Nazir 38a

נזיר ל״ח ע״א

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Topic

צירוף for a נזיר, and רבי אלעזר's list of ten רביעית measures

Overview

The גמרא first finishes with רבי שמעון, who does not hold of צירוף. For him, the פסוק 'מכל אשר יעשה' teaches that a person is only a נזיר if he vows to keep away from everything a נזיר must avoid. Then רבי אלעזר rules that a permitted liquid joins a forbidden one to make a רביעית only for a נזיר, learned from the word 'משרת'. The גמרא explains how he differs from רבי יוחנן: רבי יוחנן includes even solid foods, while רבי אלעזר speaks only of liquids. Next, רבי אלעזר lists ten cases measured by a רביעית. רב כהנא remembers them with a memory hook of five red ones (wine and blood) and five white ones (oil, water and other liquids), and the גמרא explains each case. Finally, the גמרא challenges the count with more רביעית cases. It answers that disputed cases are not counted, and that the small מקוה is left out because the רבנן cancelled it.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. QuestionWhat does רבי שמעון learn from 'anything that is made'?
2. ResponseThe פסוק teaches that a נזיר must accept all the prohibitions
3. StatementPermitted joins forbidden only for a נזיר's רביעית
4. QuestionHow is רבי אלעזר different from רבי יוחנן?
5. Responseרבי יוחנן includes foods; רבי אלעזר only liquids
6. StatementTen quarter-log cases and a memory hook
7. StatementThe memory hook for the five red cases
8. StatementRed case one: a נזיר's wine
9. StatementRed case two: the four cups at the פסח seder
10. StatementRed case three: no rulings after drinking wine
11. StatementRed case four: entering the Temple after wine
12. StatementRed case five: a quarter-log of blood from two dead people
13. StatementThe memory words for the five white cases
14. StatementWhite cases one to three: oil for loaves, oil for a נזיר, water for a מצורע
15. StatementWhite case four: impure liquids make the body unfit
16. StatementWhite case five: carrying liquids on Shabbat
17. ChallengeChallenge: what about washing hands with a quarter-log?
18. ResolutionAnswer: the list leaves out disputed cases
19. ChallengeChallenge: what about the water for a סוטה?
20. ResolutionSame answer: the סוטה case is disputed
21. ChallengeChallenge: what about water poured into urine?
22. ResolutionSame answer: the urine case is disputed
23. ChallengeChallenge: what about a tiny מקוה?
24. ResolutionAnswer: the רבנן cancelled the small מקוה