Zevachim 43
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Masechet Zevachim
Masechet Zevachim is sponsored by Esther Kremer in loving memory of her father, Manny Gross on his third yahrzeit. “He exemplified a path of holiness and purity, living with kedushah in his everyday life.”
This month’s learning is sponsored by Beth Balkany in honor of their granddaughter, Devorah Chana Serach Eichel. “May she grow up to be a lifelong learner.”
This month’s learning is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari z”l, on the occasion of his first yahrzeit. Over the course of his distinguished career as an educator, as principal of the Yeshiva of Flatbush, and as community rabbi, he inspired thousands of students with his wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to Torah.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Mark and Rena Goldstein for refuah shleima of Ben Ezra Septee ben Rena and Aliza Margalit bat Shaina Raya.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Ruth and David Kahan in honor of Dr. Jody Dushay and Prof. Paul Gompers. “In gratitude for the ongoing and incredibly gracious hospitality!”
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Summary
The Mishna enumerates items that cannot become pigul – meaning that even if the offering is rendered pigul due to improper intent during the sacrificial process, consuming these items does not incur the punishment of karet. This is because pigul applies only to items that are permitted through another action. For example, sacrificial meat becomes permitted only after the imurim (the parts of the sacrifice designated to be burned on the altar) are burned.
Items that cannot become pigul include the kometz (a handful of meal offering), incense, meal offerings that are entirely burned, and others. Some items are subject to tannaitic debate, such as the libations that accompany sacrifices and the oil used in the ceremony for leper purification. The libations may be considered an integral part of the sacrifice, and therefore become pigul, just like the sacrifice itself, and the oil may be permitted only after the placement of the blood from the guilt offering, which would also then enable it to become pigul.
Conversely, the Mishna lists items that can become pigul, as they are permitted through a specific action. In some sacrifices, like a burnt offering, the sprinkling of blood permits the meat to be burned on the altar; in others, like a sin offering, it permits the meat to be eaten by the kohanim. Rabbi Shimon maintains that pigul applies only to sacrifices offered on the outer altar.
Ulla presents an ambiguous statement: he claims that if a kometz becomes pigul but is nevertheless burned on the altar, its pigul status is nullified. He supports this by arguing that if the kometz were not considered properly offered (due to its pigul status), it could not serve as a valid matir (an enabling act) for the remainder of the meal offering to become pigul.
The Gemara explores Ulla’s intent. Initially, it suggests that one who eats a kometz rendered pigul is not punished by karet, but this is rejected as it is explicitly stated in the Mishna. The second suggestion is that, although ideally it should not be placed on the altar, if it is placed there, it should not be removed. This too is taught in a Mishna. The third suggestion is that if it were placed on the altar and fell off, it may be returned. However, this is also addressed in a Mishna, which rules that it should not be replaced. The Gemara ultimately concludes that Ulla refers to a case where the kometz fell off after the fire had begun to consume it. Although Ulla discusses this elsewhere, the teaching here emphasizes that this principle applies not only to a limb of an animal that is partially burned, where even the unburned portion is considered connected, but also to a kometz, where even if only part was burned, the entire portion is treated as a single unit and may be returned to the altar.
Rabbi Yochanan is quoted as saying that pigul, notar, and impure items that were offered on the altar lose their forbidden status. Rav Chisda challenges the inclusion of impure items, arguing that the altar does not function like a mikveh to purify them. Rabbi Zeira responds by qualifying Rabbi Yochanan’s statement: it applies only when the item was already being consumed by the fire. Rabbi Yitzchak bar Bisna raises a difficulty from a braita that categorizes sacrificial meat as something whose impurity cannot be removed. This challenge is resolved in three distinct ways: by Rava, whose answer is rejected, and by Rav Papa and Ravina.
The braita above is then cited in full. It includes four different drashot that aim to prove that the verse in Vayikra 7:20 refers to a person who was impure and ate sacrificial meat, rather than a pure person who ate meat that had become impure. One of the opinions presented is difficult to understand in terms of its derivation. Rav Yitzchak bar Avdimi is praised for offering a clear and insightful explanation, which is then brought and elaborated upon.
Masechet Zevachim
Masechet Zevachim is sponsored by Esther Kremer in loving memory of her father, Manny Gross on his third yahrzeit. “He exemplified a path of holiness and purity, living with kedushah in his everyday life.”
This month’s learning is sponsored by Beth Balkany in honor of their granddaughter, Devorah Chana Serach Eichel. “May she grow up to be a lifelong learner.”
This month’s learning is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari z”l, on the occasion of his first yahrzeit. Over the course of his distinguished career as an educator, as principal of the Yeshiva of Flatbush, and as community rabbi, he inspired thousands of students with his wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to Torah.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Mark and Rena Goldstein for refuah shleima of Ben Ezra Septee ben Rena and Aliza Margalit bat Shaina Raya.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Ruth and David Kahan in honor of Dr. Jody Dushay and Prof. Paul Gompers. “In gratitude for the ongoing and incredibly gracious hospitality!”
Today’s daf is sponsored by Daniel and Sara Berelowitz on the engagement of their granddaughter Shirel Harow to Yehonatan Baner. “Mazal tov!”
Zevachim 43
וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֲנִים, וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֵן מָשִׁיחַ, וְהַדָּם, וְהַנְּסָכִים הַבָּאִין בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: אַף הַבָּאִין עִם הַבְּהֵמָה.
the meal offering of priests, from which no handful of flour is removed and which is burned in its entirety (see Leviticus 6:16); the meal offering of the anointed priest, which is sacrificed by the High Priest each day, half in the morning and half in the evening; the blood, which permits all the offerings; and the libations that are brought by themselves as a separate offering and do not accompany an animal offering; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: The same halakha applies even with regard to libations that are brought with an animal offering.
לוֹג שֶׁמֶן שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע – רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אֵין חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל, וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל; שֶׁדַּם הָאָשָׁם מַתִּירוֹ, וְכׇל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַתִּירִין בֵּין לָאָדָם בֵּין לַמִּזְבֵּחַ – חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל.
With regard to the log of oil that accompanies the guilt offering of a recovered leper, Rabbi Shimon says: One is not liable for consuming it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, because it is not permitted by any other item. And Rabbi Meir says: One is liable for consuming it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, as the blood of the guilt offering of the leper permits its use, as only after the blood’s sacrifice is the oil sprinkled and given to the priests. And the principle is: With regard to any item that has permitting factors, either for consumption by a person or for burning on the altar, one is liable for eating it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul.
הָעוֹלָה – דָּמָהּ מַתִּיר אֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְעוֹרָהּ לַכֹּהֲנִים. עוֹלַת הָעוֹף – דָּמָהּ מַתִּיר אֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ לְמִזְבֵּחַ. חַטַּאת הָעוֹף – דָּמָהּ מַתִּיר אֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ לַכֹּהֲנִים. פָּרִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים וּשְׂעִירִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים – דָּמָן מַתִּיר אֶת אֵימוּרֵיהֶן לִיקָרֵב.
The mishna elaborates: The burnt offering, its blood permits its flesh to be burned on the altar and its hide to be used by the priests. The bird burnt offering, its blood permits its flesh and its skin to be burned on the altar. The bird sin offering, its blood permits its meat for consumption by the priests. Bulls that are burned, e.g., the bull for an unwitting communal sin, and goats that are burned, e.g., the goats sacrificed for an unwitting communal sin of idol worship, their blood permits their sacrificial portions to be sacrificed on the altar.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: כֹּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן כִּשְׁלָמִים, אֵין חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל.
Rabbi Shimon says: Those bulls and goats are not subject to piggul because their blood is presented in the Sanctuary, and in the case of any offering whose blood is not presented on the external altar like that of a peace offering, with regard to which the halakha of piggul was stated in the Torah, one is not liable for eating it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul.
גְּמָ׳ אָמַר עוּלָּא: קוֹמֶץ פִּיגּוּל שֶׁהֶעֱלוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – פָּקַע פִּיגּוּלוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ; אִם אֲחֵרִים מֵבִיא לִידֵי פִּיגּוּל, הוּא עַצְמוֹ לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?! מַאי קָאָמַר? הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִם אֵינוֹ מִתְקַבֵּל, הֵיאַךְ מֵבִיא אֲחֵרִים לִידֵי פִּיגּוּל?
GEMARA: Ulla says: With regard to a handful of a meal offering that is piggul that was offered up on the altar, its piggul status has left it. His reasoning is as follows: If this handful brings other items to a status of piggul, with regard to itself is it not all the more so? The Gemara asks: What is Ulla saying? This consideration does not explain why the status of piggul should leave the handful. The Gemara answers that this is what he is saying: If the handful is not accepted, i.e., if its sacrifice is disqualified, how can it bring other items to a status of piggul? A meal offering is considered piggul only if its handful is properly sacrificed.
מַאי קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן? אִי דְּאֵין חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל – תְּנֵינָא, אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל: הַקּוֹמֶץ, וְהַקְּטֹרֶת, וְהַלְּבוֹנָה, וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֲנִים, וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֵן מָשִׁיחַ, וּמִנְחַת נְסָכִים, וְהַדָּם!
The Gemara asks: What is Ulla teaching us? If he is teaching us that one is not liable for eating the handful due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, we learn this in the mishna: These are the items for which one is not liable due to piggul: The handful, the incense, the frankincense, the meal offering of priests, the meal offering of the anointed priest, the meal offering brought with the libations that accompany animal offerings, and the blood. If so, one is not liable for eating the handful even if it was not offered up on the altar.
אֶלָּא דְּאִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ – תְּנֵינָא: הַלָּן, וְהַיּוֹצֵא, וְהַטָּמֵא, וְשֶׁנִּשְׁחַט חוּץ לִזְמַנּוֹ וְחוּץ לִמְקוֹמוֹ – אִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ!
Rather, Ulla is teaching that if items with piggul status ascended the altar, they shall not descend. But this too, we learn in a mishna (84a): With regard to sacrificial flesh that is left overnight, or that emerges from the Temple courtyard, or that is ritually impure, or an offering that was slaughtered with the intention of eating the meat beyond its designated time or outside its designated area, thereby acquiring the status of piggul, if any one of these ascended the altar they shall not descend.
וְאֶלָּא דְּאִם יֵרְדוּ יַעֲלוּ – הָא נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ, כָּךְ אִם יֵרְדוּ לֹא יַעֲלוּ! לָא צְרִיכָא, שֶׁמָּשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר.
Rather, Ulla is teaching that if items with piggul status descended from the altar after having been brought up there, they ascend once again. But we also learn in that same mishna (84b) that this is not so: Just as if they ascended the altar, they shall not descend, so too, if they descended from the altar they shall not ascend. The Gemara answers: No, Ulla’s ruling is necessary in a case where the fire has already taken hold of it, i.e., the handful began to burn before it came down from the altar. Ulla teaches that in such a case the priests should return the handful to the altar, as its piggul status has already left it.
הָא נָמֵי אַמְרַהּ עוּלָּא חֲדָא זִימְנָא, דְּאָמַר עוּלָּא: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא מָשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר, אֲבָל מָשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר – יַעֲלוּ!
The Gemara raises a difficulty: But this halakha too, Ulla already said it on another occasion. As Ulla says: The mishna taught that items that descended from the altar shall not ascend again only where the fire has not taken hold of them, but where the fire has already taken hold of them, they shall ascend. The Gemara explains: Even so, there is a novelty in Ulla’s ruling: Lest you say that this matter applies only
מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: הָנֵי מִילֵּי אֵבֶר – דִּמְחַבַּר; אֲבָל קוֹמֶץ, דְּמִיפְּרַת – אֵימָא לָא; קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
to a limb of an offering, which is all connected together so that it forms a single unit, and one can say that if fire took hold of part of it, all of it is considered the food of the altar, and therefore it is returned to the altar if it came down; but with regard to a handful, which consists of separate pieces, perhaps only the part that the fire took hold of is returned to the altar, but as for the rest you might say that it does not ascend again. Therefore, Ulla teaches us that the same halakha applies to the handful as to a limb, i.e., if it descended from the altar after fire already took hold of any part of it, it ascends once again in its entirety to the altar.
אָמַר רַב אַחַאי: הִלְכָּךְ, הַאי קוֹמֶץ פִּיגּוּל, דְּפַלְגֵיהּ מַחֵית אַאַרְעָא וּפַלְגֵיהּ אַסְּקֵיהּ אַמַּעֲרָכָה, וּמָשְׁלָה בּוֹ הָאוּר – מַסֵּיקְנָא לֵיהּ לְכוּלֵּיהּ לְכַתְּחִלָּה.
Rav Aḥai says: Since the handful is considered one unit, therefore, in the case of this handful of piggul, half of which lies on the ground and half of which was brought up to the wood arrangement on the altar and the fire took hold of it, one brings all of it up to the altar ab initio.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַפִּיגּוּל וְהַנּוֹתָר וְהַטָּמֵא שֶׁהֶעֱלָן לְגַבֵּי מִזְבֵּחַ – פָּקַע אִיסּוּר מֵהֶן. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מָרֵי דֵּיכִי; מִזְבֵּחַ – מִקְוֵה טָהֳרָה?! אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: שֶׁמָּשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר.
Rabbi Yitzḥak says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: With regard to piggul, notar, i.e., offerings that remain after the time allotted for their consumption, and ritually impure flesh, where one brought them up to the altar, their prohibition has left them. Rav Ḥisda said in astonishment: Teacher of this halakha, is the altar a bath of ritual purification that can render an impure item pure? Rabbi Zeira says: This is referring to a case where the fire took hold of them, and therefore the item belongs to the altar and the prohibition lapses.
מֵתִיב רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר בִּיסְנָא: אֲחֵרִים אוֹמְרִים: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – מִי שֶׁטּוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ; יָצָא בָּשָׂר – שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ. וְאִם אִיתָא, הֲרֵי טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ עַל יְדֵי הָאוּר!
Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Bisna raises an objection from a baraita. Others say: The verse states: “But the soul that eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the Lord, having his impurity upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 7:20). Although this can also be read as: Having its impurity upon it, referring to the meat of the peace offerings, the verse in fact is referring to one whose impurity can depart from him, i.e., a person who is currently impure, but can attain a state of ritual purity by immersing in a ritual bath. This serves to exclude the impure flesh of offerings, as its impurity cannot depart from it, since ritually impure flesh cannot be purified. And if it is so that Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement is correct, the impurity of flesh can in fact depart from it by means of the fire of the altar.
אָמַר רָבָא: עַל יְדֵי מִקְוֶה קָאָמְרִינַן. מִידֵּי מִקְוֶה כְּתִיב?! אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: בִּבְשַׂר שְׁלָמִים עָסְקִינַן, דְּלָא חֲזֵי לְהַקְרָבָה.
Rava says: When the baraita speaks of an item whose impurity cannot depart from it, we say it is referring to purification by means of a ritual bath, not through any other means. The Gemara raises a difficulty: Is the term ritual bath written in the baraita? It speaks only in general terms about impurity that can or cannot depart from an item. Rather, Rav Pappa says: In that verse we are dealing with the meat of peace offerings, which are not fit for sacrificing, as the meat of a peace offering is eaten rather than being burned on the altar. Therefore, bringing it up to the altar does not remove its impurity from it.
רָבִינָא אָמַר: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – מִי שֶׁטּוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ כְּשֶׁהוּא שָׁלֵם; יָצָא בָּשָׂר – דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת כְּשֶׁהוּא שָׁלֵם, אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁהוּא חָסֵר.
Ravina says there is a different answer: Even if the impurity of flesh leaves it when it is brought up to the altar, this verse cannot be referring to the impure meat of peace offerings, as the phrase “having his impurity upon him” is referring to one whose impurity departs from him when he is whole; the term “upon him” indicates that he is in a state of wholeness. This serves to exclude sacrificial flesh, which is an item whose impurity does not depart from it when it is whole, but only when it is deficient, i.e., when fire takes hold of it on the altar.
גּוּפָא: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
§ The Gemara proceeds to analyze the matter itself. In the baraita the Rabbis attempt to prove that the verse: “But the soul that eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the Lord, having his impurity upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 7:20), is referring to a ritually impure person, and not to impure flesh. The baraita states: “Having his impurity upon him”; the verse speaks of impurity of the body of the person, not the impurity of the flesh of the offering.
אַתָּה אוֹמֵר בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּטוּמְאַת בָּשָׂר? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן: ״טֻמְאָתוֹ״, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן: ״טֻמְאָתוֹ (עָלָיו) [בּוֹ]״ – מָה לְהַלָּן בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אַף כָּאן בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
The question may be raised: Do you say that it is dealing with impurity of the body? Or is it speaking only of impurity of the flesh, as is suggested by the fact that the term for “meat” [basar] is masculine, matching the masculine pronominal suffix attached to the word “impurity,” whereas the word for “soul” [nefesh] is feminine? The answer is that here it is stated: “Having his impurity upon him,” and there it is stated: “Whoever touches the dead, the body of any man that has died, and does not purify himself, he has defiled the Tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel, because the water of sprinkling was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be impure, his impurity is yet upon him” (Numbers 19:13). Just as there, the verse is speaking of impurity of the body, so too here, the verse is speaking of impurity of the body.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרוּ קָדָשִׁים בִּלְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, וְנֶאֶמְרָה טוּמְאָה בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״וְאָכַל״ – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. אֲחֵרִים אָמְרוּ: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – מִי שֶׁטּוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ; יָצָא בָּשָׂר, שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ.
Rabbi Yosei says there is a different proof: Since in this verse (Leviticus 7:20) the sacrificial animals are mentioned in the plural form, i.e., “peace offerings,” but the impurity is mentioned in the singular: “Upon him,” evidently the verse is speaking of impurity of the body, and not impurity of the peace offerings. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says there is yet another proof: Since the next verse states: “And when anyone shall touch any impure item…and eat of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings” (Leviticus 7:21), this indicates that the verse is speaking of impurity of the body, as will be explained. Others say that the phrase “having his impurity upon him” proves that the reference here is to one whose impurity can depart from him, i.e., a person. This serves to exclude the impure flesh of offerings, as its impurity cannot depart from it. This concludes the baraita.
אָמַר מָר: רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״וְאָכַל״ – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. מַאי מַשְׁמַע? אָמַר רָבָא: כׇּל קְרָא דְּלָא מְפָרֵשׁ לֵיהּ רַב יִצְחָק בַּר אֲבוּדִימִי, וְכֹל מַתְנִיתָא דְּלָא מְפָרֵשׁא לַהּ (רַב) זְעֵירִי – לָא מִיפָּרְשָׁא.
The Gemara analyzes the baraita. The Master said: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says that the term “and eat” indicates that the verse is speaking of impurity of the body. The Gemara asks: From where is this inferred? How is the meaning of this verse derived from this term, which appears in a different verse? In this connection the Gemara notes that Rava said: Any verse that was not explained by Rav Yitzḥak bar Avudimi, and any baraita that was not explained by Rav Ze’eiri, was not explained, as these Sages are the most accomplished interpreters of verses and baraitot, respectively.
הָכִי אָמַר רַב יִצְחָק בַּר אֲבוּדִימִי: הוֹאִיל וּפָתַח הַכָּתוּב בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה וְסִיֵּים בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה, וּלְשׁוֹן זָכָר בָּאֶמְצַע – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
Rava cites the relevant explanation of the verse referred to by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: This is what Rav Yitzḥak bar Avudimi says: The next verse states: “And when anyone shall touch any impure item, whether it is the impurity of man, or an impure animal, or any impure detestable thing, and eat of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the Lord, that soul shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 7:21). The beginning of that verse: “And when anyone shall touch,” and the end of that verse: “That soul shall be cut off,” are in the feminine form, whereas the middle of the verse: “And eat of the meat,” is in the masculine form, and yet it is clear that the verse is speaking of impurity of the body. The same may be said about the previous verse: Since the verse begins in the feminine form and ends in the feminine form, and the masculine form is used in the middle, the verse must be speaking of impurity of the body, despite the change from the feminine to the masculine.
מַתְנִיתָא – דְּתַנְיָא: אִם נֶאֶמְרוּ קַלּוֹת לָמָּה נֶאֶמְרוּ חֲמוּרוֹת, וְאִם (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] חֲמוּרוֹת לָמָּה (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] קַלּוֹת? אִם (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] קַלּוֹת וְלֹא חֲמוּרוֹת – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר: עַל הַקַּלּוֹת בְּלָאו, וְעַל הַחֲמוּרוֹת בְּמִיתָה; לְכָךְ (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] חֲמוּרוֹת. וְאִם (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] חֲמוּרוֹת וְלֹא נֶאֶמְרוּ קַלּוֹת – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר: עַל הַחֲמוּרוֹת יְהֵא חַיָּיב, וְעַל הַקַּלּוֹת יְהֵא פָּטוּר; לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר קַלּוֹת.
The Gemara cites the baraita, alluded to by Rava, through which the interpretative prowess of Rav Ze’eiri is demonstrated. This baraita also discusses the topic of eating consecrated food while in a state of ritual impurity. As it is taught in a baraita: If the lenient are stated, why are the stringent stated; and if the stringent are stated, why are the lenient stated? If the lenient were stated and not the stringent, I would say: For the lenient, one is liable to receive lashes for violating a prohibition, and for the stringent, one is liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven. Therefore, the stringent are stated. And if the stringent were stated and the lenient were not stated, I would say: Only for the stringent should one be liable to receive a punishment; but for the lenient, one should be entirely exempt. Therefore, the lenient are stated. This concludes the baraita, the meaning of which is opaque.
מַאי קַלּוֹת וּמַאי חֲמוּרוֹת? אִילֵימָא קַלּוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר, חֲמוּרוֹת תְּרוּמָה – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר בְּמִיתָה?! הַשְׁתָּא נָמֵי הָא בְּמִיתָה!
The Gemara asks: What are the lenient, and what are the stringent? It is known that the baraita is discussing the broad topic of eating consecrated food in a state of impurity, but its precise meaning requires elucidation. If we say that the lenient is referring to the consumption of second tithe while one is impure, and the stringent is referring to the partaking of teruma, the portion of the produce designated for the priest, in a state of impurity, how can the baraita say that had the Torah stated only the prohibition against eating second tithe I would incorrectly have said that one who partakes of teruma is liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven? Now too, this is the halakha; one who partakes of teruma when he is in a state of impurity is indeed liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven.
[וְתוּ], וְאִי לֹא (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר בְּמִיתָה?! דַּיּוֹ לַבָּא מִן הַדִּין – לִהְיוֹת כַּנִּדּוֹן!
And furthermore, is it correct to say: And if the Torah had not stated the stringent case of teruma but only the lenient case of second tithe, and I would learn the halakha in the stringent case from the halakha in the lenient case by way of an a fortiori inference, I would then say that the punishment in the stringent case is that of death at the hand of Heaven? This is impossible, as there is a principle with regard to a fortiori inferences that it is sufficient for the conclusion that emerges from an a fortiori inference to be like its source. In other words, a halakha derived by means of an a fortiori inference can be no more stringent than the source from which it is derived. In this instance, if an impure person who eats second tithe is flogged for violating a prohibition, then the punishment for partaking of teruma in a state of impurity, were it not stated in the Torah, could be no more severe than that.
אֶלָּא קַלּוֹת – טוּמְאַת שֶׁרֶץ, חֲמוּרוֹת – טוּמְאַת מֵת.
Rather, when the baraita refers to the lenient it is referring to the impurity of the carcass of a creeping animal, while the stringent is referring to the impurity imparted by a corpse, as the Torah discusses both these cases in the context of eating consecrated foods in a state of ritual impurity: “And whoever touches anything that is impure by the dead, or a man whose semen goes from him, or whoever touches any creeping animal” (Leviticus 22:4–5).
וּבְמַאי? אִי בִּתְרוּמָה – אִידֵּי וְאִידֵּי הוּא בְּמִיתָה! וְתוּ, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ חֲמוּרוֹת – דִּבְלָאו?! הָא בְּמִיתָה הִיא! (וְאִי לֹא (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ], הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר בְּמִיתָה?! דַּיּוֹ לַבָּא מִן הַדִּין – לִהְיוֹת כַּנִּדּוֹן!)
The Gemara asks: But if so, to what food is this referring? If it is referring to the partaking of teruma, both this one who was rendered impure by the dead and that one who was rendered impure by a creeping animal are liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven. No matter how he became impure, if he partakes of teruma in a state of ritual impurity he is liable to be punished with death. And furthermore, how can the baraita state: Therefore, the stringent are stated, i.e., to teach that one is liable only to be flogged for violating a prohibition, and not to be punished with death. After all, one who partakes of teruma when impure is in fact liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven. Consequently, the reference to stringent and lenient cannot be referring to the partaking of teruma.
וְאִי בַּאֲכִילַת מַעֲשֵׂר –
And if the baraita is referring to the eating of second tithe, this too is difficult.
Delve Deeper
Broaden your understanding of the topics on this daf with classes and podcasts from top women Talmud scholars.
Zevachim Daf 30-38 – Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Zevahim 39: Blood on the Inner Altar
Zevahim 38: When Beit Hillel Turns Stringent and Beit Shammai Lenient
Zevahim 37: Different Interpretations: Meaning and Reading
Zevahim 37: Different Interpretations: Meaning and Reading
Din & Daf: Kodshei Kodashim vs. Kodashim Kalim – What’s the Difference?
Zevachim Daf 22-29 – Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Zevahim 36: Invalid Offerings
Zevahim 35: A Fetus, Eggs, and the Separation of Animals
Zevahim 34: Pouring and Disposing of the Dregs
Zevahim 33: The Heavy Laying on of Hands
Zevahim 31: It’s a Measure of Time: Half a Loaf of Bread
Zevahim 32: The Surprising Leniencies and Leeway of Sacrifices
Zevahim 30: An Olive’s Measure of Intent
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Zevachim 43
וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֲנִים, וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֵן מָשִׁיחַ, וְהַדָּם, וְהַנְּסָכִים הַבָּאִין בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: אַף הַבָּאִין עִם הַבְּהֵמָה.
the meal offering of priests, from which no handful of flour is removed and which is burned in its entirety (see Leviticus 6:16); the meal offering of the anointed priest, which is sacrificed by the High Priest each day, half in the morning and half in the evening; the blood, which permits all the offerings; and the libations that are brought by themselves as a separate offering and do not accompany an animal offering; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: The same halakha applies even with regard to libations that are brought with an animal offering.
לוֹג שֶׁמֶן שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע – רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אֵין חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל, וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל; שֶׁדַּם הָאָשָׁם מַתִּירוֹ, וְכׇל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַתִּירִין בֵּין לָאָדָם בֵּין לַמִּזְבֵּחַ – חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל.
With regard to the log of oil that accompanies the guilt offering of a recovered leper, Rabbi Shimon says: One is not liable for consuming it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, because it is not permitted by any other item. And Rabbi Meir says: One is liable for consuming it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, as the blood of the guilt offering of the leper permits its use, as only after the blood’s sacrifice is the oil sprinkled and given to the priests. And the principle is: With regard to any item that has permitting factors, either for consumption by a person or for burning on the altar, one is liable for eating it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul.
הָעוֹלָה – דָּמָהּ מַתִּיר אֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְעוֹרָהּ לַכֹּהֲנִים. עוֹלַת הָעוֹף – דָּמָהּ מַתִּיר אֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ לְמִזְבֵּחַ. חַטַּאת הָעוֹף – דָּמָהּ מַתִּיר אֶת בְּשָׂרָהּ לַכֹּהֲנִים. פָּרִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים וּשְׂעִירִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים – דָּמָן מַתִּיר אֶת אֵימוּרֵיהֶן לִיקָרֵב.
The mishna elaborates: The burnt offering, its blood permits its flesh to be burned on the altar and its hide to be used by the priests. The bird burnt offering, its blood permits its flesh and its skin to be burned on the altar. The bird sin offering, its blood permits its meat for consumption by the priests. Bulls that are burned, e.g., the bull for an unwitting communal sin, and goats that are burned, e.g., the goats sacrificed for an unwitting communal sin of idol worship, their blood permits their sacrificial portions to be sacrificed on the altar.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: כֹּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן כִּשְׁלָמִים, אֵין חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל.
Rabbi Shimon says: Those bulls and goats are not subject to piggul because their blood is presented in the Sanctuary, and in the case of any offering whose blood is not presented on the external altar like that of a peace offering, with regard to which the halakha of piggul was stated in the Torah, one is not liable for eating it due to violation of the prohibition of piggul.
גְּמָ׳ אָמַר עוּלָּא: קוֹמֶץ פִּיגּוּל שֶׁהֶעֱלוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – פָּקַע פִּיגּוּלוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ; אִם אֲחֵרִים מֵבִיא לִידֵי פִּיגּוּל, הוּא עַצְמוֹ לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?! מַאי קָאָמַר? הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִם אֵינוֹ מִתְקַבֵּל, הֵיאַךְ מֵבִיא אֲחֵרִים לִידֵי פִּיגּוּל?
GEMARA: Ulla says: With regard to a handful of a meal offering that is piggul that was offered up on the altar, its piggul status has left it. His reasoning is as follows: If this handful brings other items to a status of piggul, with regard to itself is it not all the more so? The Gemara asks: What is Ulla saying? This consideration does not explain why the status of piggul should leave the handful. The Gemara answers that this is what he is saying: If the handful is not accepted, i.e., if its sacrifice is disqualified, how can it bring other items to a status of piggul? A meal offering is considered piggul only if its handful is properly sacrificed.
מַאי קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן? אִי דְּאֵין חַיָּיבִין עָלָיו מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל – תְּנֵינָא, אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם מִשּׁוּם פִּיגּוּל: הַקּוֹמֶץ, וְהַקְּטֹרֶת, וְהַלְּבוֹנָה, וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֲנִים, וּמִנְחַת כֹּהֵן מָשִׁיחַ, וּמִנְחַת נְסָכִים, וְהַדָּם!
The Gemara asks: What is Ulla teaching us? If he is teaching us that one is not liable for eating the handful due to violation of the prohibition of piggul, we learn this in the mishna: These are the items for which one is not liable due to piggul: The handful, the incense, the frankincense, the meal offering of priests, the meal offering of the anointed priest, the meal offering brought with the libations that accompany animal offerings, and the blood. If so, one is not liable for eating the handful even if it was not offered up on the altar.
אֶלָּא דְּאִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ – תְּנֵינָא: הַלָּן, וְהַיּוֹצֵא, וְהַטָּמֵא, וְשֶׁנִּשְׁחַט חוּץ לִזְמַנּוֹ וְחוּץ לִמְקוֹמוֹ – אִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ!
Rather, Ulla is teaching that if items with piggul status ascended the altar, they shall not descend. But this too, we learn in a mishna (84a): With regard to sacrificial flesh that is left overnight, or that emerges from the Temple courtyard, or that is ritually impure, or an offering that was slaughtered with the intention of eating the meat beyond its designated time or outside its designated area, thereby acquiring the status of piggul, if any one of these ascended the altar they shall not descend.
וְאֶלָּא דְּאִם יֵרְדוּ יַעֲלוּ – הָא נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאִם עָלוּ לֹא יֵרְדוּ, כָּךְ אִם יֵרְדוּ לֹא יַעֲלוּ! לָא צְרִיכָא, שֶׁמָּשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר.
Rather, Ulla is teaching that if items with piggul status descended from the altar after having been brought up there, they ascend once again. But we also learn in that same mishna (84b) that this is not so: Just as if they ascended the altar, they shall not descend, so too, if they descended from the altar they shall not ascend. The Gemara answers: No, Ulla’s ruling is necessary in a case where the fire has already taken hold of it, i.e., the handful began to burn before it came down from the altar. Ulla teaches that in such a case the priests should return the handful to the altar, as its piggul status has already left it.
הָא נָמֵי אַמְרַהּ עוּלָּא חֲדָא זִימְנָא, דְּאָמַר עוּלָּא: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא מָשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר, אֲבָל מָשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר – יַעֲלוּ!
The Gemara raises a difficulty: But this halakha too, Ulla already said it on another occasion. As Ulla says: The mishna taught that items that descended from the altar shall not ascend again only where the fire has not taken hold of them, but where the fire has already taken hold of them, they shall ascend. The Gemara explains: Even so, there is a novelty in Ulla’s ruling: Lest you say that this matter applies only
מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: הָנֵי מִילֵּי אֵבֶר – דִּמְחַבַּר; אֲבָל קוֹמֶץ, דְּמִיפְּרַת – אֵימָא לָא; קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
to a limb of an offering, which is all connected together so that it forms a single unit, and one can say that if fire took hold of part of it, all of it is considered the food of the altar, and therefore it is returned to the altar if it came down; but with regard to a handful, which consists of separate pieces, perhaps only the part that the fire took hold of is returned to the altar, but as for the rest you might say that it does not ascend again. Therefore, Ulla teaches us that the same halakha applies to the handful as to a limb, i.e., if it descended from the altar after fire already took hold of any part of it, it ascends once again in its entirety to the altar.
אָמַר רַב אַחַאי: הִלְכָּךְ, הַאי קוֹמֶץ פִּיגּוּל, דְּפַלְגֵיהּ מַחֵית אַאַרְעָא וּפַלְגֵיהּ אַסְּקֵיהּ אַמַּעֲרָכָה, וּמָשְׁלָה בּוֹ הָאוּר – מַסֵּיקְנָא לֵיהּ לְכוּלֵּיהּ לְכַתְּחִלָּה.
Rav Aḥai says: Since the handful is considered one unit, therefore, in the case of this handful of piggul, half of which lies on the ground and half of which was brought up to the wood arrangement on the altar and the fire took hold of it, one brings all of it up to the altar ab initio.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַפִּיגּוּל וְהַנּוֹתָר וְהַטָּמֵא שֶׁהֶעֱלָן לְגַבֵּי מִזְבֵּחַ – פָּקַע אִיסּוּר מֵהֶן. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מָרֵי דֵּיכִי; מִזְבֵּחַ – מִקְוֵה טָהֳרָה?! אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: שֶׁמָּשְׁלָה בָּהֶן הָאוּר.
Rabbi Yitzḥak says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: With regard to piggul, notar, i.e., offerings that remain after the time allotted for their consumption, and ritually impure flesh, where one brought them up to the altar, their prohibition has left them. Rav Ḥisda said in astonishment: Teacher of this halakha, is the altar a bath of ritual purification that can render an impure item pure? Rabbi Zeira says: This is referring to a case where the fire took hold of them, and therefore the item belongs to the altar and the prohibition lapses.
מֵתִיב רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר בִּיסְנָא: אֲחֵרִים אוֹמְרִים: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – מִי שֶׁטּוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ; יָצָא בָּשָׂר – שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ. וְאִם אִיתָא, הֲרֵי טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ עַל יְדֵי הָאוּר!
Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Bisna raises an objection from a baraita. Others say: The verse states: “But the soul that eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the Lord, having his impurity upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 7:20). Although this can also be read as: Having its impurity upon it, referring to the meat of the peace offerings, the verse in fact is referring to one whose impurity can depart from him, i.e., a person who is currently impure, but can attain a state of ritual purity by immersing in a ritual bath. This serves to exclude the impure flesh of offerings, as its impurity cannot depart from it, since ritually impure flesh cannot be purified. And if it is so that Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement is correct, the impurity of flesh can in fact depart from it by means of the fire of the altar.
אָמַר רָבָא: עַל יְדֵי מִקְוֶה קָאָמְרִינַן. מִידֵּי מִקְוֶה כְּתִיב?! אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: בִּבְשַׂר שְׁלָמִים עָסְקִינַן, דְּלָא חֲזֵי לְהַקְרָבָה.
Rava says: When the baraita speaks of an item whose impurity cannot depart from it, we say it is referring to purification by means of a ritual bath, not through any other means. The Gemara raises a difficulty: Is the term ritual bath written in the baraita? It speaks only in general terms about impurity that can or cannot depart from an item. Rather, Rav Pappa says: In that verse we are dealing with the meat of peace offerings, which are not fit for sacrificing, as the meat of a peace offering is eaten rather than being burned on the altar. Therefore, bringing it up to the altar does not remove its impurity from it.
רָבִינָא אָמַר: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – מִי שֶׁטּוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ כְּשֶׁהוּא שָׁלֵם; יָצָא בָּשָׂר – דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת כְּשֶׁהוּא שָׁלֵם, אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁהוּא חָסֵר.
Ravina says there is a different answer: Even if the impurity of flesh leaves it when it is brought up to the altar, this verse cannot be referring to the impure meat of peace offerings, as the phrase “having his impurity upon him” is referring to one whose impurity departs from him when he is whole; the term “upon him” indicates that he is in a state of wholeness. This serves to exclude sacrificial flesh, which is an item whose impurity does not depart from it when it is whole, but only when it is deficient, i.e., when fire takes hold of it on the altar.
גּוּפָא: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
§ The Gemara proceeds to analyze the matter itself. In the baraita the Rabbis attempt to prove that the verse: “But the soul that eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the Lord, having his impurity upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 7:20), is referring to a ritually impure person, and not to impure flesh. The baraita states: “Having his impurity upon him”; the verse speaks of impurity of the body of the person, not the impurity of the flesh of the offering.
אַתָּה אוֹמֵר בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּטוּמְאַת בָּשָׂר? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן: ״טֻמְאָתוֹ״, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן: ״טֻמְאָתוֹ (עָלָיו) [בּוֹ]״ – מָה לְהַלָּן בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אַף כָּאן בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
The question may be raised: Do you say that it is dealing with impurity of the body? Or is it speaking only of impurity of the flesh, as is suggested by the fact that the term for “meat” [basar] is masculine, matching the masculine pronominal suffix attached to the word “impurity,” whereas the word for “soul” [nefesh] is feminine? The answer is that here it is stated: “Having his impurity upon him,” and there it is stated: “Whoever touches the dead, the body of any man that has died, and does not purify himself, he has defiled the Tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel, because the water of sprinkling was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be impure, his impurity is yet upon him” (Numbers 19:13). Just as there, the verse is speaking of impurity of the body, so too here, the verse is speaking of impurity of the body.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרוּ קָדָשִׁים בִּלְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, וְנֶאֶמְרָה טוּמְאָה בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״וְאָכַל״ – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. אֲחֵרִים אָמְרוּ: ״וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו״ – מִי שֶׁטּוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ; יָצָא בָּשָׂר, שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאָה פּוֹרַחַת מִמֶּנּוּ.
Rabbi Yosei says there is a different proof: Since in this verse (Leviticus 7:20) the sacrificial animals are mentioned in the plural form, i.e., “peace offerings,” but the impurity is mentioned in the singular: “Upon him,” evidently the verse is speaking of impurity of the body, and not impurity of the peace offerings. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says there is yet another proof: Since the next verse states: “And when anyone shall touch any impure item…and eat of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings” (Leviticus 7:21), this indicates that the verse is speaking of impurity of the body, as will be explained. Others say that the phrase “having his impurity upon him” proves that the reference here is to one whose impurity can depart from him, i.e., a person. This serves to exclude the impure flesh of offerings, as its impurity cannot depart from it. This concludes the baraita.
אָמַר מָר: רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״וְאָכַל״ – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. מַאי מַשְׁמַע? אָמַר רָבָא: כׇּל קְרָא דְּלָא מְפָרֵשׁ לֵיהּ רַב יִצְחָק בַּר אֲבוּדִימִי, וְכֹל מַתְנִיתָא דְּלָא מְפָרֵשׁא לַהּ (רַב) זְעֵירִי – לָא מִיפָּרְשָׁא.
The Gemara analyzes the baraita. The Master said: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says that the term “and eat” indicates that the verse is speaking of impurity of the body. The Gemara asks: From where is this inferred? How is the meaning of this verse derived from this term, which appears in a different verse? In this connection the Gemara notes that Rava said: Any verse that was not explained by Rav Yitzḥak bar Avudimi, and any baraita that was not explained by Rav Ze’eiri, was not explained, as these Sages are the most accomplished interpreters of verses and baraitot, respectively.
הָכִי אָמַר רַב יִצְחָק בַּר אֲבוּדִימִי: הוֹאִיל וּפָתַח הַכָּתוּב בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה וְסִיֵּים בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה, וּלְשׁוֹן זָכָר בָּאֶמְצַע – בְּטוּמְאַת הַגּוּף הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
Rava cites the relevant explanation of the verse referred to by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: This is what Rav Yitzḥak bar Avudimi says: The next verse states: “And when anyone shall touch any impure item, whether it is the impurity of man, or an impure animal, or any impure detestable thing, and eat of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the Lord, that soul shall be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 7:21). The beginning of that verse: “And when anyone shall touch,” and the end of that verse: “That soul shall be cut off,” are in the feminine form, whereas the middle of the verse: “And eat of the meat,” is in the masculine form, and yet it is clear that the verse is speaking of impurity of the body. The same may be said about the previous verse: Since the verse begins in the feminine form and ends in the feminine form, and the masculine form is used in the middle, the verse must be speaking of impurity of the body, despite the change from the feminine to the masculine.
מַתְנִיתָא – דְּתַנְיָא: אִם נֶאֶמְרוּ קַלּוֹת לָמָּה נֶאֶמְרוּ חֲמוּרוֹת, וְאִם (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] חֲמוּרוֹת לָמָּה (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] קַלּוֹת? אִם (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] קַלּוֹת וְלֹא חֲמוּרוֹת – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר: עַל הַקַּלּוֹת בְּלָאו, וְעַל הַחֲמוּרוֹת בְּמִיתָה; לְכָךְ (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] חֲמוּרוֹת. וְאִם (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] חֲמוּרוֹת וְלֹא נֶאֶמְרוּ קַלּוֹת – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר: עַל הַחֲמוּרוֹת יְהֵא חַיָּיב, וְעַל הַקַּלּוֹת יְהֵא פָּטוּר; לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר קַלּוֹת.
The Gemara cites the baraita, alluded to by Rava, through which the interpretative prowess of Rav Ze’eiri is demonstrated. This baraita also discusses the topic of eating consecrated food while in a state of ritual impurity. As it is taught in a baraita: If the lenient are stated, why are the stringent stated; and if the stringent are stated, why are the lenient stated? If the lenient were stated and not the stringent, I would say: For the lenient, one is liable to receive lashes for violating a prohibition, and for the stringent, one is liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven. Therefore, the stringent are stated. And if the stringent were stated and the lenient were not stated, I would say: Only for the stringent should one be liable to receive a punishment; but for the lenient, one should be entirely exempt. Therefore, the lenient are stated. This concludes the baraita, the meaning of which is opaque.
מַאי קַלּוֹת וּמַאי חֲמוּרוֹת? אִילֵימָא קַלּוֹת מַעֲשֵׂר, חֲמוּרוֹת תְּרוּמָה – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר בְּמִיתָה?! הַשְׁתָּא נָמֵי הָא בְּמִיתָה!
The Gemara asks: What are the lenient, and what are the stringent? It is known that the baraita is discussing the broad topic of eating consecrated food in a state of impurity, but its precise meaning requires elucidation. If we say that the lenient is referring to the consumption of second tithe while one is impure, and the stringent is referring to the partaking of teruma, the portion of the produce designated for the priest, in a state of impurity, how can the baraita say that had the Torah stated only the prohibition against eating second tithe I would incorrectly have said that one who partakes of teruma is liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven? Now too, this is the halakha; one who partakes of teruma when he is in a state of impurity is indeed liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven.
[וְתוּ], וְאִי לֹא (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ] – הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר בְּמִיתָה?! דַּיּוֹ לַבָּא מִן הַדִּין – לִהְיוֹת כַּנִּדּוֹן!
And furthermore, is it correct to say: And if the Torah had not stated the stringent case of teruma but only the lenient case of second tithe, and I would learn the halakha in the stringent case from the halakha in the lenient case by way of an a fortiori inference, I would then say that the punishment in the stringent case is that of death at the hand of Heaven? This is impossible, as there is a principle with regard to a fortiori inferences that it is sufficient for the conclusion that emerges from an a fortiori inference to be like its source. In other words, a halakha derived by means of an a fortiori inference can be no more stringent than the source from which it is derived. In this instance, if an impure person who eats second tithe is flogged for violating a prohibition, then the punishment for partaking of teruma in a state of impurity, were it not stated in the Torah, could be no more severe than that.
אֶלָּא קַלּוֹת – טוּמְאַת שֶׁרֶץ, חֲמוּרוֹת – טוּמְאַת מֵת.
Rather, when the baraita refers to the lenient it is referring to the impurity of the carcass of a creeping animal, while the stringent is referring to the impurity imparted by a corpse, as the Torah discusses both these cases in the context of eating consecrated foods in a state of ritual impurity: “And whoever touches anything that is impure by the dead, or a man whose semen goes from him, or whoever touches any creeping animal” (Leviticus 22:4–5).
וּבְמַאי? אִי בִּתְרוּמָה – אִידֵּי וְאִידֵּי הוּא בְּמִיתָה! וְתוּ, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ חֲמוּרוֹת – דִּבְלָאו?! הָא בְּמִיתָה הִיא! (וְאִי לֹא (נאמר) [נֶאֶמְרוּ], הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר בְּמִיתָה?! דַּיּוֹ לַבָּא מִן הַדִּין – לִהְיוֹת כַּנִּדּוֹן!)
The Gemara asks: But if so, to what food is this referring? If it is referring to the partaking of teruma, both this one who was rendered impure by the dead and that one who was rendered impure by a creeping animal are liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven. No matter how he became impure, if he partakes of teruma in a state of ritual impurity he is liable to be punished with death. And furthermore, how can the baraita state: Therefore, the stringent are stated, i.e., to teach that one is liable only to be flogged for violating a prohibition, and not to be punished with death. After all, one who partakes of teruma when impure is in fact liable to be punished with death at the hand of Heaven. Consequently, the reference to stringent and lenient cannot be referring to the partaking of teruma.
וְאִי בַּאֲכִילַת מַעֲשֵׂר –
And if the baraita is referring to the eating of second tithe, this too is difficult.
