Derasha 2 on Bereishis 1:14

TT #41 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 14

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Yerushalmi Rosh Hashanah 2:8 (verified).

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁילָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי: כְּתִיב ״עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ לְמוֹעֲדִים שֶׁמֶשׁ יָדַע מְבוֹאוֹ״ — מִשֶּׁמֶשׁ יָדַע מְבוֹאוֹ עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ לְמוֹעֲדִים. וְרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר: וְהָיוּ לְאֹתוֹת וּלְמוֹעֲדִים — עַל יְדֵי זֶה וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Shila said in the name of Rabbi: It is written “He made the moon for appointed times; the sun knows its setting” — from the fact that the sun knows its setting He made the moon for appointed times. And Rabbi Simon said: “And they shall be for signs and for appointed times” — by means of this one and by means of that one.
On the daf / in context: The Yerushalmi discusses the calendar role of sun and moon. One view emphasizes the moon; the other reads our passuk as assigning the function to both luminaries.
Type of Learning: Custom (calendar function of the luminaries)
What Is Learned: Both sun and moon serve for signs and appointed times according to one reading of the passuk.