Pesachim 89a

פסחים פ״ט ע״א

Learn Pesachim 89a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 89a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The failed attempts at a conditional פסח, the father's race to ירושלים, and the deadlines for joining or leaving a פסח

Overview

This amud opens in the middle of a discussion about five people who each brought a פסח, where one animal turned out to have a מום and nobody knows whose it was. The גמרא tries again and again to let them bring a new animal with a condition: if I still owe a פסח, it is a פסח; if not, it is a שלמים or a מותר הפסח. Each time, the גמרא finds a difference between the two offerings that blocks the condition: the חזה ושוק, the eating time, סמיכה, the number of blood placements, and pouring versus throwing the blood. The final answer is that pouring שלמים blood is valid only בדיעבד, never as a plan לכתחילה, so the condition cannot work. Next comes a משנה about a father who slaughters a פסח for whichever son reaches ירושלים first. The גמרא asks if this proves ברירה. רבי יוחנן answers that all the children were registered from the start, and the race was only to make them eager for מצוות. A precise reading of the משנה and a ברייתא support him. Last, a new משנה teaches that people may join a פסח as long as each gets a כזית, and may register or withdraw until the שחיטה. אביי explains that רבי שמעון extends only the time for withdrawing, until the blood is thrown, and a ברייתא confirms this.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ResponseThe breast and thigh problem blocks the conditional offering
2. ChallengeSuggestion that each person register a priest
3. RejectionAny single priest has a problem either way
4. ChallengeOne priest registered on all five animals
5. ResolutionThe condition fails because it shortens the eating time of שלמים
6. ChallengeSuggestion: use a מותר הפסח, which has the same eating time as a פסח
7. RejectionYou cannot set aside an animal as a מותר הפסח from the start
8. ChallengeThen let them find an animal that is already a מותר הפסח
9. ResolutionThe condition fails because of leaning hands on the animal
10. ChallengeLeaning hands does not explain the case of women's offerings
11. ResolutionThe condition fails because of the number of blood placements
12. ChallengeOne blood placement already brings atonement
13. ResolutionThe real difference: pouring versus throwing the blood
14. ChallengeA ברייתא says pouring works even where throwing is required
15. ResolutionValid after the fact is not the same as allowed from the start
16. Statementמשנה: a father slaughters the פסח for whichever son arrives first
17. ChallengeDoes the משנה prove that ברירה works?
18. ResolutionThe father only wanted to make his children eager
19. ProofThe משנה's wording proves the brothers were registered from the start
20. ProofA ברייתא: the daughters won the race
21. StatementNew משנה: when people may join or leave a פסח
22. QuestionWhat is the משנה's first rule teaching?
23. ResponseA whole new group can replace the original group
24. Statementאביי: the dispute is only about withdrawing
25. StatementHow each side reads 'from being a lamb'
26. StatementEveryone agrees: registering ends at the slaughter
27. ProofA ברייתא confirms אביי