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Yoma 44b

יומא מ״ד ע״ב

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Topic

Yoma 44b: The holiness of the area between the אולם and the מזבח, and the differences in the coal pan (מחתה) on יום כיפור

Overview

This amud finishes the גמרא's discussion of the levels of holiness (מעלות) in the בית המקדש. רבא explains that all the differences in stepping away (פרישה) between the היכל and the area between the אולם and the מזבח count as one מעלה. A ברייתא adds that people also step away during the inner blood service of certain sacrifices, and רבי פדת gives the source: a גזירה שוה of 'כפרה' from יום הכיפורים. רב אחא בר אהבה tries to prove that the מעלות are דאורייתא, and רבא tries to prove that the אולם shares the holiness of the היכל. The גמרא pushes both proofs aside. The גמרא then turns back to the משנה about the coal pan (מחתה). On regular days a silver pan was used to save money, but on יום כיפור a single gold pan was used to spare the weak כהן גדול. Two answers explain a ברייתא that says two קבין of coals spilled. The amud then lists how the יום כיפור pan was built differently, and רב חסדא begins explaining seven kinds of gold, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת הַקְטָרָה.

except during the time of the incense burning.

וְהָא אִיכָּא הָא מַעֲלָה,

But there is this higher standard too:

דְּאִילּוּ מֵהֵיכָל פָּרְשִׁי

that whereas from the Sanctuary they step away

בֵּין בִּקְדוּשָּׁה דִידֵיהּ,

both during its own holy service,

The steps (29)

  1. ResponseFinishing the answer: between the אולם and the מזבח only during the קטורת
  2. ChallengeThere is another difference between the two areas
  3. Resolutionרבא: It is all one category of stepping away
  4. StatementThe ברייתא: Stepping away also during certain inner sacrifices
  5. QuestionWhat is the source?
  6. Responseרבי פדת: A גזירה שוה from יום הכיפורים
  7. Statementרב אחא בר אהבה: The levels of holiness are Torah law
  8. Proofרב אחא בר אהבה's proof that the stepping-away rule is from the Torah
  9. RejectionThe area right in front of the Entrance Hall is easy to confuse
  10. Statementרבא: the Entrance Hall and the Sanctuary share one holiness
  11. RejectionThe Entrance Hall and the space in front of it form one unit
  12. QuestionWhy use a silver pan on regular days?
  13. ResponseThe Torah protects Jewish money
  14. QuestionWhy only one gold pan on יום כיפור?
  15. ResponseTo spare the weakened כהן גדול
  16. StatementOne קב of coals spilled while pouring
  17. StatementTwo ברייתות disagree on how much spilled
  18. ChallengeWhose view gives two קבין?
  19. Resolutionרב חסדא: The two-קב teaching follows רבי ישמעאל בנו של רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה
  20. Resolutionרב אשי: It can even follow רבי יוסי, using a desert סאה
  21. StatementThe משנה: The everyday pan was heavy, the יום כיפור pan light
  22. Statementברייתא: The יום כיפור pan had thin walls and a long handle
  23. QuestionWhy was the handle long?
  24. ResponseSo the כהן גדול can brace the pan on his arm
  25. Statementברייתא: On יום כיפור the pan had a ring
  26. StatementThe everyday pan was made of greenish gold
  27. Statementרב חסדא lists seven kinds of gold
  28. StatementPlain gold versus good gold, proven from a verse
  29. StatementGold of אופיר comes from אופיר, and the explanation of מופז begins