Sanhedrin 68 - February 23, 25 Shvat

Today's daf is dedicated in memory of Shiri Bibas and in honor of the release of Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen who returned to Israel after 505 days, and Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed who returned after being held for a decade. Wishing them a refuah shleima and praying for the safe release of the rest of the hostages. The Mishna quoted Rabbi Akiva who said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua that two people can gather cucumbers - one uses sorcery and will be liable, and the other who makes it look like they are gathered, but they are not really, is exempt. The Gemara brings the story of the death of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus to question this, as in the context of that dramatic story, a different incident is recounted where Rabbi Eliezer shows Rabbi Akiva how using magic one can gather cucumbers. Upon his death, the rabbis wanted to see if Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrkanus changed his mind and if they could repeal the ex-communication they had placed upon him. However, he was still strongly holding onto his position. But since the word "pure" (*tahara*) was on his lips as he died, they took it as a sign that they could repeal the ex-communication. A rebellious son, ben sorer u'moreh, can only be convicted if he has reached puberty and until he has significant hair growth by his genitals. Rav Yehuda in the name of Rav derives this from the verse in the Torah regarding a rebellious son that juxtaposes the words son and man. Rav Chisda learns a different drasha from that verse, that if the father of the child was a minor when the son was born, he cannot become a rebellious son. How can both be derived from the verse? Rabba disagrees with Rav Chisda as he holds that a minor is not capable of fathering a child.