Pesachim 7b

פסחים ז׳ ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 7b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 7b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The wording and timing of the ברכה on ביעור חמץ, and the source for searching by the light of a נר

Overview

The amud opens by narrowing the dispute between רב פפי and רב פפא about the ברכה on removing חמץ. Both agree that "לבער" looks to the future. They argue only about whether "על ביעור" sounds like something already done. The גמרא challenges the 'past' view from the ברכות on מילה, שחיטה and לולב, and answers each challenge by showing why that case is special. The הלכה is that one says "על ביעור חמץ". Next, the גמרא brings שמואל's rule that every ברכה is said before the מצוה (עובר לעשייתן), and proves from three פסוקים that "עובר" means 'before'. בי רב list טבילה and שופר as exceptions, but רב חסדא corrects this so that only טבילה is an exception, and a ברייתא supports him. The גמרא then turns to the משנה's rule of searching by the light of a נר. רב חסדא derives it from a chain of verses, and the school of רבי ישמעאל calls that chain a hint. Finally, a ברייתא begins to rule out sunlight, moonlight and torchlight, and its reasons continue on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. StatementDefining exactly where the two opinions disagree
2. ChallengeChallenge from the ברכה on מילה
3. Resolutionמילה is different: the wording "למול" would not fit
4. ChallengeWhat about when the father does the מילה himself?
5. ResolutionYes, the father himself does say "למול"
6. ChallengeChallenge from the ברכה on שחיטה
7. Resolutionשחיטה is different: "לשחוט" would sound like a duty to slaughter
8. ChallengeWhat about the קרבן פסח and other קדשים?
9. ResolutionYes, there one says ״לשחוט״
10. ChallengeChallenge from the blessing on לולב
11. ResolutionLifting the לולב already fulfills the מצוה
12. ChallengeThen the ברייתא should say "he fulfilled"
13. ResolutionMatching the wording of the סוכה clause
14. ProofQuoting the סוכה clause of the ברייתא
15. ConclusionThe final ruling: ״על ביעור חמץ״
16. QuestionWhere do we learn that a ברכה comes before the מצוה?
17. Responseשמואל's rule: bless before doing
18. QuestionHow do we know 'עובר' means 'before'?
19. ResponseFirst proof: אחימעץ overtook the Cushite
20. ProofSecond proof: יעקב went ahead of his family
21. ProofThird proof: the king goes before them
22. Statementבי רב: two exceptions, טבילה and שופר
23. Challengeטבילה makes sense, but why שופר?
24. ResolutionSuggested reason: the blowing might go wrong
25. RejectionRejected: then שחיטה and מילה too
26. Resolutionרב חסדא: only טבילה was said
27. ProofA ברייתא: bless when coming up from the טבילה
28. QuestionWhere does the lamp requirement come from?
29. Responseרב חסדא's chain of word-links
30. ProofThe first links: from 'found' to 'searched'
31. ProofThe last links: from 'search' to 'lamps' to 'lamp'
32. ProofThe school of רבי ישמעאל teaches the same rule as a hint
33. QuestionWhy add the last verse?
34. ResponseThe extra verse shows that a lamp searches thoroughly
35. StatementSearch only by lamplight, not by sun, moon, or torch