Study Nedarim folio 59B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אם היו עלין שלהן שחורין — אסורין, הוריקו — מותרין. וכי שחורין אמאי אסורין? לימא: היתר שבהן להיכן הלך? אמר ליה: מי סברת על עיקר קתני? אתוספת קתני אסורין. אי הכי, מאי אתא רבן שמעון בן גמליאל למימר? דתניא, רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר: הגדל בחיוב — חייב, הגדל בפטור — פטור. תנא קמא נמי הכי אמר!
if their leaves were black, the onions are forbidden. If their leaves turned green, the onions are permitted. And if the leaves are black, why are the onions forbidden? Let us say in this case too: The permitted part, the original onion, to where did it go? Rav Ḥisda said to Rabba: Do you maintain that this halakha is taught about the primary, original onion, that it is prohibited? It is taught with regard to the additional growth that sprouted, and it is those leaves that are forbidden. The Talmud asks: If so, what is Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, who apparently disagrees with the tanna of the Mishnah, coming to say? As it is taught in a baraita that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: That which grew during a period of liability is liable and is considered Sabbatical-Year produce, and that which grew during a period of exemption is exempt. According to Rav Ḥisda’s explanation, the first tanna, cited in the Mishnah, also said that.
כולה מתניתין רבן שמעון בן גמליאל קתני לה. ועד כאן לא שמעת ליה לרבן שמעון בן גמליאל דלא קא טרח, אבל היכא דקא טרח — בטיל ברובא.
The Talmud explains: This is not difficult, as this entire Mishnah, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel taught it. In the baraita Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel is not disagreeing with the opinion of the first tanna of the Mishnah; he is merely restating it. And nevertheless, the Mishnah and the baraita pose no difficulty with regard to the opinion of Rabba, as you heard that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said that the prohibition of the primary, original part is not neutralized only in a case where he did not exert himself, and the leaves sprouted on their own. However, in the case where he exerted himself, e.g., by sowing or planting, the prohibition of the original onions is neutralized by the majority.