Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Sifrah MS

Shavuot 13: סתם סיפרא אסתם סיפרא

jyungar May 14, 2025

For the source text click/tap here: Shavuot 13

To download, click/tap here: PDF

Rav Yosef answers that the Mishna was authored by Rebbe, and he agrees with Rabbi Yehudah that all are included in the atonement of the sent goat. Abaye asked Rav Yosef why he said the author was Rebbe – was because Rabbi Yehudah does not agree with Rebbe, or was it simply because it is inappropriate to say that the senior author (Rabbi Yehudah) agrees with the junior author (Rebbe)? Rav Yosef answered that Rabbi Yehudah does not agree with Rebbe, so he had to say the author was Rebbe.

He proves this from a braisa from the sifra (which is always assumed to be Rabbi Yehudah’s opinion), which says that although Yom Kippur atones for intentional transgressions, it does not atone if one has not repented, since the verse qualifies it with the word ach – but.

The Gemora cites a contradictory sifra, which says that Yom Kippur atones even if one did not fast, did not commemorate it, and did work, since the verse categorically states yom kippurim hu – it is Yom Kippur. Abaye says that this second sifra was authored by Rebbe, and differs with the first one, authored by Rabbi Yehudah.

We explore the scholarship on midrash authorship specifically Sifrah (Toras Kohanim).

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​