5. There was a large court in Jerusalem called Beth Yangzek,[296] there all the witnesses met, and there the Sanhedrin examined them. And they made great feasts for them, that they might come often. At first they did not stir from thence all day.[297] Rabban Gamaliel the elder ordained, that they might go 2,000 cubits on every side. And not only they, but the midwife going to a birth; and they who go to rescue from fire, or from enemies, or from inundation, or from fallen [pg 139] buildings. These are as inhabitants of the place, and they have 2,000 cubits on every side.
6. “How did they examine the witnesses?” “The first pair which came were examined first, and they brought in the eldest of them, and they said to him, ‘Tell us how you saw the moon—(her horns) toward the sun, or away from the sun? To the north, or to the south? What was her altitude? Toward where her declination? And what was her breath?’ If he said ‘toward the sun,’ he said nothing. Afterward they brought in the second and examined; if the evidence was found to agree, the evidence stood. The remaining pairs of witnesses were then superficially examined, not because there was necessity for their evidence, but not to discourage them, that they might be willing to come again.”
7. The chief of the Sanhedrin said, “(the feast) is sanctified”; and all the people answered after him, “Sanctified, sanctified.” Whether the new moon had been seen in its season, or not, they sanctified it. R. Eleazar, son of Zadok, said, “if it were not seen in its season, they did not sanctify it, for heaven had already sanctified it.”
8. Rabban Gamaliel had on a tablet and on the wall of his chamber figures and phases of the moon which he showed to ignorant witnesses, and said, “was it like this you saw her, or like that?” It happened once that two witnesses came, and said, “we saw the moon in the morning in the east, and in the evening in the west”; said R. Jochanan, son of Nourri, “they are false witnesses,” but when they came to Jamnia, Rabban Gamaliel received their evidence. Two other witnesses came, and said, “we saw the moon in her season, but on the next evening of the intercalary day she was invisible,” and R. Gamaliel received them. Said R. Dosah, son of Arkenaz, “they are false witnesses, for how can they testify of a woman being delivered, and on the morrow she is still pregnant?” To him said R. Joshua, “I approve thy words.”
9. Rabban Gamaliel sent to (R. Joshua), “I order thee to come to me with thy staff and money on the day of atonement, according to thy reckoning.”[298] R. Akivah went to (R. Joshua), and found him sorrowing. He said to him, “I can [pg 140] prove that all Rabban Gamaliel has done is well done, for it is said, ‘These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons,’[299] or out of their seasons; I have no other feasts but these.” R. Joshua came to R. Dose, son of Arkenaz. He said to him, “if we are to judge the tribunal of Rabban Gamaliel, we must also judge the tribunals which have existed from the days of Moses till now,” for it is said, “Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.”[300] “And why were not the names of the elders mentioned, but to inform us that every three men in Israel who compose a tribunal, are as a tribunal of Moses?” R. Joshua took his staff and money in his hand, and went to Jamnia to Rabban Gamaliel on the day when the atonement began, according to his reckoning. Rabban Gamaliel stood up and kissed him on his head, saying to him, “come in peace, my master and disciple—my master in wisdom, my disciple in obeying my words.”
Chapter III
1. “The Sanhedrin and all Israel saw (the new moon); the witnesses were examined, but it became dark before they could say, ‘Sanctified’?” “The month is intercalary.” “The Sanhedrin alone saw it?” “Two members must stand up and testify before them, and they shall say, ‘Sanctified, sanctified.’ ” “Three composing a Sanhedrin saw it?” “Two of them must stand up, and their assessors must be seated with the single member, and before them they shall testify, and say, ‘Sanctified, sanctified,’ because an individual cannot be trusted by himself alone.”
2. All cornets are allowed, except (horns) of a heifer,[301] because it is (written) horn.[302] Said Rabbi José, “are not all cornets called horn? for it is said, ‘When they shall make a long (blast) with the ram's horn.’ ”[303]
3. The cornet of the New Year was a straight horn of a wild goat; and its mouthpiece was plated with gold. And the two trumpets[304] were stationed on each side. The cornet prolonged [pg 141] its note when the trumpets ceased, because the obligation of the day was for the cornet.