Pesachim 34b

פסחים ל״ד ע״ב

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

Open Pesachim 34b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether היסח הדעת is a פסול טומאה or פסול הגוף, and the רבנן's extra stringency (מעלה) for holy things regarding השקה and זריעה

Overview

This amud has three discussions. First, רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש argue whether היסח הדעת, diverting attention from guarding קדשים, is a פסול טומאה or a פסול הגוף. A ברייתא saying only body defects are burned right away is answered: its author requires עיבור צורה even for פיגול. A second ברייתא says an offering is accepted after the fact, which seems to work only if the ציץ atones for a טומאה problem. ריש לקיש answers that 'disqualified' there means touched by a טבול יום, a second kind of טומאה. Next, רבי ירמיה rejects a Babylonian explanation of planted impure תרומה. He uses רבי אושעיא's ruling on impure water for סוכות to show that זריעה does not work for הקדש or for תרומה. אביי asks whether this stringency applies to things made holy only by speech. רב דימי brings a parallel case of impure grapes, but רב יוסף rejects the proof, and the גמרא reconciles two rulings of רבי יוחנן about pressing impure grapes. Finally, רבא begins a proof from the פרה אדומה water. He points to a tension in the פסוק, and the argument continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ChallengeThe ברייתא's rule: a body defect is burned at once, other defects wait
2. ResolutionThis תנא requires waiting even for פיגול
3. ChallengeA new ברייתא: blood thrown for disqualified meat is accepted
4. ChallengeOnly the ציץ explains why it is accepted
5. Resolution'Disqualified' means invalidated by a טבול יום
6. ChallengeIsn't that the same as 'impure'?
7. ResolutionTwo different kinds of impurity
8. Rejectionרבי ירמיה rejects the Babylonian explanation
9. ProofThe ruling on impure water for the festival
10. ProofPlanting does not work for holy things or תרומה
11. Questionאביי asks how far the stricter rule goes
12. Responseרב דימי answers with a similar case about impure grapes
13. ProofInference: the Rabbis were strict even with holiness by speech
14. Rejectionרב יוסף: the grapes case is different
15. ChallengeChallenge: can one press many impure grapes at once?
16. ResolutionFirst answer: here too it means less than a כביצה
17. ResolutionSecond answer: different levels of impurity
18. Proofרבא brings support from the flowing water of the red heifer
19. ChallengeThe verse seems to say the water is both detached and attached