1)

(a)The Mishnah discusses the number of judges that are required to litigate. Three judges are required for ...

1. ... Dinei Mamonos and ...

2. ... Gezeilos and Chavalos (woundings [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(b)Dinei Mamonos incorporates - admissions and loans ...

(c)... for which the Chachamim permit even Hedyotos (ordinary people [See Tos. Yom-Tov) - to encourage potential creditors, who will be reluctant to lend money if they know that they will require expert Dayanim to extract retrieve it, to issue loans.

(d)If the claimant cannot find even three Hedyotos to litigate - then he can do so with one Mumcheh (an expert Dayan).

2)

(a)We know that all other cases of Mamon require three Mumchin from - the three times "Elohim" (judges) mentioned in Parshas Mishpatim (See Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'Gezeilos va'Chavalos').

(b)The Tana also requires three judges to judge Nezek - (if a person damages or an animal that is a Mu'ad -[e.g. an ox that has gored three times]), Chatzi Nezek - (an animal that has not gored three times), Tashlumei Kefel and Arba'ah va'Chamishah.

(c)Despite the fact that Chatzi Nezek is included in 'Chavalos', the Tana sees fit to mention it - because of its similarity to Tashlumei Kefel and Arba'ah va'Chamishah, that follow it), inasmuch as, like them, the owner does not pay the equivalent of the damage (See Tos. Yom-Tov, end of DH 'Nezek').

(d)And he mentions Nezek - on account of Chatzi Nezek.

3)

(a)According to Rebbi Meir, Oneis, Mefateh and Motzi-Shem-Ra - where a newly-married man falsely claims that his wife committed adultery whilst she was betrothed) also require three Mumchin. If found guilty, Oneis and Mefateh are obligated to pay fifty Sela'im.

(b)He will he obligated to pay - a hundred Sela'im.

(c)The Chachamim require twenty-three judges for Motzi-Shem-Ra - because, if his claim is proven to be correct, his wife will receive the death-sentence (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

4)

(a)The Tana Kama learns from the word "u'Shefatum" (in the Pasuk in Ki Seitzei "ve'Nigshu el ha'Mishpat 'u'Shefatum") written in connection with Chayvei Malkos in the plural) - that Chayvei Malkos require two Dayanim ...

(b)... only since (for obvious reasons) there can never be an equal number of Dayanim on a Beis-Din, one automatically adds one.

(c)Based on the Gezeirah-Shavah "Rasha" written in the same Parshah, "Rasha", in the Pasuk (in Parshas Mas'ei) " ... asher Hu Rasha Lamus". Rebbi Yishmael - requires twenty-three Dayanim for Malkos (just like Chayvei Misah).

(d)According to Rebbi Meir, Ibur ha'Chodesh requires three Dayanim (See Tos. Yom-Tov) - to ascertain that they actually saw the new moon.

(e)Even though this is obvious (See Tos. Yom-Tov), the Tana sees fit to mention it - on account of Ibur ha'Shanah, which he discusses next.

5)

(a)According to Rebbi Meir - three Dayanim are required for Ibur ha'Shanah, too.

(b)Raban Shimon ben Gamliel concedes that one begins Ibur Shanah with three Dayanim, who, depending on the majority - will decide whether to continue discussing the issue.

(c)Two of the three basic things that determine whether or not to fix a leap-year are the Tekufah (the balancing of the sun and the moon years [See Tos. Yom-To DH 'Ibur ha'Shanah'], that Pesach falls in the spring - and fruit (Ibid.).

(d)One adds two on to ...

1. ... the three Dayanim to continue with the deliberations - should two decide that one should (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... the five Dayanim to finalize the issue - should three of the five actually decide to announce a leap-year.

6)

(a)The three, five and seven Dayanim of Raban Shimon ben Gamliel - symbolize the three, five and seven words in the three Pesukim of Birchas Kohanim.

(b)What if initial three Dayanim declare a leap-year - then what they did is valid.

(c)The Halachah is - like Raban Shimon ben Gamliel.

7)

(a)According to Rebbi Shimon, S'michas Zekeinim and breaking the neck of an Eglah Arufah requires three Dayanim. If S'michas Zekeinim means ordaining someone as a Rav, the ramifications of receiving Semichah are - that the Samuch is permitted to Pasken the Dinim of K'nasos (fines and penalties)

(b)The S'michah does not entail leaning one's hands on the Musmach - but by the Rav who is giving S'michah having two Rabbanim (See opening Tos. Yom-Tov) at his side when he confers upon the Musmach the title of 'Rebbi' (Ibid.).

(c)This Semichah must take place - in Eretz Yisrael ...

(d)... though it allows the Musmach to Pasken Dinei K'nasos - in Chutz la'Aretz too.

8)

(a)There are no Musmachim nowadays - because only someone who received S'michah in Eretz Yisrael can give S'michah, and the chain (which started with Moshe Rabeinu) has long been broken.

(b)According to the Rambam however, it would be possible to reinstate S'michah - if all the Chachamim in Eretz Yisrael would agree to give S'michah to an individual or to a group (Ibid.).

(c)We don't do it however - since the Rambam himself concludes that this ruling requires confirmation.

9)

(a)S'michas Zekeinim might also mean - the the members of the Sanhedrin) leaning their hands on the Par He'elam Davar (the bull that they brought after issuing a false ruling which the people followed).

(b)If it does refer to the latter, Rebbi Shimon learns it from the word "Ziknei (ha'Eidah" [written in Parshas Shoftim, in the Pasuk in connection with Eglah Arufah {See Tos. Yom-Tov}]) - which is plural, denoting two ('Miy'ut Rabim, Shenayim' [the minimum that plural can be is two]), and since a Beis-Din can never comprise an even number, one needs to be added.

(c)Rebbi Yehudah maintains - that S'michas Zekeinim requires five Dayanim.

(d)He learns it from the fact that the Torah writes there "Ve'samchu (See Tos. Yom-Tov)" and "Ziknei" - each of which is plural, thereby indicating two plus two (and once again, one needs to be added).

10)

(a)The Mishnah adds to the list of three Dayanim Chalitzah (of a Yevamah) and Miy'unin. The Tana learns Chalitzah from the words "Zekeinim" (in the Pasuk "Ve'nigshah Yevimto eilav le'Einei ha'Zekeinim"), in the way that he learned three in the three previous case, according to Rebbi Shimon. And the reason that five Dayanim are present at a Chalitzah ceremony is - in order to publicize it.

(b)'Miy'un' is - where a Ketanah, married off by her mother and brothers, takes leave of her husband (without a Get).

(c)The Gemara in Yevamos however - rules that Miy'un requires only two witnesses (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

11)

(a)When the Tana says that Neta R'vai and Ma'aser Sheini whose value is unknown, require three Dayanim - they mean to assess their value before the owner or someone else transfers the Kedushah of the fruit on to money (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)Their value is unknown - because, they have begun to go bad (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The redemption of Hekdesh and Erchin if one pays in Metalt'lin - also requires three Dayanim (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)In the latter case, the Ma'arich is not paying money (as prescribed by the Torah) - because he does not have any.

12)

(a)Based on the fact that the Torah writes "Kohen" in connection with Erchin, Rebbi Yehudah adds - that one of the Dayanim must be a Kohen (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Ma'arich might decide to pay Karka - if he does not possess Metalt'lin either.

(c)In that case - ten Dayanim will be required.

(d)The Tana then requires - one of the Dayanim to be a Kohen (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

13)

(a)The Mishnah rules - that 'Adam' has the same Din as Karka.

(b)The cas is - where someone declares 'D'mei P'loni alai' (i.e. he undertakes to pay the value of so-and-so to Hekdesh).

14)

(a)The Mishnah requires - twenty-three Dayanim for Dinei Nefashos.

(b)The Tana learns from the Pasuk in Kedoshim ...

1. ... "Veharagta es ha'Ishah ve'es ha'Beheimah" - that a male animal that is intimate with a woman is sentenced to death just like the woman.

2. ... "ve'es ha'Beheimah Taharogu" - that the same applies to a female animal with which a man is intimate.

(c)And from the Pasuk "ha'Shor Yisakel ve'Gam Be'alav Yumas" he learns - that a Shor Mu'ad is stoned just as the owner would have been had he killed a person (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

15)

(a)The Tana Kama rules that likewise, if somebody's wolf, lion, bear, leopard, Bard'les (possibly a tiger) or snake kills a person, a Beis-Din of twenty-three is required.

(b)According to Rebbi Eliezer - anybody who kills any of these animals on sight has earned himself a merit.

(c)Rebbi Akiva repeats the ruling of the Tana Kama "Misasan be'Esrim-u'Sheloshah" - only with regard to a snake, he holds like Rebbi Eliezer.

(d)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Akiva.

16)

(a)To judge a tribe, a false prophet and a Kohen Gadol - the Beis-Din of seventy-one elders is required.

(b)This ruling pertains to - a majority of the tribe that served Avodah-Zarah.

(c)We learn this from the Pasuk in Shoftim - (in connection with Avodah-Zarah) "Vehotzeisa es ha'Ish ha'Hu O es ha'Ishah ha'Hi el She'arecha", from which we extrapolate - that it is only an individual who is taken out to your gates (i.e. the Sanhedrin of twenty-three), but not a tribe, which requires the Beis-Din of seventy-one.

17)

(a)What do we learn from ...

1. ... the Gezeirah-Shavah "Davar" (in connection with a Navi Sheker) "Davar" - that Navi Sheker, like a Zakein Mamrei requires the Beis-Din of seventy-one Dayanim.

2. ... the Pasuk in Shoftim "Vekamta Ve'alisa" - that a Zakein Mamrei must be judged by the Beis-Din of seventy-one (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)In the Pasuk "es ha'Davar ha'Gadol Yavi'u eilecha", "eilecha" refers to Moshe Rabeinu, "ha'Gadol" - to the Kohen Gadol.

(c)We learn from there that judging a Kohen Gadol requires the Beis-Din of seventy-one Dayanim - by explaining the Pasuk to mean that matters concerning the Kohen Gadol should be brought to Moshe Rabeinu ...

(d)... who is compared to a Beis-Din of seventy-one.

18)

(a)One only goes out to fight a Milchemes ha'Reshus - any war other than that against the seven Cana'ani nations and Amalek, with the consent of the Beis-Din of seventy-one.

(b)And we learn this from the Pasuk in Divrei ha'Yamim "ve'Acharei Achitofel, Behayahu ben Yehoyada", where"Achitofel" refers to David's advisor, whereas "Benayahu ... " represents - the Sanhedrin of seventy-one (See Tos. Yom-Tov), since he the its most outstanding member.

(c)The Mishnah continues with the list of seventy-one Dayanim 'adding to the city - Yerushalayim, and the Azaros'.

(d)The significance of ...

1. ... 'the city' is - that its Kedushah exceeds that of all other cities.

2. ... 'the Azaros' is - that their Kedushah exceeds that of Yerushalayim.

(e)We learn this from the Pasuk in Terumah (with reference to the Mishkan and its Keilim) "ve'Chein Ta'asu" - by interpreting this as "ve'Chein Ta'asu" - 'le'Doros', in that just as Moshe (who was equivalent to the Beis-Din of seventy-one), sanctified the Mishkan, so too, in future, will sanctifying Yerushalayim and the Azaros require the Beis-Din of seventy-one (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

19)

(a)To appoint the Sanhedrin for each tribe, the Mishnah requires - seventy Dayanim.

(b)The source for this is again - Moshe Rabeinu, who appointed the Sanhedrin in the desert (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

20)

(a)The Tana finally learns, regarding the Din of Ir ha'Nidachas, from ...

1. ... the Pasuk in Parshas Shoftim (in connection with Avodah-Zarah) "Vehotzeisa es ha'Ish ha'Hu O es ha'Ishah ha'Hi el She'arecha" - that it is only an individual that one takes out to be killed by the regular Beis-Din of the city (i.e. twenty-three), but not an entire city (which must therefore require the Beis-Din of seventy-one).

2. ... the word "mi'Kirbecha" (in the Pasuk in Re'ei "Yatz'u Anashim B'nei Beliya'al mi'Kirbecha") - that a city that is not in the middle of the country but on the border cannot become an Ir ha'Nidachas ...

(b)... since, when the enemy hear that a city on the country's borders has been demolished - they will enter the country with ease and attack its cities (See Tos. Yom-Tov.

(c)Consequently if all the people of the city worshipped idols - one puts them all to death by the sword, but does not destroy the city.

21)

(a)The Tana forbids - declaring three cities an Ir ha'Nidachas, implying that two is permitted.

(b)And when he concludes 'Aval Osin Achas O Shetayim', he means - that the previous ruling is confined to where one Beis-Din declares them all Arei ha'Nidachos in one location, but in two or three different locations, it is permitted (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

22)

(a)The Sanhedrei Gedolah comprises seventy-one Dayanim, the Sanhedrei Ketanah, according to the Tana Kama - twenty-three.

(b)Although we learn the former from the Pasuk in Beha'aloscha "Esfah Li Shiv'im Ish mi'Ziknei Yisrael", the Tana arrives at seventy-one - because, as we already learned, a Beis-Din can never consist of an even number.

(c)Nevertheless, Rebbi Yehudah says - seventy (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)The Tana Kama learns the extra one from the word "Itach" (in the Pasuk there "Venas'u Itach"), which comes to include Moshe (See Tos. Yom-Tov). Rebbi Yehudah learns from "Itach" - "Itach", 'be'Domin lach' (that every member of Sanhedrin had to resemble Moshe in certain respects [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

23)

(a)The Tana learns the twenty-three of a Sanhedrei Ketanah from a combination of various Pesukim. He learns from the Pasuk ...

1. ... in Mas'ei (in connection with a murderer) "Veshaftu ha'Eidah" ... "Vehitzilu ha'Eidah" - that twenty Dayanim are needed (ten to rule that the defendant is Chayav and ten, that he is Patur).

2. ... in Sh'lach-L'cha "Ad Masai la'Eidah ha'Ra'ah ha'Zos" - (with reference to the twelve spies minus Yehoshua and Kalev) that "Eidah" comprises ten people.

(b)The remaining three, he learns from two Pesukim in Mishpatim. The problem the Tana has with the Pasuk is that, having stated "Lo Sih'yeh Acharei Rabim le'Ra'os" - implying that one does follow the majority for good, the Pasuk "Acharei Rabim Lehatos" appears to be superfluous.

(c)Now that the Torah does insert "Acharei Rabim Lehatos", how does he therefore interprets "Lo Sih'yeh Acharei Rabim le'Ra'os" - to mean that one does not follow a majority of one regarding bad, but that one requires a majority of at least two.

(d)Consequently, he concludes - a Sanhedei Ketanah comprises twenty-three Dayanim, twenty plus two, and because a Beis-Din cannot comprise an even number, one needs to add one (See also Tos. Yom-Tov DH 've'Ein Beis-Din Shakul' & 'Mosifin aleihem Od Echad').

24)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, a hundred and twenty residents must live in a town in order to necessitate a Sanhedrei Ketanah.

(b)Apart from the twenty-three members of the Sanhedrin, three rows of twenty-three Talmidei-Chachamim sit before them ...

(c)... so that, if for some reason, one needs to add a Dayan, one takes from them).

(d)Ten residents serve as the Asarah Batlanim - who sit all day in the Beis-ha'Medrash and are ready at any time to make up a Minyan (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

25)

(a)The town also needs two Sofrim and two 'Chazanim' - clerks of the court (overseers) ...

(b)... whose job it is a. to administer Malkos to whoever deserves it, and b. to invite the litigants to attend the court sitting (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)Two Sofrim are needed - to write down the respective arguments of the claimant and the defendant (which both need to do).

26)

(a)In the event that litigation is necessary, eight more residents are needed. Besides the two witnesses, two Zom'min - to disprove the testimony of the witnesses if necessary (See Tos. Yom-Tov) and two Zom'mei Zom'min must also be available.

(b)The remaining two - are the two litigants, the claimant and the defendant.

(c)A town needs two Gaba'ei Tzedakah to collect the Tzedakah, and a third one - to distribute it.

(d)The remaining four are a doctor, a blood-letter. a Sofer (See Tos. Tom-Tov) - and a Melamed Tinokos (a Rebbe to teach the children).

27)

(a)Rebbi Nechemyah requires two hundred and thirty residents in order to necessitate a Sanhedrei Ketanah ...

(b)... so that each Dayan should be in charge of at least ten people (corresponding to the 'officers of ten' in the time of Yisro.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.