Pesachim 36b

פסחים ל״ו ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 36b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 36b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which foods and which kinds of מצה are valid for the מצוה of מצה: ביכורים versus מעשר שני, the אונן dispute, and what ״לחם עוני״ excludes.

Overview

This amud asks which foods can be used for the מצוה of מצה. The גמרא first shows that רבי עקיבא retracted an earlier derivation. A ברייתא then gives his final view: ביכורים are excluded by ״בכל מושבותיכם״, while מעשר שני is included by ״מצות״ ״מצות״. The difference is that מעשר שני can become permitted outside ירושלים through redemption, as רבי אליעזר teaches, while ביכורים never can. The גמרא then explains why רבי יוסי הגלילי does not exclude ביכורים with ״לחם עוני״. He holds like רבי שמעון that an אונן may eat ביכורים, and this leads into the dispute between רבי שמעון and the רבנן. Next, a ברייתא teaches that ״לחם עוני״ rules out boiled מצה and large cakes (אשישה), but not fine flour. The גמרא proves from a פסוק about דוד המלך that אשישה is something important, and records a disagreement over what the word means. The amud ends with בית שמאי forbidding thick bread on פסח, and that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ChallengeWorry: maybe wheat and barley are excluded entirely
2. ResolutionThe repeated word ״מצות״ widens the law
3. ChallengeIf the word includes, then include first fruits too
4. Resolutionרבי עקיבא changed his mind
5. Proofברייתא: first fruits are excluded by 'in all your dwellings'
6. Statementברייתא: second tithe is included by 'matzot, matzot'
7. QuestionWhy include second tithe and not first fruits?
8. ResponseSecond tithe can become permitted everywhere; first fruits never can
9. Proofרבי אליעזר's source: impure second tithe is redeemed even in Jerusalem
10. ProofThe word for carrying actually means eating
11. Conclusionרבי עקיבא must have changed his mind
12. ChallengeWhy doesn't רבי יוסי הגלילי use ״לחם עוני״?
13. ResolutionHe holds like רבי שמעון that a mourner may eat first fruits
14. QuestionWhat is the source for the רבנן's view?
15. ResponseFirst fruits are compared to tithe
16. Responseרבי שמעון compares first fruits to תרומה
17. ChallengeBut joy is written about first fruits
18. ResolutionJoy refers to the season, not the person
19. StatementPoor man's bread excludes boiled מצה and large cakes
20. QuestionMaybe only coarse bread is allowed
21. ResponseEven the finest מצה is allowed
22. ConclusionSo poor man's bread only rules out boiled מצה and large cakes
23. QuestionHow do we know אשישה means something fancy?
24. Responseדוד המלך handed out אשישה at a celebration
25. Statementרב חנן בר אבא explains אשפר and אשישה
26. Statementשמואל says אשישה is a jug of wine
27. Statementבית שמאי: no baking thick bread on פסח