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Bava Basra 97b

בבא בתרא צ״ז ע״ב

Bava Batra 97b

Learn Bava Basra 97b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which wine רב's rule excludes from קידוש, the preference for red wine, and a new משנה on selling wine that sours

Overview

The גמרא continues working on רב's rule that wine פסול for the מזבח is also פסול for קידוש היום. It asks what kind of wine this rule is meant to exclude. Fresh juice, wine from the top or bottom of the barrel, and lower-quality wines are all rejected, because they are fine for קידוש or valid בדיעבד on the מזבח. The גמרא then points to wines that are פסול even בדיעבד: souring, diluted, uncovered, dregs, and bad-smelling wine. It asks which of these רב really needed to teach, and knocks out four of them one by one. It ends with bad-smelling wine, or, in a second answer, uncovered wine that was strained, which is safe but still disrespectful for a מצוה. רבא then uses a פסוק to show that red wine is preferred over white. The גמרא adds a ברייתא about the inferior jugs from the שרון. Finally, a new משנה begins about a seller whose wine turns sour after the sale, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּאָמַר רָבָא:

As Rava says:

סוֹחֵט אָדָם אֶשְׁכּוֹל שֶׁל עֲנָבִים,

A person may squeeze a cluster of grapes,

וְאוֹמֵר עָלָיו קִידּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם!

and recite the sanctification of the day over it!

וְאֶלָּא לְמַעוֹטֵי מִפִּיהָ וּמִשּׁוּלֶיהָ?

Rather, to exclude wine from its mouth and from its bottom?

The steps (17)

  1. RejectionFreshly squeezed grape juice is fine for kiddush
  2. ResponseNew suggestion: wine from the top or bottom of the barrel
  3. ChallengeRabbi Chiya: top and bottom wine is valid after the fact
  4. ResponseNew suggestion: black, pale, sweet, cellar, or raisin wine
  5. ChallengeA ברייתא says these wines are also valid after the fact
  6. ResponseFourth suggestion: wines that are disqualified even after the fact
  7. QuestionWhich of these wines did רב really mean to exclude?
  8. ChallengeSouring wine is already a known dispute
  9. ChallengeDiluted wine is actually better for a blessing
  10. ChallengeUncovered wine is already forbidden as dangerous
  11. ChallengeDregs wine is either real wine or already disputed
  12. Responseרב's rule excludes wine with a bad smell
  13. ResolutionOr רב's rule excludes uncovered wine even after it was strained
  14. QuestionIs white wine acceptable?
  15. Responseרבא answers: red wine is the preferred wine
  16. StatementEven the inferior jugs from the Sharon must be decent
  17. StatementNew משנה: selling wine that later turns sour