Pesachim 74a

פסחים ע״ד ע״א

Learn Pesachim 74a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 74a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Roasting the קרבן פסח: the pomegranate spit, metal vs. wood, the גדי מקולס today, and רבה's rule of כבולעו כך פולטו for stuffed meat

Overview

The משנה teaches that the פסח is roasted on a pomegranate-wood spit pushed through the whole animal. רבי יוסי הגלילי says the legs and innards go inside it, while רבי עקיבא says that is a kind of בישול and they must hang outside. The משנה also bans a metal spit or grill, and רבי צדוק tells a story about רבן גמליאל roasting on an אסכלא. The גמרא explains why only pomegranate wood works. Metal heats through and roasts the meat by itself, not by fire (צלי אש). Palm, fig, oak, carob and sycamore all release liquid and make the meat like מבושל. It then notes that רבי יהודה allows a metal spit, but the חכמים answer that metal heats all the way through while wood does not. Next, a ברייתא gives nicknames for the roasted פסח and defines the גדי מקולס that may not be eaten on פסח night today, with רב ששת clarifying the case of a boiled limb. Finally, רבה permits roasting meat stuffed with unsalted meat because כבולעו כך פולטו. The גמרא tries to prove this from our משנה, but rejects the proof because of the open slaughter cut, and that reasoning continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementHow to roast the פסח: a pomegranate spit through the whole animal
2. Statementרבי עקיבא: putting the parts inside is like cooking
3. StatementNo roasting on a metal spit or a grill
4. StatementThe story of רבן גמליאל and his servant טבי
5. QuestionWhy not use a metal spit?
6. ResponseMetal heats up and roasts the meat itself
7. QuestionWhy not palm wood?
8. ResponsePalm wood releases water
9. QuestionWhy not fig wood?
10. ResponseFig wood is hollow and releases water
11. QuestionWhy not oak, carob, or sycamore?
12. ResponseThese woods have knots that release water
13. ChallengeBut pomegranate also has knots
14. ResolutionPomegranate knots are smooth
15. ResolutionA one-year-old branch has no knots
16. ChallengeBut the cut end will release water
17. ResolutionThe cut end sticks out of the animal
18. StatementOur משנה does not follow רבי יהודה on the metal spit
19. RejectionThe Sages reject the comparison: metal heats all the way through
20. StatementTwo nicknames for the roasted פסח lamb
21. StatementWhat kind of roasted kid is forbidden on פסח night today
22. ChallengeWhy does the ברייתא need to mention a boiled limb?
23. Resolutionרב ששת: the limb was boiled while still attached
24. Statementרבה permits roasting meat stuffed inside an animal
25. Challengeאביי objects that the outer meat absorbs blood
26. ResolutionAs it absorbs, so it releases
27. ProofTrying to support רבה from our משנה
28. RejectionThe קרבן פסח is different because of the open slaughter cut