Zevachim 95a

זבחים צ״ה ע״א

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Topic

Purifying and washing items from a חטאת in the עזרה: earthenware and copper pots, the כהן גדול's מעיל, and the seven cleaning substances

Overview

The גמרא first finishes an earlier discussion: a small torn piece of a garment is impure only מדרבנן, so by תורה law it may be brought into the עזרה to be washed. It then explains two lines of the משנה. A punctured earthenware pot must still be broken because a tiny hole leaves it a vessel. A copper pot with a large hole must still be scoured because it is hammered back into a vessel. Next, ריש לקיש teaches that the כהן גדול's מעיל may not be torn, so it is brought into the עזרה a little at a time, in pieces smaller than three by three, and washed. רב אדא בר אהבה objects that thick garments are not measured by three by three. The גמרא answers that pieces of the מעיל count as important because of the special garment they come from. Finally, the גמרא asks how any garment with חטאת blood can be washed in the מקדש at all, since washing needs seven substances, including urine, and urine may not be brought into the מקדש.

Opening lines

The steps (9)

1. ResolutionThe small piece is impure only by rabbinic law
2. ChallengeWhy break an earthenware pot that is already punctured?
3. ResolutionA tiny hole leaves it a vessel
4. ChallengeWhy scour a copper pot that has a hole in it?
5. ResolutionHe hammers it back into a vessel
6. StatementThe כהן גדול's robe is brought in bit by bit, not torn
7. ChallengeThick garments are not measured by three by three
8. ResolutionThe pieces are important because of the whole garment
9. ChallengeWashing needs urine, which cannot enter the מקדש