Pesachim 15b

פסחים ט״ו ע״ב

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

Open Pesachim 15b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Pesachim 15b: The sources and time frame of the dispute between רבי מאיר and רבי יוסי about burning pure and impure תרומה together on ערב פסח.

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא in which בית שמאי and בית הלל argue whether פיגול, נותר and impure meat may be burned together. The גמרא then asks why רבי יוסי seems to answer רבי מאיר about רבי חנינא סגן הכהנים if רבי מאיר was quoting רבי יהושע. רב נחמן explains that the debate had two rounds, and that רבי יוסי first misunderstood which source רבי מאיר meant. רבי יהושע's barrel case is shown to be different because it prevents a large loss of חולין, and a small loss of firewood does not count. Then רבי יוחנן limits the whole dispute to the sixth hour, when חמץ is forbidden only by the חכמים. In the seventh hour everyone agrees that pure and impure תרומה are burned together. Two proofs for this, from פיגול and from moldy bread, are each rejected. Finally, רבי ירמיה explains that רבי חנינא's case is meat made impure through liquids. רבי מאיר and רבי יוסי disagree about whether such liquids pass on impurity by Torah law, and the ברייתא that proves this begins on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. Statementבית שמאי and בית הלל on burning פיגול, נותר and impure meat together
2. ChallengeWhy would רבי יוסי answer about רבי חנינא?
3. Resolutionרב נחמן: רבי יוסי first misunderstood רבי מאיר
4. Resolutionרבי יוסי's second answer: רבי יהושע does not help either
5. ChallengeBut the comparison to רבי יהושע seems valid
6. ResolutionThe barrel case is different because ordinary produce would be lost
7. Challengeרב ירמיה: the משנה's case also involves a loss of wood
8. ResolutionAn elder answers: only a large loss counts
9. Statementרבי יוחנן: the dispute is only in the sixth hour
10. Questionרבי זירא suggests how רבי יוחנן reads the משנה
11. Responseרבי אסי says yes
12. Proofרבי יוחנן's statement quoted directly
13. ProofPossible support from פיגול, נותר and impure meat
14. RejectionRejected: פיגול and נותר are already rabbinically impure
15. ProofSecond possible support: moldy bread
16. RejectionMoldy bread is just dust
17. ChallengeWhy mention that they concede?
18. ResolutionEven רבי יהושע would not allow pure with impure
19. ChallengeBut the comparison seems to work
20. ResolutionMeat made impure through liquids
21. Resolutionרבי מאיר: impure liquids pass on impurity only by rabbinic law
22. Resolutionרבי יוסי: impure liquids pass on impurity by Torah law