Kiddushin 36a

קידושין ל״ו ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 36a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Why women are exempt from קרחה (אביי and רבא on איסי), the meaning of ״בנים אתם״, and the new משנה on Temple services done only by men.

Overview

The amud opens with the last words of an earlier statement. אביי then explains why איסי exempts women from the ban on making a bald spot (קרחה) in mourning. איסי learns it through a גזירה שוה from the כהנים, where the תורה speaks only to the sons of Aaron. The גמרא challenges this: the same גזירה שוה is already used in a ברייתא for other laws about bald spots. It answers that the longer word קרחה, where קרח would have been enough, lets us learn two things. רבא gives a different source, from ״בין עיניכם״ by תפילין, and the גמרא explains why each אמורא does not accept the other's reason. The גמרא then asks what ״בנים אתם״ teaches, and brings the dispute between רבי יהודה and רבי מאיר over whether Israel is always called God's children. Finally, a new משנה lists Temple service actions done by men and not women. The גמרא begins giving a פסוק for each one, and the source for receiving the blood continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. ConclusionClosing words of the earlier statement
2. Statementאביי explains איסי's source: a גזירה שוה from the כהנים
3. ChallengeA קל וחומר would be enough, so why write the פסוק?
4. ResolutionWithout the גזירה שוה, we'd think the topic broke off
5. ChallengeEven now, maybe the topic stopped
6. ChallengeThe גזירה שוה is already used for something else
7. ProofEach bald spot counts separately
8. ProofThe whole head counts, not just between the eyes
9. ProofThe גזירה שוה carries both rules to all Jews
10. Proofכהנים are forbidden only over a dead person
11. ResolutionThe longer word teaches two things
12. Statementרבא's reason for איסי: learning from תפילין
13. QuestionWhy didn't רבא use אביי's reason?
14. Responseרבא doesn't learn from קרח versus קרחה
15. QuestionWhy didn't אביי use רבא's reason?
16. Responseתפילין themselves are learned from baldness
17. QuestionWhat do both learn from 'You are sons'?
18. Responseרבי יהודה: sons only when acting like sons
19. Statementרבי מאיר: always called sons
20. QuestionWhy does רבי מאיר need so many verses?
21. ResponseEven without faith, they are still called children
22. ResponseEven idol worshippers are still called children
23. ResponseAfter sinning they become full children again
24. StatementNew משנה: Temple service actions done by men, not women
25. ProofSource that only men do סמיכה
26. ProofWaving is done by men, not women
27. ProofBringing the מנחה near is done by men, not women
28. ProofTaking a handful is done by men, not women
29. ProofBurning on the altar is done by men, not women
30. ProofPinching is linked to burning, so only male כהנים pinch
31. ProofStarting the proof that only male כהנים receive the blood