Where do we get the idea that on #RoshHashanah we are judged, and on #YomKippur our fate is sealed? Because it’s not from the #Torah!
In honor of Elul, welcome to throwback #DafReactions Rosh Hashanah 16: Judgement Day
מַתְנִי׳ בְּאַרְבָּעָה פְּרָקִים הָעוֹלָם נִידּוֹן: בַּפֶּסַח — עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, בַּעֲצֶרֶת — עַל פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן, בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה — כׇּל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם עוֹבְרִין לְפָנָיו כִּבְנֵי מָרוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַיּוֹצֵר יַחַד לִבָּם הַמֵּבִין אֶל כׇּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם״, וּבֶחָג נִידּוֹנִין עַל הַמַּיִם.
MISHNA: At four times of the year the world is judged: On Passover judgment is passed concerning grain; on Shavuot concerning fruits that grow on a tree; on Rosh HaShana all creatures pass before Him like sheep [benei maron], as it is stated: “He Who fashions their hearts alike, Who considers all their deeds” (Psalms 33:15); and on the festival of Sukkot they are judged concerning water, i.e., the rainfall of the coming year.
דְּתַנְיָא: הַכֹּל נִידּוֹנִים בָּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וּגְזַר דִּין שֶׁלָּהֶם נֶחְתָּם בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: הַכֹּל נִידּוֹנִין בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וּגְזַר דִּין שֶׁלָּהֶם נֶחְתָּם כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּזְמַנּוֹ: בַּפֶּסַח — עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, בַּעֲצֶרֶת — עַל פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן, בֶּחָג נִידּוֹנִין עַל הַמַּיִם. וְאָדָם נִידּוֹן בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וּגְזַר דִּין שֶׁלּוֹ נֶחְתָּם בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים.
The Gemara explains: As it is taught in a baraita: All are judged on Rosh HaShana, and their sentence is sealed on Yom Kippur; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says: All are judged on Rosh HaShana, and their sentence is sealed each in its own time: On Passover the sentence is sealed concerning grain; on Shavuot concerning fruits that grow on a tree; on the festival of Sukkotthey are judged concerning water; and mankind is judged on Rosh HaShana, and the sentence is sealed on Yom Kippur.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אָדָם נִידּוֹן בְּכׇל יוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתִּפְקְדֶנּוּ לִבְקָרִים״. רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: אָדָם נִידּוֹן בְּכׇל שָׁעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לִרְגָעִים תִּבְחָנֶנּוּ״.
Rabbi Yosei says: A person is judged every day, and not just once a year, as it is stated: “You visit him every morning” (Job 7:18), meaning that every morning an accounting is made and a judgment is passed. Rabbi Natan says: A person is judged every hour, as it is stated: “You try him every moment” (Job 7:18).
וְכִי תֵּימָא: לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, וְכִי קָתָנֵי מַתְנִיתִין — אַגְּזַר דִּין, אִי הָכִי — קַשְׁיָא אָדָם!
And lest you say that actually, the mishna is taught in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, and when the mishna is taught, it is taught with regard to the sentence, and not the judgments, which are all passed on Rosh HaShana, if so, it is difficult with regard to mankind, as the mishna should have stated that the sentence is sealed on Yom Kippur.
אָמַר רָבָא: הַאי תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל הִיא, דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, בְּאַרְבָּעָה פְּרָקִים הָעוֹלָם נִידּוֹן: בַּפֶּסַח — עַל הַתְּבוּאָה, בַּעֲצֶרֶת — עַל פֵּירוֹת הָאִילָן, בְּחָג נִידּוֹנִין עַל הַמַּיִם. וְאָדָם נִידּוֹן בָּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וּגְזַר דִּין שֶׁלּוֹ נֶחְתָּם בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. וְכִי קָתָנֵי מַתְנִיתִין — אַתְּחִלַּת דִּין.
Rava said: The tanna of the mishna is a tannafrom the school of Rabbi Yishmael, as a tannafrom the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: At four times of the year the world is judged: On Passover concerning grain; on Shavuot concerning fruits that grow on a tree; on the festival of Sukkotthey are judged concerning water; and mankind is judged on Rosh HaShana and the sentence is sealed on Yom Kippur. And when the mishna is taught, it is taught with regard to the beginning of the judgment process, i.e., the judgment of mankind is initially passed on Rosh HaShana.
What you just saw is part of The Daf Reactions Project, where I share my daily practice of studying the Babylonian Talmud (Daf Yomi) from the viewpoint of a formerly Orthodox, now secular, Millennial feminist.
I'm Miriam Anzovin—a Jewish nerd, storyteller, and artist. My passion is putting this ancient discourse in direct communication with modern internet culture, pop culture, and current events.
These videos are my authentic reactions, with commentary that's both heartfelt and comedic, and always centers Jewish joy.
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