Pesachim 75b

פסחים ע״ה ע״ב

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

Open Pesachim 75b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Are glowing coals (גחלים) considered 'fire' (אש)? Testing רבי's view that roasting the קרבן פסח on coals counts as צלי אש, against ברייתות about burns (מכות אש) and the coals of יום הכפורים.

Overview

Earlier on the daf, רבי ruled that coals count as 'fire', so roasting the קרבן פסח on coals is valid צלי אש. The amud opens by finishing a side argument about the word 'ישרף'. Then רבינא answers a contradiction to רבי from the ברייתא of מכות אש by rereading it so that a coal is included in 'fire' from the start. רבא raises a new contradiction from the ברייתא about the coals of the קטורת on יום הכפורים. The גמרא first shows that this ברייתא seems to contradict itself. רב ששת rereads it, but his reading still treats coals as different from fire, which is a difficulty for רבי. אביי offers a reading that fits רבי, but רבה rejects it. רבא then gives a reading that fits רבי: the coals must already be coals at the moment they are taken from the מזבח. After a short note on how to spell עוֹמְמוֹת, a new משנה teaches what to cut away from the פסח if it was cooked by the oven wall or its own gravy, and what to do if it was smeared with תרומה or מעשר שני oil. The גמרא then begins a discussion of hot foods touching hot foods, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ChallengeA verse is quoted against the previous answer
2. ResolutionThe word 'ישרף' is needed for two other teachings
3. Resolutionרבינא fixes the wording of the burns ברייתא
4. Challengeרבא contradicts רבי from the coals of the קטורת
5. ChallengeThe קטורת ברייתא seems to contradict itself
6. Resolutionרב ששת rereads the ברייתא to remove its internal contradiction
7. Challengeרב ששת's reading still shows coals are not 'fire', against רבי
8. Resolutionאביי's reading: 'fire' alone would include a coal, so coals are 'fire'
9. Questionרבה asks: where would a flame with no coal even exist?
10. ResponseThe case: a vessel smeared with oil and set on fire
11. RejectionNo verse is needed to exclude something disrespectful even before a human king
12. Resolutionרבא's reading: the coals must already be coals when taken from the altar
13. QuestionHow is the word for dying coals spelled?
14. ResponseIt is spelled with an ע, based on a פסוק
15. StatementMeat roasted by the oven wall or by its own gravy
16. StatementThe פסח smeared with תרומה oil
17. StatementThe פסח smeared with מעשר שני oil
18. StatementThe גמרא opens: hot food falling into hot food