Kiddushin 54a

קידושין נ״ד ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 54a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 54a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether רבי מאיר holds that הקדש used by mistake stays holy, and testing the 'given for benefit' exception against his rulings on מעילה

Overview

The משנה said in the name of רבי מאיר that a man who is מקדש a woman with הקדש succeeds only if he did it on purpose, not by mistake. Here the גמרא says that is not רבי מאיר's general rule for הקדש. The משנה is really about one special item: בגדי כהונה that are still wearable. Since the כהנים were allowed to benefit from them, using them by mistake is not מעילה. A ברייתא about worn-out garments is brought as a challenge, and the גמרא answers that it means only worn-out ones. Next come two sources where רבי מאיר holds there is מעילה even with things people cannot help benefiting from: the leftover funds of the לשכה, which pay for the city walls, and fallen stones of ירושלים. Each time the גמרא answers by switching the name to רבי יהודה. Then the גמרא objects that רבי יהודה seems to hold ירושלים is not holy at all, based on his view about vows using 'ירושלים' or 'like ירושלים'. The גמרא deals with this challenge on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. Statementרבי מאיר never holds that unwitting use fails to desacralize
2. StatementThe משנה is about priestly garments that are still usable
3. ChallengeChallenge from a ruling on worn-out priestly tunics
4. RejectionOnly worn-out garments
5. ChallengeAnother source: רבי מאיר on old shekels and leftover chamber funds
6. ChallengeThe city walls are paid for from the leftover funds, and everyone benefits from them
7. ResolutionSwitch the names: the opinion is רבי יהודה's
8. ChallengeA second challenge: fallen stones of ירושלים
9. ResolutionAgain, switch the names to רבי יהודה
10. ChallengeAccording to רבי יהודה, is ירושלים holy at all?
11. ChallengeIt is not just about the wording 'like ירושלים'