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Reference of Measurements in Halacha: Difference between revisions

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# Ben HaShemashot is the time period between certain daytime and certain nighttime. In many halachot, it is considered a doubt whether it is considered day or night and has many practical ramifications. There is a major dispute how long this period is. <ref>
# Ben HaShemashot is the time period between certain daytime and certain nighttime. In many halachot, it is considered a doubt whether it is considered day or night and has many practical ramifications. There is a major dispute how long this period is. <ref>
* Gemara Shabbat 34b says Ben HaShemashot is considered as a doubt whether it is considered daytime or nighttime. When is Ben HaShemashot? Rabbi Yehuda says that Ben HaShemashot starts from Shekiyah and concludes when the entire ball of the sun has set. Rabbi Yose, however, says that Ben HaShemashot is as short as the blink of an eye.  
* Gemara Shabbat 34b says Ben HaShemashot is considered as a doubt whether it is considered daytime or nighttime. When is Ben HaShemashot? Rabbi Yehuda says that Ben HaShemashot starts from Shekiyah and concludes when the entire ball of the sun has set. Rabbi Yose, however, says that Ben HaShemashot is as short as the blink of an eye.  
* '''Explanation of Rabbi Yehuda's opinion:''' Rabba explains Rabbi Yehuda as saying that Ben HaShemashot starts from Shekiyah even though the sky is still red, while Rav Yosef says Ben HaShemashot starts from when the bottom of the sun already set. It follows, says the Gemara, that according to Rabba the span of Ben HaShemashot is ¾ of a mil and according to Rav Yosef Ben HaShemashot is 2/3 of a mil. Rambam (Shabbat 5:4) rules like Rabba that Ben HaShemashot begins at Shekiyah, while the Rif (15a) writes that since it is unclear whether halacha follows Rav Yosef or Rabba, one should be strict to follow Rabba that Ben HaShemashot begins at Shekiyah.
* '''Explanation of Rabbi Yehuda's opinion:''' Rabba explains Rabbi Yehuda as saying that Ben HaShemashot starts from Shekiyah even though the sky is still red, while Rav Yosef says Ben HaShemashot starts from when the bottom of the sun already set. It follows, says the Gemara, that according to Rabba the span of Ben HaShemashot is ¾ of a mil and according to Rav Yosef Ben HaShemashot is 2/3 of a mil.  
* The Rif (15a) writes that since it is unclear whether halacha follows Rav Yosef or Rabba, one should be strict to follow Rabba that Ben HaShemashot begins at Shekiyah. Then he says that it seems halacha should follow Rabba because halacha always follows Rabba with three exceptions and this isn't one of them. Similarly, Rambam (Shabbat 5:4) rules like Rabba that Ben HaShemashot begins at Shekiyah. Rabbenu Yonah (quoted by Rosh Shabbat 2:23) argues that since they're not arguing about which logic is correct but about what Rav Yehuda said (see Gemara 34b) the halacha follows both Rabba and Rav Yosef, whichever way will be a stringency.
* Rabbi Yochanan in Gemara Pesachim 94a says that an average person can walk 30 mil from Netz HaChama until Shekiyah and 5 mil from Shekiyah until Tzet HaKochavim (according to Rashi D”H Ovav). The Gemara challenges this and explains really an average person can walk 32 mil from Netz HaChama until Shekiyah and only 4 mil from Shekiyah until Tzet HaKochavim.  
* Rabbi Yochanan in Gemara Pesachim 94a says that an average person can walk 30 mil from Netz HaChama until Shekiyah and 5 mil from Shekiyah until Tzet HaKochavim (according to Rashi D”H Ovav). The Gemara challenges this and explains really an average person can walk 32 mil from Netz HaChama until Shekiyah and only 4 mil from Shekiyah until Tzet HaKochavim.  
* '''The opinion of Rabbenu Tam:''' Tosfot (Pesachim 94a D”H Rabbi Yehuda and Shabbat 35a D"H Trei) is bothered how the Gemara Shabbat seems to say that from Shekiyah until Tzet HaKochavim a person can walk ¾ of a mil (according to the Rabba) and the Gemara Pesachim says a person can walk 4 mil. Rabbenu Tam answers that the Gemara Shabbat was referring to the end of the Shekiyah and from then until Tzet HaKochavim is ¾ of a mil, while the Gemara Pesachim is discussing the end of Shekiyah which takes 4 mil until Tzet HaKochavim. Maggid Mishna (Shabbat 5:4) explains that according to Rabbenu Tam there's two Shekiyot. After the first it is still considered daytime until the beginning of the second Shekiyah. The second Shekiyah takes place 3 and a little mil after the first Shekiyah. Ben HaShemashot, which is uncertain day or night, is the span of the second Shekiyah.
* '''The opinion of Rabbenu Tam:''' Tosfot (Pesachim 94a D”H Rabbi Yehuda and Shabbat 35a D"H Trei) is bothered how the Gemara Shabbat seems to say that from Shekiyah until Tzet HaKochavim a person can walk ¾ of a mil (according to the Rabba) and the Gemara Pesachim says a person can walk 4 mil. Rabbenu Tam answers that the Gemara Shabbat was referring to the end of the Shekiyah and from then until Tzet HaKochavim is ¾ of a mil, while the Gemara Pesachim is discussing the end of Shekiyah which takes 4 mil until Tzet HaKochavim. Ramban (cited by Maggid Mishna), Maggid Mishna (Shabbat 5:4), and Ran (Shabbat 15a) agree. Maggid Mishna (Shabbat 5:4) explains that according to Rabbenu Tam there's two Shekiyot. After the first it is still considered daytime until the beginning of the second Shekiyah. The second Shekiyah takes place 3 and a little mil after the first Shekiyah. Ben HaShemashot, which is uncertain day or night, is the span of the second Shekiyah. Ran (Shabbat 15a) agrees and explains that Ben HaShemashot doesn't begin until 3.25 mil after the beginning of the Shekiyah.
* '''Explanation of Rabbi Yose's opinion:''' Shmuel (Shabbat 35a) says that Rav Yose’s concept of Ben HaShemashot takes place after the Ben HaShemashot already finished. Tosfot (Shabbat 34b Rabbi Yose) explains that even according to Rabbi Yose there’s a window of time when there is an uncertainty whether it is day or night but it isn’t as long as it is for Rabbi Yehuda.
* '''Explanation of Rabbi Yose's opinion:''' Shmuel (Shabbat 35a) says that Rav Yose’s concept of Ben HaShemashot takes place after the Ben HaShemashot already finished. Tosfot (Shabbat 34b D"H Rabbi Yose) explains that even according to Rabbi Yose there’s a window of time when there is an uncertainty whether it is day or night but it isn’t as long as it is for Rabbi Yehuda. Rosh 2:23 discusses whether Rabbi Yose's Ben HaShemashot begins immediately after Rabbi Yehuda's or a while afterwards and doesn't come to a clear conclusion.
* '''Who does the halacha follow?''' The Briatta (Shabbat 34b) says that in regards to practical ramifications Ben HaShemashot is always considered day as a stringency and night as a stringency. Rif (Shabbat 14b) and Rambam (Shabbat 5:4) codify this Briatta. Rabbi Yochanan (Shabbat 35a) says that we follow Rabbi Yehuda regarding Shabbat as a stringency and Rabbi Yose regarding Trumah as a stringency. Rif (15a) codifies Rabbi Yochanan as halacha.
* '''Who does the halacha follow?''' The Briatta (Shabbat 34b) says that in regards to practical ramifications Ben HaShemashot is always considered day as a stringency and night as a stringency. Rif (Shabbat 14b) and Rambam (Shabbat 5:4) codify this Briatta. Rabbi Yochanan (Shabbat 35a) says that we follow Rabbi Yehuda regarding Shabbat as a stringency and Rabbi Yose regarding Trumah as a stringency. Rif (15a) and Rosh 2:23 codify Rabbi Yochanan as halacha.
* '''Shmuel's opinion:''' Then, Shmuel (Shabbat 35b) says that Ben HaShemashot is as long as two stars are seen in the sky, but if there’s only one star, it’s day, and if it’s three, then it’s night. The Gemara then clarifies that the stars which were discussed are medium size stars. The Rambam (Shabbat 5:4) rules like Shmuel that when three medium size stars are seen it is certain nighttime. The Kesef Mishna (Shabbat 5:4) is bothered why the Rambam said that Ben HaShemashot begins from Shekiyah and ends when three stars are seen, choosing the opinion of Rabba for the beginning of Ben HaShemashot and Shmuel for the end of Ben HaShemashot. He answers that really Rabba and Shmuel agree and just describe it differently. This may also be the intent of the Rif (15a) who says halacha follows Rabba as a stringency and also quotes Shmuel without anyone arguing.</ref>
* '''Shmuel's opinion:''' Then, Shmuel (Shabbat 35b) says that Ben HaShemashot is as long as two stars are seen in the sky, but if there’s only one star, it’s day, and if it’s three, then it’s night. The Gemara then clarifies that the stars which were discussed are medium size stars. Similarly, the Yerushalmi (Brachot, cited by Ran 15a) says that Shabbat concludes when three stars can be seen in one area and not spread out. The Rambam (Shabbat 5:4) rules like Shmuel that when three medium size stars are seen it is certain nighttime. The Kesef Mishna (Shabbat 5:4) is bothered why the Rambam said that Ben HaShemashot begins from Shekiyah and ends when three stars are seen, choosing the opinion of Rabba for the beginning of Ben HaShemashot and Shmuel for the end of Ben HaShemashot. He answers that really Rabba and Shmuel agree and just describe it differently. This may also be the intent of the Rif (15a) and Rosh 2:23 who say that halacha follows Rabba as a stringency and also quote Shmuel without anyone arguing.</ref>
==References==
==References==
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