Pesachim 15a

פסחים ט״ו ע״א

Learn Pesachim 15a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 15a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Where does רבי מאיר learn that on ערב פסח one may burn pure תרומה together with impure תרומה? Interpreting the word ״מדבריהם״ in the משנה.

Overview

The משנה quotes רבי חנינא סגן הכהנים: the כהנים burned meat made impure by a ולד הטומאה together with meat made impure by an אב הטומאה. Then רבי מאיר says that ״מדבריהם״ (from their words) we learn that on ערב פסח one may burn pure תרומה together with impure תרומה. The amud opens by finishing the first explanation, in which ״מדבריהם״ means רבי חנינא's words. ריש לקיש, quoting בר קפרא, disagrees. He says רבי חנינא's case involves impurities that are both Torah-level, so רבי מאיר's source must be a ruling of רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע. The גמרא first suggests their dispute about a barrel of uncertain תרומה. It rejects that source, because there רבי יהושע only allows indirect causing (גרמא), not making it impure by hand (בידים). It then settles on their dispute about a barrel of תרומה that broke in the upper winepress, where רבי יהושע allows making the תרומה impure by hand. It explains that the plural ״מדבריהם״ fits because the lesson comes from their dispute, and our משנה itself later names these two Sages. רב נחמן, quoting רבה בר אבוה, says the same. רבא then challenges him by quoting רבי יוסי's ברייתא: רבי יוסי accepts burning impure תרומה with more severely impure תרומה, but refuses to burn doubtful תרומה with impure תרומה, since אליהו might come and declare it pure. The point of רבא's challenge is spelled out on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ConclusionThe previous explanation wraps up: ״their words" means רבי חנינא
2. Statementריש לקיש: both impurities are Torah-level, so ״their words" means רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע
3. QuestionWhich statement of רבי יהושע is meant?
4. ProofThe barrel of uncertain תרומה: רבי אליעזר says protect it
5. Proofרבי יהושע: no need to protect uncertain תרומה
6. RejectionIndirect causing is not the same as doing it with your hands
7. ProofA new source: the barrel that broke in the winepress
8. Proofרבי יהושע allows making the תרומה impure with one's hands
9. ChallengeThen it should say "from his words," not "from their words"
10. ResolutionTheir words means the dispute of both Sages
11. ProofThe wording of the משנה supports this reading
12. Statementרב נחמן holds the same view
13. Challengeרבא objects from רבי יוסי's reply about the meat
14. Challengeרבי יוסי continues with the oil and lamp case
15. Challengeרבי יוסי states what he agrees to
16. ChallengeDoubtful תרומה may not be burned with impure תרומה