Menachos 52a

מנחות נ״ב ע״א

Menachot 52a

Learn Menachos 52a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

מעילה on the red heifer's ashes, funding communal sin-offerings, and the חביתין after the כהן גדול dies

Overview

The גמרא finishes a ברייתא saying that by Torah law there is no מעילה on the ashes of the פרה אדומה. רב אשי explains that the חכמים first added מעילה because people disrespected the ashes, then removed it when people stopped sprinkling in doubtful cases. Next, רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון argue over whether the פר העלם דבר של ציבור and the שעירי עבודה זרה are paid for by a new collection or from the תרומת הלשכה. A ברייתא from רבה זוטי shows that רבי שמעון is the one who says they come from the תרומת הלשכה. The גמרא then returns to the משנה. רבי יוחנן asks whether, after the כהן גדול dies, the חביתין is brought as a full portion in the afternoon too or is cancelled. רבא's proof from the eighth כהן is rejected by רבי ירמיה, and רבא then brings a proof from a פסוק. A ברייתא settles it: a full portion in the morning and a full portion in the afternoon. Finally, אבא יוסי בן דוסתאי and the רבנן argue over how much לבונה goes with the חביתין, and רבי יוחנן begins a new question about a כהן גדול who died, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ChallengeThe ברייתא ends: no מעילה on the heifer's ashes
2. Resolutionרב אשי: the first תקנה added מעילה to the ashes
3. ResolutionThe second תקנה returned to Torah law
4. StatementHow the special communal sin-offerings are funded
5. ChallengeAnother ברייתא reports the opposite opinions
6. ResponseThe חכמים say the first version is the later one
7. Rejectionרב אשי says the second version could also be the later one
8. QuestionSo what is the final conclusion?
9. ResponseA ברייתא shows רבי שמעון says the chamber funds pay
10. StatementQuoting the משנה: the full חביתין offering
11. QuestionFull portion twice a day, or only in the morning?
12. ProofThe eighth כהן always carries the חביתין
13. Rejectionרבי ירמיה sharply rejects the proof
14. ChallengeThe seventh and ninth כהנים can also come up empty
15. RejectionThe משנה does not deal with unusual cases
16. Statementרבא complains about which teachings get repeated
17. Proofרבא's strong proof from the verse
18. QuestionWhat is the final ruling?
19. ResponseA full portion in the morning and a full portion in the afternoon
20. StatementA new dispute about the חביתין
21. StatementTwo handfuls of frankincense or one handful split in half
22. QuestionWhat is the root of their disagreement?
23. ResponseEach side's reasoning about the handful of לבונה
24. Questionרבי יוחנן's question: a כהן גדול died and no replacement was appointed