Chapter 1 · Or LeArba'ah Asar

A Cloudy Day and Mealtime

Lesson 10 of 68 26 min

The Gemara discusses the hours for eating chametz on the eve of Pesach according to Rabbi Yehuda, after several amoraim offer explanations.

Lesson goals

01Read Rava's words.
02Read the Gemara's question.
03Read Rav Papa's reply.

Source and decoding

Pesachim 12b

אלא אמר רבא: גזירה משום יום המעונן. אי הכי, אפילו בארבע שעות נמי לא ניכול! אמר רב פפא: ארבע זמן סעודה לכל היא

Rather Rava said: it is a decree because of a cloudy day. If so, even at four hours we should not eat? Rav Papa said: four is mealtime for everyone.

The Gemara discusses the hours for eating chametz on the eve of Pesach according to Rabbi Yehuda, after several amoraim offer explanations. Rava says there is a decree because on a cloudy day one can err about the hour. The Gemara asks why not forbid already at the fourth hour, and Rav Papa replies that the fourth is mealtime for everyone. The excerpt shows one answer and not the whole sugya.

Building the reasoning

1Read Rava's words.
2Read the Gemara's question.
3Read Rav Papa's reply.

Practice

Trace the chain of claim, question and reply: what Rava claims, what the Gemara asks, and what Rav Papa answers.

Lesson wrap-up

Rava claims a decree for a cloudy day; the Gemara asks why not forbid at four hours; Rav Papa answers that four is mealtime for everyone.

Check your understanding

Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.

Question 1 of 1

What does Rav Papa answer?

Original explanations and translations: Bonei Atalmud. Excerpts were checked against the site’s Gemara text. Explanations and exercises have not undergone rabbinic review and are not halakhic rulings.

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