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Menachos 32b

מנחות ל״ב ע״ב

Menachot 32b

Learn Menachos 32b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 32b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Rules for writing and placing a מזוזה and תפילין (surface, שרטוט, writing by heart, placement), plus honoring a ספר תורה

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an answer: תפילין that were 'changed' are פסול when written on the wrong side, such as on דוכסוסטוס on the flesh side. A second answer says the ruling that a change is פסול is disputed among תנאים. The גמרא then asks how worn תפילין could ever become a מזוזה, since a מזוזה needs שרטוט, and answers that רבי ירמיה holds neither one needs it. The final הלכה is that a מזוזה needs שרטוט, תפילין do not, and both may be written by heart. Next comes a report that רב הונא would not sit on a bed with a ספר תורה on it, while רבי יוחנן permits it and explains away a story about רבי אלעזר. The amud returns to מזוזה: one written casually like a letter is פסולה, one hung on a stick is פסולה because it must be 'upon your gates', and the household of King מונבז did this only as a reminder. Finally, שמואל says the מזוזה belongs inside the doorway's opening, and the גמרא begins explaining why that is not obvious; the answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּכַתְבִינְהוּ אַדּוּכְסוּסְטוֹס בִּמְקוֹם בָּשָׂר.

where he wrote them on dukhsustos, on the side of the flesh.

וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא:

And if you wish, say:

שִׁינָּה בָּזֶה וּבָזֶה תַּנָּאֵי הִיא,

'he changed in this or in that' is a dispute of tanna'im,

דְּתַנְיָא: שִׁינָּה בָּזֶה וּבָזֶה – פָּסוּל,

as it is taught: if he changed in this or in that, it is unfit;

The steps (18)

  1. ResolutionFinishing the answer: תפילין written on the flesh side of דוכסוסטוס
  2. ResolutionSecond answer: תנאים argue about changing the writing surface
  3. ChallengeChallenge: a מזוזה needs שרטוט, so how could תפילין become one?
  4. ResolutionAnswer: a תנא holds neither תפילין nor מזוזות need שרטוט
  5. ConclusionThe final ruling on scoring lines and writing by heart
  6. Statementרב הונא would not sit on a bed with a ספר תורה on it
  7. Statementרבי יוחנן permits sitting on such a bed
  8. ChallengeA story that seems to go against רבי יוחנן
  9. ResolutionIn that story the ספר תורה was on the ground
  10. StatementA מזוזה written casually like a letter is invalid
  11. StatementA מזוזה hung on a stick is invalid
  12. QuestionAsking for the reason
  13. ResponseThe verse requires it to be on the gates
  14. ProofA ברייתא supports this ruling
  15. StatementKing מונבז's household hung מזוזות on sticks as a reminder
  16. StatementThe מזוזה belongs inside the opening of the doorway
  17. ChallengeIsn't this obvious from the verse?
  18. ResolutionBeginning the answer: we might have thought otherwise because of רבא