Pesachim 121b

פסחים קכ״א ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 121b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 121b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Who recites the ברכה of שהחיינו at a פדיון הבן: the כהן or the father (אבי הבן)?

Overview

The last piece of מסכת פסחים is a story about רבי שמלאי at a פדיון הבן. The people there ask him about the ברכות. They say it is obvious that the father recites the ברכה on the מצוה itself, 'על פדיון הבן'. Their real question is who recites שהחיינו. Is it the כהן, who gains the five סלעים, or the father, who does the מצוה? רבי שמלאי does not know, so he asks in the בית המדרש. They answer that the father recites both ברכות, and the גמרא rules this as הלכה. The amud ends with the הדרן, which closes פרק ערבי פסחים and the whole מסכת פסחים.

Opening lines

The steps (6)

1. Statementרבי שמלאי at a פדיון הבן, and the obvious first blessing
2. QuestionWho says שהחיינו: the כהן or the father?
3. QuestionThe reasoning behind each side
4. ResponseThe study hall answers: the father says both
5. ConclusionThe final ruling: the father recites two blessings
6. Conclusionהדרן — Closing ערבי פסחים and מסכת פסחים