Menachos 56b

מנחות נ״ו ע״ב

Menachot 56b

Learn Menachos 56b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 56b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Damaging what is already damaged (חמץ, castration, adding a מום), and liability for leavening that finishes by itself

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a ברייתא about a sick בכור. One opinion allows letting its blood, and רבי יהודה forbids it even if the animal will die. רבי יוחנן explains where that argument applies. Everyone agrees that leavening an already-leavened מנחה is punishable, and so is castrating an animal that was already castrated. The only argument is about adding a מום to an animal that already has one. רבי מאיר forbids it, based on 'כל מום לא יהיה בו'. The רבנן allow it, based on 'תמים יהיה לרצון'. The גמרא then shows how each side uses the other side's words: רבי מאיר uses 'תמים' for redeemed פסולי המוקדשין, and the רבנן use 'כל מום' to forbid causing a מום indirectly. Finally, רבי אמי rules that someone who puts שאור on a מנחה dough that then rises by itself is חייב, like on שבת. The גמרא begins to challenge this from רבה בר בר חנה, and that challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (14)

1. StatementLetting blood of a sick firstborn: the end of the ברייתא
2. StatementEveryone agrees: leavening an already-leavened מנחה is punishable
3. StatementEveryone agrees: castrating an already-castrated animal is punishable
4. ProofHow the פסוק teaches castration after castration
5. StatementThe real argument: adding a מום to an animal that already has one
6. ChallengeWhat does רבי מאיר do with the other פסוק?
7. ResolutionFirst answer: it excludes an animal born blemished
8. RejectionAn animal born blemished needs no פסוק
9. ResolutionFinal answer: it excludes redeemed פסולי המוקדשין
10. ChallengeWhat do the רבנן do with 'כל מום'?
11. ResolutionThe רבנן need that פסוק for a ברייתא
12. StatementYou may not cause a מום even indirectly
13. StatementLeaven placed on dough that rises by itself
14. ChallengeIs one really liable on שבת in such a case?