Niddah 51b

נדה נ״א ע״ב

Learn Niddah 51b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Niddah 51b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether flavorings like dill count as food, followed by a series of one-way rules in the משניות (priestly gifts, שביעית, kosher signs, ברכות)

Overview

The amud begins with dill (שבת). It is obligated in פאה, so it is obligated in מעשר and gets טומאת אוכלין. That seems to show that anything used for flavor counts as food. The גמרא challenges this from a משנה about spices: רבי עקיבא says they are not impure as food, and in the final vote they are not treated as food at all. רב חסדא answers that dill is different because it is eaten in a dip (כמך). רב כהנא adds that ordinary dill is assumed to be for a dip, and he proves it from a משנה about תרומה dill. Next comes a series of משניות with one-way rules: every X is Y, but not every Y is X. They cover ראשית הגז and the מתנות, ביעור and שביעית, scales and fins, horns and hooves. The גמרא explains why roots need no ביעור, and why the תורה writes 'fins' when scales are the real sign. The last משנה says anything with a ברכה after has a ברכה before. The גמרא searches for an example of 'before only', and its final answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. StatementDill is obligated in פאה, so it is obligated in מעשר
2. ProofSo anything used for flavor becomes impure as food
3. ChallengeContradiction: רבי עקיבא says spices are not impure as food
4. Challengeרבי יוחנן בן נורי: the two laws should go together
5. ChallengeThe final vote: spices are neither bought with מעשר money nor impure as food
6. Resolutionרב חסדא: the teaching is about dill prepared for a spice dip
7. Resolutionרב כהנא: ordinary dill is also meant for a dip
8. ProofProof from a משנה: dill that already flavored a pot loses its status
9. ProofThe inference: before cooking, dill is food, so its ordinary use must be a dip
10. ConclusionConclusion: the proof is accepted
11. StatementFirst shearing and the priestly gifts
12. StatementRemoval from the house and Seventh-Year holiness
13. StatementExamples: the leaves versus the roots
14. ProofWhy the roots need no removal
15. StatementScales always come with fins, horns always come with hooves
16. StatementWhich fish are kosher
17. ChallengeWhy does the תורה need to write fins?
18. ResolutionWithout 'fins' we would think scales means fins
19. QuestionHow do we know which word means scales?
20. Responseגָּלְיָת's armor proves קשקשת is a covering
21. ChallengeThen why write fins at all?
22. ResolutionTo make the תורה great and glorious
23. StatementNew משנה: blessing after means blessing before
24. QuestionWhat does the second part include?
25. ResponseIt includes vegetables
26. ChallengeBut רבי יצחק says vegetables get a blessing after
27. ResponseIt includes water
28. ChallengeBut רב פפא says water gets a blessing after
29. ResponseIt includes מצוות
30. ChallengeBut in ארץ ישראל they bless after removing תפילין