Pesachim 8b

פסחים ח׳ ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 8b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 8b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Danger and the protection of שלוחי מצוה in בדיקת חמץ, and which rows of barrels must be checked in a wine cellar

Overview

This amud opens by finishing the question of why a person checking holes for חמץ needs to fear danger, when שלוחי מצוה אינן ניזוקין. The first answer is that he may go back to look for his lost needle after the מצוה is finished. רב נחמן בר יצחק explains the danger differently. Following the תנא פלימו, he says it comes from a non-Jewish neighbor, who might suspect כשפים when he sees someone searching with a candle at night. The גמרא then teaches that the protection of a מצוה does not cover places where danger is common, and proves this from שמואל's fear of שאול. Next, רב is asked whether students may travel in the dark to learn. רבי אלעזר rules that שלוחי מצוה are protected both going and returning, based on איסי בן יהודה's ברייתא about עלייה לרגל. Two short sayings explain that the fruits of גינוסר and the hot springs of טבריא are not in ירושלים, so that pilgrims go up only for the מצוה. Finally, the גמרא returns to the משנה about checking 'two rows' of barrels in a wine cellar. It explains the views of בית שמאי and בית הלל, and rules like שמואל: check the top front row and the top row just behind it.

Opening lines

The steps (41)

1. ChallengeEven with a personal motive, he is still fully righteous
2. ResolutionHe may search for the needle after the checking is done
3. StatementA different explanation: the danger comes from גוים
4. ProofThe ברייתא about a hole between a Jew and a non-Jew
5. ChallengeWhat danger? If it is suspicion of כשפים, how did he ever use the hole?
6. ResolutionDaytime use is fine; nighttime checking by candle raises suspicion
7. ChallengeBut שלוחי מצוה are protected from harm
8. ResolutionWhere harm is common, it is different
9. ProofProof from שמואל, who feared שאול
10. QuestionStudents ask רב about traveling in the dark to learn
11. Responseרב: let them come, I take responsibility
12. QuestionWhat about going back home?
13. Responseרב: I do not know
14. Statementרבי אלעזר: protected both going and returning
15. QuestionWhose opinion is this?
16. Responseאיסי בן יהודה: animals are protected during עלייה לרגל
17. ProofA קל וחומר from animals to people
18. QuestionWhere do we learn protection on the way back?
19. Response'And you shall go to your tents': safe return home
20. ChallengeWhy do we need a source for protection on the way there?
21. ResolutionThe verse is needed for רבי אמי: only landowners must go up
22. StatementWhy the fruits of גינוסר do not grow in ירושלים
23. StatementWhy the hot springs of טבריא are not in ירושלים
24. QuestionWho mentioned a wine cellar?
25. ResolutionRereading the משנה: which cellar needs its two rows checked
26. Statementרב יהודה: the two rows of בית שמאי run from floor to ceiling
27. Statementרבי יוחנן: one row shaped like a גאם
28. ProofA ברייתא that supports רב יהודה
29. ProofA ברייתא that supports רבי יוחנן
30. Statementבית הלל's two rows, and רב's explanation
31. Statementשמואל: the top front row and the row behind it
32. QuestionAsking for רב's reason
33. Responseרב focuses on the word 'outer'
34. ChallengeBut the משנה also says 'upper'
35. Resolution'Upper' only rules out the lowest barrels
36. QuestionWhat is the source for שמואל's view
37. Responseשמואל reads the word 'upper' closely
38. ChallengeBut the משנה also says 'outer'
39. Resolution'Outer' only excludes the deep inner rows
40. ProofWhich תנאים support each view
41. ConclusionThe הלכה follows שמואל