Pesachim 20b

פסחים כ׳ ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 20b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 20b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Burning doubtful and impure תרומה together: conflicting reports of רבי יהושע, indirect versus direct impurity, and when a big loss allows an exception.

Overview

This amud opens by finishing a ברייתא: only food, not other כלים, becomes impure from the airspace of a כלי חרס. The גמרא then asks whether רבי יהושע really allowed burning doubtful (תלויה) תרומה together with impure (טמאה) תרומה on ערב פסח, since a תוספתא of רבי יוסי seems to forbid it. רב חסדא answers that רבי שמעון and רבי יוסי report רבי יהושע's view differently, and he proves this from a ברייתא. רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא raises a similar contradiction from a barrel of doubtful תרומה, where רבי יהושע allows only indirect causing of impurity (גרמא), not direct action (בידים). He gives the same answer. רבי אלעזר then shows that רבי יהושע does allow direct action when a barrel of תרומה wine breaks above impure חולין. He explains that this is because of the loss of חולין, and אביי adds that only a big loss counts. The גמרא proves this from a parallel case of oil, and explains why new wine is a big loss: aging it risks a mishap (תקלה), and wine for sprinkling cannot be stored in a disgusting container. Finally, a ברייתא shows that the worry about a mishap is itself a dispute between בית שמאי and בית הלל. רבי ישמעאל ברבי יוסי tries to decide between them, and the others' reply continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. ProofOnly food becomes impure from the airspace of an earthenware vessel
2. Challengeרב חסדא asks: did רבי יהושע really allow burning both together?
3. ChallengeThe contradicting source: רבי יוסי says the case being learned does not match the proof
4. RejectionFirst testimony: both pieces of meat were already impure
5. RejectionSecond testimony: the oil was already disqualified
6. Statementרבי יוסי agrees: two kinds of impure תרומה may be burned together
7. RejectionBut doubtful תרומה may not be burned with impure תרומה, because אליהו might declare it pure
8. ResolutionTwo תנאים report רבי יהושע's view differently
9. ProofThe ברייתא: burning תרומה before שבת on ערב פסח
10. Proofרבי שמעון's report of the רבי אליעזר–רבי יהושע dispute
11. ChallengeIsn't our משנה said by רבי יוסי?
12. Resolutionרבי יוסי argues against רבי מאיר using רבי שמעון's report
13. Challengeרבי יוסי son of רבי חנינא raises a contradiction
14. ChallengeThe barrel of תרומה with a doubt of impurity
15. ChallengeIndirect causing is allowed, direct action is not
16. ResolutionTwo different reports of רבי יהושע
17. Challengeרבי אלעזר raises a contradiction between two תרומה laws
18. ChallengeThe broken barrel of תרומה above impure wine
19. Challengeרבי יהושע allows making it impure by hand
20. ResolutionDifferent because ordinary wine would be lost
21. Challengeרבא: the משנה also involves a loss of wood
22. Resolutionאביי: only a big loss counts
23. QuestionAsking for a source for the big-loss rule
24. ProofThe barrel of oil: even רבי יהושע forbids direct action
25. ChallengeWhy oil is different, and wine can be used too
26. ChallengeSprinkling wine is valuable, says שמואל
27. ResolutionThe wine case is about new wine
28. ChallengeBut the new wine can be aged
29. ResolutionKeeping it may lead to a mishap
30. ChallengeOil should carry the same risk
31. ResolutionOil is kept in a disgusting container
32. ChallengeThen put the wine in a disgusting container too
33. RejectionWine for sprinkling cannot sit in a disgusting container
34. StatementThe worry about a mishap is itself a dispute of תנאים
35. Proofבית שמאי and בית הלל on a barrel of impure תרומה wine
36. Statementרבי ישמעאל ברבי יוסי decides: field or house
37. StatementAnother version: new or old wine
38. ChallengeThe others begin to respond to him