Megillah 29b

מגילה כ״ט ע״ב

Learn Megillah 29b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

פרשת שקלים: its timing and content, and how to divide the Torah readings when special days coincide

Overview

The amud opens by explaining why the half-שקלים are announced on the first of אדר. According to רבי טבי, the קרבנות must be bought from the new collection starting in ניסן, and the money-changers' tables open on the fifteenth of אדר. Then רב and שמואל argue about which passage is פרשת שקלים: רב says the offerings passage, 'את קרבני לחמי', and שמואל says 'כי תשא'. The גמרא tests both views several times: the name of the reading, the purpose of the money, how ראש חודש אדר differs from other ראשי חדשים, the הפטרה of יהוידע הכהן, and when the passage comes up in the yearly cycle. Each test is answered, and a ברייתא supports שמואל. רבי יצחק נפחא rules that three ספרי תורה are used when ראש חודש אדר or ראש חודש טבת falls on שבת. On a weekday ראש חודש טבת, the הלכה is that three people read ראש חודש and one reads חנוכה. The amud ends with a new case, שקלים falling on the week of תצוה, and אביי's response begins on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. StatementThe end of the quoted משנה about mixed plantings
2. Questionכלאים make sense in אדר, but why the שקלים?
3. ResponseThe verse teaches that offerings must come from the new collection
4. ConclusionSince new funds are needed by ניסן, the reading is moved up to אדר
5. ChallengeThe משנה seems not to follow רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
6. ProofThe ברייתא on studying the laws of פסח thirty days or two weeks before
7. ResolutionEven רבן שמעון בן גמליאל agrees, because the tables open on the fifteenth
8. QuestionWhich portion is פרשת שקלים?
9. Responseרב says the daily offerings portion, שמואל says כי תשא
10. Challengeשמואל's portion mentions שקלים, but רב's does not
11. Resolutionרב's reading fits because of רבי טבי's reason
12. ChallengeChallenge to שמואל: "כי תשא" is about sockets, not offerings
13. Resolutionרב יוסף: three separate contributions, one for the altar
14. ChallengeChallenge to רב: what makes ראש חודש אדר's reading different?
15. ResolutionThe difference: all seven read the ראש חודש passage
16. ChallengeThe answer only works if the weekly portion is skipped
17. ResolutionThree read the weekly portion, four read the ראש חודש passage
18. ChallengeA ברייתא: the הפטרה is the story of יהוידע הכהן
19. ChallengeThe הפטרה fits שמואל's view of 'כי תשא'
20. ChallengeDoes the הפטרה fit the 'את קרבני' view?
21. ResolutionYes, it fits, as רבי טבי explained
22. ChallengeA ברייתא: sometimes שקלים is read twice
23. ChallengeThe ברייתא fits the 'כי תשא' view
24. ChallengeBut 'את קרבני' does not come up near אדר
25. ResolutionYes, in ארץ ישראל's three-year cycle
26. ProofA ברייתא supports שמואל: פרשת שקלים is 'כי תשא'
27. StatementThree ספרי תורה on ראש חודש אדר that falls on שבת
28. StatementThree ספרי תורה on ראש חודש טבת that falls on שבת
29. ResolutionWhy both rulings of רבי יצחק were needed
30. ChallengeThen let him state only the Adar case
31. ResolutionOne ruling was learned from the other
32. Statementרבי יצחק: Three read ראש חודש, one reads חנוכה
33. Statementרב דימי: Three read חנוכה, one reads ראש חודש
34. Proofרבי מני supports רבי יצחק: the frequent practice comes first
35. Proofרבי אבין supports רב דימי: ראש חודש caused the fourth reader
36. QuestionWhat is the final ruling?
37. Responseרב יוסף and רבה each take a side
38. ConclusionFinal הלכה: ראש חודש is the main reading
39. Statementשקלים on the week of תצוה: six read תצוה, one reads שקלים