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Zevachim 55b

זבחים נ״ה ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 55b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Where and when שלמים may be slaughtered: the dispute over the three פסוקים, the rule that the היכל entrance must be open, and how openings made the whole עזרה valid

Overview

The גמרא explains what the תנא קמא and רבי אליעזר argue about. Each of them uses the three פסוקים about where שלמים are slaughtered differently: the תנא קמא learns צפון by logic and uses a פסוק to rule out the צידי צדדים, while רבי אליעזר needs a פסוק for צפון. Next the גמרא asks why one פסוק says 'פתח אהל מועד' instead of 'לפני אהל מועד'. It answers that שלמים slaughtered before the doors of the היכל open are פסולין, and adds that in the משכן they are פסולין if slaughtered before it was set up or after it was taken down. The גמרא then asks what counts as a closed entrance. A shut door counts as closed, but a curtain does not. A proof about a tall obstruction, from two small doors in the בית החליפות, is pushed off, and the details of those doors are defended. Finally, a small niche behind the בית הכפורת made the back of the עזרה valid too, hinted at by the פסוק 'שנים לפרבר'. The amud ends as שמואל begins a new rule about entering the מקדש in טומאה, which continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

בְּמַאי קָא מִיפַּלְגִי?

With regard to what do they disagree?

תַּנָּא קַמָּא סָבַר:

The first tanna holds:

תְּלָתָא קְרָאֵי כְּתִיבִי;

three verses are written;

חַד לְגוּפֵיהּ –

one for its own point:

The steps (24)

  1. QuestionWhat is the disagreement really about?
  2. ResponseHow the first opinion uses the three verses
  3. ResponseHow רבי אליעזר uses the three verses
  4. QuestionWhy does one verse say 'entrance' and the others 'before'?
  5. ResponseThe entrance must be open when slaughtering
  6. ProofA second אמורא says the same rule
  7. StatementThe version taught in the West, with an added law for the משכן
  8. StatementA shut door counts as locked
  9. QuestionWhat about a curtain?
  10. ResponseA curtain is like an open entrance
  11. QuestionWhat about something tall blocking the entrance?
  12. ProofA ברייתא about two small doors in the Chamber
  13. ProofReading 'eight' as a tall blocking in front
  14. RejectionNo: the doors themselves were eight high
  15. ChallengeAll gates in the Temple were twenty cubits tall
  16. ResolutionSmall doors are different
  17. ChallengeWhat about the side areas?
  18. ResolutionThe doors were set at the corners
  19. QuestionWhat about the area behind the Holy of Holies?
  20. ResponseA small niche stood behind the Holy of Holies
  21. ProofA verse hints at the niche
  22. QuestionWhat does 'פרבר' mean?
  23. Responseפרבר means facing outward
  24. StatementWhen one is liable for entering in impurity