Yoma 79b

יומא ע״ט ע״ב

Learn Yoma 79b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 79b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Is a כותבת הגסה bigger than a כביצה, and do fruits need a סוכה?

Overview

The גמרא compares two measures: the כותבת הגסה (a large date, the amount that makes one liable for eating on יום כיפור) and the כביצה (an egg's volume, the amount that must be eaten in a סוכה). The סוכה stories suggest that two dates are less than a כביצה, so how can one large date be more? רבי ירמיה answers that date pits are very large, and רב פפא backs this up with a folk saying. רבא answers differently: the dates were allowed outside the סוכה only because fruit never needs a סוכה. The גמרא defends רבא against a ברייתא about figs and grapes. It then rejects an attempted proof for him from a ברייתא about מיני תרגימא. רב זביד argues the opposite: a כותבת הגסה is smaller than a כביצה. His proof from בית שמאי's measures for שאור and חמץ is rejected. The גמרא then proves his point from רבי יהודה's rule about זימון: a כביצה satisfies a person, while a כותבת only settles the mind. The amud ends by opening a ברייתא from רבי, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. StatementAn egg's volume of food must be eaten in the סוכה
2. ChallengeHow can one large date be bigger than an egg?
3. Resolutionרבי ירמיה: Yes, the pit makes the difference
4. Proofרב פפא: A folk saying proves pits are huge
5. Resolutionרבא: Those dates were allowed outside because fruit needs no סוכה
6. ChallengeChallenge: רבי ate figs and grapes outside only as a snack
7. ResolutionRead it: We ate them like a snack
8. ResolutionOr: The snack was the bread eaten with the fruit
9. ProofPossible support for רבא from מיני תרגימא
10. RejectionRejection: מיני תרגימא means fruit
11. RejectionOr: It speaks of a place where fruit is rare
12. Statementרב זביד: The large date is smaller than an egg
13. QuestionWhy do בית שמאי give two different measures?
14. ResponseThe Torah wrote both words to show different measures
15. ProofIf a date were egg-sized or bigger, they would have said 'egg'
16. RejectionMaybe they meant an ordinary date, or just picked one of two equal measures
17. ProofA new source: the minimum amount of food for a זימון
18. QuestionWhat is the basis of their disagreement?
19. ResponseTwo readings of 'you shall eat and be satisfied'
20. ProofIf an egg-bulk satisfies, a date must be smaller
21. ConclusionEgg-bulk satisfies, date-bulk settles the mind
22. StatementOpening a new teaching from רבי