Pesachim 115b

פסחים קט״ו ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 115b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The סדר: dipping and washing, eating מצה and מרור, the table, and לחם עוני

Overview

This amud continues the rules of dipping at the סדר. The גמרא first tries to prove from the washing of hands that the lettuce must be pushed fully into the חרוסת to kill the קפא, but rejects the proof: perhaps the smell is enough, and we wash only in case someone submerges it. רב פפא warns not to leave the מרור in the חרוסת too long, so its bitter taste is not lost. רבנא עוקבא teaches that one washes again for the second dipping. The רבנן and רב פפא argue whether this refers to an ordinary meal or to פסח night. The answer is that on פסח night the long הגדה and הלל may distract a person, so he washes again. רבא then teaches that swallowing מצה counts but swallowing מרור does not. Next comes the arrangement of the סדר table, where the הלכה follows רב הונא, and the removal of the table so the children will ask, as in the story of young אביי. The amud ends with שמואל's reading of לחם עוני, and a second reading that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementLettuce must be submerged in the חרוסת
2. ProofProof from the requirement to wash hands
3. RejectionMaybe the smell alone kills the poison
4. ChallengeThen why wash hands?
5. ResolutionWe wash in case someone submerges it
6. StatementDo not leave the מרור in the חרוסת too long
7. StatementWash again for the second dipping
8. StatementThe רבנן say it refers to an ordinary meal
9. ProofOn פסח one already guards his hands
10. Rejectionרב פפא says the opposite
11. ProofOnly פסח night has two dippings
12. ChallengeIf it was said about פסח night, why wash twice?
13. ResolutionHe may lose focus during the הגדה and touch something
14. StatementSwallowing works for מצה but not for מרור
15. StatementSwallowing מצה and מרור together, or wrapped in palm fiber
16. StatementEach person gets their own מצה, מרור, and חרוסת
17. Statementרב הונא: the foods are placed only before the leader
18. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רב הונא
19. QuestionWhy is the table removed?
20. ResponseSo the children notice and ask
21. QuestionYoung אביי asks why the table is being taken away
22. Responseרבה: you have exempted us from מה נשתנה
23. Statementשמואל: bread over which words are said
24. ProofA ברייתא supports שמואל
25. StatementAnother reading: the bread of a poor man