Zevachim 19b

זבחים י״ט ע״ב

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Topic

Sources for disqualifying a מחוסר כיפורים and an unwashed כהן, and the laws of washing hands and feet: when it is essential, how it is done, and how long it lasts.

Overview

The amud opens with the last words of an earlier answer: the כהן גדול's תפילין sat in a gap on his head, so they did not block his garment. The גמרא then gives sources for two invalid cases from the משנה. A מחוסר כיפורים is still partly טמא, learned from "וטהרה". A כהן who did not wash is learned from חוקה–חוקה with מחוסר בגדים. A ברייתא teaches that skipping the extra יום כיפור immersions and washings does not ruin the service, but skipping the morning washing does. רב אסי asks why, and after רבי יוחנן's answer falls, חזקיה and רבי יונתן each bring a פסוק showing that the כהן גדול follows the rules of regular כהנים. Next comes how the washing is done: standing, with hands on feet, and the חכמים and רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה argue over a stacked position held up with help. Finally, רבי and רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון argue whether the passing of night ends a washing, using the words בגשתם and בבואם. The amud ends by asking what the words להקטיר אשה add, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. ResolutionThe תפילין were worn in the gap
2. QuestionSource for the one who has not brought his atonement offering
3. Responseרב הונא: "she shall be pure" shows she was still impure
4. ResponseUnwashed hands and feet: learned from "חוקה"
5. StatementSkipping the extra washings on יום כיפור: service still valid
6. StatementNo morning washing at all: service invalid
7. Challengeרב אסי challenges: the immersions and washings should be required
8. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: only wearing the garments is required
9. Rejectionרבי יוחנן admits his answer does not work
10. Resolutionחזקיה: the כהן גדול follows the rules of regular כהנים
11. Resolutionרבי יונתן's different source for the same rule
12. QuestionWhy doesn't רבי יונתן use חזקיה's פסוק?
13. Responseחזקיה's פסוק teaches that the law lasts for all generations
14. QuestionWhy doesn't חזקיה use רבי יונתן's פסוק?
15. ResponseThe פסוק is needed for the rule of four כהנים
16. StatementHow the washing is done: right hand on right foot
17. Statementרבי יוסי son of רבי יהודה: all hands and feet stacked together
18. RejectionThe Sages reject this method as impossible
19. ChallengeThe גמרא agrees the Sages' objection is strong
20. ResolutionAnother כהן helps him keep his balance
21. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between the two views?
22. ResponseThey argue about standing with support from the side
23. ChallengeWhy not let him sit and wash?
24. ResolutionWashing is for service, and service is done standing
25. Statementרבי: night passing ends the washing
26. Statementרבי אלעזר son of רבי שמעון: night does not end the washing
27. StatementA second ברייתא: serving on the מזבח all night
28. ResolutionWhy both ברייתות are needed
29. Responseרבי's source: בגשתם
30. Responseרבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון's source: בבואם
31. ChallengeWhat does רבי do with בבואם?
32. Resolutionבבואם stops us from washing before every act
33. ChallengeWhat does the other opinion do with בגשתם?
34. Resolutionבגשתם rules out an empty entrance
35. RejectionThe פסוק already says לשרת
36. Resolutionבגשתם teaches רב אחא בר יעקב's rule
37. StatementThe second washing is done while dressed
38. QuestionWhy does the פסוק say להקטיר אשה?