Megillah 27a

מגילה כ״ז ע״א

Learn Megillah 27a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 27a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Levels of holiness for synagogues, ספרי תורה and their money, leftover communal funds, and charity pledged in another town

Overview

The amud opens by siding with רב פפי: a בית הכנסת may be turned into a בית המדרש, as רבי יהושע בן לוי rules. Next comes בר קפרא's explanation of the פסוק about the burning of ירושלים. רבי יוחנן and רבי יהושע בן לוי argue whether 'every great house' means a place of תורה or a place of תפילה, and the גמרא works out that רבי יהושע בן לוי is the one who said תורה. The גמרא then returns to the משנה and asks whether one may sell an old ספר תורה to buy a new one. Several proofs are tried: from the משנה itself, from ברייתות about wrapping cloths and stacking scrolls, from רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, and from רבי מאיר. Each proof is rejected, and the גמרא stresses how serious it is to sell a ספר תורה at all. רבא rules that leftover money from a collection is free to use, and he defends this ruling against אביי's challenge from a ברייתא about a stipulation by the seven town leaders. After explaining the word דוכסוסיא, the גמרא discusses charity pledged by visitors in another town. It ends with the story of רב הונא, whose answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. ProofSiding with רב פפי using רבי יהושע בן לוי
2. ConclusionConclusion: the הלכה follows רב פפי
3. Statementבר קפרא opens his explanation of a פסוק
4. StatementExplaining the first three parts of the פסוק
5. StatementArgument over the meaning of 'every great house'
6. StatementThe פסוק behind each side
7. ProofWorking out that רבי יהושע בן לוי said 'תורה'
8. ConclusionConclusion: רבי יהושע בן לוי holds the תורה view
9. StatementBack to the משנה: money from a sold ספר תורה
10. QuestionMay you sell an old ספר תורה to buy a new one?
11. ProofProof from the משנה's exact wording
12. RejectionRejected: the משנה is about after the fact
13. ProofA new source: the ברייתא on wrapping cloths
14. ProofThe inference: no use at the same level
15. RejectionThe end of the same ברייתא points the other way
16. ConclusionNo proof can be drawn from this ברייתא
17. ProofProof from stacking scrolls on top of each other
18. RejectionStacking is different because it cannot be avoided
19. ProofRolling a scroll shows the same idea
20. Proofרבן שמעון בן גמליאל says it is forbidden
21. RejectionThe ban on selling an old scroll is only about carelessness
22. QuestionSharpening the question: the new scroll is already written
23. ProofProof from רבי מאיר: a scroll may be sold to learn תורה
24. RejectionLearning and marriage are special cases
25. StatementA strong warning against selling a ספר תורה
26. Statementרבא limits the rule about leftover money
27. Challengeאביי quotes a ברייתא about stipulations
28. Challengeאביי shows the ברייתא must mean collected money
29. Resolutionרבא: the ברייתא means sold money with a leaders' stipulation
30. Questionאביי asks what the word דוכסוסיא means
31. ResponseThe answer: it means the town horseman
32. StatementLesson: ask someone who is often with the great Sages
33. StatementCharity pledged by a group of townspeople in another town
34. ProofA ברייתא supports the rule and adds the case of one person
35. StatementVisitors come to רב הונא's fast and give צדקה
36. QuestionThe visitors ask to take their צדקה home
37. Responseרב הונא quotes a ברייתא that limits the rule