Pesachim 43b

פסחים מ״ג ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 43b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 43b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Women and חמץ/מצה, the expounding of כל and כי כל, and when permitted food joins forbidden food

Overview

The גמרא explains why the Torah needed an extra word to forbid women from eating חמץ: the verse links חמץ with מצה, and women are exempt from מצה as a מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא. Now that women are included in the חמץ prohibition, רבי אליעזר holds that the same link makes them obligated to eat מצה by Torah law. The גמרא asks why the word כל includes women rather than a mixture of חמץ (עירובו). It answers that a verse about eaters adds more eaters, and it adds foods only when no eaters are left to add, as with חלב. The רבנן, who do not expound כל, learn women from the fuller phrase כי כל. The גמרא then asks why רבי אליעזר does not use כי כל to include עירובו, since a ברייתא about שאור on the מזבח shows he expounds it, and this question remains a קשיא. Next, רבי יוחנן teaches that permitted food never joins forbidden food to make up the minimum amount, except for a נזיר. זעירי adds שאור on the מזבח as another exception, following רבי אליעזר, and a challenge to this begins that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. ResolutionWhy a special source is needed to include women in the prohibition of חמץ
2. StatementWomen are therefore also obligated to eat מצה
3. Proofרבי אליעזר's derivation that women must eat מצה
4. ChallengeWhy should the word כל include women and not mixtures of חמץ?
5. ResolutionA verse about eaters adds eaters, not foods
6. Challengeרב נתן shows a verse about eaters that adds more foods
7. ResolutionFoods are added only when no extra eaters are available
8. ChallengeHow do the רבנן know women are forbidden to eat חמץ?
9. ResolutionThe רבנן learn from the longer phrase כי כל
10. ChallengeWhy doesn't רבי אליעזר split the two words between women and the mixture?
11. ProofProof that רבי אליעזר does expound כי כל
12. ConclusionThe question stays unanswered
13. StatementA permitted food does not join a forbidden food, except for a נזיר
14. Statementזעירי adds שאור on the מזבח
15. QuestionWhose opinion does זעירי follow?
16. Responseזעירי follows רבי אליעזר
17. ChallengeIf so, a challenge begins