Sanhedrin 58 - February 13, 15 Shvat

Study Guide Sanhedrin 58 Today's daf is sponsored by David and Mitzi Geffen in loving memory of David's grandmother, Sara Hene Rabinowitz Geffen, on her Tu b'Shevat yahrzeit. "She and her husband, Rav Tuvia Geffen, Rabbi of Sherith Israel Synagogue in Atlanta for 60 years, brought up their eight children with love and learning. Seven of their grandchildren made aliyah and many great, great-great, and great-great-great grandchildren live in Israel." Rabbi Meir states that only forbidden relations that are punishable by death by the court are forbidden by Noahide laws. However, in a different braita it says that Rabbi Meir holds that certain forbidden relations not punishable by death in the court are forbidden to gentiles (sister through one's mother) and one that is punishable by death in the court is permitted to gentiles (father's wife). This is reconciled by explaining that there are two different versions of Rabbi Meir's position - one passed down by Rabbi Eliezer and one by Rabbi Akiva. Each derives his position from the verse in Bereishit 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother," implying that certain relations are forbidden to him. Several questions are asked of Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva on each of their derivations, suggesting that perhaps they should have derived other prohibited relations instead. Other difficulties are raised against their positions (one against Rabbi Eliezer and two against Rabbi Akiva)  from verses in the Torah from before the Torah was given - Amram who married Yocheved, Avraham's words to Avimelech about his relationship to Sara and why Adam did not marry his daughter, but gave her to Cain instead. All of the difficulties are resolved. Four laws are stated by different rabbis relating to either forbidden or permitted sexual relations regarding a gentile and one about the severity of the action of a gentile who hits a Jew. Three more laws are brought by Reish Lakish, the first one referring to the previous law by stressing the severity of one who even holds up one's hand to hit another. Other rabbis mention punishments or names that they would call a person who raises one's hand to hit another. The second law is that one who works hard cultivating one's land will have plenty of bread and one who does not, will not. The third is that a gentile must not rest on the Sabbath as they are commanded to work every day. Rava adds that even to make any day of the week into a day of rest would be forbidden.