Menachot 70b

גּוּלְבָּא, שִׁיפוֹן – דִּישְׁרָא, שִׁיבּוֹלֶת שׁוּעָל – שֻׁבְלֵי תַּעֲלָא. הָנֵי – אִין, אוֹרֶז וְדוֹחַן – לָא.

gulva , rye is dishra , and oats are shibbolei ta’ala . The Gemara infers: With regard to these species, yes, the obligation of ḥalla applies to them, but concerning rice and millet, no, the obligation of ḥalla does not apply to them.

מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: אָתְיָא ״לֶחֶם״ ״לֶחֶם״ מִמַּצָּה. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וְהָיָה בַּאֲכׇלְכֶם מִלֶּחֶם הָאָרֶץ״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״לֶחֶם עֹנִי״.

The Gemara asks: From where is this matter, that only these five grains are obligated in the separations of ḥalla , derived? Reish Lakish said: This principle is derived by means of a verbal analogy between “bread” and “bread” from the case of matza . It is written here, with regard to ḥalla : “And it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall set apart a portion for a gift to the Lord” (Numbers 15:19), and it is written there, with regard to matza : “Bread of affliction” (Deuteronomy 16:3). Just as matza can be prepared only from one of those five grains, so too the obligation of ḥalla applies only to bread from one of those five grains.

וְהָתָם גּוּפַהּ מְנָלַן? אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, וְכֵן תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְכֵן תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב: אָמַר קְרָא ״לֹא תֹאכַל עָלָיו חָמֵץ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תֹּאכַל עָלָיו מַצּוֹת לֶחֶם עֹנִי״ – דְּבָרִים הַבָּאִים לִידֵי חִימּוּץ אָדָם יוֹצֵא בָּהֶן יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ בַּפֶּסַח, יָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין בָּאִין לִידֵי חִימּוּץ אֶלָּא לִידֵי סֵירָחוֹן.

The Gemara asks: And there, with regard to matza itself, from where do we derive that it must be from one of those five grains? The Gemara answers: Reish Lakish said, and likewise a Sage of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught, and likewise a Sage of the school of Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov taught, that the verse states: “You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat with it matza , the bread of affliction” (Deuteronomy 16:3). This verse indicates that only with regard to substances that will come to a state of leavening does a person fulfill his obligation to eat matza by eating them on Passover, provided that he prevents them from becoming leavened. This serves to exclude these foods, i.e., rice, millet, and similar grains, which, even if flour is prepared from them and water is added to their flour, do not come to a state of leavening but to a state of decay [ sirḥon ].

וּמִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה. תָּנָא: הַתְּבוּאָה וְהַקְּמָחִים וְהַבְּצֵיקוֹת מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה. לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא?

§ The mishna teaches that each one of the five types of grain joins together with the others to constitute the measure that obligates one to separate ḥalla . It was taught in a baraita : With regard to grain from produce and flours and pieces of dough, each one of these joins together with the others. The Gemara asks: With regard to what halakha was this taught?

אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: לְעִנְיַן חָדָשׁ. רַב יוֹסֵף אָמַר: לְעִנְיַן חָמֵץ בַּפֶּסַח. רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: לְעִנְיַן מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי, דְּאִי אָכֵיל לֵיהּ חוּץ לַחוֹמָה – לָקֵי.

Rav Kahana says: It was taught with regard to the prohibition of eating of the new crop prior to the sacrifice of the omer offering on the sixteenth of Nisan. If one ate grain, flour, and dough of the new crop that combined to equal the size of an olive-bulk, he is liable to receive lashes for transgressing a prohibition. Rav Yosef says: It was taught with regard to the prohibition of eating leavened bread on Passover. Rav Pappa says: It was taught with regard to the prohibition of eating second tithe outside the walls of Jerusalem. As, if one ate a combined olive-bulk’s worth of grain, flour and dough of the second tithe outside the wall of Jerusalem, he is flogged.

רָבָא אָמַר: לְעִנְיַן טוּמְאַת אֳכָלִין, וְהָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן: דִּתְבוּאָה וּקְמָחִין דּוּמְיָא דִּבְצֵקוֹת – מָה הָתָם אוּכְלָא בְּעֵינֵיהּ, אַף הָכָא נָמֵי אוּכְלָא בְּעֵינֵיהּ.

Rava says: The baraita is referring to the matter of the ritual impurity of food; and this is what it teaches us: That grains of barley produce and flours are similar to pieces of dough. Just as there, concerning pieces of dough, they combine to form the minimal measure of ritually impure food only if the combination of food is as is, without other additives, so too here also, concerning grain and flour, they combine to form the minimal measure of ritually impure food only when the mixture is food as is, without any shell or other additives.

וְהָתַנְיָא: חִטָּה, בֵּין קְלוּפָה בֵּין שֶׁאֵינָהּ קְלוּפָה – מִצְטָרֶפֶת; שְׂעוֹרָה, קְלוּפָה – מִצְטָרֶפֶת, שֶׁאֵינָהּ קְלוּפָה – אֵין מִצְטָרֶפֶת.

The Gemara cites support for this opinion, as it is taught in a baraita : Wheat, whether shelled or unshelled, combines to form the minimal measure of food that is susceptible to ritual impurity. But as for barley, it combines only when it is shelled. When it is not shelled, it does not combine together, as the inedible shell interposes between the different grains. This supports Rava’s interpretation of the baraita , that it addresses barley in the form of grain, flour, and dough.

אִינִי? וְהָא תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: ״עַל כׇּל זֶרַע זֵרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר יִזָּרֵעַ״ – כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם מוֹצִיאִין לִזְרִיעָה: חִטָּה בִּקְלִיפָּתָהּ, וּשְׂעוֹרָה בִּקְלִיפָּתָהּ, וַעֲדָשִׁים בִּקְלִיפָּתָן.

The Gemara asks: Is that so, that the shell of barley is not considered part of the grain with regard to combining for ritual impurity? But didn’t the school of Rabbi Yishmael teach in a baraita : Before a food item comes in contact with liquid it is not susceptible to ritual impurity, as the verse states: “And if anything falls from their carcasses upon any sowing seed that is sown, it is pure. But if water be put upon the seed, and any of the carcass fall thereon, it is impure unto you” (Leviticus 11:37–38). The baraita teaches that the term “that is sown” indicates that the entire seed is susceptible to ritual impurity when it is in a state where it is typical for people to take it out to the field for sowing. This applies to wheat in its shell, barley in its shell, and lentils in their shells. This demonstrates that shells are considered part of the grain with regard to ritual impurity.

לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא בְּלַחוֹת, הָא בִּיבֵשׁוֹת.

The Gemara answers: It is not difficult. The ruling of this baraita , which teaches that the shells of kernels are considered part of it with regard to ritual impurity, is stated with regard to moist kernels, whereas the ruling of that baraita , which teaches that the shells are not part of the seed, is stated with regard to dry kernels, in which the shells crumble and fall away.

וַאֲסוּרִין בֶּחָדָשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי הַפֶּסַח, מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: אָתְיָא ״לֶחֶם״ ״לֶחֶם״ מִמַּצָּה.

§ The mishna teaches with regard to the five grains: And they are forbidden due to the prohibition of partaking of the new crop prior to the Passover festival. The Gemara asks: From where is this matter derived? Reish Lakish said: It is derived by means of a verbal analogy between “bread” written in connection with the prohibition of the new crop (see Leviticus 23:14), and “bread” written with regard to matza (see Deuteronomy 16:3). Just as matza can be prepared only from one of the five grains, so too the prohibition against eating of the new crop applies only to the five grains.

וְלִקְצוֹר לִפְנֵי הָעוֹמֶר, מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אָתְיָא ״רֵאשִׁית״ ״רֵאשִׁית״ מֵחַלָּה.

§ The mishna further teaches with regard to the five grains: And it is prohibited to reap them prior to the omer offering. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is derived by means of a verbal analogy between “the first” written in conjunction with the new crop: “You shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest” (Leviticus 23:10), and “the first” written with regard to ḥalla : “Of the first of your dough you shall set apart a cake for a gift” (Numbers 15:20). Just as the obligation to separate ḥalla applies only to bread prepared from the five grains, so too the prohibition against reaping the new crop prior to the omer offering applies only to crops of the five grains.

מַאי קוֹדֶם לָעוֹמֶר? רַבִּי יוֹנָה אָמַר: קוֹדֶם קְצִירַת הָעוֹמֶר, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר זַבְדָּא אָמַר: קוֹדֶם הֲבָאַת הָעוֹמֶר.

The Gemara asks: What does the mishna mean when it says: Prior to the omer ? Does it mean prior to the reaping of the omer grain or prior to the sacrifice of the omer offering? Rabbi Yona says: It means prior to the reaping of the omer grain, i.e., the new crop is permitted at daybreak on the sixteenth of Nisan. Rabbi Yosei bar Zavda says: Prior to the bringing of the omer offering later that day.

תְּנַן: אֲסוּרִין בֶּחָדָשׁ לִפְנֵי פֶסַח, וְלִקְצוֹר לִפְנֵי הָעוֹמֶר. בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר קוֹדֶם הֲבָאַת הָעוֹמֶר – הַיְינוּ דְּלָא קָא עָרֵיב לְהוּ וְתָנֵי לְהוּ.

The Gemara cites a proof from that which we learned in the mishna: And they are forbidden due to the prohibition of partaking of the new crop prior to the Passover Festival, and likewise it is prohibited to reap them prior to the sacrifice of the omer offering. Granted, according to the one who said that the prohibition applies prior to the bringing of the omer offering, this is the reason that the mishna did not combine the clauses together and teach them as one, since the time frame for each prohibition is different. The prohibition of harvesting the new crop is lifted at daybreak after the omer crop was harvested at night, whereas the prohibition against consuming the new crop ends only with the sacrifice of the omer offering later that day.

אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר קוֹדֶם קְצִירַת הָעוֹמֶר, לִיעָרְבִינְהוּ וְלִיתְנִינְהוּ: אֲסוּרִין בֶּחָדָשׁ וְלִקְצוֹר לִפְנֵי הַפֶּסַח!

But according to the one who said that the prohibition applies prior to the reaping of the omer grain, then both the consuming and the harvesting of the new crop are permitted at daybreak of the sixteenth of Nisan. If so, let the mishna combine them and teach them together, as follows: And they are forbidden due to the prohibition of partaking of the new crop, and likewise it is prohibited to reap them prior to the Passover Festival.

אֶלָּא, אִי אִיתְּמַר – אַסֵּיפָא אִיתְּמַר: אִם הִשְׁרִישׁוּ קוֹדֶם לָעוֹמֶר – הָעוֹמֶר מַתִּירָן. מַאי קוֹדֶם לָעוֹמֶר? רַבִּי יוֹנָה אָמַר: קוֹדֶם הֲבָאַת הָעוֹמֶר, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר זַבְדָּא אוֹמֵר: קוֹדֶם קְצִירַת הָעוֹמֶר.

The Gemara answers: Rather, if a dispute was stated in this matter, it was stated with regard to the latter clause of the mishna, which teaches: If these grains took root prior to the omer offering, the omer permits their consumption. What does the mishna mean when it says: Prior to the omer ? Rabbi Yona says: Prior to the bringing of the omer sacrifice. Rabbi Yosei bar Zavda says: Prior to the harvesting of the omer grain.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר

Rabbi Elazar said to