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Bava Kamma 25b

בבא קמא כ״ה ע״ב

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Topic

How far דיו limits a קל וחומר: the proof from the semen of a זב, the ברייתא about a mat made impure by a מת, the גזירה שוה of 'garment and leather', and why שן ורגל is exempt in רשות הרבים

Overview

This amud opens in the middle of a quoted משנה, which lists the fluids of a זב that make things טמא by touching and by carrying. The גמרא uses that list to show that the שכבת זרע of a זב is learned from רוק by a קל וחומר, with no limit from דיו. It defends this proof from the order of the list. רב אחא מדפתי then challenges רבינא with a ברייתא. In that ברייתא, a קל וחומר seems to make a mat (מפץ) טמא from a מת for seven days, even though דיו could have limited it to impurity until evening. אביי answers that the קל וחומר only teaches about a שרץ, and that the mat's impurity from a מת comes from a גזירה שוה on the words 'garment and leather'. The גמרא shows that these words are extra on both sides, and רבא uses a פסוק to show that anything made impure by a מת stays impure for seven days. Finally, the גמרא returns to damages. It rejects a קל וחומר that would make שן ורגל liable in רשות הרבים, because the פסוק says 'in the field of another'.

Opening lines

זוֹבוֹ שֶׁל זָב, וְרוּקּוֹ,

The discharge of a zav, and his spittle,

וְשִׁכְבַת זַרְעוֹ, וּמֵימֵי רַגְלָיו,

and his semen, and his urine,

וְדַם הַנִּדָּה –

and the blood of a menstruating woman –

מְטַמְּאִין בֵּין בְּמַגָּע בֵּין בְּמַשָּׂא.

impart impurity both by touching and by carrying.

The steps (17)

  1. ProofThe list of fluids that make things impure by touching and carrying
  2. RejectionMaybe it is only because of hidden drops of discharge
  3. ResolutionThe order of the list shows it is learned from spittle
  4. Challengeרב אחא: here is a תנא who ignores the limit even when it is harmless
  5. ProofThe ברייתא: a mat becomes impure from a corpse
  6. ChallengeWhy seven days? The limit should have allowed only one day
  7. Resolutionאביי's answer: the קל וחומר is really about a שרץ
  8. ProofA mat becomes impure from a מת through a גזירה שוה
  9. ChallengeThe גזירה שוה only works if the words are extra
  10. ResolutionProof that the words are extra
  11. ConclusionThe words in the שרץ section are extra
  12. ChallengeExtra on only one side is not enough for everyone
  13. ResolutionThe words in the מת section are extra too
  14. ChallengeDo the details come along with the גזירה שוה?
  15. Resolutionרבא: Anything made impure by a corpse stays impure at least seven days
  16. ChallengeShould שן ורגל be liable in רשות הרבים, learned from קרן?
  17. ResolutionThe פסוק limits שן ורגל to another's field