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Zevachim 72a

זבחים ע״ב ע״א

Learn Zevachim 72a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 72a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why both the משנה here and the משנה in עבודה זרה are needed, and why forbidden animals mixed with other animals are not בטל ברוב

Overview

The גמרא explains why we need two משניות that both say a forbidden animal mixed with other animals does not get cancelled by the majority. One is the משנה here, which is about קדשים. The other is the משנה in עבודה זרה, which is about חולין. With קדשים we might have been lenient to avoid a loss to the Temple. With חולין we might have been lenient because nothing disgusting is being offered to ה׳. So both are needed. The גמרא then asks why the forbidden animals are not simply בטל ברוב. One possible answer is that animals are חשיבי, too important to be cancelled. That answer works for the view that reads the rule as 'כל שדרכו לימנות', but not for the view that reads it as 'את שדרכו לימנות'. The גמרא then begins quoting the משנה in ערלה where this argument comes from, about bundles of תלתן that are כלאי הכרם, and the quote continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

צְרִיכִי; דְּאִי מֵהָתָם,

Both are needed; for if [we learned it only] from there,

הֲוָה אָמֵינָא: לְהֶדְיוֹט,

I would have said: [it applies only] to an ordinary person,

אֲבָל לְגָבוֹהַּ אֵימָא

but for the Most High, I might say

לָא נַפְסְדִינְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ;

we should not cause all of them to be lost;

The steps (6)

  1. ResolutionBoth משניות are needed: the first reason
  2. ResolutionBoth משניות are needed: the second reason
  3. ChallengeWhy aren't the forbidden animals cancelled by the majority?
  4. ResolutionA suggested answer: animals are too important to be cancelled
  5. ChallengeThe answer fails for the other opinion
  6. StatementQuoting the משנה where the argument appears