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Me’ilah 15a

מעילה ט״ו ע״א

Meilah 15a

Learn Me’ilah 15a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Me’ilah 15a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

צירוף of consecrated items for מעילה, and whether קדשי מזבח have תורה-level מעילה according to רבי ינאי

Overview

The משנה teaches that small amounts of different consecrated items combine to reach the minimum for מעילה. Altar items also combine for פיגול, נותר and טמא, and even altar items and בדק הבית items combine with each other for מעילה. The גמרא explains that the first clause is not extra, because it adds פיגול, נותר and טמא, which apply only to altar items. Then רבי ינאי says that מעילה applies only to בדק הבית items and an עולה, since the פסוק speaks of things that belong fully to ה׳. The גמרא challenges him from three משניות and a ברייתא, and each time answers that those sources speak of מעילה מדרבנן, with the פסוק in the ברייתא being only an אסמכתא. A statement of רבי יוחנן, that dead קדשים leave מעילה by תורה law, shows that living קדשי מזבח must have תורה-level מעילה. So the גמרא rereads the school of רבי ינאי: the פסוק of מעילה teaches only about בדק הבית, and קדשי מזבח get their מעילה from another source.

Opening lines

קׇדְשֵׁי מִזְבֵּחַ, מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה

Items consecrated for the altar combine with one another

לִמְעִילָה וּלְחַיֵּיב עֲלֵיהֶם

for misuse, and to make one liable for them

מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל וְנוֹתָר וְטָמֵא.

because of piggul, notar, and impurity.

קׇדְשֵׁי בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה.

Items consecrated for Temple maintenance combine with one another.

The steps (20)

  1. StatementThe משנה: Which consecrated items combine together
  2. ChallengeWhy teach that altar items combine with each other?
  3. ResolutionThe first clause is needed for פיגול, נותר and טמא
  4. Statementרבי ינאי: מעילה applies only to בדק הבית items and an עולה
  5. QuestionWhat is רבי ינאי's source? The פסוק begins
  6. ResponseOnly items that belong fully to ה׳ carry מעילה
  7. ChallengeChallenge from our משנה: altar items combine for מעילה
  8. ResolutionAnswer: that is only a rabbinic rule
  9. ChallengeChallenge: most-holy offerings slaughtered in the south
  10. ResolutionSame answer: a rabbinic rule
  11. ChallengeChallenge: benefiting from a live or dead חטאת
  12. ResolutionSame answer again: a rabbinic rule
  13. ChallengeA ברייתא derives מעילה for altar portions from a פסוק
  14. ResolutionThis too is only rabbinic
  15. ChallengeBut he quotes a פסוק
  16. ResolutionThe פסוק is only a support
  17. Challengeרבי יוחנן: dead קדשים leave Torah-level מעילה
  18. QuestionWhich קדשים is he talking about? Not בדק הבית
  19. ChallengeSo he means קדשי מזבח, which have Torah-level מעילה
  20. ResolutionRereading the school of רבי ינאי: this verse teaches only about בדק הבית