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Menachos 11b

מנחות י״א ע״ב

Menachot 11b

Learn Menachos 11b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How much frankincense (לבונה) must remain to be burned, when extra frankincense disqualifies, and the start of the משנה on wrong intentions during the קמיצה.

Overview

The גמרא begins by settling a contradiction in רבי שמעון's view about frankincense (לבונה) that shrank. It gives two answers: either the ברייתא really says 'a pinch', or one ruling is about frankincense with a מנחה and the other is about frankincense on its own. רבי יצחק בר יוסף, quoting רבי יוחנן, then lists three opinions on how much must be left to burn: the full קומץ (רבי מאיר), two pinches (רבי יהודה), or one pinch (רבי שמעון). All three come from the same פסוק. He adds that the argument is only about frankincense brought with a מנחה. Frankincense brought by itself, and the frankincense in the בזיכין of the לחם הפנים, must stay complete according to everyone, though רבי אמי and רבי יצחק נפחא argue about frankincense brought by itself. Next, רמי בר חמא explains that too much frankincense disqualifies only when a whole second קומץ was set aside. He rules that extra frankincense becomes fixed with the offering only at the קמיצה, or at the actual removal of the בזיכין. A new משנה then begins about wrong intentions during the קמיצה. Planning to eat or burn the offering outside makes it פסול without כרת, and the list of 'next day' intentions continues onto the next amud.

Opening lines

וְהָתַנְיָא (רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר):

But isn't it taught (Rabbi Shimon says):

קוֹמֶץ לְבוֹנָה שֶׁחָסַר כׇּל שֶׁהוּא – פָּסוּל.

A handful of frankincense that is missing any amount at all is disqualified.

תְּנִי:

Teach it this way:

קוֹרֶט לְבוֹנָה שֶׁחָסַר כׇּל שֶׁהוּא – פָּסוּל.

A pinch of frankincense that is missing any amount at all is disqualified.

The steps (19)

  1. ChallengeA teaching that seems to contradict רבי שמעון
  2. ResolutionFirst answer: read 'pinch' instead of 'handful'
  3. ResolutionSecond answer: frankincense with a מנחה versus frankincense on its own
  4. StatementThree opinions on how much frankincense must remain
  5. StatementAll three opinions come from one פסוק
  6. StatementThe argument is only about frankincense brought with a מנחה
  7. ProofWhy the פסוק says 'that is upon the meal offering'
  8. StatementThe frankincense of the shewbread bowls needs two full handfuls according to everyone
  9. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
  10. ResolutionBecause it comes with bread, you might think it counts as 'on the מנחה'
  11. StatementTwo אמוראים argue about frankincense brought by itself
  12. ChallengeThe משנה implies extra frankincense is fine, but a ברייתא says it disqualifies
  13. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about setting aside two handfuls
  14. StatementTwo handfuls of frankincense, one lost: before or after the קמיצה
  15. StatementFour handfuls for the two bowls of the showbread
  16. ChallengeWhy say the second ruling? It is the same as the first
  17. ResolutionThe second ruling teaches that only the actual removal counts
  18. StatementIntending to eat or burn the meal offering outside the courtyard
  19. StatementIntending to eat or burn the meal offering the next day