Rosh Hashanah

with five or six or eight lamps, but with seven he should not make, even of other metals.1 R. Jose b. Judah said: He should not make one even of wood, this being the way in which the kings of the house of the Hasmoneans made it.2 They said to him: Can you adduce this as a proof? The spits3 were of iron and they overlaid them with tin.4 When they grew richer they made them of silver. When they grew richer still, they made them of gold. But is it allowed [to make likenesses] of attendants of which it is impossible to make copies, seeing that it has been taught: ‘Ye shall not make with me’: [this implies], ye shall not make the likeness of My attendants who minister before Me on high?’ — Abaye replied: The Torah forbade only the likeness of the four faces5 all together. If that is so, the portrait of a human being by himself should be allowed; why then has it been taught: All portraits are allowed, save the portrait of man? — R. Huna the son of R. Idi replied: From a discourse of Abaye I learnt: ‘Ye shall not make with me’ [implies], ye shall not make Me.6 Still, are the other attendants permitted, seeing that it has been taught: ‘"Ye shall not make with me": ye shall not make the likeness of My attendants who serve before Me on high, such as Ofanim and Seraphim and holy Hayyoth and ministering angels’? — Abaye replied: The Torah forbade only the attendants in the upper sphere.7 But are those in the lower sphere8 permitted? Has it not been taught: ‘Which are in the heaven:9 this brings under the rule the sun, the moon, the stars and constellations; "above":10 this brings under the rule the ministering angels?’ — That statement refers to the prohibition of [making a likeness] for serving them. If for serving, then the tiniest worm should also [be prohibited]? — Yes, that is so, as it has been taught: Which are in the earth:11 this brings under the rule mountains, hills, seas, rivers, streams and valleys. Beneath:12 this brings under the rule the tiniest worm. But is the mere making allowed? Has it not been taught: "’Ye shall not make with me": ye shall not make a likeness of My attendants who minister before Me, such as the sun, the moon, the stars and constellations’? — R. Gamaliel's case was different, because others13 made for him. But what of Rab Judah who [had a figure on a seal which] others had made for him, and yet Samuel said to him, Shinena,14 put out that fellow's eye?15 — In that case the seal was projecting, and [Samuel forbade it] so that it should not arouse suspicion,16 as it has been taught: ‘A ring of which the seal projects must not be worn on the finger, but it is permitted to sign with it. If the seal is sunk in, it is permitted to wear it but forbidden to sign with it’. But does it matter if we do arouse suspicion? Was there not a synagogue which ‘moved and settled’ in Nehardea17 and in it was a statue [of a king] and Rab and Samuel and the father of Samuel used to go in there to pray, and were not afraid of arousing suspicion? — Where a whole body of persons is concerned it is different. But Rabban Gamaliel was an individual? — Since he was the Nasi,18 a large company was always with him. If you like I can say that it was [drawn] in sections,19 or if you like I can say that he did it for purposes of study, and it is written, Thou shalt not learn to do,20 which implies that you may learn to understand and to teach. MISHNAH. ON ONE OCCASION TWO WITNESSES CAME AND SAID, WE SAW IT IN THE MORNING IN THE EAST from Jerusalem; v. Meg., Sonc. ed. p. 175, n. 5.