Pesachim 78b

פסחים ע״ח ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 78b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Pesachim 78b: רבי יוסי's middle view, the משנה on impure meat or fat of the קרבן פסח, and whether eating the פסח is essential (רב, רבי נתן and the רבנן)

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the explanation of רבי יוסי's middle position between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע. רבי יוסי follows רבי יהושע לכתחילה, and he follows רבי אליעזר בדיעבד when the meat was lost or burned. When the meat only became impure, even רבי יהושע accepts the offering after the fact. A new משנה then teaches that for a קרבן פסח, impure meat stops the blood from being sprinkled, but impure fat does not. For other offerings, pure fat alone is enough. רב rules that if the blood was sprinkled anyway, the פסח is accepted, because eating is not essential. After challenges from a פסוק and a ברייתא, the גמרא says רב follows רבי נתן. It proves this from רבי נתן's ruling that even a group with no כזית to eat is exempt from פסח שני, because the blood was already sprinkled. רב chose this reading because the משנה says 'אין זורק' and not 'פסול'. Even רבי נתן requires a person who is fit to eat. The גמרא then tests three ברייתות to see whether each follows רבי נתן or the רבנן. It ends with רבי יוחנן placing the last ברייתא in a case of the ציבור, where the meat is still not eaten because of a rabbinic גזירה.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. RejectionRejecting the public-offering reading of רבי יוסי
2. ResolutionNew reading: after the fact versus from the start
3. ChallengeBut רבי יהושע already agrees after the fact
4. ResolutionTwo different cases: impure meat versus lost or burned meat
5. ConclusionSpelling out the split: where רבי יהושע agrees and where רבי יוסי sides with רבי אליעזר
6. StatementNew משנה: impure meat versus impure fat in the קרבן פסח
7. StatementOther offerings are different: pure fat is enough
8. Statementרב rules that sprinkling the blood makes the offering accepted
9. ChallengeChallenge: the פסח must be eaten
10. ResolutionAnswer: eating is not essential
11. ChallengeChallenge from the verse 'according to every man's eating'
12. ResolutionAnswer: the verse is only for the מצוה
13. ChallengeA ברייתא shows the same verse is essential for registration
14. ChallengeEaters are linked to registered people, so eating is essential too
15. Resolutionרב follows רבי נתן
16. QuestionWhich teaching of רבי נתן?
17. ResponseFirst suggestion: all ישראל can share one פסח
18. RejectionRejected: each person could still eat
19. ResponseSecond suggestion: two groups registered on one פסח
20. Proofרבי נתן: both groups are exempt because the blood was sprinkled
21. RejectionMaybe the second group was exempt only because it could have eaten
22. ResolutionThe ברייתא's stated reason shows the blood is what counts
23. ChallengeWhy did רב read the משנה like רבי נתן and not the רבנן?
24. ResolutionThe משנה's wording 'he should not sprinkle' forced רב's reading
25. ChallengeWhat does איש לפי אכלו teach according to רבי נתן?
26. ResolutionThe verse requires a person who is fit to eat
27. QuestionWhose view is the ברייתא about sprinkling the blood for non-eaters?
28. RejectionEven the רבנן agree, because intent about eaters does not matter at sprinkling
29. QuestionWhose view is the ברייתא about a person who was sick at slaughter or at sprinkling?
30. RejectionEven רבי נתן requires a person who is able to eat
31. QuestionWhose view is the ברייתא about owners who became impure after slaughter?
32. Responseרבי אלעזר: the ברייתא follows only רבי נתן
33. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: even the רבנן agree in a case of the ציבור
34. ChallengeIf it is the community, why can't they eat the meat?
35. ResolutionA rabbinic decree to prevent confusion between cases