Gemara Clarity

Zevachim 76a

זבחים ע״ו ע״א

Learn Zevachim 76a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 76a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Does רבי שמעון allow bringing holy food into a state where it may become disqualified (בית הפסול) from the start, or only after a mixture has already happened, as רבה claims?

Overview

The גמרא tests רבה's claim that no תנא allows bringing holy food into a state where it may become disqualified (בית הפסול) from the start. רבה holds that even רבי שמעון allows it only after a mixture has already happened. אביי challenges him with a משנה that lets כהנים season קרבנות with תרומה spices, and רבה answers that spice תרומה is only דרבנן. When אביי brings a משנה about buying תרומה with מעשר שני money, רבה is silent. רב יוסף suggests a stronger source: a משנה where רבי שמעון permits cooking שביעית vegetables in תרומה oil. אביי says רבה would call this rabbinic vegetable תרומה, or would say it speaks only after the foods were already mixed. The גמרא debates whether the 'already mixed' reading fits, comparing the case to mixed animals that can graze and to mixed pieces of meat that have no fix. רבינא suggests squeezing out the oil as a fix, but רב יוסף answers that squeezing either wastes שביעית produce or does not work, so his proof stands. A new challenge then begins, from רבי שמעון's ruling about a doubtful מצורע who brings his offerings with a condition, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְכוּלָּן רַשָּׁאִין כֹּהֲנִים לְשַׁנּוֹת בַּאֲכִילָתָן –

And with all of them, the priests are permitted to vary how they eat them:

לְאָכְלָן צְלוּיִין שְׁלוּקִין וּמְבוּשָּׁלִין,

to eat them roasted, boiled, or cooked,

וְלָתֵת לְתוֹכָן תַּבְלֵי חוּלִּין וְתַבְלֵי תְרוּמָה.

and to put into them non-sacred spices or teruma spices.

דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל.

These are the words of Rabbi Yishmael.

The steps (13)

  1. ChallengeA משנה lets כהנים add תרומה spices to קרבנות
  2. ResolutionSpice תרומה is only rabbinic
  3. ChallengeBuying תרומה with מעשר שני money, and רבה is silent
  4. Challengeרב יוסף suggests a challenge from שביעית vegetables
  5. Rejectionאביי: רבה would say this is rabbinic vegetable תרומה
  6. Rejectionרב יוסף: the wording shows it is real oil תרומה
  7. Rejectionאביי says the oil case could also be after the foods were mixed
  8. ChallengeWhy would the רבנן forbid it once it is already mixed?
  9. ResolutionSame as the mixed אשם and שלמים
  10. ChallengeThe comparison fails: animals can graze, oil cannot
  11. Rejectionרבינא: Oil and vegetables can be fixed by squeezing
  12. Resolutionרב יוסף: Squeezing is no real fix
  13. ChallengeNew objection: רבי שמעון's doubtful מצורע brings his offering on condition