[Avodah] omer - Rihal

[zviLampel at theJnet.com]

Re: [Avodah] omer - Rihal

I wrote:
> It would seem that the mysterious character behind
this event is propounded
by the Talmud Yerushalmi on Pesachim (6:1) itself:
Said Rebbi Avoon, Isn't
it impossible for two cycles of seven years to pass
by without the 14th
falling out on a Shabbos? Why was the halacha hidden
from them?--To
attribute greatness to Hillel! Evidently, Erev-Pesach
did fall out on Shabbos several times in Hillel's
near past, yet Hashem somehow caused the practice
regarding the korbon to
be forgotten.--Unless one is willing to accept that
Rebbi Avoon was unaware
of the historical reality suggested above.

Rabbi Folger suggested:

... or that Rebbi Avoon asked "ought it not to be
impossible for such a long
time to pass without the 14th falling out of Shabbat?
And yet, how come this
hadn't happened in such a while?"

I would love to accept
this peshat, as it would defend the Ohr
Someach’s taking this episode as a source for the
Rambam’s principle regarding overturning previous
drashos. But the Gemara's wording would
be a very circuitous way of expressing the thought
proposed:

Amar Rebbi Avoon: V’halo ee-efshar l’shnei sh’vee’ees
sheh-yachol yud-daled li’hiyos b’Shabbos? V’lamma
nis’almah halachah may-hen?--K’dei lee’tain gedulah
l’Hillel.

According to Rabbi Folger’s suggestion, Rebbi Avoon’s
query should be something to the effect of
“V’lamma lo karra kol kach shannim,”
and the fact that it did not occur for so long would
obviate the actual question: “V’lamma nis’almah
halachah may-hen?”. There's no reason to wonder why a
halacha in long disuse should be concealed/forgotten.

Zvi Lampel