Gemara Clarity

Yoma 48b

יומא מ״ח ע״ב

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Topic

Two questions about the service: does a wrong thought while raking the coals for the קטורת disqualify it, and may הולכה (carrying) be done with the left hand?

Overview

This amud continues a series of questions about invalid thoughts (מחשבה) during the קטורת service. The גמרא asks whether a wrong thought while raking the coals (חתיית גחלים) disqualifies the service. The answer depends on whether מכשירי מצוה, the preparation steps, count like the מצוה itself. No proof is found, so the question ends with תיקו. Next, the חכמים ask רב ששת whether הולכה, carrying to the place of service, may be done with the left hand. He answers from the משנה, where the כהן גדול holds the coal pan in his right hand and the spoon of incense in his left. The גמרא asks why he did not bring the simpler proof of the תמיד's right leg, which is carried in the left hand. It answers that carrying the limbs is not essential to the כפרה, while carrying the incense is. So רב ששת's source proves that the left hand is valid even for carrying that the כפרה depends on.

Opening lines

חִישֵּׁב בַּחֲתִיַּית גֶּחָלִים, מַהוּ?

If he thought [an invalidating thought] during the raking of the coals, what is the law?

מַכְשִׁירֵי מִצְוָה כְּמִצְוָה דָּמוּ, אוֹ לָא?

Are the preparations of a מצוה considered like the מצוה itself, or not?

תֵּיקוּ.

Let it stand [unresolved].

בְּעוֹ מִינֵּיהּ מֵרַב שֵׁשֶׁת:

They asked Rav Sheshet:

The steps (6)

  1. QuestionDoes a wrong thought while raking the coals disqualify the incense?
  2. ConclusionThe question is left unresolved
  3. QuestionMay carrying be done with the left hand?
  4. Responseרב ששת proves from our משנה that the left hand is fine
  5. ChallengeWhy not prove it from the limbs of the תמיד?
  6. ResolutionThe limbs are a weaker case; the incense proof teaches more