Pesachim 26a

פסחים כ״ו ע״א

Learn Pesachim 26a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 26a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

אביי and רבא on unavoidable but intended benefit (לא אפשר ומתכוין), and a side discussion of when sound, sight, smell, and finished-מצוה items are subject to מעילה.

Overview

אביי and רבא argue about a benefit that cannot be avoided when the person intends to enjoy it (לא אפשר ומתכוין). אביי permits it and רבא forbids it. רבא explains that רבי יהודה's rule about intent only works to make things stricter. אביי brings proof from רבן יוחנן בן זכאי, who taught in the shade of the היכל, but רבא answers that the היכל was built for its inside, so its shade was never forbidden. רבא's own proofs are also pushed aside: the workers lowered in boxes into the בית קדשי הקדשים were only a special מעלה, and בר קפרא's teaching can refer to people standing outside. The גמרא then examines בר קפרא's rule that sound, sight, and smell are not מעילה, and רב פפא corrects it: smell is free of מעילה only after the smoke rises, once the מצוה is done. That principle is tested against תרומת הדשן, and the גמרא explains that it and בגדי כהונה (or עגלה ערופה) are exceptions that teach no general rule. Finally, the גמרא returns to אביי and רבא with a heifer that threshed grain, and challenges the answer that its verse disqualifies any work at all.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. Resolutionרבא: רבי יהודה's rule only works for stringency
2. Proofאביי's proof: רבן יוחנן בן זכאי teaching in the shade of the היכל
3. Rejectionרבא: The Sanctuary was built for its inside
4. Proofרבא's proof: Workers lowered in boxes into the בית קדשי הקדשים
5. RejectionThe boxes were only an extra honor, not proof of a prohibition
6. ProofAnother version: רבא proves his view from בר קפרא's teaching
7. RejectionNo, it refers to people standing outside
8. StatementReturning to בר קפרא's teaching itself
9. ChallengeBut a ברייתא says smelling the incense is מעילה
10. Resolutionרב פפא restates the rule: smell is exempt only after the smoke rises
11. ChallengeChallenge: the altar ashes stay forbidden even after their מצוה is done
12. ResolutionAnswer: two verses teaching the same thing cannot set a general rule
13. StatementIdentifying the two verses: ashes and priestly garments
14. ChallengeThe answer fails according to רבי דוסא
15. ResolutionPairing the ashes with the heifer instead
16. ChallengeWhat about the view that two such verses do teach?
17. ResolutionEach verse has a limiting word
18. ProofA heifer that threshed grain
19. ChallengeThe heifer case seems to prove that intended benefit is forbidden even when unavoidable
20. RejectionThe heifer is different because its verse disqualifies any work
21. ChallengeIf any work disqualifies, the first case should also be disqualified