Gemara Clarity

Moed Katan 6a

מועד קטן ו׳ ע״א

Learn Moed Katan 6a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Moed Katan 6a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Reading grave markers, and when and how the court removes כלאים

Overview

The גמרא finishes discussing a field where a grave was lost. It explains why trees in the field show that the grave area was plowed. רבי יהודה adds that we rely on this only when a זקן or תלמיד can confirm it. From this, אביי learns that a תלמיד חכם is responsible for his town's affairs. Next, רב יהודה and רבי אסי teach how to read marked stones and marked field borders. The basis for this is that a ציון is always placed right next to the טומאה. The גמרא then turns to our משנה's rule that inspectors go out for כלאים on חול המועד. It reconciles this with the משנה in שקלים about going out in אדר, and explains that workers are cheaper on חול המועד. That shows the workers are paid from the תרומת הלשכה. Finally, the גמרא starts to ask how much mixture counts as כלאים, and the answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְדִלְמָא טוּמְאָה מִגַּוַּאי

But perhaps the ritual impurity was on the inside

וְאִילָנוֹת מִבָּרַאי?

and the trees were on the outside?

בִּמְסוּבָּכִין.

Where the trees are scattered throughout.

וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא, הָא אֲמַרַן:

And if you wish, say: we already said:

The steps (19)

  1. ChallengeMaybe the grave is inside and the trees are outside
  2. ResolutionThe trees are spread throughout the field
  3. ResolutionA grave marker is placed close to the grave
  4. StatementSomeone knowledgeable must confirm the facts
  5. StatementA Torah scholar is responsible for his town
  6. StatementHow to read marked stones
  7. ChallengeA ברייתא that seems to depend on plowing, not lime
  8. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about lime poured on top of the stones
  9. StatementHow to read a field with marked borders
  10. ProofWhy four marked borders mean the field is impure
  11. StatementThe משנה's rule: inspectors go out for כלאים on חול המועד
  12. ChallengeContradiction: the court already goes out for כלאים in אדר
  13. ResolutionTwo answers: the משניות are talking about different crops
  14. Statementרבי יוחנן limits the אדר rule to when the blossom is not yet recognizable
  15. QuestionWhy go out specifically during the intermediate days of the Festival?
  16. ResponseWorkers are cheaper during the intermediate days
  17. StatementInference: the workers are paid from the Temple fund
  18. QuestionHow much mixture counts as diverse kinds?
  19. Responseרב שמואל בר יצחק points to a משנה in כלאים