Musar for Sanhedrin 33:22

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב אין מושיבין בסנהדרין אלא מי שיודע לטהר את השרץ מה"ת אמר רב אני אדון ואטהרנו

— You might have assumed that the one who says, 'I do not know' is regarded as an existing member, and that anything he says is to be taken into consideration. We are therefore informed that he who says, 'I do not know,' is regarded as nonexistent, and if he gives a reason [for a particular verdict] we do not listen to him. R. Kahana said: If the Sanhedrin unanimously find [the accused] guilty, he is acquitted. Why? — Because we have learned by tradition that sentence must be postponed till the morrow in hope of finding new points in favour of the defence.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra 34a; 35a. ');">³⁶</span> But this cannot be anticipated in this case.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'But these will no more see for him (any merit).' ');">³⁷</span> R. Johanan said: None are to be appointed members of the Sanhedrin, but men of stature, wisdom, good appearance, mature age, with a knowledge of sorcery,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So as to be able to detect those who seduce and pervert by means of witchcraft, cf. Rashi. ');">³⁸</span> and who are conversant with all the seventy languages of mankind,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This number is given frequently in Talmud and Midrash as the number of languages existing in the world. V. Pirke de R. Eliezer, ch. 24; Targum Jonathan on Gen. XI, 8, and Rashi on Deut. I, 5. As it is impossible for one man to know all these languages, he must have meant that amongst them all, all the languages were to be known. But cf. Rab's dictum below. ');">³⁹</span> in order that the court should have no need of an interpreter. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: None is to be given a seat on the Sanhedrin unless he is able to prove the cleanness of a reptile from Biblical texts.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he must be of subtle mind, so as to be able to prove the cleanness of reptiles that are definitely declared unclean in Scripture. V. Lev. XI, 29-39. ');">⁴⁰</span> Rab said: 'I shall put forward an argument to prove its cleanness.

Explore musar for Sanhedrin 33:22. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.