Gemara Clarity

Zevachim 5a

זבחים ה׳ ע״א

Learn Zevachim 5a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Why offerings slaughtered שלא לשמן are kosher but do not count for the owner, and how we know this for an אשם

Overview

The amud opens by finishing why the תורה needed two פסוקים, ״זאת התורה״ and ״מוצא שפתיך״, to teach that an offering brought שלא לשמן is kosher but does not count for its owner. ריש לקיש then challenges this rule: if such an offering is kosher, it should count, and if it does not count, why bring it? רבי אלעזר points to offerings brought after the owner's death, like a woman's עולה, which are kosher but do not atone. ריש לקיש agrees about an עולה but asks about an אשם, which is never brought after death. He rejects רבי אלעזר's reply from רבי אליעזר's opinion and answers himself from ״מוצא שפתיך״. Later אמוראים question this answer, and אביי explains that ריש לקיש's real source is ״ושחט אותה לחטאת״: only a חטאת becomes פסול. To show that an אשם also does not count for its owner, אביי builds a קל וחומר from an עולה. The גמרא then defends it step by step using שלמים, a הצד השוה, and finally a תודה.

Opening lines

לָא יָדַע בְּמַאי;

one would not know in what [way the rule applies];

כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה״.

[therefore] the Merciful One wrote: 'This is the law.'

וְאִי כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה״ –

And if the Merciful One had written only 'This is the law' —

הֲוָה אָמֵינָא לִיפַּסְלוּ;

I would have said that they should be disqualified;

The steps (18)

  1. ResolutionWhy both verses are needed
  2. ChallengeKosher but not counting: how can that be?
  3. ResolutionPrecedent: offerings brought after the owner's death
  4. ProofThe source: a woman's offerings after her death
  5. ChallengeThat works for an עולה, but what about an אשם?
  6. Resolutionרבי אלעזר points to רבי אליעזר's opinion
  7. Rejectionריש לקיש rejects the answer
  8. Resolutionריש לקיש answers his own question
  9. ChallengeLater אמוראים question ריש לקיש's answer
  10. Resolutionאביי reveals ריש לקיש's real starting point
  11. ChallengeMaybe an אשם does count for its owner
  12. ResolutionA קל וחומר from an עולה
  13. RejectionAn עולה is stricter because it is burned completely
  14. ResolutionPeace offerings can prove the point instead
  15. RejectionPeace offerings have their own stricter features
  16. ResolutionCombining burnt and peace offerings into one proof
  17. RejectionTheir common factor: both can be public offerings
  18. ResolutionA thanks offering proves the point