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Nazir 37a

נזיר ל״ז ע״א

Learn Nazir 37a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether ״מִשְׁרַת״ teaches היתר מצטרף לאיסור or טעם כעיקר, and where each side learns the other rule.

Overview

אביי presses רב דימי: if permitted food joins forbidden food (היתר מצטרף לאיסור), a case where the חולין is the majority makes sense, but under רב דימי's reason (כזית בכדי אכילת פרס) it should make no difference. רב דימי answers that תרומה nowadays is only דרבנן, so it proves nothing. אביי then suggests that ״מִשְׁרַת״ might teach טעם כעיקר instead. He brings a ברייתא that reads it that way and extends the rule to all prohibitions by a קל וחומר from נזיר to כלאי הכרם and ערלה. A scholar answers that רבי אבהו's teaching follows רבי עקיבא. The גמרא finds the right source for this: not the משנה, which is unclear, but a ברייתא where a כזית of bread and wine together makes a נזיר liable. The גמרא then asks where רבי עקיבא learns טעם כעיקר, and answers that he learns it from בשר בחלב. The רבנן reject that source because בשר בחלב is a חידוש: soaking meat in milk is permitted, but cooking it is forbidden. Since רבי עקיבא must also agree it is a חידוש, the גמרא begins a new answer for him that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

בִּשְׁלָמָא לְדִידִי דְּאָמֵינָא

Granted, according to me, as I say

מִשּׁוּם דְּהֶיתֵּר מִצְטָרֵף לְאִיסּוּר,

that it is because permitted food combines with forbidden food,

כְּגוֹן דִּנְפִישִׁי חוּלִּין.

[I can say the case is] for example where the non-sacred food is more.

אֶלָּא לְדִידָךְ דְּאָמְרַתְּ

But according to you, who say

The steps (22)

  1. Challengeאביי: Your explanation can't handle a majority of non-sacred dough
  2. Resolutionרב דימי: תרומה nowadays is only rabbinic
  3. Challengeאביי: Maybe ״מִשְׁרַת״ teaches that taste counts like substance
  4. ChallengeThe גמרא is surprised that אביי switched sides
  5. Resolutionאביי spoke only after רב דימי had answered him
  6. StatementThe ברייתא: ״מִשְׁרַת״ teaches that taste counts like substance
  7. ProofThe קל וחומר from נזיר to כלאי הכרם
  8. StatementThe same reasoning works for ערלה
  9. ResolutionA scholar says רבי אבהו follows רבי עקיבא
  10. QuestionWhich teaching of רבי עקיבא?
  11. ResponseFirst suggestion: רבי עקיבא in the משנה
  12. RejectionMaybe the משנה means a full כזית of wine
  13. ChallengeThen what would רבי עקיבא be adding?
  14. ResolutionThe point is to argue with the תנא קמא
  15. ResponseThe source is רבי עקיבא in a ברייתא
  16. ChallengeWhere does רבי עקיבא learn טעם כעיקר?
  17. ResolutionHe learns טעם כעיקר from בשר בחלב
  18. ResolutionThe Rabbis do not learn from meat and milk because it is a one-of-a-kind law
  19. ChallengeWhat is the novelty? Not 'each alone is fine but together forbidden,' since mixed kinds is the same
  20. ResolutionThe novelty: soaking all day is permitted, but cooking is forbidden
  21. Challengeרבי עקיבא should also agree that meat and milk is a novelty
  22. ResolutionOpening a new answer for רבי עקיבא's source