Pesachim 20b

תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹכוֹ יִטְמָא״, וּסְמִיךְ לֵיהּ: ״מִכׇּל הָאֹכֶל״. אוֹכֶל מִטַּמֵּא מֵאֲוִיר כְּלִי חֶרֶס, וְאֵין כׇּל הַכֵּלִים מִטַּמְּאִין מֵאֲוִיר כְּלִי חֶרֶס.

Therefore, the verse states with regard to creeping animals: “And every earthenware vessel into which any of them falls, whatever is in it shall be impure, and you shall break it” (Leviticus 11:33). And juxtaposed to it is the verse: “From all food in it which may be eaten, upon which water comes, shall be impure” (Leviticus 11:34). This indicates that food is rendered impure by the airspace of an earthenware vessel, but not all vessels are rendered impure by the airspace of an earthenware vessel. This baraita proves that the earthenware vessel itself is not considered to be filled with carcasses of creeping animals, and therefore it does not render everything inside it impure with first-degree impurity. Were the earthenware vessel indeed considered as if it were filled with impurity, vessels inside it would also assume first-degree ritual impurity.

רַב חִסְדָּא רָמֵי פִּיסְחָא אַפִּיסְחָא וּמְשַׁנֵּי: מִי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת?

Rav Ḥisda raised a contradiction between one statement with regard to Passover and another statement with regard to Passover, and he resolved this contradiction himself. The Gemara elaborates: Did Rabbi Yehoshua actually say that both of them may be burned as one, teruma whose purity is uncertain, and definitely impure teruma , on Passover eve?

וּרְמִינְהוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: אֵין הַנִּדּוֹן דּוֹמֶה לִרְאָיָה, כְּשֶׁהֵעִידוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ — עַל מָה הֵעִידוּ? אִם עַל הַבָּשָׂר שֶׁנִּטְמָא בִּוְלַד הַטּוּמְאָה שֶׁשּׂוֹרְפִין אוֹתוֹ עִם הַבָּשָׂר שֶׁנִּטְמָא בְּאַב הַטּוּמְאָה — זֶה טָמֵא וְזֶה טָמֵא.

And he raised a contradiction from the Tosefta , as Rabbi Yosei said: The inferred conclusion of burning pure and impure leaven together is not similar to the case from which you cited proof. When Rabbi Meir said that the Sages, Rabbi Ḥanina the deputy High Priest and Rabbi Akiva, testified, about what did they testify? If you assert that Rabbi Meir said with regard to meat that became ritually impure through contact with a secondary source of impurity, that one may burn it together with meat that became impure through contact with a primary source of impurity, that is a case where both this meat is impure and that meat is impure, albeit not at the same level of impurity.

אִם עַל הַשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁנִּפְסַל בִּטְבוּל יוֹם, שֶׁמַּדְלִיקִין אוֹתוֹ בְּנֵר שֶׁנִּטְמָא בִּטְמֵא מֵת — זֶה פָּסוּל וְזֶה טָמֵא. אַף אָנוּ מוֹדִים בִּתְרוּמָה שֶׁנִּטְמֵאת בִּוְלַד הַטּוּמְאָה שֶׁשּׂוֹרְפִין אוֹתָהּ עִם הַתְּרוּמָה שֶׁנִּטְמֵאת בְּאַב הַטּוּמְאָה, אֲבָל הֵיאַךְ נִשְׂרוֹף אֲפִילּוּ תְּלוּיָה עִם הַטְּמֵאָה, שֶׁמָּא יָבֹא אֵלִיָּהוּ וִיטַהֲרֵם.

Rabbi Yosei continues: If you say that Rabbi Meir is referring to the statement of Rabbi Akiva, with regard to oil that was disqualified by one who immersed himself during that day, that one may kindle it in a lamp that became ritually impure with first-degree impurity through contact with one who became ritually impure with impurity imparted by a corpse, that is a case where this substance is disqualified and that object is impure. We also concede with regard to teruma that became impure from a secondary source of impurity, that one may burn it with teruma that became ritually impure from a primary source of impurity, even though the first teruma will assume a greater degree of impurity. However, how will we burn teruma in abeyance, i.e., teruma whose impure status is uncertain, together with ritually impure teruma ? Perhaps Elijah the Prophet will come and establish prophetically that the teruma is not ritually impure, and render it ritually pure.

וּמְשַׁנֵּי: הָא רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. הָא רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.

And Rav Ḥisda himself resolved the contradiction: This statement that was taught in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua, that one burns teruma in abeyance together with ritually impure teruma , is the ruling of Rabbi Shimon and in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, whereas that statement, that one may not burn them together, is the ruling of Rabbi Yosei and in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua.

דְּתַנְיָא: אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, מְבַעֲרִין אֶת הַכֹּל מִלִּפְנֵי הַשַּׁבָּת, וְשׂוֹרְפִין תְּרוּמוֹת טְמֵאוֹת תְּלוּיוֹת וּטְהוֹרוֹת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: טְהוֹרָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ, וּתְלוּיָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ, וּטְמֵאָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ.

The Gemara cites the source of this tannaitic dispute with regard to Rabbi Yehoshua’s opinion. As it was taught in a baraita : If the fourteenth of Nisan occurs on Shabbat, one may not remove the leaven on Passover eve in the usual manner, and therefore one removes everything before Shabbat, and he burns all teruma together, impure teruma , teruma in abeyance, and pure teruma . This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosei says: One burns pure teruma by itself, teruma in abeyance by itself, and impure teruma by itself.

אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עַל הַטְּהוֹרָה וְעַל הַטְּמֵאָה שֶׁאֵין שׂוֹרְפִין, עַל הַתְּלוּיָה וְעַל הַטְּהוֹרָה שֶׁשּׂוֹרְפִין. עַל מָה נֶחְלְקוּ — עַל הַתְּלוּיָה וְעַל הַטְּמֵאָה, שֶׁרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: תִּישָּׂרֵף זוֹ בְּעַצְמָהּ וְזוֹ בְּעַצְמָהּ. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת.

Rabbi Shimon said: Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua did not disagree about ritually pure teruma and about impure teruma . They agree that one may not burn them together. And neither did they disagree about teruma in abeyance and about pure teruma . They agree that one may burn them together. Since the teruma is not definitely impure, he does not appear to be directly impurifying the teruma . With regard to what did they disagree? They disagree with regard to burning teruma in abeyance and impure teruma together, as Rabbi Eliezer says: This teruma should be burned by itself and that teruma by itself. Since this case involves teruma that is definitely impure, if the teruma in abeyance is actually pure, by burning them together he will have rendered it impure. And Rabbi Yehoshua says: One may burn both of them as one.

וְהָא מַתְנִיתִין רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הִיא! הָכִי קָאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר: אֲפִילּוּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, דְּמֵיקֵל, כִּי מֵיקֵל בִּתְלוּיָה וּטְמֵאָה, אֲבָל בִּטְהוֹרָה וּטְמֵאָה — לָא.

The Gemara raises a difficulty: Isn’t the mishna in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei? How can Rabbi Yosei’s statement be attributed to Rabbi Shimon? The Gemara answers: This is what Rabbi Yosei is saying to Rabbi Meir: Even according to Rabbi Shimon in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, who is lenient, where he rules leniently it is only with regard to burning teruma in abeyance and impure teruma together. However, with regard to ritually pure teruma and impure teruma together, no, even he does not permit burning them together.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא רָמֵי תְּרוּמָה אַפִּיסְחָא, וּמְשַׁנֵּי: מִי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת?

Similarly, Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, raised a contradiction between the previous statement with regard to teruma and a halakha of Passover, and he resolved it himself. The Gemara clarifies: Did Rabbi Yehoshua actually say that both teruma in abeyance and impure teruma may be burned together?

וּרְמִינְהוּ: חָבִית שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה שֶׁנּוֹלַד בָּהּ סְפֵק טוּמְאָה, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: אִם הָיְתָה מוּנַּחַת בִּמְקוֹם הַתּוּרְפָּה — יַנִּיחֶנָּה בְּמָקוֹם הַמּוּצְנָע, וְאִם הָיְתָה מְגוּלָּה יְכַסֶּנָּה. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: אִם הָיְתָה מוּנַּחַת בְּמָקוֹם הַמּוּצְנָע — יַנִּיחֶנָּה בִּמְקוֹם הַתּוּרְפָּה, וְאִם הָיְתָה מְכוּסֶּה יְגַלֶּנָּה.

And he raised a contradiction from a mishna: In the case of a barrel of teruma produce with regard to which uncertainty developed about its impurity, Rabbi Eliezer says: If the barrel was resting in a vulnerable place, where it may come into contact with impurity, one should place it in a concealed place, and if it was exposed he should cover it. Rabbi Yehoshua says: If it was placed in a concealed place he may place it in a vulnerable place. And if it was covered he may expose it.

גְּרָמָא — אִין, בְּיָדַיִם — לָא! וּמְשַׁנֵּי: הָא רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הָא רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.

The Gemara infers from this mishna: In any case, passive causation of teruma whose impurity is uncertain to become definitely impure, yes, it is permitted. However, to actively render teruma impure with one’s hands, no, it is prohibited. This ruling contradicts the previous halakha that one may burn teruma in abeyance and impure teruma together. And Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, resolved this apparent contradiction himself: This statement, that one is permitted to burn teruma in abeyance together with ritually impure teruma , is the ruling of Rabbi Shimon in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, whereas that statement, that one may cause this impurity only passively, is the ruling of Rabbi Yosei in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר רָמֵי תְּרוּמָה אַתְּרוּמָה, וּמְשַׁנֵּי: מִי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ גְּרָמָא אִין, בְּיָדַיִם לָא?

Similarly, Rabbi Elazar raised a contradiction between one halakha with regard to teruma and another halakha with regard to teruma , and resolved the contradiction himself. The Gemara explains: Did Rabbi Yehoshua actually say that passive causation of teruma whose impurity is uncertain to become definitely impure, yes, it is permitted; however, to actively render teruma impure with his hands, no, it is prohibited?

וּרְמִינְהוּ: חָבִית שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרָה בַּגַּת הָעֶלְיוֹנָה וְתַחְתֶּיהָ חוּלִּין טְמֵאִין —

And he raised a contradiction against this from a mishna: With regard to a barrel of teruma wine that broke in the upper area in a winepress, where grapes are pressed, and there is impure, non-sacred wine in the lower area of the press, where the wine flows from the upper area, if the teruma wine would flow into the non-sacred wine, the teruma wine would be rendered ritually impure. The result would be significant financial loss, as the legal status of all the wine in the lower press would be that of impure teruma , which is prohibited even for priests to drink.

מוֹדֶה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר (לְרַבִּי) יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שֶׁאִם יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל מִמֶּנָּה רְבִיעִית בְּטׇהֳרָה — יַצִּיל, וְאִם לָאו — רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: תֵּרֵד וְתִטַּמֵּא, וְאַל יְטַמְּאֶנָּה בַּיָּד.

Rabbi Eliezer concedes to Rabbi Yehoshua that if one is able to rescue even a quarter- log from the barrel that broke and keep the wine in a state of ritual purity, by receiving the teruma wine in a vessel before it becomes impure, he should rescue it. And if one cannot receive the wine in a pure vessel, as only impure vessels are available, so that if he uses them to receive the wine or to seal the upper press he will render the teruma impure, Rabbi Eliezer says: The teruma wine should be allowed to descend and become impure on its own, but one should not actively render it impure with his hand.

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: יְטַמְּאֶנָּה בַּיָּד!

Rabbi Yehoshua says: One may even actively render it impure with his hand, by stopping the pipe connecting between the upper and lower presses with an impure vessel or by receiving the wine in impure vessels. Evidently, Rabbi Yehoshua allows one even to actively impurify pure teruma .

וּמְשַׁנֵּי: שָׁאנֵי הָתָם דְּאִיכָּא הֶפְסֵד חוּלִּין.

And Rabbi Elazar resolved this contradiction himself: There, with regard to the broken barrel, it is different, as, in that case, there is the potential loss of non-sacred produce, when the teruma wine descends to the lower press. The non-sacred wine will become prohibited due to the mixture with impure teruma .

מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רָבָא: מַתְנִיתִין נָמֵי אִיכָּא הֶפְסֵד עֵצִים! אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: לְהֶפְסֵד מְרוּבֶּה — חָשְׁשׁוּ, לְהֶפְסֵד מוּעָט — לֹא חָשְׁשׁוּ.

Rava strongly objects to this claim: In the mishna too there is a loss of wood, as one requires additional wood to kindle a second fire and burn the impure teruma separately. Abaye said to him: With regard to this and similar issues, the Sages were concerned about a great loss. However, they were not concerned about the minimal loss of several pieces of wood.

ומְנָא תֵּימְרָא דִּלְהֶפְסֵד מְרוּבֶּה חָשְׁשׁוּ, וּלְהֶפְסֵד מוּעָט לֹא חָשְׁשׁוּ, דְּתַנְיָא: חָבִית שֶׁל שֶׁמֶן תְּרוּמָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרָה בַּגַּת הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, וּבַתַּחְתּוֹנָה חוּלִּין טְמֵאִין — מוֹדֶה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שֶׁאִם יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל מִמֶּנָּה רְבִיעִית בְּטׇהֳרָה — יַצִּיל, וְאִם לָאו — תֵּרֵד וְתִטַּמֵּא וְאַל יְטַמְּאֶנָּה בַּיָּד.

And from where do you say that the Sages were concerned about a great loss and they were not concerned about a minimal loss? As it was taught in a baraita : With regard to a barrel of teruma oil that broke in the upper area of the olive press, and in the lower area of the press there is impure, non-sacred produce, Rabbi Eliezer concedes to Rabbi Yehoshua that if one can rescue even a quarter- log of the oil in a state of purity from the barrel, he should rescue it. And if one cannot receive the oil in a pure vessel, the teruma oil should be allowed to descend and become impure on its own, but one should not actively render it impure with his hand.

מַאי שְׁנָא שֶׁמֶן, דְּרָאוּי לְהַדְלִיק? יַיִן נָמֵי רָאוּי לְזִילּוּף!

The Gemara answers: What is different about oil that, as opposed to wine, everyone agrees may not be actively rendered impure? If you say the reason is that even if the teruma falls into the lower press and is intermingled with impure teruma , it is still suitable for lighting and not entirely lost, if so, wine is also fit for sprinkling in one’s house to provide a pleasant fragrance. Impure teruma wine could be used for that purpose.

וְכִי תֵימָא זִילּוּף לָאו מִילְּתָא הִיא, וְהָאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי חִיָּיא: שׁוֹתִין מִלּוֹג בְּסֶלַע, וּמְזַלְּפִין מִלּוֹג בִּשְׁתַּיִם! בְּחָדָשׁ.

And lest you say that sprinkling wine is not a significant matter, and would be tantamount to destroying the teruma , didn’t Shmuel say in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya: One drinks from wine valued at a log for a sela , and one sprinkles from wine valued at a log for two sela . Apparently, sprinkling is a more significant use than drinking. The Gemara answers: The baraita is referring to new wine still in the press, which does not have a strong fragrance and cannot be used for sprinkling.

וְהָא רָאוּי לְיַשְּׁנוֹ! אָתֵי בֵּיהּ לִידֵי תַּקָּלָה. שֶׁמֶן נָמֵי, אָתֵי בֵּיהּ לִידֵי תַּקָּלָה!

The Gemara raises an objection: But isn’t the wine fit to be aged, at which point it could be used for sprinkling, and would not be entirely lost. The Gemara answers: One may thereby come to encounter a stumbling block, as he might, with the passage of time, forget that it is ritually impure and come to drink it. The Gemara asks: If so, with regard to oil too, one may thereby come to encounter a stumbling block, in the same way.

דְּרָמֵי לֵיהּ בִּכְלִי מָאוּס. יַיִן נָמֵי, רָמֵי לֵיהּ בִּכְלִי מָאוּס! לְזִילּוּף קָא בָעֵי לֵיהּ, בִּכְלִי מָאוּס רָמֵי לֵיהּ?!

The Gemara answers: The Gemara answers: Ritually impure teruma oil is permitted because he places it in a repulsive vessel, so that people will be disinclined to consume it and will use it only for lighting. The Gemara suggests: With regard to wine, too, he can place it in a repulsive vessel. The Gemara rejects this suggestion: That is not possible. Is it reasonable that one who wants the wine for sprinkling will place it in a repulsive vessel? One sprinkles wine to add a pleasant odor, which would not be the case if the wine has been left in a disgusting vessel.

וְתַקָּלָה עַצְמָהּ, תַּנָּאֵי הִיא. דְּתַנְיָא: חָבִית שֶׁל יַיִן שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה שֶׁנִּטְמֵאת, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: תִּשָּׁפֵךְ חֲבָל, וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: תֵּעָשֶׂה זִילּוּף.

The Gemara comments: And concern for a stumbling block by keeping prohibited items is itself subject to a dispute between tanna’im . As it was taught in a baraita : With regard to a barrel of teruma wine that became ritually impure, Beit Shammai say: It should be poured out all at once, and Beit Hillel say: One should wait until it ages, at which stage it may be used for spraying.

אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, אֲנִי אַכְרִיעַ: בַּשָּׂדֶה — תִּשָּׁפֵךְ חֲבָל, בַּבַּיִת — תֵּעָשֶׂה זִילּוּף. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: בְּחָדָשׁ — תִּשָּׁפֵךְ חֲבָל, בְּיָשָׁן — תֵּעָשֶׂה זִילּוּף. אָמְרוּ לוֹ:

Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said: I will decide this dispute. If the barrel was in a field, it should be poured out all at once, lest the ritual impurity of the barrel be forgotten by the time it is brought inside the house. However, if the barrel was in the house, where it could be used immediately, it may be used for sprinkling. Some say that Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, decided: In the case of new wine, it should be poured out all at once; but in the case of old wine, it should be used for spraying. They said to him: