Pesachim 48b

פסחים מ״ח ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 48b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 48b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Baking מצה on פסח: combining small batches for חלה, preventing dough from becoming חמץ, and the stages of leavening (שיאור and סידוק).

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a question on רב: the גמרא explains that his 'קב' is the larger Melogna קב, which equals the חלה amount. רב יוסף reports that his household bakes מצה in small batches on פסח, and אביי objects that this stringency causes חלה to be lost. רב יוסף answers with רבי אליעזר's rule that a basket combines loaves for חלה, and the two argue over whether this applies even to separate loaves. רבי ירמיה asks whether a flat board with no rim also combines loaves, and the question ends with תיקו. A new משנה then gives three views on how three women may knead and bake מצה together without the dough becoming חמץ. A ברייתא explains the חכמים's rotation, and רבי עקיבא recalls asking רבן גמליאל about it. רבן גמליאל answered with one rule: if the dough rises, cool it with cold water. A final משנה defines the stages of rising, שיאור and סידוק. The גמרא sorts out the views of רבי יהודה and רבי מאיר, and רבא explains רבי מאיר's reason.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ChallengeThe amount of flour that requires חלה
2. ResolutionA Melogna קב equals the חלה measure
3. Statementרב יוסף's household bakes small batches on פסח
4. Challengeאביי: a stringency that causes a leniency
5. ResolutionThe basket combines the loaves, like רבי אליעזר
6. Challengeרבי יהושע בן לוי limits the basket rule
7. Resolutionרבי חנינא: even separate loaves combine
8. QuestionDoes a flat board without a rim combine loaves?
9. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
10. StatementThe ברייתא: basket, oven, or sticking loaves
11. Statementרבן גמליאל: knead together, bake one after another
12. Statementחכמים: stagger the work
13. Statementרבי עקיבא: No fixed schedule, just cool rising dough
14. StatementThe rotation system of the three women explained
15. Questionרבי עקיבא asks רבן גמליאל which situation his rule covers
16. Responseרבן גמליאל answers: If it rises, cool it
17. StatementNew משנה: Early-stage dough is burned, but no punishment
18. StatementCracked dough is full חמץ with כרת
19. Statementרבי יהודה defines the two stages of rising
20. StatementThe חכמים say any cracking brings כרת
21. StatementA ברייתא gives רבי מאיר's definitions
22. StatementThe ברייתא's חכמים define the stages, and both bring כרת
23. ChallengeChallenge: the משנה says שיאור brings no כרת
24. ResolutionAnswer: the karet line belongs to רבי מאיר
25. Statementרבא explains רבי מאיר's reason