Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:16

TT #44 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 16

Complete Passuk

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת־הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־הַמָּא֤וֹר הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Chullin 60b (verified).

E-Daf image (Chullin 60b)

Core Text

Core Textרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פָּזִי רָמֵי: כְּתִיב אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְּאֹרוֹת הַגְּדֹלִים, וּכְתִיב אֶת הַמָּאוֹר הַגָּדֹל וְאֶת הַמָּאוֹר הַקָּטֹן. אָמְרָה יָרֵחַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, וּכִי אֶפְשָׁר לִשְׁנֵי מְלָכִים שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּמְּשׁוּ בְּכֶתֶר אֶחָד? אָמַר לָהּ: לְכִי וּמַעֲטִי אֶת עַצְמֵךְ.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi raised a contradiction: It is written “the two great luminaries,” and it is written “the great luminary... and the small luminary.” The moon said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, is it possible for two kings to use one crown? He said to her: Go and diminish yourself.
On the daf / in context: The classic aggadah explaining the reduction of the moon: the original equal “great” status could not stand, so the moon was diminished.
Type of Learning: Custom (aggadah of the diminished moon)
What Is Learned: The moon was originally equal to the sun; after objecting that two kings cannot share one crown, it was told to diminish itself.