Sanhedrin 13 – Semichah of the Sages

If the majority of the Jews transgressed and worshiped an idol because the Sanhedrin mistakenly ruled that this was permitted, and then they realized their mistake, the Sages of that Sanhedrin bring a bull, lean their hands on it, and confess. This is called Semichah, and three Sages are required for that.

Semichah can also mean Rabbinical ordination in an unbroken chain since Moses. Once the Romans enacted that anyone who confers ordination is killed, anyone who accepts ordination is killed, and the nearest town is destroyed. Yehudah ben Bava placed himself between two mountains and ordained five Sages there. When the enemies discovered them, he told his students, "My sons, run! I will be like a rock that cannot be turned." The soldiers drove three hundred spears through him and made him like a sieve. Three Sages are required for ordination, but Yehudah ben Bava alone is mentioned because of his importance.

Art: Jeroboam Offering Sacrifice for the Idol by Jean-Honore Fragonard

Sanhedrin 12 – When to Declare a Leap Year

It may be necessary to proclaim a leap year if the grain is too young by Passover, if the ovens for Passover sacrifices became ruined in the rain, or because the Jews in the Diaspora started on their journey to Jerusalem but will not reach it on time. Additionally, the sheep and goats may be too young by Passover, or the doves may be too tender.

The extra month of the leap year is always inserted before the month of Passover; thus, it becomes the Second month of Adar, when Purim is celebrated.

However, a leap year is never proclaimed before Rosh HaShanah, for if it were, people might forget about it by the time the Second Adar comes six months later. Then, they might mistakenly celebrate Passover on the Second Adar and consequently transgress the prohibition of eating leavened bread during actual Passover.

Art: Jerusalem from the Latin Convent by Joseph Mallord William Turner

Sanhedrin 11 – Leap Years

The Jewish year is lunisolar. Since twelve lunar months are less than a solar year by eleven days, and since Passover has to be in spring, "Guard the month of young grain to celebrate Passover..." an extra month is sometimes inserted. The judges deciding when to insert a month must be appointed the day before the discussion.

It once happened that Rabban Gamliel invited seven judges, but eight assembled. Rabban Gamliel then said, "He who was not invited should exit," on which Shmuel the Minor, who was, in fact, the greatest of them, exited, taking the blame on himself and sparing the humiliation of the uninvited one.

Rabbi Meir learned from him. When a woman came to his academy claiming that one of his students betrothed her through cohabitation, Rabbi Meir was the first to give her a Get (divorce), and then all the students followed suit.

Art: Declaration of Love by Matthias Schmid

Sanhedrin 10 – Split Testimony

If someone says, "A certain person cohabited with my wife" (for which both parties are liable to the death penalty), he and another witness can join in testifying against the adulterer but not against the adulteress. A man is considered a relative of his wife, and a relative cannot testify. Even though he testifies about one act, we believe him regarding the adulterer but not regarding his wife. This principle is called "we split the testimony".

Cases of lashes are decided by three judges: "...And they (the judges) shall judge them..." gives two judges as the minimal number of "they." Since a court with an even number of judges is not acceptable, one more judge is added. Rabbi Ishmael requires twenty-three judges, based on the use of the same word "evildoer" in "...evildoer liable to lashes..." and in "...who is an evildoer to die."

Art: The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

Sanhedrin 9 – Reasons for Disagreement on Defamer

Rabbi Meir requires only three judges to judge a husband who defames his wife, but the Sages require twenty three. Here are four out of eight possible reasons for the disagreement.

* The husband comes without the support of the witnesses, but the Sages fear that witnesses to adultery might come forward when gossip spreads;
* The husband claimed to have witnesses of adultery, and the court of twenty-three was convened to try this capital case, but then the husband failed to produce witnesses. The Sages rule that the original twenty-three judges should be retained for the sake of their honor;
* The witnesses warned the woman that if she commits adultery, she will be liable to the death penalty, but did not specify the method of execution;
* The woman was learned, and the witnesses did not give her any warning not to commit adultery.

Art: Reading (portrait of the artist's wife) by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy

Sanhedrin 8 – One Who Defames His Wife

Claims against a rapist, a seducer, and the claim of a defamer are judged by the court of three – this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. The Sages say that the claim of a defamer is judged by a court of twenty-three (small Sanhedrin), because defamation cases include capital cases.

A defamer usually refers to a husband who falsely declares in court that his wife was not a virgin when their marriage was consummated. He claims that she had committed adultery after they were legally married and produces false witnesses to her adultery. After the witnesses are found false, he must pay a fine of 100 shekels to her father; he is liable to lashes, and he may never divorce her against her will.

Art: The Cittern Player by Gabriel Metsu

Sanhedrin 7 – Common Wisdom and Torah

Rav Huna said, "Discord is comparable to a channel from an overflowing river – once it starts, it will continue to widen" - as in Proverbs, "The opening of a channel is a beginning of a discord." Abaye Kashisha said, "Discord is like a plank in a bridge: once people walk on it, it becomes firm and stays firm."

One man liked to say, "Fortunate is one who hears his denigration without responding. A hundred misfortunes will pass him by." Said Rav Yehudah, "beginning of discord (reshit madon) "can be translated as the beginning of a hundred misfortunes (resh meah dinim).

One man liked to say, "When our love was strong, we could have lain together on the width of a sword, but now a bed of sixty amot (100 feet) does not suffice for us." Said Rav Huna - and so it is with God, at first it was "...and I will meet you (Moses) there and speak to you..." from above the ten hand-breadth Ark, but later about the Temple built by Solomon "...Says God - what house can you build for me?"

Art: Bridge at Arles by Vincent Van Gogh