This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
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Summary
The Mishna details the ceremony of the Omer harvest, a public event designed to openly reject the opinion of the Baytusim (Boethusians) who held that the date for the Omer offering was the first Sunday after the first day of Pesach. Before the Pesach holiday, messengers of the Beit Din tied the standing barley into bundles to facilitate a quick harvest. On the night following the first day of Passover, residents from surrounding towns gathered to watch as the harvester and the crowd engaged in a question-and-answer ceremony confirming three times each detail: “Has the sun set?”, “With this sickle?”, “In this basket?”, and even “On this Shabbat,” if it came out on Shabbat.
The Gemara quotes from Megillat Taanit two sets of days on which one cannot fast or eulogize, as they were days where the Sages won debates against the Tzedukim (Sadducees) regarding the Tamid sacrifice (proving it cannot be offered by individuals) and against the Baytusim regarding the date for the Omer offering. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai dismisses the Baytusim claim that Moses scheduled Shavuot for Sunday just to give Israel a “long weekend,” pointing out the absurdity of their logic. To solidify the law, he and other Sages offer various proofs for starting the count on the 16th of Nisan, ensuring the tradition remained rooted in the festival itself rather than a fixed day of the week.
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This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
Menachot 65
וְהַיְינוּ דִּתְנַן: פְּתַחְיָה עַל הַקִּינִּין זֶה מָרְדֳּכַי, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פְּתַחְיָה – שֶׁפּוֹתֵחַ דְּבָרִים וְדוֹרְשָׁן, וְיוֹדֵעַ בְּשִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן.
And this is as we learned in a mishna (Shekalim 13b): Petaḥya was responsible for the nests of birds, i.e., the doves or pigeons brought by a zav, a zava, a woman after childbirth, and a leper. These individuals would place the appropriate sum of money into the horn designated for this purpose, and each day Petaḥya oversaw the purchase of birds from that money and their sacrifice in the proper manner. This Sage is Mordekhai; and why was he called Petaḥya, which resembles the word for opening [petaḥ]? The reason is that he would open, i.e., elucidate, difficult topics and interpret them to the people, and because he knew all seventy languages known in that region at the time.
כּוּלְּהוּ סַנְהֶדְרִין נָמֵי יָדְעִי שִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן! דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֵין מוֹשִׁיבִים בַּסַּנְהֶדְרִין אֶלָּא בַּעֲלֵי חׇכְמָה, בַּעֲלֵי מַרְאֶה, בַּעֲלֵי קוֹמָה, בַּעֲלֵי זִקְנָה, בַּעֲלֵי כְשָׁפִים, וְיוֹדְעִים שִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן, שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא סַנְהֶדְרִין שׁוֹמַעַת מִפִּי הַתּוּרְגְּמָן.
The Gemara asks: What was unique about Petaḥya? All of the members of the Sanhedrin also know all seventy languages. As Rabbi Yoḥanan says: They place on the Great Sanhedrin only men of wisdom, and of pleasant appearance, and of high stature, and of suitable age so that they will be respected. And they must also be masters of sorcery, i.e., they know the nature of sorcery, so that they can judge sorcerers, and they must know all seventy languages in order that the Sanhedrin will not need to hear testimony from the mouth of a translator in a case where a witness speaks a different language.
אֶלָּא, דַּהֲוָה בָּיֵיל לִישָּׁנֵי וְדָרֵישׁ, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב בְּמׇרְדֳּכַי ״בִּלְשָׁן״.
The Gemara answers: Rather, Petaḥya was unique as he not only knew all seventy languages, but also had the ability to combine various languages and interpret them. This is the meaning of that which is written with regard to Mordekhai: “Bilshan” (Nehemiah 7:7). Bilshan is interpreted as another name for Mordekhai, as he would combine [balil] languages [lashon].
מַתְנִי׳ כֵּיצַד הֵן עוֹשִׂין שְׁלוּחֵי בֵּית דִּין יוֹצְאִין מֵעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב, וְעוֹשִׂין אוֹתָן כְּרִיכוֹת בִּמְחוּבָּר לְקַרְקַע, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא נוֹחַ לִקְצוֹר. כׇּל הָעֲיָירוֹת הַסְּמוּכוֹת לְשָׁם מִתְכַּנְּסוֹת לְשָׁם, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא נִקְצָר בְּעֵסֶק גָּדוֹל.
MISHNA: How would they perform the rite of the harvest of the omer? Emissaries of the court would emerge on the eve of the festival of Passover and fashion the stalks of barley into sheaves while the stalks were still attached to the ground, so that it would be convenient to reap them. The residents of all the towns adjacent to the site of the harvest would assemble there, so that it would be harvested with great fanfare.
כֵּיוָן שֶׁהֶחְשִׁיכָה, אוֹמֵר לָהֶן: ״בָּא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ?״ אוֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״בָּא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ?״ אוֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״מַגָּל זוֹ?״ אוֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״מַגָּל זוֹ?״ אוֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״קוּפָּה זוֹ?״ אוֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״קוּפָּה זוֹ?״ אוֹמֵר: ״הֵין״.
Once it grew dark, the court emissary says to those assembled: Did the sun set? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: Did the sun set? They again say: Yes. The court emissary next says to those assembled: Shall I reap the sheaves with this sickle? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: With this sickle? The assembly says: Yes. The court emissary then says to those assembled: Shall I place the gathered sheaves in this basket? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: In this basket? The assembly says: Yes.
בַּשַּׁבָּת, אוֹמֵר לָהֶן: ״שַׁבָּת זוֹ?״ אֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״שַׁבָּת זוֹ?״ אֹמֵר: ״הֵין״. ״אֶקְצוֹר?״ וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: ״קְצוֹר״. ״אֶקְצוֹר?״ וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: ״קְצוֹר״.
If the sixteenth of Nisan occurs on Shabbat, the court emissary says to the assembled: Shall I cut the sheaves on this Shabbat? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: On this Shabbat? The assembly says: Yes. The court emissary says to those assembled: Shall I cut the sheaves? And they say to him in response: Cut. The emissary repeats: Shall I cut the sheaves? And they say to him: Cut.
שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים עַל כׇּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר, וְהֵן אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: הֵין, הֵין, הֵין. כׇּל כָּךְ לָמָּה לִי? מִפְּנֵי הַבַּיְיתּוֹסִים, שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים: אֵין קְצִירַת הָעוֹמֶר בְּמוֹצָאֵי יוֹם טוֹב.
The emissary asks three times with regard to each and every matter, and the assembly says to him: Yes, yes, yes. The mishna asks: Why do I need those involved to publicize each stage of the rite to that extent? The mishna answers: It is due to the Boethusians, as they deny the validity of the Oral Law and would say: There is no harvest of the omer at the conclusion of the first Festival day of Passover unless it occurs at the conclusion of Shabbat. The publicity was to underscore that the sixteenth of Nisan was the proper time for the omer harvest.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אִלֵּין יוֹמַיָּא דְּלָא לְהִתְעַנָּאָה בְּהוֹן, וּמִקְצָתְהוֹן דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד בְּהוֹן. מֵרֵישׁ יַרְחָא דְּנִיסָן עַד תְּמָנְיָא בֵּיהּ – אִיתּוֹקַם תְּמִידָא דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד, וּמִתְּמָנְיָא בֵּיהּ וְעַד סוֹף מוֹעֲדָא – אִיתּוֹתַב חַגָּא דְשָׁבוּעַיָּא דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד.
GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita: These are the days on which fasting is prohibited, and on some of them eulogizing is prohibited as well: From the New Moon of Nisan until the eighth of the month, the proper sacrifice of the daily offering was established, and therefore it was decreed not to eulogize on these dates. And furthermore, from the eighth of Nisan until the end of the festival of Passover, the correct date for the festival of Shavuot was restored, and it was similarly decreed not to eulogize during this period.
מֵרֵישׁ יַרְחָא דְּנִיסָן וְעַד תְּמָנְיָא בֵּיהּ אִיתּוֹקַם תְּמִידָא, דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד – שֶׁהָיוּ צַדּוּקִים אוֹמְרִים: יָחִיד מִתְנַדֵּב וּמֵבִיא תָּמִיד. מַאי דְּרוּשׁ? ״אֶת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד תַּעֲשֶׂה בַבֹּקֶר וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם״.
The Gemara discusses the baraita: From the New Moon of Nisan until the eighth of the month the proper sacrifice of the daily offering was established, and therefore it was decreed not to eulogize on these dates. The Gemara explains that the Sadducees would say: An individual may donate and bring the daily offering, in opposition to the accepted tradition that the daily offering must be brought from communal funds. What verse did the Sadducees expound? “The one lamb shall you offer [ta’aseh] in the morning, and the other lamb shall you offer in the afternoon” (Numbers 28:4). Since the verse is in the singular form, the Sadducees maintained that even an individual may donate the daily offering.
מַאי אַהְדַּרוּ? ״אֶת קׇרְבָּנִי לַחְמִי לְאִשַּׁי תִּשְׁמְרוּ״, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כּוּלָּן בָּאִין מִתְּרוּמַת הַלִּשְׁכָּה.
The Gemara asks: What did the Sages reply to refute the argument of the Sadducees? They cited the verse: “Command the children of Israel, and say to them: My food that is presented to Me for offerings made by fire, of a pleasing aroma unto Me, you shall observe [tishmeru] to offer to Me in its due season” (Numbers 28:2). The term: “You shall observe” is in the plural form, which indicates that all of the daily offerings should come from the collection of the Temple treasury chamber. Since during that period, between the New Moon of Nisan and the eighth of Nisan, the Sages overruled the Sadducees, it was established as a period of rejoicing, and it was prohibited to eulogize on those dates.
מִתְּמָנְיָא בֵּיהּ, וְעַד סוֹף מוֹעֲדָא, אִיתּוֹתַב חַגָּא דְשָׁבוּעַיָּא, דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד, שֶׁהָיוּ בַּיְיתּוֹסִין אוֹמְרִים: עֲצֶרֶת אַחַר הַשַּׁבָּת.
The Gemara discusses the next period listed in the baraita: From the eighth of Nisan until the end of the festival of Passover, the correct date for the festival of Shavuot was restored, and it was similarly decreed not to eulogize during this period. As the Boethusians would say that the festival of Shavuot always occurs after Shabbat, on a Sunday. Their reasoning was that the verse states, with regard to the omer offering and the festival of Shavuot that follows seven weeks later: “And you shall count for you from the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat], from the day that you brought the sheaf [omer] of the waving; seven weeks shall there be complete” (Leviticus 23:15). Disregarding the oral tradition, the Boethusians interpreted the phrase “from the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat]” literally, as referring to Shabbat, not the Festival day.
נִיטְפַּל לָהֶם רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי, וְאָמַר לָהֶם: שׁוֹטִים, מִנַּיִן לָכֶם? וְלֹא הָיָה אָדָם אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה מְשִׁיבוֹ, חוּץ מִזָּקֵן אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה מְפַטְפֵּט כְּנֶגְדּוֹ, וְאָמַר: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ אוֹהֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה, וְיוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעֲצֶרֶת יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא, עָמַד וְתִקְּנָהּ אַחַר שַׁבָּת כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְעַנְּגִין שְׁנֵי יָמִים. קָרָא עָלָיו מִקְרָא זֶה: ״אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם מֵחוֹרֵב דֶּרֶךְ הַר שֵׂעִיר״.
At the time, Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai joined the discussion with the Boethusians and said to them: Fools! From where have you derived this? And there was no man who answered him, except for one elderly man who was prattling [mefatpet] at him, and he said: Moses, our teacher, was a lover of the Jewish people and he knew that Shavuot is only one day. Therefore, he arose and established it after Shabbat, in order that the Jewish people would enjoy themselves for two days. Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai recited this verse in response to that old man: “It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the way of Mount Seir” (Deuteronomy 1:2).
וְאִם מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ אוֹהֵב יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה, לָמָּה אִיחֲרָן בְּמִדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה? אָמַר לוֹ: רַבִּי, בְּכָךְ אַתָּה פּוֹטְרֵנִי? אָמַר לוֹ: שׁוֹטֶה! וְלֹא תְּהֵא תּוֹרָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁלָּנוּ כְּשִׂיחָה בְּטֵילָה שֶׁלָּכֶם!
And if Moses, our teacher, was a lover of the Jewish people, why did he delay them in the wilderness forty years? The elderly man said to him: My teacher, you dismiss me with this retort? Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Zakkai said to him: Fool! And will our perfect Torah not be as worthy as your frivolous speech? Your claim can easily be refuted.
כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״תִּסְפְּרוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם״, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימֹת תִּהְיֶינָה״.
Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Zakkai cites a proof that Shavuot does not need to occur specifically on a Sunday. One verse states: “Even to the morrow after the seventh week you shall number fifty days; and you shall present a new meal offering to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:16), and one verse, the preceding one, apparently contradicts this when it states: “And you shall count for you from the morrow after the day of rest, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the waving; seven weeks shall there be complete.” Is the festival of Shavuot seven full weeks after Passover, i.e., counting from Sunday through Shabbat seven times; or is it fifty days after Passover?
הָא כֵּיצַד? כָּאן – בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, כָּאן – בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּאֶמְצַע שַׁבָּת.
The Gemara explains: How so, i.e., how can one reconcile these two verses? Here, the verse that mentions seven complete weeks, is referring to a year when the festival of Passover occurs on Shabbat. In such a year, the fifty-day period between Passover and Shavuot contains seven complete weeks, from Sunday through Shabbat. There, the verse that defines the period as fifty days, is referring to a year when the festival of Passover occurs in the middle of the week.
(שֶׁל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: סוֹפֵר, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: מוֹנֶה, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: מְעַמֵּר, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: לְמַטָּה – סִימָן.)
The Gemara presents a mnemonic for several other proofs in refutation of the claim of the Boethusians: That of Rabbi Eliezer: Number; Rabbi Yehoshua: Count; Rabbi Yishmael: From the omer; Rabbi Yehuda: Below.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״תִּסְפׇּר לָךְ״, סְפִירָה תְּלוּיָה בְּבֵית דִּין, שֶׁהֵם יוֹדְעִים לְחַדֵּשׁ. ״מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת״ – מָחֳרַת יוֹם טוֹב, יָצָאת שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית שֶׁסְּפִירָתָהּ בְּכׇל אָדָם.
Rabbi Eliezer says: The previous proof is not necessary, as the verse states: “Seven weeks you shall number for you; from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain you shall begin to number seven weeks” (Deuteronomy 16:9). The term “for you” indicates that the counting of the weeks is dependent upon the decision of the court, as they know how to calculate the new months, upon which the date of the Festival depends. Therefore, when the verse states: “The morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat]” (Leviticus 23:16), it means: The morrow after the Festival, as the determination of Festivals is by the court. This serves to exclude the interpretation that the counting starts after the Shabbat of Creation, i.e., a regular weekly Shabbat, whose counting can be performed by every person, not exclusively by the court.
רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה מְנֵה יָמִים וְקַדֵּשׁ חֹדֶשׁ, מְנֵה יָמִים וְקַדֵּשׁ עֲצֶרֶת. מָה חֹדֶשׁ סָמוּךְ לְבִיאָתוֹ נִיכָּר, אַף עֲצֶרֶת סָמוּךְ לְבִיאָתָהּ נִיכֶּרֶת.
Citing a different proof, Rabbi Yehoshua says: The Torah said to count days, as it is stated: “A month of days” (Numbers 11:20), and then sanctify the month with offerings. And the Torah also said to count days from Passover and then sanctify the festival of Shavuot with offerings, as it is stated: “You shall count fifty days” (Leviticus 23:16). From this comparison, one can learn that just as the start of the counting toward the new month is known even before it comes, as one begins counting toward the following new month on the first day of a month, so too the start of the counting toward the festival of Shavuot is known even before it comes, as one begins counting toward Shavuot on a fixed day of the month.
וְאִם תֹּאמַר: עֲצֶרֶת לְעוֹלָם אַחַר הַשַּׁבָּת, הֵיאַךְ תְּהֵא נִיכֶּרֶת מִשֶּׁלְּפָנֶיהָ?
The Gemara elaborates: And if you say that the festival of Shavuot always occurs the day after Shabbat, how is the counting toward Shavuot known based on what came before it? If the occurrence of Shavuot depends upon a Shabbat, there would be no specific date after Passover upon which the counting occurs yearly.
רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה הָבֵא עוֹמֶר בַּפֶּסַח, וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם בָּעֲצֶרֶת. מָה לְהַלָּן – רֶגֶל וּתְחִלַּת רֶגֶל, אַף כָּאן – רֶגֶל וּתְחִלַּת רֶגֶל.
Rabbi Yishmael says there is another refutation of the Boethusian interpretation. The Torah said: Bring the omer offering on the festival on Passover and the two loaves on Shavuot. Just as there, with regard to the offering on the festival of Shavuot, the two loaves are brought at the beginning of the Festival, as it lasts only one day, so too here, with regard to the festival of Passover, the omer must be brought at the beginning of the Festival. If the omer were to always be brought on a Sunday, this might occur at the end of the festival of Passover. For example, if Passover started on a Monday, the omer would be brought only on the next Sunday, at the end of the Festival.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתִירָא אוֹמֵר: נֶאֱמַר ״שַׁבָּת״ לְמַעְלָה, וְנֶאֱמַר ״שַׁבָּת״ לְמַטָּה. מָה לְהַלָּן – רֶגֶל, וּתְחִלַּת רֶגֶל סָמוּךְ לָהּ, אַף כָּאן – רֶגֶל, וּתְחִלַּת רֶגֶל סָמוּךְ לָהּ.
Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says there is yet another refutation. It is stated “shabbat” above (Leviticus 23:15), with regard to starting the counting of the omer, and it is also stated “shabbat” below (Leviticus 23:16), with regard to the commencement of the festival of Shavuot. Just as there, with regard to the festival of Shavuot, it is stated: “Even until the morrow after the seventh week [hashabbat] you shall number fifty days,” and the word shabbat is referring to the beginning of the Festival and it immediately follows the end of the seventh week; so too here, with regard to the bringing of the omer, the word shabbat means Festival, so that the omer offering immediately follows the beginning of the Festival, on the second day of Passover. According to the Boethusians, the commencement of the counting could start well after the beginning of Passover. For example, if Passover occurs on a Sunday, the counting of the omer would start only the following Sunday.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם״, שֶׁתְּהֵא סְפִירָה לְכׇל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד.
The Sages taught in a baraita: The verse states: “And you shall count for you from the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat], from the day that you brought the sheaf of the waving; seven weeks there shall be complete” (Leviticus 23:15). The phrase: “And you shall count for you,” teaches that the mitzva of counting is not a communal obligation. Rather, there should be a counting by each and every person.
״מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת״ – מִמָּחֳרַת יוֹם טוֹב, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְמָחֳרַת שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית? רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר ״תִּסְפְּרוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם״, כׇּל סְפִירוֹת שֶׁאַתָּה סוֹפֵר לֹא יְהוּ אֶלָּא חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם.
The baraita continues: From the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat], this means from the morrow after the festival of Passover. Or perhaps this is not the meaning of the verse, but rather it means after the Shabbat of Creation, i.e., Sunday. Rabbi Yosei bar Yehuda says: This cannot be correct, as the verse states: “Even until the morrow after the seventh week you shall number fifty days” (Leviticus 23:16). This teaches that all the countings that you count shall be only fifty days.
וְאִם תֹּאמַר מִמָּחֳרַת שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית, פְּעָמִים שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא חֲמִשִּׁים וְאֶחָד, וּפְעָמִים שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם, חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה, חֲמִשִּׁים וְאַרְבָּעָה, חֲמִשִּׁים וַחֲמִשָּׁה, חֲמִשִּׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה.
Rabbi Yosei bar Yehuda elaborates: And if you say that the clause: “From the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat],” is referring to the Shabbat of Creation, sometimes you will find a count of fifty-one days from the first day of Passover, which is the date that the count began the previous year, until Shavuot; and sometimes you will find fifty-two, or fifty-three, or fifty-four, or fifty-five, or fifty-six. For example, in one year, Passover occurs on Shabbat, and the counting of the omer would start on Sunday, the sixteenth of Nisan, and Shavuot would occur fifty days later. Another year, Passover occurs on a Friday, and the counting starts on Sunday, then the date that Shavuot will occur this year is fifty-one days from the sixteenth of Nisan. If Passover occurs on a Thursday, and the counting begins on the following Sunday, Shavuot will occur fifty-two days from the sixteenth of Nisan.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתִירָא אוֹמֵר: אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ,
Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says: That proof is not necessary,
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I started learning on January 5, 2020. When I complete the 7+ year cycle I will be 70 years old. I had been intimidated by those who said that I needed to study Talmud in a traditional way with a chevruta, but I decided the learning was more important to me than the method. Thankful for Daf Yomi for Women helping me catch up when I fall behind, and also being able to celebrate with each Siyum!
Bakersfield, 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.
Ra’anana, Israel
I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
Mamaroneck, NY, United States
Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!
אפרת, Israel
The first month I learned Daf Yomi by myself in secret, because I wasn’t sure how my husband would react, but after the siyyum on Masechet Brachot I discovered Hadran and now sometimes my husband listens to the daf with me. He and I also learn mishnayot together and are constantly finding connections between the different masechtot.
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
I began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!
Highland Park, United States
I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Berlin, Germany
After being so inspired by the siyum shas two years ago, I began tentatively learning daf yomi, like Rabbanut Michelle kept saying – taking one daf at a time. I’m still taking it one daf at a time, one masechet at a time, but I’m loving it and am still so inspired by Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran community, and yes – I am proud to be finishing Seder Mo’ed.
Bet Shemesh, Israel
Bronx, 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.
מיתר, ישראל
Margo
I started my Talmud journey in 7th grade at Akiba Jewish Day School in Chicago. I started my Daf Yomi journey after hearing Erica Brown speak at the Hadran Siyum about marking the passage of time through Daf Yomi.
Carolyn
I started my Talmud journey post-college in NY with a few classes. I started my Daf Yomi journey after the Hadran Siyum, which inspired both my son and myself.
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Beit Shemesh, Israel
I LOVE learning the Daf. I started with Shabbat. I join the morning Zoom with Reb Michelle and it totally grounds my day. When Corona hit us in Israel, I decided that I would use the Daf to keep myself sane, especially during the days when we could not venture out more than 300 m from our home. Now my husband and I have so much new material to talk about! It really is the best part of my day!
Hashmonaim, Israel
I read Ilana Kurshan’s “If All the Seas Were Ink” which inspired me. Then the Women’s Siyum in Jerusalem in 2020 convinced me, I knew I had to join! I have loved it- it’s been a constant in my life daily, many of the sugiyot connect to our lives. My family and friends all are so supportive. It’s incredible being part of this community and love how diverse it is! I am so excited to learn more!
Jerusalem, Israel
I have joined the community of daf yomi learners at the start of this cycle. I have studied in different ways – by reading the page, translating the page, attending a local shiur and listening to Rabbanit Farber’s podcasts, depending on circumstances and where I was at the time. The reactions have been positive throughout – with no exception!
Guildford, United Kingdom
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!
Minnesota, United States
In early 2020, I began the process of a stem cell transplant. The required extreme isolation forced me to leave work and normal life but gave me time to delve into Jewish text study. I did not feel isolated. I began Daf Yomi at the start of this cycle, with family members joining me online from my hospital room. I’ve used my newly granted time to to engage, grow and connect through this learning.
Worcester, United States
Jerusalem, Israel
Ontario, Canada
Menachot 65
ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦ°ΧΧ ΧΦΌ ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧͺΦ°Χ Φ·Χ: Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧͺΦ·ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧ Χ’Φ·Χ ΧΦ·Χ§Φ΄ΦΌΧΧ Φ΄ΦΌΧΧ ΧΦΆΧ ΧΦΈΧ¨Φ°ΧΦ³ΦΌΧΦ·Χ, ΧΦΈΧΦΈΦΌΧ Χ Φ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¨ΦΈΧ Χ©Φ°ΧΧΧΦΉ Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧͺΦ·ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧ β Χ©ΦΆΧΧ€ΦΌΧΦΉΧͺΦ΅ΧΦ· ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ¨Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧ¨Φ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧ, ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ’Φ· ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΦ°Χ’Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΦΈΧ©ΧΧΦΉΧ.
And this is as we learned in a mishna (Shekalim 13b): PetaαΈ₯ya was responsible for the nests of birds, i.e., the doves or pigeons brought by a zav, a zava, a woman after childbirth, and a leper. These individuals would place the appropriate sum of money into the horn designated for this purpose, and each day PetaαΈ₯ya oversaw the purchase of birds from that money and their sacrifice in the proper manner. This Sage is Mordekhai; and why was he called PetaαΈ₯ya, which resembles the word for opening [petaαΈ₯]? The reason is that he would open, i.e., elucidate, difficult topics and interpret them to the people, and because he knew all seventy languages known in that region at the time.
ΧΦΌΧΦΌΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΌ Χ‘Φ·Χ Φ°ΧΦΆΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ Χ ΦΈΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦΈΧΦ°Χ’Φ΄Χ Χ©Φ΄ΧΧΦ°Χ’Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΦΈΧ©ΧΧΦΉΧ! ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧΦ·Χ¨ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦΈΧ ΦΈΧ: ΧΦ΅ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ‘Φ·ΦΌΧ Φ°ΧΦΆΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΧΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ·Χ¨Φ°ΧΦΆΧ, ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²ΧΦ΅Χ Χ§ΧΦΉΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ΄Χ§Φ°Χ ΦΈΧ, ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧ€Φ΄ΧΧ, ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ’Φ΄ΧΧ Χ©Φ΄ΧΧΦ°Χ’Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΦΈΧ©ΧΧΦΉΧ, Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΉΦΌΧ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ‘Φ·Χ Φ°ΧΦΆΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ Χ©ΧΧΦΉΧΦ·Χ’Φ·Χͺ ΧΦ΄Χ€Φ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ·ΧͺΦΌΧΦΌΧ¨Φ°ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ.
The Gemara asks: What was unique about PetaαΈ₯ya? All of the members of the Sanhedrin also know all seventy languages. As Rabbi YoαΈ₯anan says: They place on the Great Sanhedrin only men of wisdom, and of pleasant appearance, and of high stature, and of suitable age so that they will be respected. And they must also be masters of sorcery, i.e., they know the nature of sorcery, so that they can judge sorcerers, and they must know all seventy languages in order that the Sanhedrin will not need to hear testimony from the mouth of a translator in a case where a witness speaks a different language.
ΧΦΆΧΦΈΦΌΧ, ΧΦ·ΦΌΧΦ²ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ΅ΧΧ ΧΦ΄ΧΧ©ΦΈΦΌΧΧ Φ΅Χ ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧ¨Φ΅ΧΧ©Χ, ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦ°ΧΧ ΧΦΌ ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧΦ°ΧͺΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΧ¨Φ°ΧΦ³ΦΌΧΦ·Χ Χ΄ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧΦ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧΧ΄.
The Gemara answers: Rather, PetaαΈ₯ya was unique as he not only knew all seventy languages, but also had the ability to combine various languages and interpret them. This is the meaning of that which is written with regard to Mordekhai: βBilshanβ (Nehemiah 7:7). Bilshan is interpreted as another name for Mordekhai, as he would combine [balil] languages [lashon].
ΧΦ·ΧͺΦ°Χ Φ΄ΧΧ³ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧ¦Φ·Χ ΧΦ΅Χ Χ’ΧΦΉΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧ Χ©Φ°ΧΧΧΦΌΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧͺ ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ¦Φ°ΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ΅Χ’ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ, ΧΦ°Χ’ΧΦΉΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧͺΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ¨Φ΄ΧΧΧΦΉΧͺ ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌΧΦΈΦΌΧ¨ ΧΦ°Χ§Φ·Χ¨Φ°Χ§Φ·Χ’, ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ ΧΦΉΧΦ· ΧΦ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¦ΧΦΉΧ¨. ΧΧΦΌΧ ΧΦΈΧ’Φ²ΧΦΈΧΧ¨ΧΦΉΧͺ ΧΦ·Χ‘Φ°ΦΌΧΧΦΌΧΧΦΉΧͺ ΧΦ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧ ΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ Φ°ΦΌΧ‘ΧΦΉΧͺ ΧΦ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧ, ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ Φ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¦ΦΈΧ¨ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ’Φ΅Χ‘ΦΆΧ§ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΧΦΉΧ.
MISHNA: How would they perform the rite of the harvest of the omer? Emissaries of the court would emerge on the eve of the festival of Passover and fashion the stalks of barley into sheaves while the stalks were still attached to the ground, so that it would be convenient to reap them. The residents of all the towns adjacent to the site of the harvest would assemble there, so that it would be harvested with great fanfare.
ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧΦΈΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΆΧΦ°Χ©Φ΄ΧΧΧΦΈΧ, ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧ: Χ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ·Χ©ΦΆΦΌΧΧΦΆΧ©Χ?Χ΄ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ·Χ©ΦΆΦΌΧΧΦΆΧ©Χ?Χ΄ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉ?Χ΄ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉ?Χ΄ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄Χ§ΧΦΌΧ€ΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉ?Χ΄ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄Χ§ΧΦΌΧ€ΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉ?Χ΄ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄.
Once it grew dark, the court emissary says to those assembled: Did the sun set? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: Did the sun set? They again say: Yes. The court emissary next says to those assembled: Shall I reap the sheaves with this sickle? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: With this sickle? The assembly says: Yes. The court emissary then says to those assembled: Shall I place the gathered sheaves in this basket? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: In this basket? The assembly says: Yes.
ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ©Φ·ΦΌΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ, ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧ: Χ΄Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ ΧΧΦΉ?Χ΄ ΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ ΧΧΦΉ?Χ΄ ΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧΦ΅ΧΧΧ΄. Χ΄ΧΦΆΧ§Φ°Χ¦ΧΦΉΧ¨?Χ΄ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉ: Χ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¦ΧΦΉΧ¨Χ΄. Χ΄ΧΦΆΧ§Φ°Χ¦ΧΦΉΧ¨?Χ΄ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉ: Χ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¦ΧΦΉΧ¨Χ΄.
If the sixteenth of Nisan occurs on Shabbat, the court emissary says to the assembled: Shall I cut the sheaves on this Shabbat? The assembly says in response: Yes. The emissary repeats: On this Shabbat? The assembly says: Yes. The court emissary says to those assembled: Shall I cut the sheaves? And they say to him in response: Cut. The emissary repeats: Shall I cut the sheaves? And they say to him: Cut.
Χ©ΦΈΧΧΦΉΧ©Χ Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧ’ΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ Χ’Φ·Χ ΧΧΦΌΧ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦΈΧ¨ ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ¨, ΧΦ°ΧΦ΅Χ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉ: ΧΦ΅ΧΧ, ΧΦ΅ΧΧ, ΧΦ΅ΧΧ. ΧΧΦΌΧ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ° ΧΦΈΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ΄Χ? ΧΦ΄Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧ Φ΅Χ ΧΦ·ΧΦ·ΦΌΧΦ°ΧΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ‘Φ΄ΧΧ, Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧΧΦΌ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ: ΧΦ΅ΧΧ Χ§Φ°Χ¦Φ΄ΧΧ¨Φ·Χͺ ΧΦΈΧ’ΧΦΉΧΦΆΧ¨ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΉΧ¦ΦΈΧΦ΅Χ ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ.
The emissary asks three times with regard to each and every matter, and the assembly says to him: Yes, yes, yes. The mishna asks: Why do I need those involved to publicize each stage of the rite to that extent? The mishna answers: It is due to the Boethusians, as they deny the validity of the Oral Law and would say: There is no harvest of the omer at the conclusion of the first Festival day of Passover unless it occurs at the conclusion of Shabbat. The publicity was to underscore that the sixteenth of Nisan was the proper time for the omer harvest.
ΧΦΌΦ°ΧΦΈΧ³ ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦΌ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ Φ·Χ: ΧΦ΄ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°Χ’Φ·Χ ΦΈΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΉΧ, ΧΦΌΧΦ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¦ΦΈΧͺΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ·ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΉΧ. ΧΦ΅Χ¨Φ΅ΧΧ©Χ ΧΦ·Χ¨Φ°ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ Φ΄ΧΧ‘ΦΈΧ Χ’Φ·Χ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ Φ°ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧΦΌ β ΧΦ΄ΧΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ§Φ·Χ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ·ΦΌΧ, ΧΦΌΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ Φ°ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧΦΌ ΧΦ°Χ’Φ·Χ Χ‘ΧΦΉΧ£ ΧΧΦΉΧ’Φ²ΧΦΈΧ β ΧΦ΄ΧΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧͺΦ·Χ ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧΧΦΌΧ’Φ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ·ΦΌΧ.
GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita: These are the days on which fasting is prohibited, and on some of them eulogizing is prohibited as well: From the New Moon of Nisan until the eighth of the month, the proper sacrifice of the daily offering was established, and therefore it was decreed not to eulogize on these dates. And furthermore, from the eighth of Nisan until the end of the festival of Passover, the correct date for the festival of Shavuot was restored, and it was similarly decreed not to eulogize during this period.
ΧΦ΅Χ¨Φ΅ΧΧ©Χ ΧΦ·Χ¨Φ°ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ Φ΄ΧΧ‘ΦΈΧ ΧΦ°Χ’Φ·Χ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ Φ°ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧΦΌ ΧΦ΄ΧΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ§Φ·Χ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ·ΦΌΧ β Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧΧΦΌ Χ¦Φ·ΧΦΌΧΦΌΧ§Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ: ΧΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°Χ Φ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧ ΧΦΌΧΦ΅ΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧ. ΧΦ·ΧΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ¨ΧΦΌΧ©Χ? Χ΄ΧΦΆΧͺ ΧΦ·ΧΦΆΦΌΧΦΆΧ©Χ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ ΧͺΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²Χ©ΦΆΧΧ ΧΦ·ΧΦΉΦΌΧ§ΦΆΧ¨ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΅Χͺ ΧΦ·ΧΦΆΦΌΧΦΆΧ©Χ ΧΦ·Χ©Φ΅ΦΌΧΧ Φ΄Χ ΧͺΦ·ΦΌΧ’Φ²Χ©ΦΆΧΧ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧ ΧΦΈΧ’Φ·Χ¨Φ°ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧ΄.
The Gemara discusses the baraita: From the New Moon of Nisan until the eighth of the month the proper sacrifice of the daily offering was established, and therefore it was decreed not to eulogize on these dates. The Gemara explains that the Sadducees would say: An individual may donate and bring the daily offering, in opposition to the accepted tradition that the daily offering must be brought from communal funds. What verse did the Sadducees expound? βThe one lamb shall you offer [taβaseh] in the morning, and the other lamb shall you offer in the afternoonβ (Numbers 28:4). Since the verse is in the singular form, the Sadducees maintained that even an individual may donate the daily offering.
ΧΦ·ΧΧ ΧΦ·ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ¨ΧΦΌ? Χ΄ΧΦΆΧͺ Χ§ΧΧ¨Φ°ΧΦΈΦΌΧ Φ΄Χ ΧΦ·ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ·ΦΌΧΧ ΧͺΦ΄ΦΌΧ©Φ°ΧΧΦ°Χ¨ΧΦΌΧ΄, Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ΄ΦΌΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌ ΧΦΌΧΦΌΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧ¨ΧΦΌΧΦ·Χͺ ΧΦ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ©Φ°ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧ.
The Gemara asks: What did the Sages reply to refute the argument of the Sadducees? They cited the verse: βCommand the children of Israel, and say to them: My food that is presented to Me for offerings made by fire, of a pleasing aroma unto Me, you shall observe [tishmeru] to offer to Me in its due seasonβ (Numbers 28:2). The term: βYou shall observeβ is in the plural form, which indicates that all of the daily offerings should come from the collection of the Temple treasury chamber. Since during that period, between the New Moon of Nisan and the eighth of Nisan, the Sages overruled the Sadducees, it was established as a period of rejoicing, and it was prohibited to eulogize on those dates.
ΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ Φ°ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧΦΌ, ΧΦ°Χ’Φ·Χ Χ‘ΧΦΉΧ£ ΧΧΦΉΧ’Φ²ΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦ΄ΧΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧͺΦ·Χ ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ°Χ©ΦΈΧΧΧΦΌΧ’Φ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ, ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ·ΦΌΧ, Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧΧΦΌ ΧΦ·ΦΌΧΦ°ΧΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ‘Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΄ΧΧ: Χ’Φ²Χ¦ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ ΧΦ·ΧΦ·Χ¨ ΧΦ·Χ©Φ·ΦΌΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ.
The Gemara discusses the next period listed in the baraita: From the eighth of Nisan until the end of the festival of Passover, the correct date for the festival of Shavuot was restored, and it was similarly decreed not to eulogize during this period. As the Boethusians would say that the festival of Shavuot always occurs after Shabbat, on a Sunday. Their reasoning was that the verse states, with regard to the omer offering and the festival of Shavuot that follows seven weeks later: βAnd you shall count for you from the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat], from the day that you brought the sheaf [omer] of the waving; seven weeks shall there be completeβ (Leviticus 23:15). Disregarding the oral tradition, the Boethusians interpreted the phrase βfrom the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat]β literally, as referring to Shabbat, not the Festival day.
Χ Φ΄ΧΧΦ°Χ€Φ·ΦΌΧ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦΈΧ ΦΈΧ ΧΦΆΦΌΧ ΧΦ·ΧΦ·ΦΌΧΧ, ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧΦ·Χ¨ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧ: Χ©ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΄ΧΧ, ΧΦ΄Χ Φ·ΦΌΧΦ΄Χ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧ? ΧΦ°ΧΦΉΧ ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°Χ©Φ΄ΧΧΧΧΦΉ, ΧΧΦΌΧ₯ ΧΦ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧ§Φ΅Χ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°Χ€Φ·ΧΦ°Χ€Φ΅ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ ΦΆΧΦ°ΧΦΌΧΦΉ, ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧΦ·Χ¨: ΧΦΉΧ©ΦΆΧΧ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧ ΧΦΌ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ°ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ’Φ· Χ©ΦΆΧΧ’Φ²Χ¦ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ ΧΧΦΌΧ, Χ’ΦΈΧΦ·Χ ΧΦ°ΧͺΦ΄Χ§Φ°ΦΌΧ ΦΈΧΦΌ ΧΦ·ΧΦ·Χ¨ Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΌ ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ°ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ΄ΧͺΦ°Χ’Φ·Χ Φ°ΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧ Χ©Φ°ΧΧ Φ΅Χ ΧΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ. Χ§ΦΈΧ¨ΦΈΧ Χ’ΦΈΧΦΈΧΧ ΧΦ΄Χ§Φ°Χ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΦΆΧ: Χ΄ΧΦ·ΧΦ·Χ Χ’ΦΈΧ©ΦΈΧΧ¨ ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΦ΅ΧΧΦΉΧ¨Φ΅Χ ΧΦΆΦΌΧ¨ΦΆΧΦ° ΧΦ·Χ¨ Χ©Φ΅ΧΧ’Φ΄ΧΧ¨Χ΄.
At the time, Rabban YoαΈ₯anan ben Zakkai joined the discussion with the Boethusians and said to them: Fools! From where have you derived this? And there was no man who answered him, except for one elderly man who was prattling [mefatpet] at him, and he said: Moses, our teacher, was a lover of the Jewish people and he knew that Shavuot is only one day. Therefore, he arose and established it after Shabbat, in order that the Jewish people would enjoy themselves for two days. Rabban YoαΈ₯anan ben Zakkai recited this verse in response to that old man: βIt is eleven daysβ journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the way of Mount Seirβ (Deuteronomy 1:2).
ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ ΧΦΉΧ©ΦΆΧΧ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧ ΧΦΌ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ°ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧΦ΅Χ ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦΈΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ΄ΧΧΦ²Χ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΦΌΧ¨ ΧΦ·Χ¨Φ°ΧΦΈΦΌΧ’Φ΄ΧΧ Χ©ΦΈΧΧ ΦΈΧ? ΧΦΈΧΦ·Χ¨ ΧΧΦΉ: Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ, ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΈΧΦ° ΧΦ·ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧ Χ€ΦΌΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ¨Φ΅Χ Φ΄Χ? ΧΦΈΧΦ·Χ¨ ΧΧΦΉ: Χ©ΧΧΦΉΧΦΆΧ! ΧΦ°ΧΦΉΧ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ ΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ¨ΦΈΧ Χ©Φ°ΧΧΦ΅ΧΦΈΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦΌ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅ΧΧΦΈΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΦΌΧΦΆΧ!
And if Moses, our teacher, was a lover of the Jewish people, why did he delay them in the wilderness forty years? The elderly man said to him: My teacher, you dismiss me with this retort? Rabbi YoαΈ₯anan ben Zakkai said to him: Fool! And will our perfect Torah not be as worthy as your frivolous speech? Your claim can easily be refuted.
ΧΦΈΦΌΧͺΧΦΌΧ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧͺΦ΄ΦΌΧ‘Φ°Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧ¨ΧΦΌ ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΧ΄, ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧͺΧΦΌΧ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ·Χ’ Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺΧΦΉΧͺ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΄ΧΧΦΉΧͺ ΧͺΦ΄ΦΌΧΦ°ΧΦΆΧΧ ΦΈΧΧ΄.
Rabbi YoαΈ₯anan ben Zakkai cites a proof that Shavuot does not need to occur specifically on a Sunday. One verse states: βEven to the morrow after the seventh week you shall number fifty days; and you shall present a new meal offering to the Lordβ (Leviticus 23:16), and one verse, the preceding one, apparently contradicts this when it states: βAnd you shall count for you from the morrow after the day of rest, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the waving; seven weeks shall there be complete.β Is the festival of Shavuot seven full weeks after Passover, i.e., counting from Sunday through Shabbat seven times; or is it fifty days after Passover?
ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧΧ¦Φ·Χ? ΧΦΈΦΌΧΧ β ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΄ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧͺ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ, ΧΦΈΦΌΧΧ β ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ΄ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧͺ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦΆΧΦ°Χ¦Φ·Χ’ Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ.
The Gemara explains: How so, i.e., how can one reconcile these two verses? Here, the verse that mentions seven complete weeks, is referring to a year when the festival of Passover occurs on Shabbat. In such a year, the fifty-day period between Passover and Shavuot contains seven complete weeks, from Sunday through Shabbat. There, the verse that defines the period as fifty days, is referring to a year when the festival of Passover occurs in the middle of the week.
(Χ©ΦΆΧΧ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ±ΧΦ΄ΧΧ’ΦΆΧΦΆΧ¨: Χ‘ΧΦΉΧ€Φ΅Χ¨, Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧ©Φ»ΧΧ’Φ·: ΧΧΦΉΧ ΦΆΧ, Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ°ΧΧΦΈΧ’Φ΅ΧΧ: ΧΦ°Χ’Φ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧ¨, Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌΧΦΈΧ: ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ β Χ‘Φ΄ΧΧΦΈΧ.)
The Gemara presents a mnemonic for several other proofs in refutation of the claim of the Boethusians: That of Rabbi Eliezer: Number; Rabbi Yehoshua: Count; Rabbi Yishmael: From the omer; Rabbi Yehuda: Below.
Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ±ΧΦ΄ΧΧ’ΦΆΧΦΆΧ¨ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: ΧΦ΅ΧΧ ΧΦΉ Χ¦ΦΈΧ¨Φ΄ΧΧΦ°, ΧΦ²Χ¨Φ΅Χ ΧΧΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ΄ΧͺΦ΄ΦΌΧ‘Φ°Χ€ΧΦΌΧ¨ ΧΦΈΧΦ°Χ΄, Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ΄ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧ ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΧΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅ΧΧͺ ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧΧ, Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ΅Χ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ°Χ’Φ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧ©Χ. Χ΄ΧΦ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ³Χ¨Φ·Χͺ ΧΦ·Χ©Φ·ΦΌΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺΧ΄ β ΧΦΈΧΦ³Χ¨Φ·Χͺ ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ, ΧΦΈΧ¦ΦΈΧΧͺ Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ¨Φ΅ΧΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧͺ Χ©ΦΆΧΧ‘Φ°ΦΌΧ€Φ΄ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧͺΦΈΧΦΌ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧ.
Rabbi Eliezer says: The previous proof is not necessary, as the verse states: βSeven weeks you shall number for you; from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain you shall begin to number seven weeksβ (Deuteronomy 16:9). The term βfor youβ indicates that the counting of the weeks is dependent upon the decision of the court, as they know how to calculate the new months, upon which the date of the Festival depends. Therefore, when the verse states: βThe morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat]β (Leviticus 23:16), it means: The morrow after the Festival, as the determination of Festivals is by the court. This serves to exclude the interpretation that the counting starts after the Shabbat of Creation, i.e., a regular weekly Shabbat, whose counting can be performed by every person, not exclusively by the court.
Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΉΧ©Φ»ΧΧ’Φ· ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: ΧΦΈΧΦ°Χ¨ΦΈΧ ΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΦ°Χ Φ΅Χ ΧΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ°Χ§Φ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧ©Χ ΧΦΉΧΦΆΧ©Χ, ΧΦ°Χ Φ΅Χ ΧΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ ΧΦ°Χ§Φ·ΧΦ΅ΦΌΧ©Χ Χ’Φ²Χ¦ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ. ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦΉΧΦΆΧ©Χ Χ‘ΦΈΧΧΦΌΧΦ° ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧΧΦΈΧͺΧΦΉ Χ Φ΄ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧ¨, ΧΦ·Χ£ Χ’Φ²Χ¦ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ Χ‘ΦΈΧΧΦΌΧΦ° ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧΧΦΈΧͺΦΈΧΦΌ Χ Φ΄ΧΧΦΆΦΌΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ.
Citing a different proof, Rabbi Yehoshua says: The Torah said to count days, as it is stated: βA month of daysβ (Numbers 11:20), and then sanctify the month with offerings. And the Torah also said to count days from Passover and then sanctify the festival of Shavuot with offerings, as it is stated: βYou shall count fifty daysβ (Leviticus 23:16). From this comparison, one can learn that just as the start of the counting toward the new month is known even before it comes, as one begins counting toward the following new month on the first day of a month, so too the start of the counting toward the festival of Shavuot is known even before it comes, as one begins counting toward Shavuot on a fixed day of the month.
ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ ΧͺΦΉΦΌΧΧΦ·Χ¨: Χ’Φ²Χ¦ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ ΧΦ°Χ’ΧΦΉΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ·ΧΦ·Χ¨ ΧΦ·Χ©Φ·ΦΌΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺ, ΧΦ΅ΧΧΦ·ΧΦ° ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ Φ΄ΧΧΦΆΦΌΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ ΧΦ΄Χ©ΦΆΦΌΧΧΦ°ΦΌΧ€ΦΈΧ ΦΆΧΧΦΈ?
The Gemara elaborates: And if you say that the festival of Shavuot always occurs the day after Shabbat, how is the counting toward Shavuot known based on what came before it? If the occurrence of Shavuot depends upon a Shabbat, there would be no specific date after Passover upon which the counting occurs yearly.
Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ°ΧΧΦΈΧ’Φ΅ΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: ΧΦΈΧΦ°Χ¨ΦΈΧ ΧͺΦΌΧΦΉΧ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΦΈΧΦ΅Χ Χ’ΧΦΉΧΦΆΧ¨ ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ€ΦΆΦΌΧ‘Φ·Χ, ΧΦΌΧ©Φ°ΧΧͺΦ΅ΦΌΧ ΧΦ·ΧΦΆΦΌΧΦΆΧ ΧΦΈΦΌΧ’Φ²Χ¦ΦΆΧ¨ΦΆΧͺ. ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ β Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ ΧΦΌΧͺΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ, ΧΦ·Χ£ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΧ β Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ ΧΦΌΧͺΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ.
Rabbi Yishmael says there is another refutation of the Boethusian interpretation. The Torah said: Bring the omer offering on the festival on Passover and the two loaves on Shavuot. Just as there, with regard to the offering on the festival of Shavuot, the two loaves are brought at the beginning of the Festival, as it lasts only one day, so too here, with regard to the festival of Passover, the omer must be brought at the beginning of the Festival. If the omer were to always be brought on a Sunday, this might occur at the end of the festival of Passover. For example, if Passover started on a Monday, the omer would be brought only on the next Sunday, at the end of the Festival.
Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦΆΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧͺΦ΄ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: Χ ΦΆΧΦ±ΧΦ·Χ¨ Χ΄Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺΧ΄ ΧΦ°ΧΦ·Χ’Φ°ΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦ°Χ ΦΆΧΦ±ΧΦ·Χ¨ Χ΄Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺΧ΄ ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ. ΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ β Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ, ΧΦΌΧͺΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ Χ‘ΦΈΧΧΦΌΧΦ° ΧΦΈΧΦΌ, ΧΦ·Χ£ ΧΦΈΦΌΧΧ β Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ, ΧΦΌΧͺΦ°ΧΦ΄ΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ Χ¨ΦΆΧΦΆΧ Χ‘ΦΈΧΧΦΌΧΦ° ΧΦΈΧΦΌ.
Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says there is yet another refutation. It is stated βshabbatβ above (Leviticus 23:15), with regard to starting the counting of the omer, and it is also stated βshabbatβ below (Leviticus 23:16), with regard to the commencement of the festival of Shavuot. Just as there, with regard to the festival of Shavuot, it is stated: βEven until the morrow after the seventh week [hashabbat] you shall number fifty days,β and the word shabbat is referring to the beginning of the Festival and it immediately follows the end of the seventh week; so too here, with regard to the bringing of the omer, the word shabbat means Festival, so that the omer offering immediately follows the beginning of the Festival, on the second day of Passover. According to the Boethusians, the commencement of the counting could start well after the beginning of Passover. For example, if Passover occurs on a Sunday, the counting of the omer would start only the following Sunday.
ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦΌ Χ¨Φ·ΧΦΈΦΌΧ Φ·Χ: Χ΄ΧΦΌΧ‘Φ°Χ€Φ·Χ¨Φ°ΧͺΦΆΦΌΧ ΧΦΈΧΦΆΧΧ΄, Χ©ΦΆΧΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧΦ΅Χ Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ΄ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΧ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ.
The Sages taught in a baraita: The verse states: βAnd you shall count for you from the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat], from the day that you brought the sheaf of the waving; seven weeks there shall be completeβ (Leviticus 23:15). The phrase: βAnd you shall count for you,β teaches that the mitzva of counting is not a communal obligation. Rather, there should be a counting by each and every person.
Χ΄ΧΦ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ³Χ¨Φ·Χͺ ΧΦ·Χ©Φ·ΦΌΧΧΦΈΦΌΧͺΧ΄ β ΧΦ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ³Χ¨Φ·Χͺ ΧΧΦΉΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ, ΧΧΦΉ ΧΦ΅ΧΧ ΧΦΉ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦΈΧΦ³Χ¨Φ·Χͺ Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ¨Φ΅ΧΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧͺ? Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ‘Φ΅Χ ΧΦ·ΦΌΧ¨ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: ΧΦ²Χ¨Φ΅Χ ΧΧΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨ Χ΄ΧͺΦ΄ΦΌΧ‘Φ°Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧ¨ΧΦΌ ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΧ΄, ΧΧΦΌΧ Χ‘Φ°Χ€Φ΄ΧΧ¨ΧΦΉΧͺ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ·ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧ Χ‘ΧΦΉΧ€Φ΅Χ¨ ΧΦΉΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌ ΧΦΆΧΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ.
The baraita continues: From the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat], this means from the morrow after the festival of Passover. Or perhaps this is not the meaning of the verse, but rather it means after the Shabbat of Creation, i.e., Sunday. Rabbi Yosei bar Yehuda says: This cannot be correct, as the verse states: βEven until the morrow after the seventh week you shall number fifty daysβ (Leviticus 23:16). This teaches that all the countings that you count shall be only fifty days.
ΧΦ°ΧΦ΄Χ ΧͺΦΉΦΌΧΧΦ·Χ¨ ΧΦ΄ΧΦΈΦΌΧΦ³Χ¨Φ·Χͺ Χ©Φ·ΧΧΦ·ΦΌΧͺ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧ¨Φ΅ΧΧ©Φ΄ΧΧΧͺ, Χ€Φ°ΦΌΧ’ΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ·ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ¦Φ΅Χ ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦΆΧΦΈΧ, ΧΦΌΧ€Φ°Χ’ΦΈΧΦ΄ΧΧ Χ©ΦΆΧΧΦ·ΧͺΦΈΦΌΧ ΧΧΦΉΧ¦Φ΅Χ ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦΌΧ©Φ°ΧΧ Φ·ΧΦ΄Χ, ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦΌΧ©Φ°ΧΧΦΉΧ©ΦΈΧΧ, ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦ°ΧΦ·Χ¨Φ°ΧΦΈΦΌΧ’ΦΈΧ, ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦ·ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©ΦΈΦΌΧΧ, ΧΦ²ΧΦ΄Χ©Φ΄ΦΌΧΧΧ ΧΦ°Χ©Φ΄ΧΧ©ΦΈΦΌΧΧ.
Rabbi Yosei bar Yehuda elaborates: And if you say that the clause: βFrom the morrow after the day of rest [hashabbat],β is referring to the Shabbat of Creation, sometimes you will find a count of fifty-one days from the first day of Passover, which is the date that the count began the previous year, until Shavuot; and sometimes you will find fifty-two, or fifty-three, or fifty-four, or fifty-five, or fifty-six. For example, in one year, Passover occurs on Shabbat, and the counting of the omer would start on Sunday, the sixteenth of Nisan, and Shavuot would occur fifty days later. Another year, Passover occurs on a Friday, and the counting starts on Sunday, then the date that Shavuot will occur this year is fifty-one days from the sixteenth of Nisan. If Passover occurs on a Thursday, and the counting begins on the following Sunday, Shavuot will occur fifty-two days from the sixteenth of Nisan.
Χ¨Φ·ΧΦ΄ΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΧΧΦΌΧΦΈΧ ΧΦΆΦΌΧ ΧΦ°ΦΌΧͺΦ΄ΧΧ¨ΦΈΧ ΧΧΦΉΧΦ΅Χ¨: ΧΦ΅ΧΧ ΧΦΉ Χ¦ΦΈΧ¨Φ΄ΧΧΦ°,
Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says: That proof is not necessary,
