Kereisos 28b

כריתות כ״ח ע״ב

Keritot 28b

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Topic

The cries of the עזרה, the downfall of יששכר איש כפר ברקאי, and the closing of מסכת כריתות

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא listing the 'cries' that the עזרה (Temple courtyard) let out about certain כהנים. The second cry ends by noting that, because of one כהן, sacrificial meat was never left over. The third cry welcomes אלישמע בן פיכאי, a student of פנחס, to serve as כהן גדול. The fourth cry demands that יששכר איש כפר ברקאי be thrown out, because he wrapped his hands in silk during the עבודה. The גמרא tells how ינאי המלך asked him whether goat or lamb is better. יששכר answered with a dismissive hand gesture, and he ended up losing both hands, which רב יוסף calls a fitting punishment. רב אשי and רבינא show that his answer was wrong anyway, since both the משנה and the פסוקים treat lambs and goats as equal. The מסכת closes with the teaching that תלמידי חכמים increase peace in the world, followed by the הדרן ending מסכת כריתות.

Opening lines

The steps (14)

1. StatementThe end of the second cry: no leftover meat
2. StatementThe third cry: let אלישמע בן פיכאי serve
3. StatementThe fourth cry: throw out יששכר איש כפר ברקאי
4. QuestionWhat did יששכר actually do?
5. ResponseHe wrapped silk on his hands during the service
6. QuestionWhat happened to יששכר in the end?
7. Responseינאי המלך and the queen argue about goat and lamb
8. Responseיששכר answers that lamb is better
9. ResponseThe king has both of יששכר's hands cut off
10. Statementרב יוסף sees fitting punishment
11. Rejectionרב אשי: lambs and goats are equal
12. Rejectionרבינא: he did not even know the פסוק
13. StatementTorah scholars increase peace in the world
14. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter and finishing the tractate