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Chagigah 23a

חגיגה כ״ג ע״א

Learn Chagigah 23a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The limits of the מדרס decree for קודש, and why vessels 'completed in purity' need טבילה but not הערב שמש, including whether that fits רבי אליעזר.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a story: a sandal strap that was a מדרס fell into a barrel of holy wine and made it טמא. Because of this, חכמים ruled that someone carrying a מדרס may carry תרומה but not קודש. The גמרא asks why תרומה was not included too. It answers that this follows רבי חנניה בן עקביא, who limits a decree to the exact circumstances of the incident that caused it. To show his view, the גמרא brings a ברייתא and a story about carrying מי חטאת across the Jordan by boat. Next it asks how far the sandal decree reaches: a pure sandal, a closed barrel, and someone who broke the rule. On that last question, רבי אילא and רבי זירא disagree. The גמרא then turns to vessels 'completed in purity.' שמואל explains that a חבר finished them, but they need טבילה for קודש in case an עם הארץ's spit landed on them while still wet. Since the משנה requires טבילה without waiting for sunset, the גמרא argues it cannot follow רבי אליעזר. It proves this from the reed tube dispute and the idea of a public sign against the צדוקים. רב begins an answer for רבי אליעזר, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְנִפְסְקָה רְצוּעָה שֶׁל סַנְדָּלוֹ,

and the strap of his sandal broke off,

וּנְטָלָהּ וְהִנִּיחָהּ עַל פִּי חָבִית,

and he picked it up and placed it on the mouth of the barrel,

וְנָפְלָה לַאֲוִיר הֶחָבִית, וְנִטְמֵאת.

and it fell into the airspace of the barrel, and it became impure.

בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמְרוּ:

At that time they said:

The steps (27)

  1. ResponseThe sandal-strap story ends and the rule is set
  2. ChallengeWhy not forbid תרומה too?
  3. ResolutionThis follows רבי חנניה בן עקביא
  4. ResponseThe ברייתא on carrying מי חטאת across rivers
  5. Statementרבי חנניה limits the decree
  6. QuestionWhat was the incident?
  7. ResponseThe boat on the Jordan and the piece of a corpse
  8. QuestionThree questions about how far the sandal decree reaches
  9. Responseרבי אילא and רבי זירא disagree about someone who broke the decree
  10. QuestionWho finished making the vessels 'completed in purity'?
  11. ChallengeIf a חבר finished them, why do they need immersion?
  12. ChallengeIf an עם הארץ finished them, how are they 'pure'?
  13. Resolutionשמואל: a חבר finished them, but we worry about an עם הארץ's spit
  14. ChallengeWhen could the spit have landed on the vessel?
  15. ResolutionThe spit fell earlier and may still have been wet
  16. StatementOnly immersion is needed, not waiting for sunset
  17. StatementOur משנה does not follow רבי אליעזר: the reed tube case
  18. QuestionWho cut the tube?
  19. ChallengeIf a חבר cut it, why immerse?
  20. ChallengeIf an עם הארץ cut it, it is already impure
  21. Resolutionשמואל: a חבר cut it; the worry is spit
  22. ChallengeWhen could spit have landed on the tube?
  23. ResolutionThe spit fell before cutting and was still wet
  24. Statementרבי יהושע's view gives a sign against the צדוקים
  25. ProofThe משנה about making the כהן of the פרה impure
  26. ChallengeWhere is the sign against the צדוקים for רבי אליעזר?
  27. Resolutionרב begins his answer