Gemara Clarity

Chagigah 4a

חגיגה ד׳ ע״א

Learn Chagigah 4a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chagigah 4a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Finishing the definition of a שוטה, then the sources for who is exempt from ראייה: women, טומטום, אנדרוגינוס, minors, slaves, and the lame, blind, sick, and old.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing רב הונא's view that a שוטה must show all three crazy signs, like an ox that becomes מועד after goring three kinds of animals. רב פפא says a ברייתא giving one single sign would have changed רב הונא's mind. The גמרא asks whether that change covers only tearing clothes or all the signs, and the question ends in תיקו. Next, a ברייתא reads the פסוק about ראייה word by word. 'זכור' excludes women, 'זכורך' excludes a טומטום and an אנדרוגינוס, and 'כל זכורך' includes minors. The גמרא explains why each lesson is needed, and finds that minors are included only מדרבנן, so 'כל זכורך' really teaches the view of אחרים about workers with smelly jobs. Then רב הונא learns that slaves are exempt from 'אל פני האדון', and רבינא shows that this פסוק is needed for a half-slave, half-free person. Finally a ברייתא learns from ״רגלים״ that the lame, blind, sick, and old are exempt, and רבא begins to explain what the extra phrase adds. His answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

כְּמִי שֶׁנָּגַח שׁוֹר חֲמוֹר וְגָמָל,

like one that gored an ox, a donkey, and a camel,

וְנַעֲשָׂה מוּעָד לַכֹּל.

and became forewarned for all.

אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא:

Rav Pappa said:

אִי שְׁמִיעַ לֵיהּ לְרַב הוּנָא

If Rav Huna had heard

The steps (24)

  1. StatementThe goring ox comparison for a שוטה
  2. Challengeרב פפא: a ברייתא would have changed רב הונא's mind
  3. QuestionHow much would רב הונא have changed his mind?
  4. ConclusionThe question stays open
  5. StatementBack to the משנה: טומטום and אנדרוגינוס
  6. StatementThe ברייתא reads the words of the פסוק
  7. ChallengeWhy is a פסוק needed to exempt women?
  8. ResolutionWhy women need their own exclusion: we might have compared ראייה to הקהל
  9. ChallengeWhy would a פסוק be needed to exclude a טומטום?
  10. Resolutionאביי: the טומטום here is one who is certainly male
  11. Challenge'כל זכורך' includes minors, but the משנה exempts a קטן
  12. Resolutionאביי: two different kinds of minors
  13. ChallengeBut חינוך is only a rabbinic obligation
  14. ResolutionYes, and the פסוק is only an אסמכתא
  15. QuestionSo what does the verse come to teach?
  16. ResponseThe verse teaches the view of אחרים about people with smelly jobs
  17. QuestionWomen are exempt, but where do we learn that slaves are exempt?
  18. Responseרב הונא: a slave has another master
  19. ChallengeWhy is a verse needed? A slave already follows a woman's rules
  20. Resolutionרבינא: the verse is for someone half-slave, half-free
  21. ProofThe משנה's wording supports רבינא
  22. StatementThe lame, blind, sick and old are exempt: the source from ״רגלים״
  23. QuestionWhat does 'one who cannot go up on his feet' add?
  24. Responseרבא begins to explain what the extra phrase includes