Pesachim 38b

פסחים ל״ח ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 38b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 38b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why offering loaves baked for oneself do not work for the מצוה of מצה: the sources of רבה and רב יוסף, why simpler sources do not suffice, and why loaves baked for the market do work.

Overview

The משנה taught that חלות תודה and רקיקי נזיר baked for one's own offering cannot be used for the מצוה of מצה on פסח. רבה learns this from "וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת הַמַּצּוֹת": the מצה must be guarded for the sake of מצה, and these loaves were guarded for a זבח. רב יוסף learns it from "שִׁבְעַת יָמִים מַצּוֹת תֹּאכֵלוּ": the מצה must be fit to eat all seven days, and these loaves may be eaten only for a day and a night. A ברייתא supports each view. The גמרא then asks why simpler sources would not already exclude these loaves. It suggests three: לחם עני read as food fit for אנינות, the rule against מצה עשירה, and the rule that מצה must be eaten בכל מושבותיכם. Each suggestion is answered, so the special verses are still needed. Finally, a ברייתא reports רבי יהושע's ruling that loaves baked to sell in the market do work for the מצוה. רבה explains why: the seller always planned to eat any unsold loaves as his own מצה.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. Responseרבה's reason: מצה must be guarded for the sake of מצה
2. Responseרב יוסף's reason: מצה must be fit to eat all seven days
3. ProofEach opinion has a supporting ברייתא
4. ProofThe ברייתא supporting רבה
5. ProofThe ברייתא supporting רב יוסף
6. ChallengeWhy not learn it from the words 'bread of affliction'?
7. ResolutionThey hold like רבי עקיבא, who reads the word as 'poor'
8. ChallengeWhy not exclude them because they are enriched מצה?
9. ResolutionThe oil is too little to make them enriched מצה
10. ChallengeWhy not exclude offering loaves because they cannot be eaten everywhere?
11. Resolutionריש לקיש: These loaves were eaten in נוב and גבעון
12. Questionרבי אילעאי asks רבי אליעזר, who has no tradition
13. Responseרבי יהושע: For oneself, no; made for the market, yes
14. Conclusionרבי אליעזר: 'ברית! This is the tradition from סיני'
15. ChallengeSecond version: רבי אליעזר is astonished and asks for a reason
16. QuestionWhat is the reason for the difference?
17. ResponseThe market seller keeps the option of using them for מצה