Gemara Clarity

Nazir 35b

נזיר ל״ה ע״ב

Learn Nazir 35b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nazir 35b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The rules of כלל and פרט (and מיעט וריבה) applied to חיה and to a נזיר, and רבי יוחנן's rule that היתר combines with איסור only for a נזיר

Overview

The amud opens with the end of רבא's statement that a חיה is included in the category of בהמה. רב יהודה מדיסקרתא challenges him. The פסוק names only cattle and sheep, so by the rules of פרט and כלל only things like those examples are included. The גמרא brings a ברייתא about spending מעשר שני money as the source for the rule that we include only things similar to the detail. It then asks why a כלל ופרט וכלל needs its last כלל, and why a פרט וכלל ופרט needs its last פרט, and answers both. Next it explains how these two methods differ: one needs similarity in only one way, the other in two ways. It also compares פרט וכלל with מיעט וריבה, using the leaves and tendrils of the vine forbidden to a נזיר. Finally, רבי אבהו quotes רבי יוחנן: in all Torah prohibitions, permitted food does not combine with forbidden food toward the minimum amount, except for a נזיר, learned from the word ״משרת״.

Opening lines

חַיָּה בִּכְלַל בְּהֵמָה.

A wild animal is included in the category of animal.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ:

He said to him:

חַיָּה בִּכְלַל בְּהֵמָה?

A wild animal is included in animal?

הָא כְּתִיב ״בָּקָר וָצֹאן״,

But it is written 'cattle and sheep,'

The steps (14)

  1. StatementA wild animal is included in the category of animal
  2. ChallengeThe listed examples are cattle and sheep, so only similar things are included
  3. QuestionWhere do we learn that only similar things are included
  4. ResponseThe ברייתא on spending מעשר שני money: general, detail, general
  5. ResponseThe detail defines what the generalizations include
  6. ChallengeWhy is the second generalization needed?
  7. ResolutionThe last generalization adds similar items
  8. ChallengeWhy is the second detail needed?
  9. ResolutionThe last detail keeps the generalization from widening
  10. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two rules?
  11. ResponseHow two generalizations differ from two details
  12. QuestionAsking how detail-then-generalization differs from restriction-then-amplification
  13. ResponseLeaves and tendrils show the difference
  14. StatementFor a נזיר alone, permitted food combines with forbidden food