Menachos 16b

מנחות ט״ז ע״ב

Menachot 16b

Learn Menachos 16b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 16b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

פיגול when the service or the intent covers only part of the מתירין: the יום כיפור blood, carrying the קומץ, and burning in tiny amounts

Overview

First the גמרא admits it has no answer to a wording problem in a ברייתא about the יום כיפור blood. It then asks how רבי מאיר can give כרת for פיגול there, since once the blood is disqualified, the later placements should be like plain water. רבה answers that new animals were brought for each stage. רבא answers that for פיגול, even disqualified placements count. Next it settles three different counts of the יום כיפור blood placements (43, 47 and 48) by tying each count to a different opinion. Then רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש argue whether פיגול intent while carrying only the קומץ is like scooping or like burning. רבא explains רבי יוחנן's view, and he defends it against challenges from אביי and רב שימי with the rule that making something holy counts like permitting. A ברייתא that seemed to support רבי יוחנן is pushed aside, and ריש לקיש's reading is left with one unanswered difficulty. Finally, three אמוראים argue about burning the קומץ one sesame seed at a time: פיגול, פסול or כשר. The גמרא shows that each view rests on whether small portions count as eating and as burning, not on an older dispute between תנאים.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. ChallengeThe 'whether... whether' wording challenges רב אשי
2. StatementQuoting רבי מאיר's ruling from the בריתא
3. StatementNo כרת until all the מתירין are offered
4. ProofThe source: the word יֵרָצֶה
5. ChallengeSprinkling in the היכל is like sprinkling water
6. Resolutionרבה: Four Bulls and Four Goats
7. Resolutionרבא: For פיגול, Spoiled Placements Still Count
8. ChallengeForty-Three or Forty-Seven Placements?
9. ResolutionIt Depends on Mixing the Blood for the Corners
10. ChallengeA Third Count: Forty-Eight
11. ResolutionIt Depends on Whether the Leftover Blood Is Required
12. QuestionWhat if the improper intent was during carrying?
13. ResponseTwo views: carrying is like scooping, or like burning
14. ChallengeWhat is רבי יוחנן's reason?
15. Resolutionרבא: a step that doesn't permit counts on its own
16. Challengeאביי points to the slaughter of one lamb
17. ProofThe משנה about the lambs and the frankincense bowls
18. ResolutionSlaughtering the lambs makes the loaves holy
19. Challengeרב שימי בר אשי brings the ruling of אחרים on the קרבן פסח
20. Challengeרב שימי finishes: they argue about half a permitting factor
21. Resolutionרבא: the knife makes the blood holy
22. ProofA ברייתא about intent during removal, placement and conveying
23. RejectionNo, it means conveying to the vessel
24. ChallengeThen the order of the list is wrong
25. ResolutionTeach the ברייתא in the other order
26. ChallengeWhy Does the ברייתא Say 'Burning' Instead of 'Conveying'?
27. ResolutionThe Walk to the Altar Is Called Burning
28. ChallengeWhy Does the ברייתא Say 'Placed' Instead of 'Carried'?
29. ConclusionThe Difficulty Stays Unanswered
30. StatementBurning the קומץ One Sesame Seed at a Time: Three Opinions
31. QuestionSuggesting That Each View Follows a Different תנא
32. Rejectionרבי מאיר's case may be different
33. RejectionThe רבנן's case may be different
34. Rejectionרבי's case may be different
35. ConclusionEach view can be held by everyone
36. StatementThe reasoning of the view that says it is פיגול
37. StatementThe reasoning of the view that says it is פסול
38. ConclusionThe reasoning of the view that says it is כשר