Pesachim 110b

פסחים ק״י ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 110b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

זוגות — the danger of pairs: its source, who is affected, its limits, and which cups count together

Overview

This amud opens with the end of a counter-spell against witches. The גמרא then discusses זוגות, the danger of doing things in pairs. In ארץ ישראל people were not careful about pairs, but רב דימי מנהרדעא was, and his barrel burst. The rule is that whoever is careful about pairs is affected by them, though everyone should still be somewhat cautious. רב דימי reports that four items in pairs are a הלכה למשה מסיני. Since one of the four is unknown, the רבנן forbade all pairs. Larger even numbers are safe from מזיקין but not from כשפים, as the story of the man who died after losing count at sixteen cups shows. The גמרא then limits the concern: things finished by people, a store, a guest, someone who changed his mind, and an ordinary woman are exempt. It closes with rules for which cups count together: אִיסְפָּרָגוֹס, wine with beer, cups before and during the meal (debated by רב משרשיא), and finally diluted drinks, a rule that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. StatementEnd of the counter-spell against the witches
2. StatementIn the Land of Israel people were not careful about pairs
3. Proofרב דימי מנהרדעא was careful even about barrel marks, and a barrel burst
4. ConclusionThe rule: whoever is careful is affected, but everyone should still be cautious
5. Statementרב דימי's report: four pairs are a law given to Moses at Sinai
6. StatementBecause the fourth item is unknown, the רבנן forbade all pairs
7. ConclusionLarger even numbers are safe only from demons, not from witchcraft
8. ProofThe story of the divorced man, the wine shop, and sixteen cups
9. StatementPlates and loaves are not a problem of pairs
10. StatementThe general rule: made by people versus made by Heaven
11. StatementMore cases with no concern of pairs: store, change of mind, guest, woman
12. StatementThe spiced drink helps but never hurts
13. StatementWhat to do when unsure about pairs: two versions
14. StatementWine joins beer, but beer does not join wine
15. StatementA memory aid from the laws of טומאה
16. StatementCups before the meal and cups during the meal
17. ChallengeThe danger is about the person, not the table
18. StatementTwo cups at the table and one after it do not combine
19. ProofSupport from the incident with רבה בר נחמני
20. StatementAny diluted drink combines