Yoma 17b

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Learn Yoma 17b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Placing לשכת הטלאים in the southwest, the right-turn rule, and the כהן גדול's first choice of offerings and portions, including אביי's answer about the שתי הלחם

Overview

This amud finishes the discussion about the chambers of the בית המקדש. The גמרא proves that לשכת הטלאים was in the southwest corner, because only then does רב הונא's answer about לחם הפנים work. It then asks how a תנא could list the chambers moving to the left, when every turn must be to the right. The answer is that the right-turn rule applies only during actual עבודה, and here the תנא is only counting the chambers. Next the גמרא quotes the משנה: the כהן גדול offers first and takes his portion first. A ברייתא explains that he simply announces which offering he will bring or eat, and that he takes one of the שתי הלחם and four or five of the לחם הפנים. רבי says he always takes five, half for אהרן and half for his sons. The גמרא asks why the ברייתא seems to switch between רבי and רבנן. אביי answers that the first clauses follow רבנן: the כהן גדול gets a whole loaf of the שתי הלחם only because a broken piece is not respectful for him.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. ProofProof from the answer about the showbread
2. ConclusionConclusion: the Chamber of the Lambs was in the southwest
3. ChallengeChallenge: every turn must be to the right
4. ResolutionAnswer: the right-turn rule is only for actual service
5. StatementQuoting the משנה: the High Priest goes first
6. StatementHow the High Priest offers first
7. StatementHow the High Priest takes his portion first
8. Statementרבי: always five loaves, half for אהרן
9. ChallengeThe ברייתא Seems to Contradict Itself
10. Resolutionאביי: Both Early Clauses Follow the Rabbis, Since a Piece Is Undignified