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SANHEDRIN 38

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1)   click for question
(a) Rebbi instructed his servants to give Yehudah and Chizkiyah - (sons of Rebbi Chiya) some wine ...
(b) ...because they sat silently at a Se'udah without saying anything.
(c) Having drunk, they stated - that ben David (Mashi'ach) will only come when the heads of the Galus in Bavel and the Nasi in Eretz Yisrael will be destroyed.
(d) Rebbi, the Nasi in Eretz Yisrael, reacted - by accusing them of placing thorns in his eyes (i.e. of setting out to hurt him).
(e) Rebbi Chiya defended his sons - by pointing out that since 'Yayin' had the same numerical value as 'Sod', when wine goes in, secrets come out (meaning that what they had said was nothing personal, but the truth).

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(a) Rav Chisda Amar Mar Ukva (or Amar Rav Chisda Darash Mari bar Mar) explains the Pasuk in Daniel "va'Yishkod Hash-m al ha'Ra'ah va'Yevi'ehah Aleinu ki Tzadik Hash-m Elokeinu" to mean - that Hash-m displayed His righteousness by leaving Galus Yechonyah intact when Galus Tzidkiyah arrived, since they were big Talmidei-Chachamim, who would ensure that with the aid of the great Yeshivos that they set up there, Torah would flourish during the Galus.
(b) The basis for this is the Pasuk in Melachim "ve'ha'Charash ve'ha'Misger Elef" (hinting at the thousand Talmidei-Chachamim who accompanied Yechonyah into Galus). They were called ...
1. ... "Charash" - because once they began to speak (in Divrei Torah), everyone else remained silent.
2. ... "Misger" - because once they stopped (leaving a question unanswered), no-one was able to resume, since there was nobody who was able to find an answer.
(c) Ula connects Hashem's righteousness to the Pasuk in Devarim "ve'Noshantem ba'Aretz ... (va'Avadtem Meheirah)" - whose numerical value is eight hundred and fifty-two, the equivalent to the number of years that they were destined to remain in Eretz Yisrael, before being sent into exile. Hash-m changed His mind however, and sent them to Bavel two years earlier - in order to avoid the fulfillment of the Pasuk ("Ki Avod Toveidun Maher ve'Hishamed Tishameidun"), which predicted their total aanihilation.
(d) They build the Beis-Hamikdash ...
1. ... four hundred and eighty years after arriving in Eretz Yisrael, and ...
2. ... it was destroyed - four hundred and ten years later.
(e) Rav Acha bar Ya'akov learns from the D'rashah of "ve'Noshantem" - that when Hash-m says "Meheirah", He means eight-hundred and fifty-two years.

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(a) When the Beraisa, in addition to the reasons given in our Mishnah for Hash-m having created only one man, adds ...
1. ... 'she'Lo Yih'yu ha'Tzadikim Omrim Anu B'nei Tzadik', the Tana means - that the Tzadikim will argue that since they are sons of a righteous man, they do not need to distance themselves from sin, since they are anyway not prone to sin.
2. ... 've'ha'Resha'im Omrim, Anu B'nei Rasha', the Tana means - that the Resha'im will claim that they cannot help sinning because they are sons of a wicked man, and that Yeshuvah will therefore to help.
(b) When he says 'she'Lo Yih'yu Mishpachos Misgaros Zu ba'Zu, the Tana seems to be repeating the argument of 'my father is greater than your father' mentioned in our Mishnah. And when he adds 'Mipnei ha'Gazlanim u'Mipnei ha'Chamsanim', he means - that they will steal each other's land on the pretext that it had originally belonged to their respective god, and that they are merely taking it back.
(c) True, people are guilty of that crime anyway - but at least Hash-m has given them no legal argument to back up their claim.
(d) Our Mishnah referred to Hashem's praise worthiness in creating everyone with a different face. He did that - to prevent people from stealing each other's wives or property, under the pretext that they are the husband or the owner.

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(a) Rebbi Meir in a Beraisa, lists three things by which each person is unique. Two of them are voice and looks - the third is Da'as (intelligence).
(b) He created each person with a different ...
1. ... voice and appearance - to avoid people from committing adultery, as we explained earlier.
2. ... level of intelligence - to enable them to protect their property against thieves, by outwitting them.
(c) Another Beraisa lists three reasons why Hash-m did not create Adam until Erev Shabbos: One - to prevent the heretics from claimong that Adam assisted Hash-m in the creation; one - so that man should realize how insignificant he is (considering that even a gnat preceded him in the creation), and - so that man should enter the world and find everything ready for his benefit.
(d) In the context of the third reason, the Tana interprets the Pasuk in Mishlei...
1. ... "Chochmas Bansah Beisah" - with reference to Midas ha'Chochmah, with which Hash-m created the world.
2. ... "Chatzvah Amudehah Shiv'ah" - with reference to the seven days of the Creation.
3. ... "Tavchah Tivchah, Maschah Yeinah, Af Archah Shulchanah" - with reference to the earth and the rivers, all the pleasures of this world (which are compared to a laid table).
4. ... "Shalchah Na'arosehah (al Gapei Meromei K'ras)" - with reference to Adam and Chavah.

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(a) To resolve the discrepancy between the Pasuk "al Gapei ... " (implying that Hash-m placed Adam in a high location) and that of "al Kisei", Rabah bar bar Chanah explains - 'al Gapei', before he sinned, and 'al Kisei', after he sinned.
(b) The Pasuk in Mishlei poses a question "Mi Pesi Yasur Heinah?" - which means 'Which fool caused Adam to approach here (the Tree of Knowledge)'?
(c) And the Pasuk replies - 'The one who is lacking understanding (the woman) told him to'.
(d) It is from the Pasuk in Tehilim "No'ef Ishah Chasar Leiv" - that we ascribe the term "Chasar Leiv" in Mishlei to Chavah (see Agados Maharsha).

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(a) Rebbi Meir in a Beraisa learns from the Pasuk in Tehilim "Glom Rae Eunuch" - that Adam was created from all over the world (wherever the eyes can see),as we will now explain.
(b) The basis for Rav Oshaya Amar Rav saying that ...
1. ... Adam's body was made from the earth of Bavel is - the depth of Bavel, which indicates that Hash-m must have taken a lot of earth from there to form him.
2. ... his head was made from the earth in Eretz Yisrael is - the fact that Eretz Yisrael is both the highest and the most important of all the lands.
3. ... his buttocks were made from Ark de'Agma is - the fact that it is the deepest part of Bavel.
(c) His remaining limbs were made - from other parts of the world.

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(a) Rebbi Yochanan (or Rebbi Achai) bar Chanina describes what took place on each of the twelve hours of the sixth day of the Creation. If the earth from which he was made was piled up in the first hour and he became a Golem in the second - in the third hour Hash-m formed his limbs.
(b) In the fourth hour Hash-m breathed a Neshamah into him and in the fifth, Adam stood up. In the sixth - he named all the animals.
(c) In the seventh hour he married Chavah, and in the ninth, he was commanded not to eat from the Eitz ha'Da'as. In the eighth hour - 'Two went to bed, and four climbed out' (Adam, Chavah, Kayin and his twin sister [see Tosfos]).
(d) We know that Adam was expelled from Gan Eden in the twelfth hour; in the tenth hour - he sinned, and the eleventh, he was judged.

8)   click for question
(a) From the Pasuk ...
1. ... "Adam bi'Yekar ve'Lo Yalin", we learn - that Adam did not even manage to stay one night in Gan Eden before he was expelled from there.
2. ... "Nimshal ka'Beheimos Nidmu", Rami bar Chana learns - that a wild animal is not able to kill a human-being unless, on account of the person's sins, the wild animal perceives him as a wild animal.
(b) Rav Yehudah Amar Rav describes the dialogue between Hash-m and certain groups of angels. They commented "Mah Enosh Ki Sizkerenu ... " - after Hash-m had told them - about man's behavior.
(c) "Mah Enosh Ki Sizkerenu" means - that sinning man is unworthy of being remembered (i.e. does not deserve to be created.
(d) Hash-m responded to that - by placing His little finger among them and burning them.
(e) After the same had happened to a second group of angels, the third group (after alluding to the fate that the first two groups suffered) - replied that since nothing came of the first two sets of angels who tried to stop Hash-m from creating man, Hash-m, who is Master of the world, should do as He sees fit.

9)   click for question
(a) Hashem's response to the angels, when they pointed to the generation of the flood and of the tower, and asked Him whether the first groups of angels were not right, was - that He had the patience to wait until old age (for them to do Teshuvah - see Melo ha'Ro'im'.
(b) Rav Yehudah Amar Rav learns from the Pasuk ...
1. ... in Devarim "u'le'Miktzei ha'Shamayim ve'ad Ketzei ha'Shamayim" - that Adam ha'Rishon was as tall as the distance between one end of the world to the other".
2. ... in Tehilim "Achor va'Kedem Tzartani va'Tashes Alai Kapecha" - that after Adam sinned, Hash-m placed His Hand on him and shrank him down to size.
(c) Rebbi Elazar learns from the same Pasuk in Tehilim "le'Min ha'Yom Asher Bara Elokim es ha'Adam al ha'Aretz u'le'Miktzei ha'Shamayim" - that Adam ha'Rishon was as tall as the distance between one end of the world to the other".
(d) We reconcile the two seemingly contradictory Pesukim - by equating the two distances.

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(a) Rav Yehudah Amar Rav extrapolates from the Lashon of "Yakru" in the Pasuk in Tehilim (in connection with the creation of Adam discussed earlier) "ve'Li Mah Yakru Re'echa Keil" (meaning "How honored are Your friends [the Tzadikim], in my eyes, Hash-m!") - that Adam spoke Arama'ic (since 'Yakru' in this sense is of Arama'ic origin [see Agado Maharsha in Bava Basra 55b DH 'Asidin Tzadikim').
(b) Adam made this declaration - after Hash-m had shown him each subsequent generation together with its Darshanim and its Chachamim, including Rebbi Akiva, in whose Torah he rejoiced, but whose death saddened him.
(c) And Rav Yehudah Amar Rav explains the Pasuk in Bereishis "Vayikra Hash-m Elokim el ha'Adam Vayomer lo Ayeka" - as the acronym of 'le'An Natah Libecha' (where is your heart turning), from which he extrapolates that Adam had leanings towards heresy (see Agados Maharsha).
(d) The Pasuk writes in Hoshe'a "ve'Heimah ke'Adam Avru B'ris". Based on the Pasuk ...
1. ... "es B'risi Heifar", Rebbi Yitzchak explains this Pasuk to mean - that Adam pulled back the skin of his B'ris Milah, to reverse the circumcision (see Agados Maharsha), whereas ...
2. ... Rav Nachman, based on the Pasuk in Yirmiyahu "Vayomru, al Asher Azvu es B'ris Hash-m Elokei Avosam", explains it to mean - that he was a Kofer ba'Ikar (that he denied Hashem's existence).

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(a) Rebbi Eliezer says in Pirkei Avos that one should study Torah diligently and know what to reply to an Apikores (which generally pertains to someone who questions the value of Talmidei-Chachamim, and) which Rebbi Yochanan qualifies here - by restricting it to gentiles (because Jewish Apikorsim tend to reject answers, and even use them to strengthen their own beliefs).
(b) Rebbi Yochanan says that each of the many Pesukim in the Torah which insinuate that Hash-m spoke to His colleagues (Kevayachol) - has a counter proof (either in the form of another Pasuk close by, or from the very phrase itself), which states that Hash-m is One.
(c) To counter the Pasuk ...
1. ... in Bereishis "Na'aseh Adam", the Torah cites the Pasuk - "Va'yivra Elokim es ha'Adam be'Tzalmo".
2. ... in No'ach "Havah Nerdah ve'Navlah Sham Sefasam", te Torah cites the Pasuk - Vayered Hash-m li'Re'os es ha'Ir ve'es ha'Migdal".
3. ... in Shmuel "u'Mi ke'Amcha Yisrael Goy Echad ba'Aretz Asher Halchu Elokim .. " the Torah writes Lif'dos Lo le'Am" (to redeem for Himself as a nation).
4. ... in Daniel " .. ad di Karsin Ramayu" (implying a number of thrones for a number of gods) the Torah writes - "ve'Atik Yomin Yasiv" (implying that He alone sits).
(d) To explain why the Torah uses the plural form in the first place, we quote the Pasuk in Daniel "bi'Gezeiras Irin Pisgama u've'Ma'amar Kadishin She'iltin" - which teaches us that Hash-m always consults with His Heavenly Court before taking drastic action in the world.

12)   click for question
(a) The last of the 'problematic' Pesukim ("ad di Karsin Ramayu") does not fit the previous explanation. The significance of the "thrones", according to ...
1. ... Rebbi Akiva is - one for Hash-m and one for David Hamelech.
2. ... Rebbi Yossi Hagelili is - one throne for Din and one for Tzedakah (Rachamim).
(b) The latter objects to Rebbi Akiva's explanation - because he does not like the concept of placing a human-being on a par with Hash-m [Kevayachol]
(c) We know that Rebbi Akiva accepted Rebbi Yossi Hagelili's explanation - because that is how he himself subsequently explains the Pasuk in a Beraisa.
(d) Rebbi Elazar ben Azarya disagrees however. After advising Rebbi Akiva to stick to Nega'im and Ohalos, and to leave Agadah to those who were competent at it, he explained - that one of the two thrones was for sitting on, and the other, for use as a footstool.

13)   click for question
(a) Rav Nachman said - that unless someone is able to counter the heretics like Rav Idis, he is better off desisting.
(b) When a heretic asked Rav Idis why Hash-m said to Moshe "Aleih el Hash-m", instead of "Aleih Elai", he replied - that in fact, it was not Hash-m himself who was speaking, but the Angel (the great Sofer) Matatron, whose numerical value equals that of his Master (314, the numerical value of Shakai).
(c) When the heretic asked Rav Idis ...
1. ... why we do not then worship him - he cited him the Pasuk "Al Tamer Bo" (Do not confuse Me with him).
2. ... that if, as the Torah specifically writes, Matatron was not even able to forgive our sins, then of what use was he - he replied that indeed, that is why Moshe rejected him as a Shali'ach (insisting that Hash-m accompany Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael, and not Matatron).

14)   click for question
(a) When a certain heretic asked Rebbi Yishmael b'Rebbi Yossi why the Torah writes "va'Hashem Himtir al S'dom ... me'es Hash-m" (and not "me'Iti") the laundry-man answered - that it is the way of the Torah to write like that.
(b) As a precedent, he cited a Pasuk in Bereishis - where Lemech said to his wives "Neshei Lemech, Ha'azenah Imrasi" (instead of "Nashai").
(c) The laudry-man claimed that he had heard the above answer from a D'rashah by Rebbi Meir, who, ccording to Rebbi Yochanan, would divide his D'rashos into three - Halachah, Agadah and Meshalim (parables).

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(a) Rebbi Meir had - three hundred parables about foxes up his sleeve, of which only three remain with us.
(b) When Yechezkel ha'Navi says "Avos Yochlu Boser, ve'Shinei Banim Tichhenah", he means - that sometimes children's teeth hurt because their father's ate unripe grapes (which may also be meant as a rhetorical question).
(c) The second parable is the Pasuk "Moznei Tzedek Avnei Tzedek" (see Agados Maharsha). The third, which begins "Tzadik mi'Tzarah Nechlatz" - ends "ve'Yavo Rasha Tachtav".

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(a) When the wolf followed the fox's advice and offered to help the Jews to prepare for Shabbos and then join them at the Shabbos-table - they chased him out with sticks.
(b) The fox then quoted the Pasuk in Yechezkel "Avos Yochlu Boser ve'Shinei Banim Tichhenah" - a hint that it must be because his father sinned that Hash-m was now punisheing the sinner's offspring.
(c) When the fuming wolf then went to kill the fox, how did the wily fellow convinced him to enter the second bucket and lower himself into the well - by pointing to the image of the moon in the well, and telling the wolf that there was cheese and meat in the well.
(d) And he then quoted the Pasuk in Mishlei "Tzadik mi'Tzarah Nechlatz Veyavo Rasha Tachtav" by which he meant - that he (the Tzadik) was saved and the wolf (the Rasha) stood in for him.

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