Megillah 26a

מגילה כ״ו ע״א

Learn Megillah 26a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 26a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Using money from selling holy items, who owns a synagogue and may sell it, and whether ירושלים was divided among the שבטים

Overview

The משנה finishes its 'ladder of holiness' (רחוב → בית הכנסת → תיבה → מטפחות → ספרים → ספר תורה). Money from selling a holy item may only buy something holier, and leftover money follows the same rule. The גמרא first notes, in the name of רבי יוחנן, that the רחוב being holy is only the view of רבי מנחם בר יוסי. He holds this because the town prays there on fast days, while the חכמים say that occasional use creates no קדושה. Next, רבי יונתן limits the sale of a בית הכנסת to a village synagogue, since a city synagogue belongs to the whole public. רב אשי adds that a synagogue run under one leader's authority can still be sold. The גמרא defends רבי יונתן against two challenges from ירושלים: a sold synagogue, and a ברייתא about נגעים. This leads to a dispute between תנאים over whether ירושלים was divided among the שבטים, with אביי drawing a side lesson about guests and hosts. Finally, רבא begins to limit the משנה's rule to sales not made by the שבעה טובי העיר before the townspeople, and his statement continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementGoing up the ladder: from scrolls to a Torah
2. StatementGoing down the ladder is forbidden
3. StatementThe same rule applies to leftover money
4. Statementרבי יוחנן says the משנה follows one תנא only
5. StatementThe חכמים: the town square has no holiness
6. QuestionWhat is רבי מנחם בר יוסי's reason?
7. ResponsePeople pray in the square on fast days
8. ResponseThe רבנן: that use is only occasional
9. StatementSelling a synagogue applies only to villages
10. StatementA city synagogue belongs to everyone
11. Statementרב אשי's synagogue in מתא מחסיא
12. ChallengeA Jerusalem synagogue was sold to רבי אליעזר
13. ResolutionIt was a small synagogue the workers built
14. ChallengeA ברייתא about נגעים in ירושלים is brought as an objection
15. ChallengeAccording to רבי יהודה, synagogues in ירושלים could become impure, but they belong to the city
16. ResolutionFix the wording: רבי יהודה said 'a holy place,' not only the מקדש
17. QuestionWhat is the root of their disagreement?
18. ResponseWas ירושלים divided among the tribes?
19. StatementThis matches an older dispute between תנאים
20. ProofA ברייתא that splits the בית המקדש between יהודה and בנימין
21. StatementThe strip of land with the מזבח and בנימין's longing for it
22. ProofThe other תנא: houses in ירושלים may not be rented out
23. StatementNot even beds may be rented, so innkeepers take the hides by force
24. Statementאביי's lesson: a guest should leave his flask and hide for his host
25. Statementרבא limits the משנה's rule on selling a synagogue