Sanhedrin 57 - February 12, 14 Shvat

Study Guide Sanhedrin 57 This week's learning is sponsored by Efrat Avraham for the refuah shleima of a very brave soldier, Itamar Avraham ben Merav. A braita from the school of Menashe taught a different version of the seven Noahide laws, replacing the establishment of courts and cursing God with the prohibitions of castration and forbidden mixtures (kilayim). From what verses in the Torah  are these seven laws derived? A debate follows between Rav Yosef and Rav Sheshet, who share a tradition from Rav that not all Noahide laws carry the death penalty. They disagree on the number - either three or four are capital offenses. Contrasting this, Rav Yehuda and Rav Huna cite Rav as saying all Noahide laws are punishable by death. The Gemara raises a challenge from a braita about theft, but resolves it. This braita discusses legal distinctions between cases of gentiles stealing from other gentiles or Jews, and Jews stealing from gentiles. The braita mentions theft, the beautiful captive woman (eshet yefat toar), and "similar cases" - prompting questions about what cases are considered similar to theft and similar to the beautiful captive woman. The legal requirements for convicting a gentile are less stringent than those for convicting a Jewish person. A single judge can render the verdict, testimony from one witness is sufficient, even if the witness is related to the accused, and no formal warning is required beforehand. However, testimony from women is not accepted. Rabbi Yishmael holds that a gentile who strikes a pregnant woman causing fetal death is subject to capital punishment. What are the scriptural sources of these legal principles? There are two different verses used to establish that forbidden sexual relations are included in the Noahide laws, and the Gemara explains why two separate sources are necessary, as there are some cases where a Noahide will be judged according to Jewish law.