Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 75a

פסחים ע״ה ע״א

Learn Pesachim 75a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 75a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

What counts as 'fire': roasting the פסח, ערלה fuel, coals, hot metal, and burning a בת כהן

Overview

The עמוד opens with the last line of an earlier discussion: fresh vinegar keeps its sharpness, but used vinegar does not. The גמרא then explains why the משנה forbids roasting the פסח on a grill and yet tells a story of רבן גמליאל using one. A line is missing from the משנה: a grill with holes is allowed. רב אדא בר אהבה rules that bread baked in a swept oven that was heated with ערלה peels is permitted. He defends this ruling against רבי יוחנן's teaching that a swept oven is not 'צלי אש', and the גמרא gives two answers. Next comes רבי's ruling that a פסח placed on coals is צלי אש. This leads to a long discussion of what counts as 'fire': hot metal for צרעת, molten lead for the execution of a בת כהן, the גזירה שוה from בני אהרן, and רב נחמן's rule of מיתה יפה. Finally רבי ירמיה compares the פרים הנשרפים, and רבי זירא explains that the order of the words 'fire' and 'burning' makes the difference. The גמרא's pushback on that answer continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

לְקִיּוּהָא דְפֵירָא בְּעֵינֵיהּ.

[there,] the sharpness of the fruit is intact.

הָכָא — לֵיתָא

Here, there is not

לְקִיּוּהָא דְפֵירָא בְּעֵינֵיהּ.

the sharpness of the fruit in its intact state.

אֵין צוֹלִין אֶת הַפֶּסַח וְכוּ׳.

One may not roast the Paschal lamb, etc.

The steps (28)

  1. ResolutionFresh vinegar keeps its sharpness, used vinegar does not
  2. StatementQuoting the משנה: no roasting the פסח on a grill
  3. ChallengeWhy does the story contradict the rule?
  4. ResolutionA missing line: a grill with holes is allowed
  5. QuestionBread baked in a swept oven that was heated with ערלה peels
  6. ResponseThe bread is permitted
  7. ChallengeChallenge from רבי יוחנן: a swept oven is not 'roasted in fire'
  8. ChallengeThe inference that turns the swept-oven verse into a challenge
  9. ResolutionThe rule was taught by פסח and applies everywhere
  10. ResolutionA second answer: פסח depends on fire, but ערלה depends on the forbidden wood
  11. StatementA ברייתא: רבי says a פסח placed on coals counts as roasted in fire
  12. ChallengeDoes רבי really hold that coals are fire?
  13. ChallengeThe source of the contradiction: a burn from fire
  14. ChallengeThe inference: without the extra word, coals would not be fire
  15. ResolutionA wood coal is obviously fire; the verse is needed for hot metal
  16. ChallengeChallenge from בת כהן: hot metal is called fire
  17. ResolutionThe extra word 'she shall be burned' includes every kind of burning
  18. ChallengeThen why not burn her with real fire from branches?
  19. ResolutionThe burning must be like the sons of Aaron: the soul burns, the body stays whole
  20. ChallengeThen why not use boiling water heated by fire?
  21. ResolutionChoose a kind death: love your fellow as yourself
  22. ChallengeIf we have רב נחמן, why do we need the גזירה שוה?
  23. ResolutionEach source teaches something the other cannot
  24. ChallengeWhy does the פסוק need the word 'in fire'?
  25. Resolution'In fire' excludes lead that was never heated by fire
  26. ChallengeThe פרים הנשרפים must be burned only in real fire
  27. ResolutionThe word order makes the difference
  28. ChallengeThe פרים verse also ends with burning