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Chagigah 26a

חגיגה כ״ו ע״א

Learn Chagigah 26a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chagigah 26a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When an עם הארץ is trusted about טהרה: near and in ירושלים, during the רגל, and the purifying of the עזרה afterward

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ruling about a potter and a חבר at the מודיעים boundary, and אביי proves it from the two halves of a משנה. Next, ריש לקיש and רבי יוחנן argue about which earthenware vessels an עם הארץ is trusted on, and רבא adds that the liquids inside stay impure. A new משנה says tax collectors and thieves may be believed when they say 'we did not touch.' The גמרא explains this as collectors without a גוי and thieves who did תשובה. In ירושלים people are trusted on even large clay vessels for קודש, because no kilns are built there. During the רגל, all of ישראל count as חברים, based on a פסוק in שופטים. Another משנה argues about finishing wine or dough opened during the רגל, and the גמרא discusses saving it for the next רגל. The amud ends with the purifying of the עזרה vessels after the רגל, and that warning continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶן יוֹצְאִין — כְּלַחוּץ.

Or both of them are leaving: it is like outside.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, אַף אֲנַן נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא:

Abaye said: We too have learned this:

הַקַּדָּר שֶׁמָּכַר אֶת הַקְּדֵירוֹת

A potter who was selling the pots

וְנִכְנַס לִפְנִים מִן הַמּוֹדִיעִים.

and entered inside the Modi'im,

The steps (40)

  1. StatementBoth leaving counts as outside
  2. Proofאביי quotes the משנה and reads the first half
  3. ChallengeThe second half of the משנה implies the opposite
  4. ProofTwo cases explain the two halves
  5. StatementTrusted on small earthenware vessels for קודש
  6. StatementWhat counts as a small vessel
  7. StatementEmpty vessels only, or full ones too
  8. Statementרבי יוחנן agrees the liquids are impure
  9. ProofA jug and its liquid can differ
  10. StatementTax collectors and thieves are trusted to say they did not touch
  11. ChallengeAnother משנה says the whole house is impure
  12. ResolutionIt depends on whether a גוי was with them
  13. ProofA משנה shows the role of the גוי
  14. QuestionWhy does the גוי make a difference
  15. ResponseFear of the גוי or fear of the government
  16. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between the two views
  17. ResponseA גוי who is not important
  18. ChallengeThieves make impure only where they walked
  19. ResolutionOur משנה speaks of thieves who did תשובה
  20. ProofThe wording 'returned the vessels' proves it
  21. StatementIn ירושלים, even large clay vessels are trusted for קודש
  22. QuestionWhy such a big leniency?
  23. ResponseBecause no kilns are made in ירושלים
  24. QuestionWhere do we learn that during the Festival even תרומה is trusted?
  25. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי: the פסוק makes all of ישראל חברים
  26. StatementNew משנה: finishing a barrel or dough opened during the Festival
  27. QuestionMay he save the barrel for the next Festival?
  28. ResponseThe other sage says the barrel cannot be saved for the next festival
  29. ChallengeThe first sage pushes back: people touched it all festival long
  30. ResolutionThe festival made the touching pure, but only while it lasted
  31. QuestionTwo ברייתות seem to argue about the same question
  32. RejectionNo, the ברייתות follow רבי יהודה and the רבנן
  33. ChallengeBut רבי יהודה lets him finish the barrel
  34. ResolutionSwitch the matching: 'he may not leave it' means he doesn't need to
  35. StatementAfter the festival, the Temple courtyard is purified
  36. StatementNot on Friday, out of respect for שבת
  37. Statementרבי יהודה: not even on Thursday
  38. StatementWhy the כהנים are busy on Thursday
  39. QuestionHow are the עזרה vessels purified?
  40. ResponseImmersing the vessels and warning the כהנים