Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 4b

פסחים ד׳ ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 4b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 4b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The חזקה that houses are checked on the fourteenth, renting an unchecked house, and the Torah source for the חמץ deadline on ערב פסח.

Overview

Earlier, the גמרא asked whether a house on the fourteenth of ניסן is presumed already checked for חמץ. It first tries to prove this from the ברייתא that believes everyone, even women, slaves and minors, about removing חמץ. The proof says everyone counts as a חבר for בדיקת חמץ, just as a חבר's produce is presumed tithed. After several rounds of back-and-forth about the ברייתא's wording, the גמרא shows the ברייתא can still fit the view that houses are presumed checked. It explains that the ברייתא speaks of a house known to be unchecked. There these people are believed, because בדיקת חמץ is only rabbinic; by Torah law ביטול is enough. Next, an איבעיא asks whether renting out a house as 'checked' that turns out unchecked is a מקח טעות. אביי's statement shows it is not, since people are glad to do a מצוה themselves or with their own money. Finally, the גמרא quotes the dispute between רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה about when to stop eating חמץ and asks for the Torah source that חמץ is forbidden from the sixth hour. אביי compares two verses to include the fourteenth, the גמרא challenges that reading, and its answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּחֶזְקָתוֹ בָּדוּק,

Is it not because its presumptive status is 'checked',

דְּקָסָבַר: הַכֹּל חֲבֵרִים הֵם

for he holds: all are considered ḥaverim

אֵצֶל בְּדִיקַת חָמֵץ.

with regard to the search for leaven.

דְּתַנְיָא: חָבֵר שֶׁמֵּת

As it was taught: a ḥaver who died

The steps (15)

  1. ProofThe proof: the house is believed because it is presumed checked
  2. ProofSupporting source: a חבר who died leaving produce
  3. RejectionMaybe their statement is the reason
  4. RejectionTheir statement has no legal weight
  5. ChallengeIf it is a חזקה, the ברייתא's wording does not fit
  6. ChallengeIf it is their statement, the question is answered the other way
  7. ResolutionHouses are presumed checked; the ברייתא is a special case
  8. ConclusionWhy they are believed: checking is only a rabbinic rule
  9. QuestionRenting out a house as 'checked' that turns out unchecked
  10. Responseאביי: people are happy to do the מצוה themselves
  11. Statementמשנה: when to stop eating and when to burn חמץ
  12. QuestionWhat is the source that חמץ is forbidden from the sixth hour?
  13. Responseאביי's two verses point to the fourteenth
  14. ChallengeMaybe the verse adds the night of the fifteenth
  15. ResolutionThat teaching was not needed