Zevachim 30b

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Learn Zevachim 30b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether רבי מאיר follows a person's first words (״תמורת עולה תמורת שלמים״), and the exact wording of the משנה on mixed intentions (כזית כזית / כזית וכזית) with לוי's question to רבי

Overview

The amud opens with אביי challenging רב דימי. רבה בר בר חנה reported that, according to רבי יוחנן, רבי מאיר and רבי יוסי do not argue about the principle of following a person's first words. אביי explains that both agree on the clear cases: 'this, and afterward that' means only the first holiness takes effect, and 'this only if that' means both take effect. They argue only about someone who said ״תמורת עולה תמורת שלמים״. רבי מאיר reads the repeated ״תמורת״ as a change of mind, while רבי יוסי reads it as making the whole animal each offering. רב דימי answers that he simply disagrees with רבה בר בר חנה. The גמרא then asks whether the משנה about two wrong intentions reads 'כזית, כזית' or 'כזית וכזית', and why that small 'and' matters for רבי יהודה. It brings לוי's question to רבי about one כזית meant for 'tomorrow, outside', which רבי called a wise question and ruled is עירוב מחשבות. The amud explains why the question was wise for לוי, who learned only the version without 'and', and why he chose to ask that case. The amud ends just as the גמרא starts to describe how רבי would react in anger, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. Challengeאביי cites רבי יוחנן saying רבי מאיר and רבי יוסי do not argue
2. ChallengeBut they clearly do argue
3. ResolutionThey argue only on the specific case, not on the principle
4. ProofWhere everyone agrees: two clear kinds of statements
5. StatementWhere they do argue: the repeated word 'substitute'
6. StatementWhy רבי יוסי says the double phrase
7. Rejectionרב דימי keeps his view that they disagree
8. QuestionWhich wording does the משנה use?
9. QuestionWhat each wording would mean
10. Proofלוי asks רבי about one olive-bulk with both intentions
11. Challengeרבי שמעון ברבי says the answer is already in the משנה
12. Resolutionרבי answers: for you, who learned two versions, it is easy
13. ResolutionWhy לוי had a real doubt
14. QuestionWhich version did רבי teach לוי?
15. Responseלוי learned 'כזית כזית' without 'and'
16. ChallengeThen לוי should have asked about the 'and' case
17. ResolutionAsk one question, learn two answers
18. ChallengeHis actual question has the same problem
19. ResolutionIf the answer were 'combined', רבי would get angry