rav Kahana said that there is no pause between a tekia and a terua at all? This phrase indicates that Rav Kahana does not allow even a slight pause between blasts, which is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda.
שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר יוֹם בַּשָּׁנָה מַכֶּה בֶּחָלִיל וְכוּ׳. מַאי שְׁנָא הָנֵי? הוֹאִיל וְיָחִיד גּוֹמֵר בָּהֶן אֶת הַהַלֵּל.
§ The mishna teaches that there are twelve days during the year when the flute plays before the altar, and it proceeds to list them. The Gemara asks: What is different about these days enumerated in the mishna that the flute is played before the altar specifically on those occasions? The Gemara answers: They are unique, since these are the days on which the individual completes the full hallel.
דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק: שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר יָמִים שֶׁהַיָּחִיד גּוֹמֵר בָּהֶן אֶת הַהַלֵּל: שְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי הַחַג, וּשְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי חֲנוּכָּה, וְיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח, וְיוֹם טוֹב (הָרִאשׁוֹן) שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת; וּבַגּוֹלָה עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד: תִּשְׁעָה יְמֵי הַחַג, וּשְׁמוֹנָה יְמֵי חֲנוּכָּה, וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל פֶּסַח, וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל עֲצֶרֶת.
As Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak: There are eighteen days a year on which the individual completes the full hallel: The eight days of the festival of Sukkot, including the Eighth Day of Assembly; and the eight days of Hanukkah; and the first festival day of Passover; and the festival day of Assembly, i.e., Shavuot. And in the Diaspora, where a second day is added to each Festival due to uncertainty over the precise date, there are twenty-one days: The nine days of the festival of Sukkot; and the eight days of Hanukkah; and the first two festival days of Passover; and the two festival days of Assembly, i.e., Shavuot.
מַאי שְׁנָא בְּחַג דְּאָמְרִינַן כֹּל יוֹמָא, וּמַאי שְׁנָא בְּפֶסַח דְּלָא אָמְרִינַן
The Gemara asks: What is different about the festival of Sukkot, that we say hallel every day, and what is different about Passover, that we do not say hallel
כֹּל יוֹמָא? דְּחַג חֲלוּקִין בְּקׇרְבְּנוֹתֵיהֶן, דְּפֶסַח אֵין חֲלוּקִין בְּקׇרְבְּנוֹתֵיהֶן.
every day, but only on the first day? The Gemara answers: The days of the festival of Sukkot are distinct from one another with regard to their additional offerings, as the number of bulls offered changes each day of Sukkot (see Numbers 29:12–38). Since each day is unique, the full hallel is recited on each day. By contrast, the days of Passover are not distinct from one another with regard to their additional offerings (see Numbers 28:24), and therefore the full hallel is recited only on the first day, which is the first day on which the additional offerings for a Festival are sacrificed.
שַׁבָּת דַּחֲלוּקָה בְּקָרְבְּנוֹתֶיהָ, לֵימָא! לָא אִיקְּרִי ״מוֹעֵד״.
The Gemara objects: On Shabbat, which is also distinct from the other days of the week with regard to its additional offerings, let us say hallel. The Gemara explains: Shabbat is not called an appointed day in the Torah, and hallel is recited only on days that are referred to in the Torah as appointed days (see Leviticus 23:4), which are days of rejoicing.
רֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ דְּאִיקְּרִי ״מוֹעֵד״, לֵימָא! לָא אִיקַּדַּישׁ בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלָאכָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״הַשִּׁיר יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כְּלֵיל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ חָג״ — לַיְלָה הַמְקוּדָּשׁ לֶחָג טָעוּן שִׁירָה, וְשֶׁאֵין מְקוּדָּשׁ לֶחָג אֵין טָעוּן שִׁירָה.
The Gemara objects: On the New Moon, which is called an appointed day, let us say hallel. The Gemara explains: The New Moon is not sanctified with regard to the prohibition against the performance of labor, and hallel is recited only on a day that is sanctified, as it is written: “You shall have a song as in the night when a festival is sanctified” (Isaiah 30:29), which indicates that a night that is sanctified as a Festival, which includes a prohibition of labor, requires song, but one that is not sanctified as a Festival does not require song.
רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּיפּוּרִים, דְּאִיקְּרוֹ ״מוֹעֵד״, וְאִיקַּדּוּשׁ בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלָאכָה, לֵימָא! מִשּׁוּם דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ.
The Gemara objects: On Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, which are called an appointed day and also are sanctified with regard to the prohibition against the performance of labor, let us say hallel. The Gemara explains: Hallel is not recited on those days due to the statement of Rabbi Abbahu.
דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, אָמְרוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנֶיךָ בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים? אָמַר לָהֶן: אֶפְשָׁר, מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא הַדִּין, וְסִפְרֵי חַיִּים וְסִפְרֵי מֵתִים פְּתוּחִין לְפָנָיו, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה לְפָנַי?
As Rabbi Abbahu said that the ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, for what reason do the Jewish people not recite songs of praise, i.e., hallel, before You on Rosh HaShana and on Yom Kippur? He said to them: Is it possible that while the King is sitting on the throne of judgment and the books of life and the books of death are open before Him, the Jewish people would be reciting joyous songs of praise before Me? Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur are somber days of judgment whose mood is incompatible with the recitation of hallel.
וְהָא חֲנוּכָּה דְּלָא הָכִי וְלָא הָכִי, וְקָאָמַר! מִשּׁוּם נִיסָּא. פּוּרִים דְּאִיכָּא נִיסָּא, לֵימָא! אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: לְפִי שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה עַל נֵס שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
The Gemara objects: But what about Hanukkah, which has neither this or that, i.e., there is no special offering on it, nor is labor prohibited, and yet one says hallel. The Gemara explains: Hallel is recited on Hanukkah not because of its status as a Festival, but because of the miracle that occurred on those days. The Gemara objects: If so, on Purim, when there is also this factor, i.e., a miracle occurred on that day, let us say hallel. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Hallel is not recited on Purim because one does not recite a song of praise for a miracle that occurred outside of Eretz Yisrael.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: וַהֲרֵי יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם, דְּנֵס שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ הוּא, וְאָמְרִינַן הַלֵּל! כִּדְתַנְיָא: עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִכְנְסוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאָרֶץ — הוּכְשְׁרוּ כׇּל הָאֲרָצוֹת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה, מִשֶּׁנִּכְנְסוּ לְאָרֶץ — לֹא הוּכְשְׁרוּ כׇּל אֲרָצוֹת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה.
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak objects to this explanation: But there is the exodus from Egypt, which was a miracle that took place outside of Eretz Yisrael, and yet we say hallel on Passover night in commemoration of it? The Gemara responds that this is as it is taught in a baraita: Until the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisrael, all lands were deemed fit for songs of praise to be recited for miracles performed within their borders, as all lands were treated equally. But once the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisrael, that land became endowed with greater sanctity, and all the other lands were no longer deemed fit for songs of praise to be recited for miracles performed within them.
רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר: קְרִיָּיתָהּ זוֹ הִיא הַלֵּילָאּ. רָבָא אָמַר: בִּשְׁלָמָא הָתָם ״הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי ה׳״ — וְלֹא עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה, הָכָא ״הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי ה׳״ — וְלֹא עַבְדֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ? אַכַּתִּי עַבְדֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אֲנַן!
Rav Naḥman says an alternative answer as to why hallel is not recited on Purim: The reading of the Megilla, i.e., the Scroll of Esther, is equivalent to reciting hallel. Rava says a third reason: Granted, hallel is said there, when recalling the exodus from Egypt, as after that salvation one can recite the phrase in hallel: “Give praise, O servants of the Lord” (Psalms 113:1), since after the Israelites’ servitude to Pharaoh ended with their salvation, they were truly servants of the Lord and not servants of Pharaoh. But can it be said here, after the salvation commemorated on Purim: “Give praise, O servants of the Lord,” which would indicate that after the salvation the Jewish people were only servants of the Lord and not servants of Ahasuerus? Not so, as even after the miracle of Purim, we are still the servants of Ahasuerus, since the Jews remained in exile under Persian rule.
וּלְרַב נַחְמָן דְּאָמַר: קְרִיָּיתָהּ זוֹ הִיא הַלֵּילָאּ, הָתַנְיָא: מִשֶּׁנִּכְנְסוּ לְאָרֶץ לֹא הוּכְשְׁרוּ כׇּל אֲרָצוֹת לוֹמַר שִׁירָה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָּלוּ חָזְרוּ לְהֶיתֵּירָן הָרִאשׁוֹן.
The Gemara objects: And according to the opinion of Rav Naḥman, who says that the reading of the Megilla itself is an act of reciting hallel, there is a difficulty: Isn’t it taught in a baraita: Once the Jewish people entered Eretz Yisrael, that land became endowed with greater sanctity, and all the other lands were no longer deemed fit for songs of praise to be recited for miracles performed within them. How, then, may one recite a form of hallel by reading the Megilla? The Gemara answers: He maintains that once the people were exiled from Eretz Yisrael, the other lands returned to their initial suitability, and were once again deemed fit for reciting hallel, in commemoration of miracles performed within them.
לֹא הָיָה מַכֶּה בְּאַבּוּב שֶׁל נְחוֹשֶׁת וְכוּ׳. פָּתַח בְּחָלִיל וּמְסַיֵּים בְּאַבּוּב. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: הַיְינוּ חָלִיל הַיְינוּ אַבּוּב, וְאַמַּאי קָרֵי לֵיהּ ״חָלִיל״? דַּחֲלֵי קָלֵיהּ.
§ The mishna teaches: And one would not play a copper flute [abuv]; rather, one would play a flute [abuv] of reed, because its sound is pleasant. The Gemara asks: The mishna opens by referring to flutes and calls them ḥalil and then concludes by referring to playing an abuv. Rav Pappa said: A ḥalil is the same as an abuv. Its original name was abuv; and why does the mishna call it a ḥalil? The reason is that its sound is sweet [ḥali].
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַבּוּב הָיָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, חָלָק הָיָה, דַּק הָיָה, שֶׁל קָנֶה הָיָה, וּמִימוֹת מֹשֶׁה הָיָה. צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְצִיפּוּהוּ זָהָב, וְלֹא הָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, נָטְלוּ אֶת צִפּוּיוֹ וְהָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה. צִלְצוֹל הָיָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁל נְחוֹשֶׁת הָיָה, וְהָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, וְנִפְגַּם, וְשָׁלְחוּ חֲכָמִים וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָּנִין מֵאֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּא שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם וְתִקְּנוּהוּ, וְלֹא הָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, נָטְלוּ אֶת תִּיקּוּנוֹ וְהָיָה קוֹלוֹ עָרֵב כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה.
The Sages taught in a baraita: There was a flute in the Temple; it was smooth and it was thin, i.e., its sides were thin; it was made from reed, and it was in existence from the days of Moses. The king issued a command and they plated the flute with gold, but then its sound was not as pleasant as it was previously. They therefore removed its plating and its sound was then as pleasant as it was before. Similarly, there was a cymbal in the Temple; it was made from copper and its sound was pleasant. It became damaged and the Sages sent for and brought artisans from Alexandria in Egypt and they repaired it, but its sound was not as pleasant as before. They removed the materials with which the cymbal had been repaired and its sound was then as pleasant as it had been before the repair.
מַכְתֶּשֶׁת הָיְתָה בְּמִקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁל נְחוֹשֶׁת הָיְתָה, וּמִימוֹת מֹשֶׁה הָיְתָה, וְהָיְתָה מְפַטֶּמֶת אֶת הַבְּשָׂמִים, נִתְפַּגְּמָה וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָּנִין מֵאֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּא שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם וְתִיקְנוּהָ, וְלֹא הָיְתָה מְפַטֶּמֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה, נָטְלוּ אֶת תִּיקּוּנָהּ וְהָיְתָה מְפַטֶּמֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה.
There was a mortar in the Temple; it was made of copper and it was from the days of Moses, and it was used to compound the spices for the incense. It became damaged and they brought artisans from Alexandria in Egypt and they repaired it, but it did not compound the spices as well as it had before. They removed the materials with which the mortar had been repaired and it then compounded the spices as it had before it was repaired.
אֵלּוּ שְׁנֵי כֵלִים נִשְׁתַּיְּירוּ מִמִּקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן, וְנִתְפַּגְּמוּ וְלֹא הָיָה לָהֶם אֲרוּכָה, וַעֲלֵיהֶם אָמַר דָּוִד: ״נְחוֹשֶׁת מְמוֹרָט״, ״נְחוֹשֶׁת מְמוֹרָק״, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וּכְלֵי נְחֹשֶׁת מוּצְהָב שְׁנַיִם חֲמוּדוֹת מִזָּהָב״.
The baraita concludes: These two copper vessels, the cymbal and the mortar, were remnants from the First Temple and they were damaged and they could not be repaired in an effective manner. And it was with regard to the copper vessels constructed for the First Temple that David said: “All these vessels, which Hiram made for King Solomon, in the House of the Lord, were of burnished brass” (I Kings 7:45), and, in a parallel verse, “bright brass” (II Chronicles 4:16). And with regard to these two items it states in the verse describing the vessels that Ezra brought to Jerusalem: “And vessels of fine golden brass, two, precious as gold” (Ezra 8:27).
רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, חַד אָמַר: כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שָׁקוּל כִּשְׁנַיִם שֶׁל זָהָב, וְחַד אָמַר: שְׁנֵיהֶם שְׁקוּלִין כְּאֶחָד שֶׁל זָהָב. תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: שְׁנֵיהֶם שְׁקוּלִין כְּאֶחָד שֶׁל זָהָב.
Rav and Shmuel disagree as to the meaning of the phrase: Two, precious as gold. One said: Each and every one of these brass vessels was as valuable as two vessels made from gold. And the other one said: The two of them together were as valuable as one vessel made from gold. Similarly, Rav Yosef teaches the following explanation found in a baraita: The two of them together were as valuable as one vessel made from gold.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: שְׁנִיִּים הָיוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שְׁנַיִם״, אַל תִּיקְרֵי ״שְׁנַיִם״ אֶלָּא ״שְׁנִיִּים״.
The Gemara cites another explanation of the verse in Ezra. It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Natan says: The cymbals and mortars were pairs, i.e., there were two cymbals and two mortars, as it is stated in the aforementioned verse “two”; do not read it as two [shenayim], but as pairs [sheniyyim].
תָּנֵי רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: שִׁילוֹחַ הָיָה מְקַלֵּחַ מַיִם בִּכְאִיסָּר, צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהִרְחִיבוּהוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְרַבּוּ מֵימָיו, וְנִתְמַעֲטוּ, וְחָזְרוּ וּמִיעֲטוּהוּ וְהָיָה מְקַלֵּחַ מַיִם, לְקַיֵּים מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַל יִתְהַלֵּל חָכָם בְּחׇכְמָתוֹ וְאַל יִתְהַלֵּל גִּבּוֹר בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״.
§ Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel teaches in a baraita: The Siloam pool used to spurt forth water through an opening with a diameter like that of an issar coin.The king issued a command and they widened the opening so that its waters would increase, but the waters actually decreased. And they subsequently decreased the size of the opening again and it once again spurted forth water as it had before. All this serves to uphold that which is stated in the verse: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might” (Jeremiah 9:22), i.e., man should not think that he can accomplish anything he wishes.
וְכֵן הָיָה רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: הִרְדַּוְלִים לֹא הָיָה בְּמִקְדָּשׁ. מַאי הִרְדַּוְלִים? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: טַבְלָא גּוּרְגְּדָנָא, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ עָרֵב וּמְעַרְבֵּב אֶת הַנְּעִימָה.
And likewise Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel would say, with regard to the musical instruments in the Temple: There was no hirdolim in the Temple. The Gemara asks: What is a hirdolim? Abaye said: It is a hydraulic organ. It was not used in the Temple because its sound is pleasant but it disrupts the melody.
אָמַר רָבָא בַּר שֵׁילָא אָמַר רַב מַתְנָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: מַגְרֵיפָה הָיְתָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ,
Rava bar Sheila said that Rav Mattana said that Shmuel said: There was an instrument called magreifa in the Temple.
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