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Pesachim 64b

פסחים ס״ד ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 64b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Finishing the קרבן פסח service: the three groups, the closing of the עזרה, the great crowds, and the details of the bowls and blood

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה's description of the קרבן פסח in the עזרה. On שבת, people skinned the animal using each other's shoulders, and the three groups waited in set places until dark. The גמרא brings רבי יצחק's rule that the פסח is slaughtered in three groups of thirty. Because of a ספק in how to read 'קהל, עדה, ישראל', fifty people rotating in and out is enough. אביי and רבא argue whether the עזרה doors closed by a נס or by people, which is a question of relying on a נס. Two ברייתות then describe the huge crowds: the 'פסח מעוכין' in הלל's time, and אגריפס's count of the offerings by their kidneys. The גמרא works out how that count fit the laws of burning the אימורים. Finally, the גמרא explains more details of the משנה: why the gold and silver bowls were kept in separate rows, that שחיטה by a זר is valid, ברב עם הדרת מלך, and אין מעבירין על המצוות. It ends with the sources that the פסח blood is thrown (רבי יוסי הגלילי) on a side of the מזבח with a יסוד (רבי אלעזר).

Opening lines

שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בַּשַּׁבָּת,

(The fourteenth of Nisan) that fell on Shabbat,

מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עַל כֶּתֶף חֲבֵירוֹ,

he places his hand on his fellow's shoulder,

וְיַד חֲבֵירוֹ עַל כְּתֵיפוֹ,

and his fellow's hand on his own shoulder,

וְתוֹלֶה וּמַפְשִׁיט.

and he hangs (the animal) and skins it.

The steps (39)

  1. StatementSkinning the פסח when ערב פסח falls on שבת
  2. StatementWhere the three groups waited until nightfall on Shabbat
  3. Statementרבי יצחק: three groups of thirty
  4. ResponseThe source: assembly, congregation, and Israel
  5. QuestionThe doubt: all at once or one after another
  6. ConclusionThirty in each of three groups covers both readings
  7. ConclusionFifty people are enough
  8. Statementאביי and רבא disagree on how the doors were closed
  9. QuestionWhat is the practical difference?
  10. ResponseThe difference is whether we rely on a miracle
  11. Challengeרבי יהודה's statement about עקביא בן מהללאל
  12. ResolutionBoth can explain it; אביי's reading
  13. Resolutionרבא's reading of the same statement
  14. StatementOnly once was someone crushed in the courtyard
  15. Statementאגריפס המלך counts the Jewish people through the קרבנות פסח
  16. ChallengeHow could he take a kidney that must be burned on the altar?
  17. ResolutionHe burned the kidneys afterward
  18. ChallengeThe fats of different offerings may not be mixed together
  19. ResolutionHe burned the kidneys one by one
  20. ChallengeAll parts of one offering must be burned together
  21. ResolutionHe only held the kidney briefly until a token replaced it
  22. QuestionWhy were gold and silver bowls kept in separate rows?
  23. ResponseSuggested reason: to stop someone swapping gold for silver
  24. RejectionThe same worry exists even within an all-gold row
  25. ConclusionThe real reason: it looks nicer
  26. StatementNo bowls in the Temple had flat bottoms, except the frankincense bowls
  27. QuestionMust the slaughterer be a regular ישראל?
  28. ResponseThe point is that slaughter by a non-priest is valid
  29. ResponseFrom receiving the blood onward, only priests may do the work
  30. ProofPassing the bowl shows that carrying without walking counts
  31. RejectionMaybe each priest moved a little
  32. QuestionSo why did they use rows at all?
  33. ResponseMany people honor the King
  34. ProofTaking the full bowl first supports ריש לקיש
  35. QuestionWhich תנא holds that the פסח blood is thrown?
  36. Responseרב חסדא: It is רבי יוסי הגלילי
  37. ProofThe ברייתא: plural 'their blood' includes בכור, מעשר and פסח
  38. QuestionHow do we know the blood needs the יסוד?
  39. Responseרבי אלעזר: A גזירה שוה from עולה