Keritot 24

Chapter 24

א בטומאה ישנה מאי שנא חלבין וביאת מקדש דמודו ליה דאם רצה יאמר מזיד הייתי טומאה ישנה נמי מתרץ דיבוריה דאם רצה יאמר לא עמדתי בטומאתי אלא טבלתי
1 [it refers] to old uncleanness, why do the Rabbis agree with R'Judah only with regard to heleb and the entering of the Temple precincts because he might have said, I did it wilfully? Also in the instance of old uncleanness he could have interpreted his words and say, if he wanted, I did not remain unclean but immersed!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' We must therefore assume that the Baraitha refers to fresh uncleanness, in which case there is no miggo. It seems at all events to be implicitly accepted that the reason of the Sages' view is based upon the conclusion of miggo, while R. Judah who holds that even in the case of fresh uncleanness he is exempted, bases his view obviously upon the rule that regarding oneself a man is at all events believed more than a hundred witnesses. The query set forth at the outset of the discussion is thus resolved: R. Judah, who as the opponent of R. Meir is often quoted anonymously, bases his view upon the first argument of the query, the Sages upon the second.');"><sup>1</sup></span> - Said Rabina: It refers in fact to old uncleanness,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And both R. Judah and the Sages may base their arguments in the instance of heleb upon the rule of miggo, but this case is such that the Sages hold miggo is not applicable to it.');"><sup>2</sup></span> but to a case where the witnesses said to him, Thou hast eaten sacred food while thy body was unclean,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This statement contains a twofold assertion: That he was unclean and that he ate sacred things. Were his contradiction, I did not eat, we might have understood it in the sense, I did not transgress for I had immersed before. His reply, I am not unclean, is taken to imply, I did not come into contact with an unclean object, and this is in open contradiction to the evidence of the witnesses, wherefore his statement is not accepted and he is liable to an offering.');"><sup>3</sup></span> and his reply was, I was not unclean; his words are then not open to an explanation, for we cannot say he meant, I did not remain unclean but immersed, for this would convey, I immersed and indeed did eat, which statement would contradict the first assertion<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the assertion of the witnesses.');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ב אמר רבינא לעולם בטומאה ישנה וכגון דאמרי ליה עדים אכלת קדשים בטומאת הגוף והוא אמר להון לא נטמאתי דהכא לא מתריץ דיבוריה דליכא למימר לא עמדתי בטומאה אבל טבלתי
2 at least in respect of the uncleanness through contact.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For his words imply, he did not come into contact with an unclean object.');"><sup>5</sup></span> Said R'Nahman: The halachah is according to R'Judah. Said R'Joseph: He holds [that he is clean] only in private<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He is not permitted to partake of sacred food in the presence of others, for this might be interpreted as neglectful treatment of the laws of purity.');"><sup>6</sup></span> and when appertaining to himself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He is not believed with reference to other people. If he has come into contact with sacred things they are regarded as unclean for others. The trust put in him when he says he is not unclean is subjective, because we believe him in matters appertaining to his own conscience and salvation.');"><sup>7</sup></span> Said Resh Lakish: R'Meir agrees with the Rabbis that if two witnesses say to a person, Thou hast had intercourse with a designated bondmaid,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., a maidservant designated by her master for marriage to one chosen by him; Lev. XIX, 20.');"><sup>8</sup></span> and he maintains that he has had no intercourse, he is to be trusted, for he could, if he wishes, have answered them, I did not complete the act of cohabitation.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. 11b, where the completion of the act is an essential condition of the transgression.');"><sup>9</sup></span>
ג מאי אמר להון טבלתי ואכלתי כי אמר להון הכי איתכחש ליה דבוריה קמא מיהא בטומאת מגעו
3 Said R'Shesheth: R'Meir agrees with the Rabbis with regard to the uncleanness of a nazirite, that if two witnesses say to him, Thou art unclean, and he replies, I am not unclean, he is exempted,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From an offering at the end of seven days; v. Num. VI, 9f.');"><sup>10</sup></span> because he could, if he wanted, have replied, I am absolved from the vow of naziriteship.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Absolution can be granted from a vow by a scholar if there are good reasons to assume that the consequences of the vow were not foreseen.');"><sup>11</sup></span>
ד אמר רב נחמן הלכה כר' יהודה אמר רב יוסף לא אמרה אלא בינו לבין עצמו ולעצמו
4 Said Abaye: R'Meir agrees with the Rabbis that if two witnesses say to a person, Thou knowest evidence against a certain man,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The refusal to give evidence if adjured to do so is punishable with an offering; v. Lev. V, 1.');"><sup>12</sup></span> and he says, I do not know, he is exempted, because he could, if he wanted, have said, I was not intent upon giving evidence. IF ONE ATE TWICE HELEB IN ONE SPELL OF UNAWARENESS etc. To this R'Zera demurred: Why is he liable to only one sin-offering? Has he not eaten two olive-sizes of heleb? - Replied to him Abaye: It is the different spells of unawareness that effect separate offerings, but in our instance there was but one spell of unawareness.
ה אמר ר"ל מודה ר"מ לחכמים שאם אמרו לו שנים בעלת שפחה חרופה והוא אומר לא בעלתי מהימן דאי בעי אמר להון לא גמרתי ביאתי
5 Some raise the difficulty in the following version: The reason [that he is liable only to one offering], is that there was only one spell of unawareness; if, however, there were two spells of unawareness he would indeed be liable to two offerings; but why? Were not both meals of the same denomination of heleb? - Replied to him Abaye: Different spells of unawareness effect separate offerings. IF ONE ATE HELEB, BLOOD, PIGGUL AND NOTHAR etc. [It is stated,] IF OF ONE KIND HE IS LIABLE; is this not obvious? - Said Resh Lakish in the name of Bar Tutini:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra ');"><sup>13</sup></span> We suppose it was eaten in two different dishes, and this law is in conformity with the view of R'Joshua who [generally] holds that different dishes do not combine with one another.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., to make up the requisite standard size of an olive. The non-combination of the two half-olives brings about his exemption from an offering. If on the other hand one has, e.g., eaten two full quantities in two dishes the non-combination leads to greater stringency of the law, for he is then liable to two offerings.');"><sup>14</sup></span> Now I might have thought that R'Joshua upholds his opinion no matter whether greater leniency or greater stringency result from it; therefore we are taught that he is liable [to an offering], implying that he upholds his view only when it leads to greater stringency, but not when it leads to greater leniency.
ו אמר רב ששת מודה ר"מ לחכמים בנזיר טמא שאמרו לו שנים נטמאת והוא אומר לא נטמאתי פטור דאי בעי אמר נשאלתי על נזירי
6 Some refer the discussion to the latter part of the passage: IF OF TWO KINDS, HE IS EXEMPTED; is this not obvious? - Said Resh Lakish in the name of Bar Tutini: We suppose they were eaten in two different dishes and this law is in accordance with R'Joshua who holds different dishes do not combine with one another. Now I might have thought that R'Joshua upholds his rule only if it leads to greater stringency but not if greater leniency results from it; therefore we are taught: IF OF TWO KINDS, HE IS EXEMPTED: 'Two kinds' means in fact 'one kind';<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., two pieces of heleb, e.g., each of the size of half an olive, eaten in two meals.');"><sup>15</sup></span> it is called 'two kinds' because the eating was in two different dishes; and as it is stated that he is then exempted, hence we may conclude that R'Joshua upholds his rule both if it leads to greater leniency and if it results in greater stringency. Now, since the latter part of the passage<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., IF OF TWO KINDS etc.');"><sup>16</sup></span> deals with one kind consumed in two dishes, the former part must, as its contrast, refer to one kind consumed in one dish.
ז אמר אביי מודה רבי מאיר לחכמים שאם אמרו לו שנים יודע אתה בעדות פלוני והוא אומר לא ידעתי פטור דאי בעי אמר לא נתכוונתי לעדות:
7 Is not the law then obvious? - Said Rabina: It refers to a case where he became aware [of his sin] in between,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the two meals he learnt, e.g., that the first piece of fat was heleb.');"><sup>17</sup></span> and the law is in accordance with Rabban Gamaliel, who holds awareness is of no avail with regard to half-sizes;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., half-sizes may be combined one with the other even if eaten in two spells of unawareness.');"><sup>18</sup></span> as we have learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shab. 105a. Only when one writes two letters is a sacrifice prescribed.');"><sup>19</sup></span> If one writes two letters in two different spells of unawareness, one in the morning and the other in the evening, Rabban Gamaliel holds he is guilty, but the Rabbis exempt him. Rabban Gamaliel holds awareness is of no avail with regard to half-sizes, whereas the Rabbis maintain it is of avail.
ח אכל חלב וחלב בהעלם אחת [כו']: מתקיף לה ר' זירא אמאי אינו חייב אלא חטאת אחת והא ב' זיתי חלב אכל
8 <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>WITHIN WHAT TIME MUST HE EAT THEM?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' We have learnt in the previous Mishnah that if one eats two half-sizes of prohibited food, he is guilty because the two meals combine to make up the requisite size. What time may pass between the two meals to be still considered as one?');"><sup>20</sup></span> [THE TIME HE WOULD NEED] IF HE ATE A LIKE BULK OF PARCHED GRAINS OF CORN.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the time it takes to eat an olive-size of food crumbled into small pieces of the size of parched ears, eaten one after the other.');"><sup>21</sup></span> THUS THE VIEW OF R'MEIR; BUT THE RABBIS SAY, HE MUST TAKE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END NO MORE TIME THAN IS REQUIRED FOR THE EATING OF A PERAS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'portion' or 'half'; viz., half a loaf; v. also 'Er. 83a.');"><sup>22</sup></span> TO BECOME LIABLE.
ט א"ל אביי העלמות מחולקות והכא העלם אחד הוא דאיכא
9 IF ONE EATS UNCLEAN EDIBLES OR DRINKS UNCLEAN DRINKS,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If one eats unclean food of the size of half a peras, or drinks of an unclean drink the quantity of a fourth of a log, he is regarded as unfit to eat sacred food until he has taken an immersion.');"><sup>23</sup></span> OR IF [A PRIEST] DRINKS A QUARTER [OF A LOG] OF WINE AND THEN ENTERS THE TEMPLE,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To perform his service.');"><sup>24</sup></span>
י איכא דמקשי ליה הכי טעמא דהעלם אחת הא בשתי העלמות חייב שתים אמאי שם חלב אחד הוא אמר ליה אביי העלמות מחולקין:
10 IF NO MORE TIME HAS ELAPSED THAN IS REQUIRED FOR THE EATING OF A PERAS, HE IS LIABLE. R'ELEAZAR SAYS: IF THE DRINKING WAS INTERRUPTED OR THE WINE DILUTED WITH WATER OF THE SMALLEST QUANTITY, HE IS EXEMPTED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Eliezer refers to the last instance.');"><sup>25</sup></span> <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>They asked: Is R'Meir's statement in the direction of stringency or of leniency? Is it in the direction of stringency, and thi what he means: [THE TIME HE WOULD NEED] IF HE ATE OF PARCHED GRAINS OF CORN, though lasting the whole day.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The criterion of R. Meir is then to indicate that the meal may be interrupted.');"><sup>26</sup></span> Thus even though the time that elapsed between the beginning and the end of the meal was longer than is required for the eating of a peras, yet since it was one protracted meal, he is liable; while the Rabbis retorted: If no more time has elapsed than is required for the eating of a peras, he is guilty, if more he is exempted?
יא אכל חלב ודם פיגול ונותר חייב כו':
11 Or is it in the direction of leniency, and this is what he means: [THE TIME HE WOULD NEED] IF HE ATE OF PARCHED GRAINS OF CORN, provided it was without interruption,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The time required for the eating of an olive-size of parched corn without interruption is less than that required for the eating of a peras.');"><sup>27</sup></span>
יב ממין אחד חייב פשיטא אמר ריש לקיש משום בר תוטיני כגון שאכלו בשני תמחויין ואליבא דרבי יהושע דאמר תמחויין מחולקין
12 but if with interruption he is exempted even though the time that elapsed between the beginning and the end of the meal is within that required for the eating of a peras; while the Rabbis retorted: Since the time elapsed between the beginning and the end of the meal was within that required for the eating of a peras, he is guilty? - Come and hear: BUT THE SAGES SAY, HE MUST TAKE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END NO MORE TIME THAN IS REQUIRED FOR THE EATING OF A PERAS.
יג מהו דתימא כי אמר ר' יהושע לא שנא לקולא ולא שנא לחומרא קמ"ל דחייב אלמא לחומרא אמר לקולא לא אמר
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יד איכא דאמר על סיפא משני מינין פטור פשיטא אמר ריש לקיש משום בר תוטיני כגון שאכלו בשני תמחויין ואליבא דר' יהושע דאמר תמחויין מחולקין
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טו דמהו דתימא כי אמר ר' יהושע לחומרא אמר לקולא לא אמר קמ"ל מב' מינין פטור
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טז מאי מב' מינין ממין אחד הוא ואמאי קרי ליה ב' מינים משום דאכלו בב' תמחויין וקתני פטור אלמא ל"ש לקולא ול"ש לחומרא קאמר רבי יהושע
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יז מדסיפא מין אחד ושני תמחויין רישא מין אחד ותמחוי אחד פשיטא
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יח אמר רבינא כגון שהיתה לו ידיעה בינתיים ואליבא דרבן גמליאל דאמר אין ידיעה לחצי שיעור
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יט דתנן הכותב שתי אותיות בשתי העלמות אחת שחרית ואחת ערבית ר"ג מחייב וחכמים פוטרין
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כ רבן גמליאל סבר אין ידיעה לחצי שיעור ורבנן סברי יש ידיעה לחצי שיעור:
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כא <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> כמה ישהא באוכלין כאילו אוכל קליות דברי ר"מ וחכמים אומרים עד שישהא מתחלה ועד סוף כדי אכילת פרס חייב
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כב אכל אוכלין טמאין ושתה משקין טמאין שתה רביעית יין ונכנס למקדש ושהה כדי אכילת פרס חייב רבי אליעזר אומר אם פסק בה או אם נתן בו מים כל שהוא פטור:
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כג <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> איבעיא להו ר"מ לחומרא קאמר או לקולא קאמר לחומרא קאמר והכי קתני כאילו אוכל קליות דאפילו כוליה יומא ואף על גב דמתחלה ועד סוף יותר מכדי אכילת פרס כיון דמשכיה אכילתיה מחייב ואמרו ליה רבנן דעד שישהא בכדי אכילת פרס הוא דחייב יותר מכדי אכילת פרס פטור
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כד או דלמא לקולא קאמר דהכי קתני כאילו אוכל קליות והוא דלא איפסיק ביני וביני אבל דאיפסיק ביני וביני אע"ג דמתחלה ועד סוף בכדי אכילת פרס פטור ואמרו ליה רבנן כיון דמתחלה ועד סוף בכדי אכילת פרס הוא חייב
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כה ת"ש וחכמים אומרים עד שישהא בכדי אכילת פרס מתחלה ועד סוף
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