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Kiddushin 55a

קידושין נ״ה ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 55a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Can a קרבן animal with קדושת הגוף become חולין? רבי מאיר (במזיד, by intent) versus רבי יהודה, and the extension to קדשים קלים.

Overview

The גמרא quotes a משנה in שקלים about a stray animal found near ירושלים: males are treated as עולות and females as שלמים. It asks why a male could not also be a שלמים. רבי אושעיא answers that the finder redeems the animal by paying its value, and the money must cover both possibilities. This works according to רבי מאיר, who holds that הקדש becomes חולין when it is misused on purpose (במזיד). The גמרא challenges this from a משנה in מעילה showing that things with קדושת הגוף never lose their holiness, and it answers that that משנה follows רבי יהודה. The גמרא then asks why רבי מאיר does not also keep קדושת הגוף holy, as רבי יהודה does. It answers that someone who acts on purpose actually intends to make the item חולין. Finally, רבי יעקב uses a קל וחומר to show that רבי מאיר's rule covers קדשים קלים too, and a statement in רבי מאיר's name confirms it.

Opening lines

תְּנַן הָתָם:

We learned there:

בְּהֵמָה שֶׁנִּמְצֵאת

An animal that was found

מִירוּשָׁלַיִם לְמִגְדַּל עֵדֶר

from Jerusalem to Migdal Eder

וּכְמִדָּתָהּ לְכׇל רוּחַ,

and within that same distance in every direction,

The steps (10)

  1. StatementThe stray animal found near ירושלים
  2. ChallengeWhy can't a male be a peace-offering?
  3. Resolutionרבי אושעיא: the finder pays the value, following רבי מאיר
  4. ChallengeCan something with inherent holiness be redeemed?
  5. ResolutionTwo משניות, two תנאים
  6. ChallengeShould רבי מאיר agree with רבי יהודה about inherent holiness?
  7. ResolutionActing on purpose means intending to make it חולין
  8. ChallengeDoes רבי מאיר's rule apply to קדשים קלים?
  9. Resolutionרבי יעקב answers with a קל וחומר
  10. ProofA statement in רבי מאיר's name confirms the קל וחומר