Yoma 30a

יומא ל׳ ע״א

Learn Yoma 30a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Cleanliness before holy acts (urine, excrement and קריאת שמע, washing at a meal) and the משנה of the immersion before עבודה

Overview

This amud first finishes explaining why someone who urinates must wash: there is a מצוה to wipe away the drops, so the hand gets dirty. The גמרא says this supports רבי אמי, who forbids going out with urine drops on one's legs because people may suspect a defect and spread rumors that his children are ממזרים. רב פפא then rules that excrement 'in its place' forbids קריאת שמע. The גמרא explains that he means excrement that shows when sitting but not when standing, and that this case is filthier than the excrement on the body that רב הונא and רב חסדא argue about. A ברייתא then teaches how to wash hands at a meal after going out to urinate, and that one washes inside to avoid חשד. רב חסדא and רב נחמן בר יצחק limit that rule. A new משנה follows: no one enters the עזרה for עבודה without טבילה, even if he is טהור, and the כהן גדול does five טבילות and ten קידושין on יום כיפור. בן זומא explains the first immersion with a קל וחומר about entering holiness. רבי יהודה says it is a reminder of forgotten טומאה. The גמרא asks what practical difference lies between them, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ProofWiping urine drops supports רבי אמי
2. Statementרב פפא: excrement in its place forbids שמע
3. ChallengeWhat case does רב פפא mean?
4. ResolutionVisible when sitting, hidden when standing
5. ChallengeHow is this different from excrement on the body?
6. ResolutionIn its place the filth is much greater
7. StatementWashing at a meal after urinating
8. StatementWash inside to avoid suspicion
9. Statementרב חסדא limits the washing-inside rule to drinking
10. Statementרב נחמן בר יצחק: for me, even drinking is fine
11. Statementמשנה: no one enters the courtyard for service without immersing
12. Statementמשנה: the High Priest's five immersions and ten washings
13. Questionבן זומא is asked: why this immersion?
14. Responseבן זומא's קל וחומר from the כהן גדול
15. Responseרבי יהודה: an immersion to jog the memory
16. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between the two reasons?