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Me’ilah 2a

מעילה ב׳ ע״א

Meilah 2a

Learn Me’ilah 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Me’ilah 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

מעילה in disqualified קדשי קדשים: שעת היתר לכהנים and why each case of the משנה is needed

Overview

The first משנה of מסכת מעילה asks whether מעילה (misusing holy property) still applies to קדשי קדשים that became פסול. It lists cases where the offering was ruined before it could be eaten: slaughter or collection of the blood in the south, slaughter or sprinkling at night, and slaughter with the intent חוץ לזמנו or חוץ למקומו. In all of these, מעילה still applies. רבי יהושע then gives the rule: if the offering ever had a שעת היתר לכהנים, there is no more מעילה, and if it never did, מעילה stays. The משנה gives examples of each side, such as meat left overnight, meat that became טמא, or blood handled by unfit people. The גמרא first asks why the south case even needs saying. It answers that we might have compared it to קדשים שמתו, but the south is a valid place for קדשים קלים, so the slaughter is still real. Next, the גמרא explains why every place and time case in the משנה is needed. Finally, it asks what wrong-intent offerings are still fit for, and answers that the blood service still takes effect on them by making them פיגול.

Opening lines

קׇדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים שֶׁשְּׁחָטָן בַּדָּרוֹם –

Most-holy offerings that one slaughtered in the south

מוֹעֲלִין בָּהֶן.

one is liable for misusing them.

שְׁחָטָן בַּדָּרוֹם וְקִיבֵּל דָּמָן בַּצָּפוֹן,

If he slaughtered them in the south and collected their blood in the north,

בַּצָּפוֹן וְקִיבֵּל דָּמָן בַּדָּרוֹם,

or in the north and collected their blood in the south,

The steps (17)

  1. StatementMost-holy offerings slaughtered in the wrong place still carry מעילה
  2. StatementMixed-up place and time cases
  3. StatementBad intent during slaughter also keeps מעילה
  4. Statementרבי יהושע's general rule: was it ever permitted to the כהנים?
  5. QuestionWhich offering counts as once permitted?
  6. ResponseLeft overnight, became impure, or went out
  7. QuestionWhich offering never had a time of permission?
  8. ResponseCases ruined before ever being permitted
  9. ChallengeWhy say south-slaughtered offerings carry מעילה? Isn't it obvious?
  10. ResolutionOne might have compared it to an animal that died
  11. ResolutionSouth slaughter is still real slaughter, unlike an animal that died
  12. ChallengeWhy list so many cases?
  13. ResolutionThe two place cases each need to be taught
  14. ResolutionWhy the night-slaughter case is needed
  15. ResolutionWhy sprinkling at night also needs to be taught
  16. ChallengeWhat are wrong-intent animals still good for?
  17. ResolutionThe blood still works to make it פיגול