Recasting Metal Vessels
About This Entry
Queen Shelamzion, also known as Salina or Salome Alexandra, reigned in Jerusalem from 76 BCE, after the death of her husband King Yannai (Alexander Janneus, or Jannaeus), until 67 BCE. According to rabbinic texts, her rule was characterized by peace and prosperity. She is remembered favorably for her support of the Pharisees (sometimes referred to as the “sages” or “elders”). She is often mentioned in connection with her brother, the sage Simeon ben Shetaḥ.
[This ordinance of Simeon ben Shetaḥ with regard to the impurity of metal vessels in general] was only needed with regard to previous impurity [reassumed by metal vessels after they are recast]. As R. Judah said [that] Rav said: [There was] an incident involving [Simeon ben Shetaḥ’s sister,] Shelamzion the queen, who made a wedding feast for her son. All of her vessels became impure, and she broke them and gave them to the smith, and he welded [the broken vessels together] and made new vessels. And the sages said: [What she did was ineffective, as all the vessels] will reassume their previous impurity.
Notes
Words in brackets appear in the original translation.
Credits
From Koren Talmud Bavli, Noé Edition, trans. Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (Jerusalem: Koren Publishers Jerusalem, 2019). Accessed via the William Davidson digital edition, sefaria.org. Adapted with permission of Koren Publishers Ltd.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
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Queen Shelamzion, also known as Salina or Salome Alexandra, reigned in Jerusalem from 76 BCE, after the death of her husband King Yannai (Alexander Janneus, or Jannaeus), until 67 BCE. According to rabbinic texts, her rule was characterized by peace and prosperity. She is remembered favorably for her support of the Pharisees (sometimes referred to as the “sages” or “elders”). She is often mentioned in connection with her brother, the sage Simeon ben Shetaḥ.
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You may also like
The Rains of Shelamzion’s Reign
Sifre Deuteronomy 42 | Sifra Beḥukotay 1:1
When I, Yannai, Die
Scholion to Megillat Ta’anit, Shevat 2
Nicanor’s Head and Hand
y. Ta‘aniyot 2:13, 66a