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Below you will find the original video recording of this episode, the core Talmud sources from the conversation (click their citation hyperlinks to find the texts in their fuller context), and a section of Further Learning (links to books, articles, and additional resources mentioned by our hosts).
And remember, the most fulfilling way to deepen your learning is to find a chevruta (a study partner) to share it with!
Here are some questions to ask yourself and/or a chevruta as you encounter this text:
This week’s episode was recorded in June of 2020, in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. We turn to a piece of Talmud which SVARA shared out in the days following, a lens for understanding the enormous groundswell of protests and political action which followed in response.
- In what spheres are we each in a meaningful position to speak out?
- What does it mean to be impactful without being able to immediately solve systemic issues?
וְאֵין הָרְחֵלִים יוֹצְאוֹת חֲנוּנוֹת, וְאֵין הָעֵגֶל יוֹצֵא בְּגִימוֹן, וְלֹא פָּרָה בְּעוֹר הַקּוּפָּר, וְלֹא בִּרְצוּעָה שֶׁבֵּין קַרְנֶיהָ. פָּרָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה הָיְתָה יוֹצְאָה בִּרְצוּעָה שֶׁבֵּין קַרְנֶיהָ שֶׁלֹּא בִּרְצוֹן חֲכָמִים.
גְּמָ׳ מַאי טַעְמָא — כְּדַאֲמַרַן. וְלֹא בַּזּוּג אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא פָּקוּק: מִשּׁוּם דְּמֶיחְזֵי כְּמַאן דְּאָזֵיל לְחִינְגָּא. וְלֹא בְּסוּלָּם שֶׁבְּצַוָּארוֹ: אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: בֵּי לוֹעָא. לְמַאי עָבְדִי לֵיהּ? — לְהֵיכָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ מַכָּה, דְּלָא הָדַר חָיֵיךְ בַּיהּ. וְלֹא בִּרְצוּעָה שֶׁבְּרַגְלוֹ: דְּעָבְדִי לֵיהּ לְגִיזְרָא. וְאֵין הַתַּרְנְגוֹלִין יוֹצְאִין בְּחוּטִין: דְּעָבְדִי לְהוּ סִימָנָא כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִיחְלְפוּ. וְלֹא בִּרְצוּעָה: דְּעָבְדִי לְהוּ כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִיתְבְּרוּ מָאנֵי. וְאֵין הַזְּכָרִים יוֹצְאִין בָּעֲגָלָה: כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִחְמְטָן אַלְיָיתַיְהוּ. וְאֵין הָרְחֵלִים יוֹצְאוֹת חֲנוּנוֹת: יָתֵיב רַב אַחָא בַּר עוּלָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא וְיָתֵיב וְקָאָמַר: מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁגּוֹזְזִין אוֹתָהּ טוֹמְנִין לָהּ עֶזֶק בְּשֶׁמֶן וּמַנִּיחִין לָהּ עַל פַּדַּחְתָּהּ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּצְטַנֵּן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב חִסְדָּא: אִם כֵּן, עֲשִׂיתָהּ מָר עוּקְבָא. אֶלָּא יָתֵיב רַב פָּפָּא בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא וְיָתֵיב וְקָאָמַר: בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁכּוֹרַעַת לֵילֵד טוֹמְנִין לָהּ שְׁנֵי עֲזָקִין שֶׁל שֶׁמֶן, וּמַנִּיחִין לָהּ אֶחָד עַל פַּדַּחְתָּהּ וְאֶחָד עַל הָרֶחֶם כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּתְחַמֵּם. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן: אִם כֵּן, עֲשִׂיתָהּ יַלְתָּא. אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: עֵץ אֶחָד יֵשׁ בִּכְרַכֵּי הַיָּם וְ״יַחְנוּן״ שְׁמוֹ, וּמְבִיאִין קֵיסָם וּמַנִּיחִין לָהּ בְּחוֹטְמָהּ כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּתְעַטֵּשׁ וְיִפְּלוּ דַּרְנֵי רֹאשָׁהּ. אִי הָכִי זְכָרִים נָמֵי! כֵּיוָן דִּמְנַגְּחֵי זְכָרִים בַּהֲדָדֵי מִמֵּילָא נָפְלָן. שִׁמְעוֹן נְזִירָא אָמַר: קִיסְמָא דְּרִיתְמָא. בִּשְׁלָמָא דְּרַב הוּנָא, הַיְינוּ דְקָתָנֵי ״חֲנוּנוֹת״, אֶלָּא לְרַבָּנַן מַאי ״חֲנוּנוֹת״? דְּעָבְדִינַן לְהוּ מִילְּתָא דִּמְרַחֲמִינַן עֲלַיְיהוּ. וְאֵין הָעֵגֶל יוֹצֵא בְּגִימוֹן. מַאי עֵגֶל בְּגִימוֹן? אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: בַּר נִירָא. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מַאי מַשְׁמַע דְּהַאי ״גִּימוֹן״ לִישָּׁנָא דְּמֵיכַף — דִּכְתִיב: ״הֲלָכוֹף כְּאַגְמוֹן רֹאשׁוֹ״. וְלֹא פָּרָה בְּעוֹר הַקּוּפָּר: דְּעָבְדִי לָהּ כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִמְצְיוּהָ יָאלֵי. וְלֹא בִּרְצוּעָה שֶׁבֵּין קַרְנֶיהָ. אִי לְרַב דְּאָמַר בֵּין לְנוֹי בֵּין לְשַׁמֵּר — אָסוּר. אִי לִשְׁמוּאֵל דְּאָמַר לְנוֹי — אָסוּר, לְשַׁמֵּר — מוּתָּר. פָּרָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה: וַחֲדָא פָּרָה הַוְיָא לֵיהּ? וְהָא אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: תְּרֵיסַר אַלְפֵי עִגְלֵי הֲוָה מְעַשַּׂר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה מֵעֶדְרֵיהּ כׇּל שַׁתָּא וְשַׁתָּא. תָּנָא: לֹא שֶׁלּוֹ הָיְתָה אֶלָּא שֶׁל שְׁכֶינְתּוֹ הָיְתָה, וּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא מִיחָה בָּהּ נִקְרֵאת עַל שְׁמוֹ. רַב וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַב חֲבִיבָא מַתְנוּ: בְּכוּלֵּיהּ דְּסֵדֶר מוֹעֵד כָּל כִּי הַאי זוּגָא חַלּוֹפֵי רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וּמְעַיֵּיל רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן. כׇּל מִי שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לִמְחוֹת לְאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ וְלֹא מִיחָה — נִתְפָּס עַל אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ. בְּאַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ — נִתְפָּס עַל אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ. בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ — נִתְפָּס עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: וְהָנֵי דְּבֵי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא מִיתַּפְסוּ אַכּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא. כִּי הָא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מַאי דִכְתִיב ״ה׳ בַּמִּשְׁפָּט יָבֹא עִם זִקְנֵי עַמּוֹ וְשָׂרָיו״ — אִם שָׂרִים חָטְאוּ,
It was also taught in the mishna: And [with regard to going from the private domain to the public domain on Shabbat, an animal may] not [do so] with a strap that is between its horns.
The Gemara notes: If this is explained according to the opinion of Rav, whether the strap was intended as an ornament or whether it was intended to secure the animal, it is prohibited for the cow to go out into the public domain with it. If this is explained according to the opinion of Shmuel, if the strap was intended as an ornament, it is prohibited; if it was intended to secure the animal, it is permitted. The mishna relates that the cow of Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya would go out on Shabbat with a strap between its horns, contrary to the will of the Sages. The Gemara asks: Did Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya have only one cow? Didn’t Rav say, and some say that Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya would tithe from his herds 12,000 calves each and every year? There were 120, 000 calves born in his herds annually. There is no way, then, to speak of the cow of Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya. The Gemara answers: It was taught in the Tosefta: The cow was not his; rather, it was his neighbor’s. And because he did not protest her conduct and tell her that doing so is prohibited the cow was called by his name to his discredit, as if it were his. It was related that Rav, and Rabbi Ḥanina, and Rabbi Yoḥanan, and Rav Ḥaviva taught the statement cited below. The Gemara comments: Throughout the order of Moed, wherever this pair of Sages is mentioned, exchange Rabbi Yoḥanan and insert Rabbi Yonatan in his place. In any event, they said: Anyone who had the capability to effectively protest the sinful conduct of the members of his household and did not protest, he himself is apprehended for the sins of the members of his household and punished. If he is in a position to protest the sinful conduct of the people of his town, and he fails to do so, he is apprehended for the sins of the people of his town. If he is in a position to protest the sinful conduct of the whole world, and he fails to do so, he is apprehended for the sins of the whole world.Rav Pappa said: And the members of the household of the Exilarch were apprehended and punished for the sins of the whole world. Because their authority extends across the entire Jewish world, it is in their hands to ensure that nobody commit a transgression. As indicated by that which Rabbi Ḥanina said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “The Lord will enter into judgment with the Elders of His people and its princes, saying: It is you who have eaten up the vineyard; the robbery of the poor is in your houses” (Isaiah 3:14)? The question arises: If the princes sinned by committing robbery,
זְקֵנִים מֶה חָטְאוּ? אֶלָּא אֵימָא: עַל זְקֵנִים, שֶׁלֹּא מִיחוּ בַּשָּׂרִים. רַב יְהוּדָה הֲוָה יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל. אֲתַאי הַהִיא אִיתְּתָא קָא צָוְוחָה קַמֵּיהּ, וְלָא הֲוָה מַשְׁגַּח בַּהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא סָבַר לֵיהּ מָר: ״אוֹטֵם אׇזְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת דָּל גַּם הוּא יִקְרָא וְלֹא יֵעָנֶה״? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שִׁינָּנָא, רֵישָׁךְ בְּקָרִירֵי, רֵישָׁא דְרֵישָׁיךְ בְּחַמִּימֵי. הָא יָתֵיב מָר עוּקְבָא אַב בֵּית דִּין. דִּכְתִיב: ״בֵּית דָּוִד כֹּה אָמַר יהוה דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּט וְהַצִּילוּ גָזוּל מִיַּד עוֹשֵׁק פֶּן תֵּצֵא כָאֵשׁ חֲמָתִי וּבָעֲרָה וְאֵין מְכַבֶּה מִפְּנֵי רוֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם וְגוֹ׳״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא לְרַבִּי סִימוֹן: לוֹכְחִינְהוּ מָר לְהָנֵי דְּבֵי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא מְקַבְּלִי מִינַּאי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא מְקַבְּלִי לוֹכְחִינְהוּ מָר. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מֵעוֹלָם לֹא יָצְתָה מִדָּה טוֹבָה מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְחָזַר בָּהּ לְרָעָה חוּץ מִדָּבָר זֶה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר יהוה אֵלָיו עֲבוֹר בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָים וְהִתְוִיתָ תָּו עַל מִצְחוֹת הָאֲנָשִׁים הַנֶּאֱנָחִים וְהַנֶּאֱנָקִים עַל כׇּל הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת הַנַּעֲשׂוֹת בְּתוֹכָהּ וְגוֹ׳״. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְגַבְרִיאֵל: לֵךְ וּרְשׁוֹם עַל מִצְחָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים תָּיו שֶׁל דְּיוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁלְטוּ בָּהֶם מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה. וְעַל מִצְחָם שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים תָּיו שֶׁל דָּם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁלְטוּ בָּהֶן מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה. אָמְרָה מִדַּת הַדִּין לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! מַה נִּשְׁתַּנּוּ אֵלּוּ מֵאֵלּוּ? אָמַר לָהּ: הַלָּלוּ צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים וְהַלָּלוּ רְשָׁעִים גְּמוּרִים. אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! הָיָה בְּיָדָם לִמְחוֹת וְלֹא מִיחוּ! אָמַר לָהּ: גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנַי שֶׁאִם מִיחוּ בָּהֶם לֹא יְקַבְּלוּ מֵהֶם. (אָמַר) [אָמְרָה] לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! אִם לְפָנֶיךָ גָּלוּי, לָהֶם מִי גָּלוּי? וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב: ״זָקֵן בָּחוּר וּבְתוּלָה טַף וְנָשִׁים תַּהַרְגוּ לְמַשְׁחִית וְעַל כׇּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו הַתָּו אַל תִּגַּשׁוּ וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי תָּחֵלּוּ״.
what did the Elders, i.e., the Sages of that generation, do that was considered a sin? Rather, say: God will enter into judgment with the Elders because they did not protest the sinful conduct of the princes. The Gemara relates: Rav Yehuda was sitting before Shmuel when this woman came and cried before Shmuel about an injustice that had been committed against her, and Shmuel paid no attention to her. Rav Yehuda said to Shmuel: Doesn’t the Master hold in accordance with the verse: “Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13)? He said to him: Big-toothed one, your superior, i.e., I, your teacher, will be punished in cold water. The superior of your superior will be punished in hot water. Mar Ukva, who sits as president of the court, is responsible for those matters. And from where is it derived that this responsibility is incumbent upon the house of the Exilarch? As it is written: “House of David, so says the Lord: Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest My fury go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it because of the evil of your doings” (Jeremiah 21:12). The Exilarch is a direct descendant of the house of David. With regard to the issue of reprimand, it was related that Rabbi Zeira said to Rabbi Simon: Let the Master reprimand the members of the house of the Exilarch, as Rabbi Simon had some influence over them. Rabbi Simon said to him: They will not accept reprimand from me. Rabbi Zeira said to him: Let my master reprimand them even if they do not accept it. As Rabbi Aḥa, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: Never did a promise manifesting a good attribute emerge from the mouth of the Holy One, Blessed be He, and He later retracted it and rendered it evil, except with regard to this matter, as it is written: “And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark [tav] upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry on account of all the abominations that are done in her midst” (Ezekiel 9:4). The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to the angel Gabriel: Go and inscribe a tav of ink on the foreheads of the righteous as a sign so that the angels of destruction will not have dominion over them. And inscribe a tav of blood on the foreheads of the wicked as a sign so that the angels of destruction will have dominion over them. The attribute of justice said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, how are these different from those? He said to that attribute: These are full-fledged righteous people and those are full-fledged wicked people. The attribute of justice said to Him: Master of the Universe, it was in the hands of the righteous to protest the conduct of the wicked, and they did not protest.He said to that attribute: It is revealed and known before Me that even had they protested the conduct of the wicked, they would not have accepted the reprimand from them. They would have continued in their wicked ways. The attribute of justice said before Him: Master of the Universe, if it is revealed before You that their reprimand would have been ineffective, is it revealed to them? The Holy One, Blessed be He, retracted His promise to protect the righteous and decided that those who failed to protest would also be punished. And that is the meaning of that which is written: “Slay utterly old and young, both maid, and little children, and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My Sanctuary” (Ezekiel 9:6). And it is written in that same verse: “Then they began with the elderly men who were before the house.” Rav Yosef taught: Read not: My Sanctuary [mikdashi], rather: Those sanctified to Me [mekudashai]. These are people who observed the whole Torah in its entirety from alef through tav.
Further Learning
- The original post about this text (on Facebook - June 1, 2020) Image Description: Text of the sugya in front of a picture of an open volume of Talmud, with the citation & SVARA logo beneath. In each section "Anyone who can protest" and "is held responsible for" are in a teal colour, while the rest is black.
Anyone who can protest the actions of their household and does not is held responsible for the actions of their household.
Anyone who can protest the actions of their town and does not is held responsible for the actions of their town.
Anyone who can protest the actions of the whole world and does not is held responsible for the actions of the whole world.
- Mariame Kaba's zine "Why Protest?" (linked on The PIC is... along with many other powerful resources)
- April Baskin's "A Protest Prayer" (on RitualWell)
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