Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 26b

פסחים כ״ו ע״ב

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

Open Pesachim 26b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Unintended benefit from forbidden things (פרה אדומה, אבידה, כלאים), and an oven heated with forbidden fuel (זה וזה גורם)

Overview

This amud finishes the debate between אביי and רבא about benefit a person does not intend. First the גמרא sets aside the case of the threshing פרה אדומה: a bird resting on the פרה leaves it valid, but a male animal mounting it makes it invalid. רב פפא explains from the כתיב (עָבַד) and the קרי (עֻבַּד) of the פסוק that work disqualifies the animal only when the owner is pleased with it. A proof from a lost object (אבידה) that may not be spread out in front of guests is rejected, because there the worry is damage from an evil eye or thieves. Then the משנה about merchants carrying כלאים garments shows that avoidable but unintended benefit is permitted, and the first version of רבא is refuted. The גמרא next turns to the משנה's words about heating an oven, and brings a ברייתא: an oven heated with ערלה or כלאי הכרם fuel must be smashed if new and cooled if old. רבי forbids bread baked in it and חכמים permit it. A contradicting ברייתא is first explained as רבי versus רבנן. That answer is rejected and replaced with רבי אליעזר versus רבנן, based on the rule of זה וזה גורם. The search for which ruling of רבי אליעזר is meant, starting with his ruling about leaven, continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הָא לָא דָּמְיָא אֶלָּא לְהָא:

This is comparable only to that:

שָׁכַן עָלֶיהָ עוֹף — כְּשֵׁירָה,

If a bird rested on it, it is valid,

עָלָה עָלֶיהָ זָכָר — פְּסוּלָה.

If a male animal mounted it, it is invalid.

מַאי טַעְמָא?

What is the reason?

The steps (17)

  1. ResolutionThe threshing heifer only compares to the bird and the male animal
  2. QuestionWhy is the bird different from the male animal?
  3. Responseרב פפא: what each reading alone would mean
  4. ResponseCombining the written and read forms: work the owner is pleased with
  5. ProofNew proof from spreading out a lost object when guests come
  6. RejectionThe lost-object case is forbidden because of possible damage
  7. ProofNew proof from clothing merchants carrying כלאים
  8. ChallengeThe merchants could avoid the benefit, yet it is allowed
  9. ConclusionThe first version of רבא is refuted
  10. StatementAn oven heated with forbidden fuel
  11. StatementThe bread baked in the forbidden-fuel oven
  12. ChallengeAnother teaching says every oven only needs cooling
  13. ResolutionOne teaching follows רבי, the other follows רבנן
  14. Rejectionרבי's reason may not reach a case with two causes
  15. ResolutionThe strict teaching follows רבי אליעזר
  16. QuestionWhich ruling of רבי אליעזר is meant?
  17. ResponseA first suggestion: רבי אליעזר's ruling about leaven