Pesachim 74b

פסחים ע״ד ע״ב

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

Open Pesachim 74b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Blood absorbed in roasted and soaked meat: כבולעו כך פולטו, breaded and stuffed meat, meat on coals, and soaking in vinegar

Overview

This amud opens with the last words of a rejected proof: in that case the blood has an open path and simply drips out. The גמרא then tries to support רבה's principle of כבולעו כך פולטו (as food absorbs, so it releases) from a משנה about roasting a heart. That proof is pushed away because the heart is smooth. Two stories, one about רב and a dove wrapped in dough and one about רבא and a breaded goose, are each explained by the type of flour used. This leads to a three-part הלכה for breaded meat, and to the ruling that stuffed meat (מולייתא) is permitted even with the opening facing up. Next comes a set of arguments between רב אחא and רבינא about raw meat, testicles and neck veins. They are permitted after salting or roasting on a spit, and also on coals, because the heat draws the blood out. The amud closes with raw meat soaked in vinegar: whether the vinegar's color matters, and why vinegar used once for soaking is not used again. That last answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. RejectionThere the blood simply drips out
2. ProofTrying to prove the absorb-and-release principle from the heart
3. RejectionThe heart is different because it is smooth
4. ChallengeChallenge from רב eating dough roasted around a dove
5. ResolutionThe dough was crumbly fine flour
6. Challengeרבא would only eat breaded goose if the coating stayed white
7. Resolutionרבא's coating was firm white flour
8. ConclusionFinal rule for three kinds of breading
9. StatementHow far each side goes on stuffed meat
10. ConclusionStuffed meat is permitted even with the opening up
11. StatementThree meat cases argued by רב אחא and רבינא
12. StatementThe usual rule: רב אחא is strict, רבינא is lenient
13. ConclusionIn these three cases the roles flip
14. StatementRaw meat that is salted or roasted on a spit is permitted
15. StatementArgument about raw meat placed directly on coals
16. ConclusionThe ruling: the coals draw out the blood
17. StatementSame pattern for testicles
18. StatementSame pattern for neck veins, with the cut facing down
19. ConclusionFinal ruling: the coals draw out the blood
20. StatementRaw meat soaked in vinegar: depends on whether the vinegar turned red
21. Statementרבינא forbids the vinegar even when it stays clear
22. ProofPractice shows the vinegar was drunk without concern
23. StatementAmeimar did not reuse vinegar for a second soaking
24. QuestionWhy is used vinegar different from weak vinegar?
25. ResponseThe answer begins: in weak vinegar, the sharpness is still there