Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 44a

פסחים מ״ד ע״א

Learn Pesachim 44a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 44a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether היתר joins איסור to make a כזית, and רב דימי's defense that a כזית בכדי אכילת פרס is Torah law, against אביי's challenges from the טבול יום soup, כותח הבבלי, and the ברייתות of mixed תרומה.

Overview

This amud opens by agreeing that the rule היתר מצטרף לאיסור, learned from the פסוק about leaven on the מזבח, also applies to חמץ on פסח. It adds that this rule rejects אביי's view that offering less than a כזית counts as a הקטרה. Then רב דימי teaches that in all other Torah prohibitions היתר does not join איסור, except for a נזיר. אביי challenges him from a משנה about a חולין soup with תרומה spices that was touched by a טבול יום. A זר is lashed for a כזית of that soup, which seems to show that היתר joins איסור. רב דימי answers that the lashes come from eating a כזית of the תרומה itself within כדי אכילת פרס, which he holds is Torah law. He defends this against a question from כותח הבבלי. He also answers two ברייתות about mixed-up pots and baskets by explaining that each case involves only rabbinic תרומה. Finally the גמרא asks whether the word מִשְׁרַת in the נזיר פסוק is really free to teach this rule, and the ברייתא it starts quoting continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לְעִנְיַן חָמֵץ בַּפֶּסַח נָמֵי.

With regard to חמץ on Pesach also [should permitted join forbidden]?

אִין הָכִי נָמֵי.

Yes, indeed it is so.

וּלְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּאַבַּיֵּי דְּאָמַר:

And [it comes] to exclude [the view] of Abaye, who said:

יֵשׁ הַקְטָרָה לְפָחוֹת מִכְּזַיִת,

There is [a valid] offering for less than an olive-bulk,

The steps (21)

  1. ChallengeDoes the joining rule also apply to חמץ on פסח?
  2. ResolutionYes, and it rejects אביי's view on less than a כזית
  3. Statementרב דימי repeats the general rule
  4. Challengeאביי questions the general rule
  5. ProofThe proof: a תרומה soup touched by a טבול יום
  6. QuestionWhy is the touched spot disqualified if the spices are cancelled?
  7. ResponseBecause a non-כהן gets lashes for a כזית
  8. Proofאביי concludes: so היתר must join איסור
  9. Rejectionרב דימי: the כזית is eaten within כדי אכילת פרס
  10. QuestionIs כזית בכדי אכילת פרס a Torah law?
  11. Responseרב דימי: Yes, it is Torah law
  12. ChallengeThen why do the רבנן argue about כותח הבבלי?
  13. Challengeרב דימי turns the question back on אביי
  14. ResolutionWhy כותח הבבלי is different
  15. Challengeאביי quotes the ברייתא of the two pots and two mortars
  16. ChallengeWhy the pots baraita contradicts רב דימי
  17. ResolutionSpice teruma is only rabbinic
  18. Challengeאביי quotes the ברייתא of two baskets and two סאה vessels
  19. ChallengeThe challenge returns for Torah-level teruma
  20. ResolutionTeruma today is only rabbinic, so leniency is allowed
  21. ChallengeIs the word מִשְׁרַת really free for this teaching?