Menachos 21a

מנחות כ״א ע״א

Menachot 21a

Learn Menachos 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 21a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Salting offerings: which items need salt, the status of cooked and congealed blood, and how salt is applied

Overview

The גמרא first fixes a list by taking out wood and putting in wine libations. It backs this up with a ברייתא saying that wine, blood, wood and קטורת need no salt. That ברייתא fits neither רבי nor the רבנן, so the גמרא says it follows רבי ישמעאל בנו של רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה. In his view, an item needs salt only if it can become טמא, is burned in the fire, and is offered on the outer מזבח. The גמרא then asks why a פסוק is needed to exempt blood, since salted blood counts as cooked and is no longer 'blood'. This leads to a discussion of cooked and congealed blood: when eating it still breaks the איסור of blood, the split between outer and inner חטאות, and רבא's and רב פפא's view that congealed blood stays forbidden. A short side topic asks when blood on the skin blocks טבילה. Finally the גמרא returns to the salt פסוק. It explains what kind of salt to use and how to salt a limb: salt both sides, then offer it. אביי adds that the same method works for meat before it goes into a pot.

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. ResolutionRemove wood and put in wine libations
2. ProofA ברייתא: wine, blood, wood and incense need no salt
3. QuestionWhose view is this ברייתא? Neither side fits
4. ResolutionIt follows רבי ישמעאל בנו של רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה
5. ConclusionWhy wood, wine, blood and incense are left out
6. ChallengeWhy would we ever think blood needs salt?
7. ProofRoasted limbs are not a pleasing aroma
8. ResolutionMaybe a tiny sprinkle of salt for the מצוה
9. StatementBack to זעירי's rule about cooked blood
10. Challengeאביי objects: curdled blood still makes one liable
11. ResolutionFire-curdled versus sun-curdled blood
12. ChallengeEven sun-curdled blood should be pushed away
13. ResolutionOuter versus inner חטאות
14. Proofרב חסדא proves the outer/inner split from the פסוקים
15. Statementרבא's own view: even congealed blood of inner sin offerings makes one liable
16. Statementרב פפא extends this to congealed donkey blood
17. StatementBlood on the body interposes whether moist or dry
18. ChallengeA ברייתא says moist blood does not interpose
19. ResolutionSticking blood interposes; loose blood does not
20. QuestionWhy does the verse say "you shall season"?
21. ResponseThe two words teach how to apply real salt
22. Statement"Do not omit salt": bring salt that never runs out
23. QuestionWhat if there is no Sodom salt?
24. Response"You shall offer": any salt, from anywhere, on שבת and in טומאה
25. QuestionWhat does the word in the ברייתא mean?
26. ResponseMixing salt in like straw in clay
27. ChallengeThen the word should have been different
28. ResponsePiling salt layer upon layer like a building
29. ChallengeThen it should have said 'build it'
30. ResponseRead the word in a different way
31. QuestionWhat does the new reading mean?
32. ResponseSoaking the taste through, like understanding
33. StatementHow the limb is actually salted
34. StatementThe same method for meat in a pot