Pesachim 34a

פסחים ל״ד ע״א

Learn Pesachim 34a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 34a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Using impure תרומה safely, the replanted saplings משנה, and whether היסח הדעת is פסול טומאה or פסול הגוף

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier answer. Impure תרומה may be burned as fuel only when it is בשליקתא ומאיסתא (boiled and made repulsive), so no one will come to eat it. The גמרא shows that רב אשי first said this about אבא שאול, the dough-kneader in רבי's house. Next, רבא בר מתנה asks about a משנה in תרומות. Impure תרומה saplings that were replanted no longer pass on טומאה, yet they are still forbidden to eat. Why? The students first answer in רבה's name that they are forbidden only to זרים. רבא בר מתנה shows that this reading would make the משנה repeat rules already taught, and the students fall silent. He then quotes רב ששת: the saplings are forbidden even to כהנים because of היסח הדעת. That answer leads to the dispute between רבי יוחנן (היסח הדעת is פסול טומאה) and ריש לקיש (it is פסול הגוף), tested by whether we would listen to אליהו. רבי יוחנן then challenges ריש לקיש from a ברייתא about disqualified bird חטאות that were left until their form decayed, and he begins quoting a משנה whose rule appears on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ResolutionOnly boiled and repulsive wheat may be used
2. QuestionWhere was רב אשי's statement originally said?
3. ResponseThe story of אבא שאול the kneader
4. ChallengeIsn't there a risk someone will eat the wheat?
5. Resolutionרב אשי: the wheat was boiled and repulsive
6. Questionרבא בר מתנה asks what רבה taught about תרומות
7. QuestionThe students ask what is bothering him
8. ChallengeIf the replanted saplings are pure, why can't they be eaten?
9. Resolutionרבה: forbidden only to non-כהנים
10. ChallengeThe rule 'growths of תרומה are תרומה' is already taught
11. ResolutionMaybe it means growths of growths, from a seed that stays whole
12. RejectionThe growths-of-growths rule is also already taught
13. ConclusionThe students fall silent
14. QuestionThe students ask רבא בר מתנה what he has heard
15. Resolutionרב ששת: the saplings are forbidden even to כהנים because of היסח הדעת
16. ChallengeThis only works if היסח הדעת is a disqualification of its own
17. StatementThe dispute: is היסח הדעת a matter of טומאה or a disqualification of its own?
18. StatementThe practical difference: what if אליהו declared it טהור?
19. Challengeרבי יוחנן quotes a ברייתא about a gap where disqualified birds were left
20. ChallengeWhy wait for decay if the bird is already permanently disqualified?
21. ProofBringing a משנה to strengthen the challenge