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Zevachim 17a

זבחים י״ז ע״א

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

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Topic

The source for disqualifying a טבול יום, and רבה's question of why the תורה writes טמא, טבול יום and מחוסר כפורים separately

Overview

The גמרא first wraps up an earlier discussion: every attempt to learn one disqualified group from another can be knocked down, so each rule stands on its own. Then it asks for the source that a טבול יום who does the עבודה makes it invalid. רבי סימאי uses the פסוק 'קדשים יהיו ולא יחללו', and since a טמא already has his own source in 'וינזרו', the פסוק is applied to a טבול יום. The גמרא asks why it should not apply instead to a כהן with a bald spot or a destroyed beard. It answers that the פסוק is linked to תרומה by a גזירה שוה, so it only covers people barred from תרומה, like a טבול יום. Next, רבה asks why the תורה wrote all three cases: טמא, טבול יום and מחוסר כפורים. He answers that each has its own stricter feature, so no single case can teach another. The גמרא pushes back that one case could be learned from the other two. It shows that מחוסר כפורים cannot be learned that way, but טבול יום seemingly can, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֶלָּא אִיכָּא לְמִיפְרַךְ הָכִי

Rather, one can refute it this way

וְאִיכָּא לְמִיפְרַךְ הָכִי,

and one can refute it that way,

כֹּל חֲדָא וַחֲדָא תֵּיקוּ בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ.

each and every one shall stand in its place.

טְבוּל יוֹם מְנָלַן?

A טבול יום — from where do we derive it?

The steps (13)

  1. ConclusionEach rule stays in its own place
  2. QuestionWhat is the source for טבול יום?
  3. Responseרבי סימאי brings the פסוק 'they shall not desecrate'
  4. ResponseWhy the פסוק goes to טבול יום and not to טמא
  5. ChallengeMaybe the פסוק is about baldness or the beard instead
  6. ResolutionThe פסוק is tied to תרומה, so it fits a טבול יום
  7. Questionרבה asks why all three cases are written
  8. ResponseEach case has its own stricter feature
  9. ChallengeLearn one case from the other two
  10. QuestionWhich case could the תורה have left out?
  11. RejectionThe case of one still owing a sacrifice cannot be left out
  12. ResponseInstead, the case of one who immersed today can be left out
  13. RejectionThe objection about a missing action does not hold