Rosh Hashanah 8

Chapter 8

א לקט שכחה ופאה כיון שעברו עליהן שלשה רגלים עובר בבל תאחר רבי שמעון אומר שלשה רגלים כסדרן וחג המצות תחלה
1 gleanings, forgotten sheaves and corners of the field,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If an owner took these, he has to restore them to the poor.');"><sup>1</sup></span> as soon as three festivals have elapsed transgress the precept of 'not delaying'.
ב ר' מאיר אומר כיון שעבר עליהן רגל אחד עובר בבל תאחר רבי אליעזר בן יעקב אומר כיון שעברו עליהן שני רגלים עובר בבל תאחר רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון אומר כיון שעבר עליהן חג הסוכות עובר עליהן בבל תאחר
2 R'Simeon said: The three festivals must be in order, with Passover first. R'Meir said: As soon as one festival has passed, he transgresses the precept of 'not delaying'.
ג מאי טעמא דתנא קמא מכדי מינייהו סליק למה לי למהדר ומיכתב (דברים טז, טז) בחג המצות ובחג השבועות ובחג הסוכות שמע מינה לבל תאחר
3 R'Eliezer B'Jacob said: As soon as two festivals have elapsed, he transgresses the precept of 'not delaying'. R'Eleazar son of R'Simeon said: As soon as the feast of Tabernacles has passed, he transgresses the precept of 'not delaying'.
ד ורבי שמעון אומר אינו צריך לומר בחג הסוכות שבו דיבר הכתוב למה נאמר לומר שזה אחרון
4 What is the reason of the First Tanna?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who requires three festivals in any order.');"><sup>2</sup></span> - Let us see, [he says]: The text<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., Deut. XVI.');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ה ורבי מאיר מ"ט דכתיב (דברים יב, ה) ובאת שמה והבאתם שמה
5 has been speaking of them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit. he set out from these'.');"><sup>4</sup></span> [the three festivals].
ו ורבנן ההוא לעשה
6 Why then does it repeat,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In v. 16, after saying, three times a year shall all thy males appear, etc.');"><sup>5</sup></span> on the feast of unleavened bread, on the feast of weeks, and on the feast of tabernacles?
ז ורבי מאיר כיון דאמר ליה רחמנא אייתי ולא אייתי ממילא קם ליה בבל תאחר
7 We must understand it to be laying down the rule for 'not delaying'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As much as to say, 'Come before God to pay your vows, and do not come empty-handed.'');"><sup>6</sup></span> R'Simeon again says that there was no need [even so] to repeat 'on the feast of tabernacles', of which the text was just speaking.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In vv. 13-15.');"><sup>7</sup></span>
ח ורבי אליעזר בן יעקב מאי טעמא דכתיב (במדבר כט, לט) אלה תעשו לה' במועדיכם מיעוט מועדים שנים
8 Why then was it mentioned? To show that this one must be the last.
ט ורבנן ההוא לכדרבי יונה דאמר רבי יונה הוקשו כל המועדים כולם זה לזה שכולן מכפרים על טומאת מקדש וקדשיו
9 What is R'Meir's reason?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For requiring only one festival.');"><sup>8</sup></span> - Because it is written, And thither thou shalt come and thither ye shall bring.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XII, 5, 6. As much as to say, 'each time you come, bring your vows'.');"><sup>9</sup></span>
י ורבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון מאי טעמא דתניא רבי אלעזר בר' שמעון אומר לא יאמר חג הסוכות שבו דיבר הכתוב למה נאמר לומר שזה גורם
10 What do the Rabbis [say to this]? - They say that this constitutes only a positive injunction.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And if he does not carry it out, he is still not guilty of 'delaying'.');"><sup>10</sup></span> What has R'Meir [to say to this]? - [He says that] since the All-Merciful told him to bring and he did not bring, automatically he has transgressed the precept of 'not delaying'.
יא ורבי מאיר ורבי אליעזר בן יעקב האי בחג המצות ובחג השבועות ובחג הסוכות מאי דרשו ביה מיבעי להו לכדרבי אלעזר אמר ר' אושעיא דאמר ר' אלעזר אמר ר' אושעיא מניין לעצרת שיש לה תשלומין כל שבעה תלמוד לומר בחג המצות ובחג השבועות ובחג הסוכות מקיש חג השבועות לחג המצות מה חג המצות יש לו תשלומין כל שבעה אף חג השבועות יש לו תשלומין כל שבעה
11 What is the reason of R'Eliezer B'Jacob?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who requires two festivals.');"><sup>11</sup></span> Because it is written, These ye shall offer unto the Lord in your appointed seasons;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXIX, 39. The 'these' here strictly refers to obligatory sacrifices, but as the text goes on, besides your vows and free will-offerings, these can also be included in the rule.');"><sup>12</sup></span>
יב וליקש לחג הסוכות מה להלן שמונה אף כאן שמונה שמיני רגל בפני עצמו הוא
12 the minimum of 'seasons' is two. What do the Rabbis [say to this]? - [They say] that this word is required for the exposition of R'Jonah; for R'Jonah said,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sheb. 10.');"><sup>13</sup></span>
יג אימור דאמרינן שמיני רגל בפני עצמו לענין פז"ר קש"ב אבל לעניין תשלומין דברי הכל תשלומין דראשון הוא
13 All the festivals are put on the same footing with one another, to show that all<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The he-goats for sin-offering brought on festivals; v. Num. XXVIII and XXIX.');"><sup>14</sup></span> atone for the uncleanness of the Sanctuary and its holy things.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Shebu. 10a.');"><sup>15</sup></span>
יד דתנן מי שלא חג יום טוב הראשון של חג חוגג את כל הרגל ויום טוב האחרון של חג
14 What is the reason of R'Eleazar son of Simeon?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who says that Tabernacles must be the last,');"><sup>16</sup></span> As it has been taught: R'Eleazar son of Simeon said: There was no need for the feast of Tabernacles to be mentioned in this verse,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., Deut. XVI, 16.');"><sup>17</sup></span>
טו תפשת מרובה לא תפשת תפשת מועט תפשת
15 as the text was already speaking of it. Why then was it mentioned?
טז אלא למאי הלכתא כתביה רחמנא לחג הסוכות לאקושיה לחג המצות
16 To show that this one is the determining factor. What exposition then do R'Meir and R'Eliezer B'Jacob give of the words 'on the feast of unleavened bread and on the feast of weeks and on the feast of tabernacles'? - They require them for the same purpose as R'Eleazar B'Oshaia. For R'Eleazar B'Oshaia said: How do we know that [a sacrifice due but not brought on] Pentecost<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Azereth.');"><sup>18</sup></span> can be made up for during the next seven days? Because it says, On the feast of unleavened bread and on the feast of weeks and on the feast of tabernacles. Just as [a sacrifice not brought on the first day of] the feast of Passover can be made up for during the next seven days,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is learnt from the words, And ye shall keep it as a feast to the Lord . . seven days (Ex. XII, 14, 15) . V. Hag. 9a.');"><sup>19</sup></span> so [a sacrifice not brought on] the Feast of Weeks can be made up for during the next seven days. But why should not the Feast of Weeks be put on the same footing [in this respect] as the feast of Tabernacles, so that just as in that case [the duration of the festival is] eight days, so here eight days [shou be allowed]? - The eighth day [of Tabernacles] is a separate festival.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Standing in the same relation to Tabernacles as Pentecost to Passover.');"><sup>20</sup></span> I can still say that we call the eight day a separate festival in respect of P'Z'R' K'SH'B',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' P== payyes (casting lots) ; on the eighth day the twenty-four mishmaroth (wards) of the priests cast lots to see which should officiate, but not on the preceding days, when all officiated in order. Z == zeman (time) ; the blessing sheheheyanu (who has kept us alive) is said on the eighth day, as on the first days of other festivals. R == regel (festival) ; the eighth day is no longer termed 'Tabernacles' but is known as 'the eighth day of solemn assembly'. K == Korban (offering) ; the sacrifice of the day (one bullock, one ram and seven sheep) was quite different from that of the days of Tabernacles. SH == shir (song) ; the psalm chanted by the Levites was not the same as that for Tabernacles. B == berakah (blessing) ; on this day, in the time of the Monarchy, a blessing was said for the king, in memory of the dedication of the Temple, when, as we read, on the eighth day the people blessed the king (I Kings, VIII, 66) Cf. Yoma 3a, Suk. 48a.');"><sup>21</sup></span> but that in the matter of compensation all agree that this can be made on it for the first day, as we have learnt: If one did not bring his festival sacrifice on the first of Tabernacles, he can bring during the whole of the festival, including the last day of the festival? - If you grasp a lot you cannot hold it, if you grasp a little you can hold it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A proverbial saying, indicating here that Pentecost should be put on a level in this respect with Passover which has the smaller number of days, not with Tabernacles.');"><sup>22</sup></span> But what injunction then<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the Feast of Weeks is not to be put on the same footing as Tabernacles.');"><sup>23</sup></span> did the All-Merciful indicate by mentioning the festival of Tabernacles [in this verse]? - [It is mentioned] in order to be put on the same footing as the feast of Passover [in this respect]: