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Yevamos 90a

יבמות צ׳ ע״א

Yevamot 90a

Learn Yevamos 90a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yevamos 90a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Can the חכמים uproot a Torah law? (יש כח ביד חכמים לעקור דבר מן התורה). The גמרא finishes deflecting one source and then brings a strong proof from the case of a זר who repays a כהן for eating תרומה.

Overview

The גמרא is checking whether the חכמים have the power to uproot a Torah law. First it explains that a woman eating תרומה on her husband's account refers only to תרומה דרבנן. Next it brings a ברייתא about a non-כהן who repaid a כהן with impure חולין. After רבא fills in missing words, it seems that סומכוס in the name of רבי מאיר cancels a payment the Torah considers valid, which would even affect a אשת איש. The גמרא rejects this: 'not payment' only means he must pay a second time. רב אחא בריה דרב איקא shows that the two sides still differ, on fining the accidental payer. Then the גמרא tries the case of impure blood sprinkled on purpose: the ציץ makes it acceptable by Torah law, yet the רבנן say it is not accepted. רבי יוסי בר חנינא explains that only eating the meat is forbidden. When the גמרא objects that this still cancels a Torah מצוה, the answer is that שב ואל תעשה is different.

Opening lines

וְאוֹכֶלֶת בְּגִינוֹ תְּרוּמָה.

"And she eats teruma on his account."

בִּתְרוּמָה דְּרַבָּנַן.

With teruma that is rabbinic.

תָּא שְׁמַע:

Come and hear:

אָכַל תְּרוּמָה טְמֵאָה

If he ate impure teruma,

The steps (13)

  1. ResolutionEating תרומה on his account means תרומה דרבנן
  2. ProofA new source: paying back a כהן for eaten תרומה
  3. ChallengeWhy cancel the payment? He gave the כהן something better
  4. Resolutionרבא: the ברייתא is missing words
  5. ProofThe proof: the חכמים cancel a payment the Torah considers valid
  6. RejectionThe first payment still counts; he just pays again
  7. ChallengeThen סומכוס and the רבנן agree
  8. ResolutionThe difference is fining the accidental sinner
  9. ProofA new source: impure blood sprinkled on the מזבח
  10. ProofThe ציץ makes it acceptable, yet the רבנן reject it
  11. RejectionRereading 'Not Accepted': Only the Meat Is Forbidden
  12. ChallengeBut Forbidding the Meat Still Cancels a Torah מצוה
  13. ResolutionDoing Nothing Is Different