More Discussions for this daf
1. A minor being Motzi one who ate a "k'Zayis" 2. 'Ruba de'Mink'ra' 3. Ruba d'Minkera
4. When to say Birkas ha'Mazon 5. Discharging the obligation of others 6. Why don't we have to mention Bris and Torah in Al ha'Michyah
7. Contradicting a Tana with an Amoraic statement 8. Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel 9. Birkas haMazon on a complete meal without bread
10. Yanai's wickedness
DAF DISCUSSIONS - BERACHOS 48

Dr. Eli Turkel asks:

The Gemara states a story about how Shimon Ben Shetach practiced and assumes it is a private opinion based on an Amoraic statement. Since he has at least the status of a Tanna (head of the Sanhedrin during the second Temple) why don't we instead ask a question from his actions on the Amora. If there is indeed various opinions then the Gemara should respond that it is disagreement among Tannaim.

There is a similar Gemara that asks a question on King Chizkiyahu (adding a day to Adar when Nissan has started) based on a statement by the Amora Shmuel. Shouldn't it be reversed and we ask on Shmuel based on the actions of Chizkiyahu?

Eli Turkel

The Kollel replies:

(a) In the case of Shimon ben Shetach, the words of the Amora in question are a quote of the Halachic ruling of Rebbi Yochanan. The Gemara is taking it for granted that Rebbi Yochanan would not have ruled as he did, contradicting the practice of Rebbi Shimon ben Shetach, had he not found some other Tana or Tanaim that ruled otherwise. It therefore concludes that it may be inferred from Rebbi Yochanan's teaching that Shimon ben Shetach's ruling is a Shitas Yachid

(b) As for the Gemara in Sanhedrin 12b that proves Chizkiyah wrong, a close examination of the sources reveals that it was not proving him wrong based on Shmuel's ruling, but based on an inference in the verses in Divrei Hayamim. The question had only been what mistake it was that Chizkiyah made. The Gemara concludes that the mistake may have involved a logical ruling that Shmuel expressed verbally. (Shmuel of course wasn't the first source for such a conclusion, and it may be assumed that until his time the practice was in accordance with is ruling. He, however, was the one who verbally formulated the logic clearly, and therefore it is he who is quoted in that Gemara.)

Regards,

-Mordecai