Menachos 33b

מנחות ל״ג ע״ב

Menachot 33b

Learn Menachos 33b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 33b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Where the מזוזה goes on a doorway, and which doorways and structures need one

Overview

The גמרא explains שמואל's phrase 'the beginning of the upper third'. It means the מזוזה may not be lower than a third of the way down from the top beam. רבא says the מזוזה belongs in the outer טפח, nearest the street. One reason is so you meet it right away. Another is so it guards the whole house, and רבי חנינא adds that הקדוש ברוך הוא guards His servants from outside. רבא also rules that a מזוזה sunk a טפח deep is פסולה. A ברייתא suggested as support turns out to be about a second entrance behind the door. A reed doorframe must be set up before the מזוזה is placed in it, because of תעשה ולא מן העשוי. The גמרא then sorts out which structures need a מזוזה: broken entrances and a plain אכסדרה are פטור, a Roman portico is חייב, and a בי הרזיקי needs two. Finally, two pairs of אמוראים explain the dispute between רבי יוסי and חכמים about a gatehouse opening to a garden and a small room, and the second explanation finishes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. QuestionWhat did שמואל mean by 'the beginning of the upper third'?
2. ResponseIt is the farthest limit from the top beam
3. StatementPut the מזוזה in the outer handbreadth, near the street
4. QuestionWhy the outer handbreadth?
5. ResponseSo you meet the מזוזה right away
6. ResponseSo the מזוזה guards the whole house
7. StatementA human king is guarded from outside, but ה׳ guards us from outside
8. StatementA מזוזה sunk a handbreadth deep is invalid
9. ProofA ברייתא that may support רבא
10. RejectionThe ברייתא may be about a second entrance behind the door
11. ChallengeBut the ברייתא states the behind-the-door case on its own
12. ResolutionThe later line explains which case the earlier line meant
13. StatementPutting a מזוזה in a frame made of reeds
14. StatementThe frame must be set up before the tube is cut
15. StatementBroken entrances are exempt from מזוזה
16. QuestionWhat are broken entrances?
17. ResponseTwo opinions: no roof, or no lintel
18. StatementA portico is exempt from a מזוזה
19. ChallengeWould doorposts really make it obligated?
20. ResolutionEven with posts it is exempt
21. Proofאביי saw porticos at רבה's house without מזוזות
22. ChallengeA ברייתא says a portico needs a מזוזה
23. ResolutionThe ברייתא means a study-hall portico
24. ChallengeA study-hall portico is really a full room
25. ResolutionThe ברייתא means a Roman portico
26. StatementA בי הרזיקי needs two מזוזות
27. QuestionWhat is a בי הרזיקי?
28. ResponseA gatehouse between the courtyard and the houses
29. StatementA gatehouse that opens to a garden and to a small room
30. Statementרב and שמואל: the doorway toward the house needs a מזוזה according to everyone
31. Statementרב and שמואל: the argument is over the garden doorway
32. Statementרבה and רב יוסף: the garden doorway is exempt according to everyone
33. Statementרבה and רב יוסף: the argument is over the doorway toward the house