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Menachos 41a

מנחות מ״א ע״א

Menachot 41a

Learn Menachos 41a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 41a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

ציצית: the meaning of 'פטורה', folded cloaks, whether ציצית is a duty on the person or the garment, and repairing a torn טלית

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא about how big a garment must be to need ציצית. The ברייתא shows that a garment too small for ציצית is still bound by כלאים. So 'פטורה' in שמואל's statement must mean adding ציצית to a garment that already has them. Next, a ברייתא and a story about רבא בר רב נחמן deal with a folded cloak, and when the corners made by a fold count. רבה בר הונא then teaches that ציצית is a duty on the garment (חובת טלית), not only on the person wearing it. The גמרא tests this against an angel who scolded רב קטינא for dodging ציצית, and concludes that the angel held the duty is on the person. שמואל rules that garments stored in a box need ציצית, but a shroud is exempt. Even so, we attach ציצית at burial out of respect for the dead. The amud ends with the rules for sewing a torn טלית near its corner and for taking ציצית from elsewhere.

Opening lines

וְהַגָּדוֹל יוֹצֵא בָּהּ דֶּרֶךְ עֲרַאי –

and an adult goes out in it occasionally –

חַיֶּיבֶת בְּצִיצִית,

it is required to have fringes,

אֵין הַקָּטָן מִתְכַּסֶּה בּוֹ רֹאשׁוֹ וְרוּבּוֹ,

if a child cannot cover his head and most of his body with it,

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַגָּדוֹל יוֹצֵא בָּהּ עֲרַאי –

even though an adult goes out in it occasionally –

The steps (28)

  1. ChallengeThe ברייתא on the Minimum Size of a Tallit
  2. QuestionWhat Does 'The Same Applies to כלאים' Mean?
  3. Challengeכלאים Has No Leniency for Occasional Wear
  4. ResponseIt Means a Linen Garment with Wool Fringes
  5. Conclusion'Exempt' Means Adding Fringes to an Already-Fringed Garment
  6. ChallengeDidn't רבי זירא already say this?
  7. ResolutionOne statement was worked out from the other
  8. StatementA ברייתא on a folded cloak
  9. ChallengeWhy say the sewn case at all?
  10. ResolutionIt means a cloak held with pins
  11. StatementThe story of the folded cloak that came open
  12. StatementA fold is not a real corner, so he switches cloaks
  13. Statementציצית is a duty on the garment, not only on the wearer
  14. ProofA possible proof from the early pious men
  15. RejectionThe pious men were simply extra strict
  16. StatementAn angel's words suggest the opposite view
  17. Questionרב קטינא asks if one is punished for skipping a positive מצוה
  18. ResponseThe angel says punishment comes in a time of anger
  19. ChallengeThe story seems to fit only the view that ציצית is a duty on the person
  20. ChallengeEven a duty on the person would not cover a garment that is exempt
  21. ResolutionThe angel meant: you are using tricks to avoid ציצית
  22. StatementStored garments need ציצית, but an old man's shroud does not
  23. ResponseWhy the shroud is exempt
  24. StatementAt burial we still attach ציצית
  25. StatementSewing a טלית that tore near its corner
  26. ProofA ברייתא supports the ruling and shows a dispute
  27. StatementBoth agree: no attaching a patch that already has ציצית
  28. StatementBoth agree: strings themselves may be taken from elsewhere