Menachos 86b

מנחות פ״ו ע״ב

Menachot 86b

Learn Menachos 86b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 86b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Oil for the מנורה and מנחות, the מנורה as a testimony of the שכינה, and choosing wine for נסכים

Overview

The גמרא first asks how the משנה can call two grades of oil 'equal' when only the first grade of each harvest is fit for the מנורה. רב נחמן בר יצחק answers that they are equal only for מנחות. A ברייתא then defines זך and כתית and proves from a פסוק that this top oil is also fit for מנחות. The Torah required it only for the מנורה, because it cares about the money of the Jewish people. Next comes a series of aggadic teachings: the oil is 'for you', the שולחן and מנורה stand apart, and the windows of the בית המקדש were narrow inside and wide outside. All of these show that הקב״ה does not need food or light. Instead, the light of the מנורה is a testimony that the שכינה rests in ישראל, shown by the miracle of the נר מערבי. A new משנה then ranks wine for נסכים: the best regions, wines not chosen at first but valid if brought, and wines that are פסול even if brought. It ends with rules for storing the wine and pouring it from the cask, and that last rule continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ChallengeHow can the two grades be called equal?
2. ResolutionThey are equal only for meal offerings
3. StatementWhat 'refined' and 'pounded' mean
4. ProofA פסוק shows pounded oil is fine for meal offerings
5. ChallengeThen why does the Torah say 'for lighting'?
6. ResolutionThe requirement is only for the מנורה, to save money
7. QuestionWhat does 'sparing' mean?
8. ResponseThe Torah cares about the money of the Jewish people
9. StatementThe oil is 'for you,' because God does not need light
10. StatementThe שולחן and מנורה stand apart, because הקב״ה does not need food or light
11. StatementThe Temple windows were narrow inside and wide outside
12. StatementThe מנורה's light is a testimony that the שכינה rests in ישראל
13. ProofGod does not need light, since He lit the way in the desert
14. QuestionWhat exactly was the testimony?
15. ResponseThe western lamp lasted longer than the others
16. StatementWhere the wine for libations came from
17. StatementWines not brought at first but valid if brought
18. StatementArgument about aged wine
19. StatementWines that are invalid even after the fact
20. StatementPreferred grapes: low on the ground, from tended vineyards
21. StatementStoring the wine in small casks that are not filled to the top
22. StatementNot taking the wine from the top of the cask