Zevachim 22a

זבחים כ״ב ע״א

Learn Zevachim 22a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Washing from the כיור: which vessels and which water are valid, and how its rules compare to a מקוה and a רביעית

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא that lets a כהן wash from any כלי שרת, even a tiny one. That seems to clash with the rule that the כיור must hold water for four כהנים. רב אדא בר אחא explains that the small vessel is set into a hole drilled in the כיור. The גמרא then works out which vessels count. The word 'ירחצו' includes a כלי שרת, and the word 'ממנו' excludes a כלי חול, after אביי's קל וחומר from the כיור's base is knocked down. A כלי שרת is the one included because it was anointed like the כיור. Next, ריש לקיש rules that whatever may complete a מקוה may complete the כיור, but not a רביעית. רב פפא explains that this means adding a סאה of other liquid and then removing a סאה. רב פפא also allows immersing small items in a רביעית-sized hole drilled in a מקוה's wall. Finally, ריש לקיש says מקוה water is fit for the כיור, and the גמרא begins testing whether כיור water must be מים חיים; that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ChallengeA ברייתא says even a vessel without a רביעית can be used
2. Resolutionרב אדא בר אחא: a small vessel set into a hole in the כיור
3. ChallengeThe פסוק says to wash 'from it'
4. Resolution'ירחצו' includes any כלי שרת
5. ChallengeThen why not a כלי חול too?
6. Resolutionאביי: a קל וחומר from the כיור's base rules out a כלי חול
7. QuestionHow do we know the base of the כיור is not valid for washing?
8. ResponseThe base matches the כיור only in being made of copper
9. Challengeמר זוטרא breaks אביי's קל וחומר
10. Resolution'ממנו' is the source for excluding a כלי חול
11. ChallengeThen 'ממנו' should exclude a כלי שרת too
12. Resolution'ירחצו' includes a כלי שרת
13. QuestionWhy include the כלי שרת and not the כלי חול?
14. ResponseA כלי שרת needs anointing like the כיור
15. StatementWhat completes a מקוה also completes the כיור, but not a רביעית
16. QuestionWhat does ריש לקיש come to exclude?
17. RejectionIt cannot be liquefied mud
18. RejectionIt cannot be red gnats either
19. Responseרב פפא: it excludes adding a סאה and removing a סאה
20. Statementרבי יוחנן: this works up to most of the מקוה
21. StatementA small hole in the wall of a מקוה can be used for immersion
22. Statementמקוה water may be used for the כיור
23. ChallengeChallenge: a ברייתא suggests כיור water is מים חיים
24. ResolutionAnswer: the special quality is that Basin water is sanctified
25. ChallengeChallenge: is sanctified water really an advantage?