Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 108a

פסחים ק״ח ע״א

Learn Pesachim 108a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 108a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Wine and appetite, רב ששת's fast on ערב פסח, and the laws of הסיבה at the סדר

Overview

This amud first finishes an earlier debate: does wine fill you up (מסעד סעיד) or make you hungrier (מגרר גריר)? The גמרא proves from a משנה about extra drinking between the cups that wine whets the appetite. Next it reports that רב ששת fasted all day on ערב פסח. The גמרא suggests a legal reason: the eating ban protects the קרבן פסח, and בן בתירא allows the פסח all day. It then rejects this, because רב ששת was simply delicate and needed an appetite at night. The amud then turns to הסיבה (reclining). מצה needs הסיבה, מרור does not, and all four cups need it. It explains that one must lean left, not on the back or to the right. It then rules on who must recline: a wife, a son, a תלמיד before his רב, and a שמש. Finally, רבי יהושע בן לוי says women are obligated in the four cups, and the reason continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

בֵּין הַכּוֹסוֹת הַלָּלוּ

Between these cups

אִם רָצָה לִשְׁתּוֹת — יִשְׁתֶּה,

if he wants to drink, he may drink,

בֵּין שְׁלִישִׁי לִרְבִיעִי — לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה.

between the third and the fourth, he may not drink.

וְאִי אָמְרַתְּ מִסְעָד סָעֵיד,

And if you say it (wine) satisfies,

The steps (25)

  1. ProofQuoting the משנה about drinking between the four cups
  2. ChallengeIf wine filled you up, extra cups would ruin the מצה
  3. ConclusionConclusion: wine whets the appetite
  4. Statementרב ששת fasted the entire day before פסח
  5. QuestionSuggested reason, part one: the ban is about the Pesach offering
  6. QuestionSuggested reason, part two: בן בתירא allows the פסח from morning
  7. QuestionBen Beteira's reading of 'bein ha'arbayim'
  8. Rejectionרב ששת fasted for a personal reason
  9. Statementהסיבה: מצה yes, מרור no
  10. ChallengeTwo opposite reports about wine
  11. ResolutionEach report refers to different cups
  12. ResolutionVersion one: the first two cups need reclining
  13. ResolutionVersion two: the last two cups need reclining
  14. ConclusionAll four cups require reclining
  15. StatementLying on the back or leaning right is not proper reclining
  16. StatementWho must recline: a wife and a son
  17. QuestionWhat about a student with his teacher?
  18. Responseאביי reports that רב יוסף exempted students
  19. ChallengeA ברייתא says even a student must recline
  20. ResolutionThe ברייתא means a craftsman's apprentice
  21. QuestionWhat is the rule for a waiter?
  22. ResponseA waiter who ate מצה while reclining has fulfilled his obligation
  23. ProofReading the exact wording: only reclining works
  24. ConclusionConfirmed: a waiter must recline
  25. StatementWomen are obligated in the four cups