Moed Katan 5a

מועד קטן ה׳ ע״א

Learn Moed Katan 5a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Public needs on חול המועד: digging cisterns, and the sources for marking graves

Overview

The גמרא reads our משנה closely: on חול המועד one may clean out public water cisterns, but not dig new ones. רבי יוחנן limits this. The ban on digging applies only when the public does not need the cisterns. After a back-and-forth over several ברייתות, the גמרא sorts them all by need. When cisterns are needed, an individual may clean his and the public may even dig. When they are not needed, the public may not dig and an individual may not even clean. רב אשי then proves from the word "כל" in the משנה that digging for public needs is allowed. Next the גמרא turns to marking graves. רבי שמעון בן פזי finds a hint in יחזקאל, and many other אמוראים bring other פסוקים that teach the same idea: warn people away from danger and טומאה. רבי יהושע בן לוי draws a lesson about weighing one's ways, and a story about רבי ינאי's student begins, continuing on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementReading the משנה: cleaning out is allowed, digging is not
2. Statementרבי יוחנן: if the public needs it, even digging is allowed
3. ChallengeA ברייתא forbids digging public cisterns
4. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about pits the public does not need
5. ChallengeThe answer causes a problem for the individual's cisterns
6. ChallengeReading it the other way causes a problem for the public's cisterns
7. ResolutionRe-reading the first ברייתא: when the cisterns are needed
8. ResolutionRe-reading the first ברייתא: when the cisterns are not needed
9. Proofרב אשי's proof from the word "all" in the משנה
10. Rejection"All" may add the road and ritual bath repairs instead
11. ChallengeThose repairs are already written in the משנה
12. ConclusionConclusion: the משנה allows public digging
13. StatementA hint for marking graves from יחזקאל
14. ChallengeHow could people know this before יחזקאל?
15. Resolutionרב אשי points to the same problem with רב חסדא's teaching
16. ConclusionAn old tradition that יחזקאל attached to a פסוק
17. Proofרבי אבהו's source: impurity must call out
18. Proofרבי עוזיאל says the same idea
19. ChallengeThe מצורע's call is needed for a different lesson
20. ResolutionThe double word 'טמא' teaches both lessons
21. Proofאביי: Do not put a stumbling block before the blind
22. Proofרב פפא: Pave, pave, clear the way
23. Proofרב חיננא: Remove the stumbling block from My people's way
24. Proofרבי יהושע בריה דרב אידי: Show them the way to walk
25. Proofמר זוטרא's source: separate Israel from impurity
26. Proofרב אשי's source: make a safeguard for My charge
27. Proofרבינא's source: one who sets the way
28. StatementWhoever weighs his ways will see God's salvation
29. Statementרבי ינאי's student who held back his questions