Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 55a

פסחים נ״ה ע״א

Learn Pesachim 55a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 55a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Working on תשעה באב and on ערב פסח: יוהרא, custom versus prohibition, and finishing versus starting work

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier question: the תנא listed only the leniencies of תשעה באב. The גמרא then asks why רבן שמעון בן גמליאל and the רבנן seem to switch positions on יוהרא (showing off) between our משנה and the משנה about a חתן reading קריאת שמע. רבי יוחנן switches the names in one source. רב שישא keeps both texts and explains why each side is consistent. Next comes a new משנה about working on ערב פסח in יהודה and the גליל, and about the night before. The גמרא asks why one משנה calls it a custom and this one a prohibition. רבי יוחנן answers that the two משניות follow רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה. A ברייתא about replanting a stalk on the 13th raises a question on רבי יהודה, and רבא, רב ששת, רב אשי and רבינא each answer it. Finally, a new משנה gives רבי מאיר's rule that work begun before the 14th may be finished on it. The גמרא asks whether this applies to festival work, non-festival work, or both. A first proof from a small belt and hairnet is pushed off, and a second proof from רבי מאיר begins and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

תַּנָּא קוּלֵּי קוּלֵּי קָתָנֵי.

The Tanna is teaching a list of leniencies.

וּבְכׇל מָקוֹם תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וְכוּ׳.

'And in all places Torah scholars [are idle],' etc.

לְמֵימְרָא דְּרַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל סָבַר:

Is that to say that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel holds:

לָא חָיְישִׁינַן לְיוּהֲרָא,

we are not concerned about showing off,

The steps (26)

  1. ResolutionThe תנא only listed leniencies
  2. StatementQuoting the משנה about Torah scholars
  3. QuestionWhat does each side hold about showing off?
  4. ChallengeContradiction from the groom reading שמע
  5. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: the names are switched
  6. Resolutionרב שישא: the רבנן are consistent
  7. Resolutionרב שישא: רבן שמעון בן גמליאל is consistent
  8. StatementThe new משנה: יהודה, the גליל, and the night before פסח
  9. ChallengeCustom at first, prohibition at the end?
  10. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: two different תנאים
  11. ProofThe ברייתא: רבי יהודה and רבי מאיר argue
  12. ConclusionInference: רבי יהודה means a real prohibition
  13. ChallengeDoes רבי יהודה really allow work on the fourteenth?
  14. ChallengeWhy does רבי יהודה say the 13th and not the 14th?
  15. Resolutionרבא: the ruling is about the גליל
  16. ChallengeBut what about the night before the 14th?
  17. Resolutionרב ששת: רבי יהודה follows בית שמאי
  18. Resolutionרב אשי: people do not weed at night
  19. Resolutionרבינא: in יהודה, only one partial day counts for rooting
  20. Statementרבי מאיר: work begun before the 14th may be finished on it
  21. Statementחכמים: only three crafts may work until חצות
  22. Statementרבי יוסי בר יהודה adds shoemakers
  23. QuestionWhich kind of work does רבי מאיר's rule cover?
  24. ProofProof from the small belt and small hairnet
  25. Rejection'Even' means even small items
  26. ProofA second proof from רבי מאיר himself begins