Niddah 50a

נדה נ׳ ע״א

Learn Niddah 50a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 50a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Blind judges and the הקש of ריבים to נגעים, then which foods are subject to טומאת אוכלין, מעשרות and פאה.

Overview

The גמרא shows that the rule against a blind judge comes from רבי מאיר. In a ברייתא, he links ריבים (court cases) and נגעים (leprous marks) through one פסוק. Rules pass both ways: day only, no blind person, no relatives. A פסוק shows that one כהן is enough for נגעים, so the three-judge rule does not carry over. The גמרא then asks why רבי יוחנן did not object to a blind judge in his neighborhood. The answer is that he relied on another סתם משנה: money cases may be finished at night. That breaks the comparison to נגעים, and this משנה carries more weight. Two new משניות follow. Everything tithed can become טמא as food, but meat, fish and eggs become טמא without being tithed. Everything with פאה is tithed, but figs and vegetables are tithed without פאה, which the גמרא proves by comparing the conditions for פאה and for מעשרות. Garlic and onions do need פאה. The amud ends as רבי יוחנן begins a ruling about endives planted for animals and later meant for people, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. Responseרבי מאיר links disputes to leprous marks: both only by day
2. StatementNo blind person, for leprous marks or for court cases
3. StatementThe comparison works the other way too: no relatives
4. ChallengeShould leprous marks also need three כהנים?
5. ResolutionA פסוק shows one כהן is enough
6. StatementA blind man judged near רבי יוחנן, who said nothing
7. ChallengeHow could רבי יוחנן allow it, given his own rule?
8. ChallengeThe unnamed משנה that disqualifies a judge blind in one eye
9. Resolutionרבי יוחנן relied on a different unnamed משנה
10. QuestionWhy does one unnamed משנה beat the other?
11. ResponseTwo reasons the משנה about money cases wins
12. StatementNew משנה: food that needs tithes can become impure
13. QuestionWhat does the last clause of the previous משנה add?
14. ResponseMeat, fish and eggs
15. StatementEverything subject to פאה is also subject to tithes
16. QuestionWhat does the last clause add here?
17. ResponseFigs and vegetables
18. ProofThe five-part rule for פאה
19. StatementWhat each condition leaves out
20. ProofThe tithe list leaves out two of the פאה conditions
21. StatementGarlic and onions among the vegetables do need פאה
22. ProofProof from the משנה about onion beds
23. StatementEndives first planted for animals, then meant for people