Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 107b

פסחים ק״ז ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 107b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 107b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When the ban on eating on ערב פסח begins, and which snacks and drinks are still allowed

Overview

The משנה says that on ערב פסח, close to מנחה, a person may not eat until dark. The גמרא asks which time is meant. Close to מנחה גדולה would be because of the קרבן פסח. Close to מנחה קטנה would be so that he eats the מצה with appetite. רבינא proves from a ברייתא about King אגריפס that the משנה means מנחה קטנה. The גמרא challenges the proof, then answers that the ברייתא teaches that even אגריפס, with his late mealtime, is bound by the ban. Next, a sage rules that light snacks are still allowed. This is supported by רבי יצחק's practice, by a ברייתא about a waiter serving intestines to the guests, and by a hint from a פסוק in ירמיה. Finally, רבא drank wine all day on ערב פסח to build his appetite for מצה. He begins to bring a משנה as proof that wine whets the appetite, and that משנה is quoted on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

וְאָתֵי לְאִימְּנוֹעֵי מִלְּמִיעְבַּד פִּסְחָא.

and he will come to refrain from performing the Pesach offering.

אוֹ דִילְמָא, סָמוּךְ לְמִנְחָה קְטַנָּה תְּנַן —

Or perhaps we learned 'close to the lesser מנחה'

וּמִשּׁוּם מַצָּה,

and the reason is because of matza:

דִּילְמָא אָתֵי לְמֵיכְלַהּ לְמַצָּה

perhaps he will come to eat the matza

The steps (14)

  1. QuestionFirst option ends: the worry is about the קרבן פסח
  2. QuestionSecond option: the worry is about eating מצה with appetite
  3. Proofרבינא brings the case of King אגריפס
  4. ProofUnder the מנחה קטנה reading, אגריפס's restraint is special
  5. ProofUnder the מנחה גדולה reading, there is nothing special
  6. ConclusionConclusion: the משנה means close to מנחה קטנה
  7. ChallengeChallenge: אגריפס's meal would reach the forbidden time anyway
  8. ResolutionAnswer: we might have thought אגריפס's late schedule makes a difference
  9. StatementLight snacks are still allowed
  10. Statementרבי יצחק would snack on vegetables
  11. ProofA ברייתא supports snacking: the waiter serves intestines
  12. ProofA hint from a פסוק: prepare the ground first
  13. Statementרבא drank wine all day on ערב פסח
  14. Proofרבא starts to bring a source that wine builds appetite