Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 18b

פסחים י״ח ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 18b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 18b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How ״יִטְמָא״ teaches the spread of טומאה through food and liquids, and how רבי יוסי and רבי עקיבא differ on levels of טומאה

Overview

The גמרא first asks why the טומאה of משקין that touched a שרץ is not simply learned from a קל וחומר. It answers with the rule of דיו: a law learned through a קל וחומר is no stricter than its source. Next, a ברייתא explains that the first ״יִטְמָא״ in the פסוק teaches that אוכל makes משקין impure. A קל וחומר rules out a כלי, and משקין are an exception because they catch טומאה without a הכשר. The גמרא then asks why the rule that טומאה does not pass to a similar item is taught twice. It answers that one פסוק covers liquids made impure by a שרץ and the other covers liquids made impure by a כלי, and that the Torah sometimes writes out what a קל וחומר could teach. רבינא then challenges רב אשי by quoting רבא: רבי יוסי and רבי עקיבא disagree with each other. רב אשי answers that רבי יוסי was only speaking according to his teacher רבי עקיבא. Finally, רב אשי brings a ברייתא showing רבי יוסי's own approach. In it, שלישי בקודש comes from the Torah and רביעי בקודש comes from a קל וחומר. The פסוק for שלישי begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְלָאו מִקַּל וָחוֹמֶר קָאָתֵי:

And doesn't it come from a kal vachomer:

וּמָה מַשְׁקִין הַבָּאִין מֵחֲמַת כְּלִי — מְטַמְּאִין,

just as liquids that come (to impurity) because of a vessel transmit impurity,

מַשְׁקִין הַבָּאִין מֵחֲמַת שֶׁרֶץ — לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן!

liquids that come (to impurity) because of a creeping animal, all the more so!

דַּיּוֹ לַבָּא מִן הַדִּין

It is sufficient for that which comes from the inference

The steps (22)

  1. ChallengeCan't this be learned from a logical argument?
  2. ResolutionThe rule of 'it is enough'
  3. QuestionHow is the first 'shall be impure' explained?
  4. ResponseFood makes liquids impure
  5. ChallengeMaybe it means food makes a vessel impure
  6. ResolutionA logical argument rules out the vessel
  7. ConclusionThe word refers to liquids, which become impure easily
  8. ChallengeWhy mention that liquids are susceptible?
  9. ResolutionThe reason blocks a mistaken argument from strictness
  10. QuestionHow are liquids susceptible?
  11. ResponseLiquids need no הכשר to become impure
  12. ChallengeThis rule is already taught by another פסוק
  13. ResolutionTwo cases: impurity from a שרץ and from a כלי
  14. ResolutionWhy both cases are needed
  15. ChallengeWhy not write only the stricter case?
  16. ResolutionThe Torah sometimes writes what a קל וחומר could teach
  17. Challengeרבינא cites רבא against רב אשי
  18. Resolutionרבי יוסי was only explaining his teacher's view
  19. Questionרב אשי asks רב כהנא about רבא's statement
  20. Proofרבי יוסי's קל וחומר for the fourth level in holy food
  21. ConclusionThird level from the Torah, fourth level from the קל וחומר
  22. ProofThe Torah source for third-level טומאה in holy food begins