Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 16a

פסחים ט״ז ע״א

Learn Pesachim 16a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 16a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether the טומאה of liquids is from the Torah or from the רבנן: the ברייתא of רבי מאיר and רבי אלעזר, the רב/שמואל dispute about the מקדש liquids, and the verses about liquids and הכשר

Overview

The גמרא quotes a ברייתא with three positions on a ספק about the טומאה of liquids (משקין). רבי מאיר, joined by רבי אלעזר, says a doubtful liquid is itself טמא but does not make others טמא. רבי יהודה says it is טמא for everything. רבי יוסי and רבי שמעון say it makes foods טמא but not vessels. The key idea is that a doubt in a Torah law is treated strictly and a doubt in a rabbinic law leniently. The גמרא then asks how רבי אלעזר can agree with רבי מאיר, since elsewhere he says liquids have no טומאה at all, based on יוסי בן יועזר's testimony that the liquids of the מקדש slaughterhouse are pure. This fits שמואל's reading of that testimony, and רב נחמן בר יצחק tries to answer for רב, but the wording of the ברייתא leaves רב with a קשיא. The גמרא then explains רב (all liquid טומאה is rabbinic) and שמואל (a liquid's own טומאה is from the Torah, and making others טמא is rabbinic). A verse is raised against שמואל, and it too ends in a קשיא. Finally, the גמרא tests whether liquid טומאה is from the Torah using verses about drinks, הכשר, and springs. It then begins explaining that only the blood of קדשים fails to cause הכשר, a discussion that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

סְפֵק מַשְׁקִין לִיטָּמֵא — טָמֵא.

A doubt whether liquids became impure: impure.

לְטַמֵּא אֲחֵרִים — טָהוֹר,

A doubt about making others impure: pure,

דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

These are the words of Rabbi Meir.

וְכֵן הָיָה רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר כִּדְבָרָיו.

And Rabbi Elazar would likewise say as his words.

The steps (27)

  1. Statementרבי מאיר and רבי אלעזר on doubtful liquids
  2. Statementרבי יהודה: impure in every case
  3. Statementרבי יוסי and רבי שמעון: foods versus vessels
  4. ChallengeDoes רבי אלעזר hold liquids have any impurity at all?
  5. ProofProof from the testimony of יוסי בן יועזר
  6. ResolutionNo problem according to שמואל
  7. ChallengeBut according to רב, what can be said?
  8. Resolutionרבי אלעזר agrees with רבי מאיר on only one point
  9. ChallengeThe wording of the ברייתא shows full agreement
  10. ConclusionThe difficulty stays unresolved
  11. StatementReturning to the main dispute between רב and שמואל
  12. Statementרב's reasoning: all impurity of liquids is from the רבנן
  13. Statementשמואל's reasoning: two levels of liquid impurity
  14. ChallengeA verse challenges שמואל: anything impure should pass on impurity
  15. ResolutionDefending שמואל: like the fourth level in holy food
  16. Rejectionרב אשי rejects the comparison
  17. ConclusionThe question on שמואל stays unanswered
  18. ProofA verse seems to show liquids become impure from the Torah
  19. RejectionRereading the verse: 'shall be impure' means making food susceptible
  20. ChallengeBut הכשר is already taught at the start of the verse
  21. ResolutionOne half is for detached water, one for attached water
  22. ResolutionWhy both detached and attached water had to be taught
  23. ProofProof from 'a spring or cistern shall be pure'
  24. Rejection'Shall be pure' means the person who immerses
  25. ChallengeDoes detached water really cause הכשר?
  26. ResolutionThe statement was only about blood
  27. ProofA source that blood of offerings does not cause הכשר