Moed Katan 15a

מועד קטן ט״ו ע״א

Learn Moed Katan 15a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which mourning practices of an אבל also apply to a מנודה and to a מצורע.

Overview

The גמרא goes through the mourning practices of an אבל one at a time: haircuts, wrapping the head, תפילין, greeting people, learning Torah, laundering and tearing clothes. For each practice it first gives the source for the אבל, usually from what ה׳ told יחזקאל or the sons of אהרן. Then it asks whether the same rule applies to a מנודה and to a מצורע. A ברייתא forbids both of them to cut their hair or launder, and adds that בית דין places a stone on the coffin of a מנודה who dies in his ban. Several proofs about the מנודה are pushed away by אביי or others, and some questions end in תיקו. Still, a ברייתא shows that a מנודה may learn Torah, while a מוחרם may only learn alone. For the מצורע, פסוקים and ברייתות show that he wraps his head, may not greet, must tear his clothes, and may learn Torah. The amud ends by stating that an אבל must overturn his bed, with בר קפרא's teaching continuing on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (48)

1. QuestionCan a banned person or a leper get a haircut?
2. ResponseA ברייתא says they may not cut hair or launder
3. StatementWhen a banned person dies, the court stones his coffin
4. Statementרבי יהודה: only one large stone, not a heap
5. StatementA mourner must wrap his head
6. ProofProof from what ה׳ told יחזקאל
7. QuestionMust a banned person wrap his head?
8. Proofרב יוסף's proof from the people fasting for rain
9. Rejectionאביי: someone banned by Heaven may be different
10. QuestionDoes a leper have to cover his head?
11. ResponseThe verse shows a leper must cover his head
12. StatementA mourner may not put on תפילין
13. ProofProof from ה׳'s command to יחזקאל
14. Questionתפילין for a banned person: left unresolved
15. QuestionDoes a מצורע wear תפילין?
16. ProofA ברייתא: רבי אליעזר on the מצורע's clothes and head
17. Proofרבי עקיבא: 'his head' means something outside the body, maybe תפילין
18. Rejectionרב פפא: The head covering could be a cap or scarf, not תפילין
19. StatementA mourner may not greet people
20. QuestionMay a person in נידוי greet people?
21. Proofרב יוסף: People rebuked by Heaven may not greet each other
22. Rejectionאביי: Being rebuked by Heaven is more serious
23. QuestionMay a מצורע greet people?
24. ProofA ברייתא: The מצורע keeps his lips closed and does not greet
25. ConclusionConclusion: A מצורע may not greet people
26. ProofUsing the מצורע ruling to settle the מנודה question
27. RejectionThe comparison is about other things, not greeting
28. StatementAn אבל may not learn Torah
29. QuestionMay a מנודה learn Torah?
30. ResponseA מנודה may learn and teach Torah
31. StatementA מוחרם may only learn by himself
32. Statementרב explains the small store
33. ConclusionA מנודה may learn Torah
34. QuestionMay a מצורע learn Torah?
35. ResponseTorah must be learned with awe like at Sinai
36. StatementWho may and may not learn Torah
37. ConclusionA מצורע may learn Torah
38. StatementAn אבל may not launder clothes
39. QuestionMay ostracized people and lepers launder their clothes?
40. ResponseA ברייתא forbids them to cut hair and launder
41. ConclusionConclusion: they may not launder
42. StatementA mourner must tear his clothes
43. QuestionMust an ostracized person tear his clothes?
44. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
45. QuestionMust a leper tear his clothes?
46. ResponseThe פסוק says a leper's clothes are torn
47. ConclusionConclusion: a leper must tear
48. StatementA mourner must overturn his bed