And this, too, obtained in Jerusalem, which did not obtain in Yavneh [Our Mishnah is defective. This is what was taught: In Jerusalem they blew the shofar in the entire city (on Shabbath) so long as beth-din sat in the Temple, beth-din presiding until the sixth hour of the day. And in Yavneh, they did not blow in the entire city, but only before the beth-din. "And this, too, obtained in Jerusalem, which did not obtain in Yavneh"], that every city which "saw" [Jerusalem (blew on Shabbath) — to exclude a city situated in a valley, which, though it may have been "near," they did not blow the shofar in], and which heard (the shofar), [to exclude a city situated on a mountain top], and which was near, [to exclude a city situated outside the tchum], and which could come, [to exclude a city separated (from Jerusalem) by a river]. And in Yavneh they blew only before beth-din alone.
Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
ועוד זאת היתה ירושלים – Our Mishnah is deficient and should be read as follows: In Jerusalem they would sound the Shofar throughout the city as long as Jewish court sits in the Temple, for the Jewish court sits until the sixth hour of the day (i.e., 12 noon, when the number of hours of daylight and nighttime are equal), but in Yanveh, they wouold not sound the Shofar throughout the entire city, bu t only in the presence of the Jewish Court. And this is how Jerusalem was greater than Yavneh, etc.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
Introduction
This mishnah is a direct continuation of yesterday’s mishnah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
כל עיר שהיא רואה – [which sees] Jerusalem, except for those who dwell in a river-bed/ravine, for even though it is close, they would not sound the Shofar in it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
There was another way in which Jerusalem was greater than Yavneh, that in every city which could see [Jerusalem] and hear and was near and could get to Jerusalem, they used to blow [on Shabbat], whereas in Yavneh they used to blow in the court only. In Yavneh they blew the shofar on Shabbat only in the place where the court sat. However, in Jerusalem they would blow the shofar on Shabbat not only in Jerusalem but in all of the surrounding areas as well. This distinction between Jerusalem and Yavneh may have been an attempt to preserve the uniqueness of the authority of Jerusalem and its court. While Yavneh may have received some of the authority of Jerusalem, it was still not as great. The beginning of the mishnah implies that there was another way in which Jerusalem was greater than Yavneh, besides that listed in the Mishnah. The Talmud asks what this was, and answers that in Jerusalem they would blow the shofar on Shabbat both in front of the court and not in front of the court. In Yavneh the shofar was blown on Shabbat only in front of the court. This may be a way of saying that while the court in Yavneh was authoritative, the city did not have inherent sacredness, as did Jerusalem.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
ושומעת – except for those who dwell at the top of the mountain.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
וקרובה – except for those who dwell outside the [Sabbath] limit.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Rosh Hashanah
ויכולה לבא – except for when a river separates it.
