Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 13b

פסחים י״ג ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 13b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 13b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Selling deposited חמץ, and רבי יהודה's two תודה loaves on the Temple colonnade: where they sat, why they were called פסולות, and how they signaled the end of eating חמץ on ערב פסח.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier answer. Even the חכמים agree that a deposit facing unusual loss is sold through בית דין, and this is all the more true for חמץ, which becomes worthless after פסח. The גמרא then turns to רבי יהודה's two תודה loaves, which served as a public signal on ערב פסח. רב יהודה corrects a ברייתא to say the loaves sat 'על גג האיצטבא', on the roof of the colonnade, where everyone could see them. רחבא and a ברייתא add that הר הבית had a double colonnade. Next the גמרא asks why the loaves were called פסולות. רבי חנינא says so many תודות were brought on the thirteenth that leftovers became פסול through לינה, since no תודה is brought on the fourteenth or during פסח. רבי ינאי says the loaves were really כשרות but could not be eaten. After rejecting the lost-animal case, the גמרא settles on a case where the animal was slaughtered but its blood spilled, which works according to רבי or, in a narrower case, according to רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון. Finally, a תוספתא in the name of רבי אלעזר says the loaves were fit and describes the signal: eat, wait, then burn. אבא שאול's teaching begins at the end and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

בִּכְדֵי חֶסְרוֹנָן,

[that is only] when the loss is at the normal rate,

אֲבָל יוֹתֵר מִכְּדֵי חֶסְרוֹנָן —

but if the loss is more than the normal rate —

מוֹכְרָן בְּבֵית דִּין.

he sells them through the court.

וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן הָכָא,

And all the more so here [with חמץ],

The steps (30)

  1. Challengeאביי's challenge continues: with an unusual loss even the Sages agree to sell, all the more so for חמץ
  2. StatementQuoting רבי יהודה on the two loaves, and a ברייתא version saying 'on the bench'
  3. Challengeרב יהודה objects: the loaves were not meant to be hidden
  4. ResolutionCorrected wording: 'on the roof of the colonnade'
  5. Statementרחבא: הר הבית had a double colonnade
  6. ProofA ברייתא supports the double colonnade
  7. QuestionWhy were the two loaves disqualified?
  8. Responseרבי חנינא: there were so many that leftovers became disqualified by לינה
  9. ProofWhy so many: no תודה may be brought during פסח
  10. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
  11. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about the fourteenth of ניסן
  12. ConclusionSo everyone brought תודות on the thirteenth
  13. Responseרבי ינאי: the loaves were actually kosher
  14. ChallengeSo slaughter the animal!
  15. ResolutionThe animal was lost
  16. ChallengeSo bring another animal!
  17. ResolutionHe tied these loaves to that specific animal
  18. Proofרבה's rule: replace bread, not the תודה
  19. ResponseThe bread depends on the תודה
  20. ChallengeWhy not just redeem the loaves?
  21. ResolutionThe animal was slaughtered but its blood spilled
  22. QuestionWhose view is this?
  23. ResponseIt follows רבי: each permitting act works on its own
  24. ProofThe ברייתא about the שבועות lambs: the basic rule
  25. ProofProper slaughter alone makes the bread partly holy
  26. Statementרבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון: both acts are needed
  27. ResolutionEven רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון fits: the blood was caught and then spilled
  28. ResolutionThe reason: blood ready to be sprinkled counts as sprinkled
  29. StatementA ברייתא: the loaves were fit and served as a signal
  30. StatementIntroducing אבא שאול's teaching