## Menachot Daf 34a

###### Menachot 34a:1
[Menachot 34a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:1)

אַדַּעְתָּא דְּגִינָּה הוּא דַּעֲבִידָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
area **is made for the purpose of** reaching the **garden,** not for entering the house, and therefore even with regard to the entrance between the gatehouse and small room, one is exempt from placing a *mezuza* at the entrance of the small room.


###### Menachot 34a:2
[Menachot 34a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:2)

אַבָּיֵי וְרָבָא עָבְדִי כְּרַבָּה וְרַב יוֹסֵף, וְרַב אָשֵׁי עָבֵיד כְּרַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל לְחוּמְרָא, וְהִילְכְתָא כְּרַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל לְחוּמְרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that **Abaye and Rava would act in accordance with** the explanation of **Rabba and Rav Yosef,** i.e., they would not place a *mezuza* on the two entrances of a gatehouse, neither to the garden nor to the small room, in accordance with the ruling of the Rabbis. **And Rav Ashi would act in accordance with** the explanation of **Rav and Shmuel, stringently,** i.e., following the ruling of Rabbi Yosei that both entrances require a *mezuza*. The Gemara concludes: **And the *halakha*** is **in accordance with** the explanation of **Rav and Shmuel, stringently.**


###### Menachot 34a:3
[Menachot 34a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:3)

אִיתְּמַר: לוּל פָּתוּחַ מִן הַבַּיִת לַעֲלִיָּיה, אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ פֶּתַח אֶחָד – חַיָּיב בִּמְזוּזָה אַחַת, אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִין – חַיָּיב בִּשְׁתֵּי מְזוּזוֹת. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ מִדְּרַב הוּנָא, הַאי אִינְדְּרוֹנָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ אַרְבְּעָה בָּאבֵי – חַיָּיב בְּאַרְבַּע מְזוּזוֹת. פְּשִׁיטָא! לָא צְרִיכָא, אַף עַל גַּב דִּרְגִיל בְּחַד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **It was stated:** With regard to **an aperture that opens from** the ceiling of **a house** occupied by one person **to a loft** occupied by another, with a walled staircase leading from the lower floor to the loft, **Rav Huna says: If** the staircase **has one entrance,** i.e., one doorway, either from the house or from the upper story, one is **obligated to** affix **one *mezuza*; if it has two entrances,** both from below and above, one is **obligated to** affix **two *mezuzot*. Rav Pappa says:** One can **learn from that** statement **of Rav Huna** that with regard to **this** type of **room that has four gates,** one is **obligated to** affix **four *mezuzot*.** The Gemara asks: Isn’t it **obvious?** The Gemara explains: **No,** it is **necessary** to teach that **even though one is accustomed to** using **one** particular gate, nevertheless, all four require a *mezuza*.


###### Menachot 34a:4
[Menachot 34a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:4)

אָמַר אַמֵּימָר: הַאי פִּיתְחָא דְּאַקַּרְנָא חַיָּיב בִּמְזוּזָה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אָשֵׁי לְאַמֵּימָר: וְהָא לֵית לֵיהּ פַּצִּימִין! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עָדֵי פַּצִּימֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ameimar said:** With regard to **this entrance which** is located **at the corner** of a house, one is **obligated to** affix **a *mezuza*. Rav Ashi said to Ameimar: But it does not have doorposts.** Ameimar **said to him: These [*adei*] are its doorposts,** i.e., the end of the walls serve as its doorposts.


###### Menachot 34a:5
[Menachot 34a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:5)

רַב פָּפָּא אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי מָר שְׁמוּאֵל, חֲזָא הָהוּא פִּיתְחָא דְּלָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ אֶלָּא (פַּצִּים אֶחָד) [חַד פַּצִּימָא] מִשְּׂמָאלָא, וַעֲבִידָא לֵיהּ מְזוּזָה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּמַאן? כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר? אֵימַר דְּאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר מִיָּמִין, מִשְּׂמֹאל מִי אָמַר?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: **Rav Pappa happened** to come **to the house of Mar Shmuel,** where **he saw a certain entrance that had only one doorpost to the left** of the entrance, **and** yet Mar Shmuel **had affixed a *mezuza* to** that doorpost. Rav Pappa **said to him: In accordance with whose** opinion did you do this? Did you act **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Meir,** who deems one obligated to affix a *mezuza* to an entrance that has only one doorpost? But one can **say that Rabbi Meir says** that one must do so only in a case where the doorpost is **to** the **right** of the entrance. **Does he say** that it requires a *mezuza* if the entrance is **to** the **left?**


###### Menachot 34a:6
[Menachot 34a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:6)

מַאי הִיא? דְּתַנְיָא: ״בֵּיתֶךָ״ – ״בִּיאָתְךָ״, מִן הַיָּמִין. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר מִן הַיָּמִין, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא מִשְּׂמֹאל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״בֵּיתֶךָ״. מַאי תַּלְמוּדָא? אָמַר רַבָּה: דֶּרֶךְ בִּיאָתְךָ מִן הַיָּמִין, דְּכִי עָקַר אִינִישׁ כַּרְעֵיהּ דְּיַמִּינָא עָקַר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What** is the source for **this** requirement that the *mezuza* be affixed to the right side? **As it is taught** in a *baraita*: When the verse states: “And you shall write them upon the doorposts of **your house [*beitekha*]”** (Deuteronomy 6:9), the word *beitekha* is interpreted as ***biatekha*,** your entry, i.e., the *mezuza* must be affixed to the side by which you enter, which is **from the right. Do you say** it is **from the right, or** is it **only from the left?** Therefore, **the verse states: Your house [*beitekha*].** The Gemara asks: **What is the** biblical **derivation** here? **Rabba says:** The *mezuza* is affixed in **the way that you enter** the house, which is **from the right, as when a person lifts his foot** to begin walking, **he lifts his right** foot first. Therefore, the *mezuza* is affixed to the right side of the doorway.


###### Menachot 34a:7
[Menachot 34a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:7)

רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר אַחָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב פָּפָּא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרָבָא בַּר עוּלָּא אָמַר, מֵהָכָא: ״וַיִּקַּח יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן אֲרוֹן אֶחָד וַיִּקֹּב חֹר בְּדַלְתּוֹ וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתוֹ אֵצֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִיָּמִין בְּבוֹא אִישׁ בֵּית ה׳ וְנָתְנוּ שָׁמָּה הַכֹּהֲנִים שׁוֹמְרֵי הַסַּף אֶת כׇּל הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּבָא בֵית ה׳״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Shmuel bar Aḥa said before Rav Pappa in the name of Rava bar Ulla** that the requirement that the *mezuza* be affixed to the right of the entrance is derived **from here: “And Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the House of the Lord; and the priests that kept the threshold put in there all the money that was brought into the House of the Lord”** (II Kings 12:10). This indicates that an object designed for those entering a house is placed to the right of the one entering.


###### Menachot 34a:8
[Menachot 34a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:8)

מַאי רַבִּי מֵאִיר? דְּתַנְיָא: בַּיִת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא פַּצִּים אֶחָד, רַבִּי מֵאִיר מְחַיֵּיב בִּמְזוּזָה, וַחֲכָמִים פּוֹטְרִין. מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּנַן? ״מְזוּזוֹת״ כְּתִיב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara further inquires: **What** is this statement of **Rabbi Meir,** referred to by Rav Pappa, that he deems one obligated to place a *mezuza* on an entrance that has only one doorpost? **As it is taught** in a *baraita*: With regard to **a house that has only one doorpost, Rabbi Meir deems** one **obligated to** affix **a *mezuza*, and the Rabbis deem** him **exempt** from affixing a *mezuza*. The Gemara asks: **What is the reasoning of the Rabbis? It is written:** “And you shall write them upon the **doorposts** of your house” (Deuteronomy 6:9), in the plural, which indicates that there must be two doorposts.


###### Menachot 34a:9
[Menachot 34a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:9)

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר? דְּתַנְיָא: ״מְזוּזוֹת״ – שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי מִיעוּט מְזוּזוֹת שְׁתַּיִם, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״מְזוּזוֹת״ בְּפָרָשָׁה שְׁנִיָּה, שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר, הָוֵי רִיבּוּי אַחַר רִיבּוּי, וְאֵין רִיבּוּי אַחַר רִיבּוּי אֶלָּא לְמַעֵט, מִעֲטוֹ הַכָּתוּב לִמְזוּזָה אַחַת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What is the reason of Rabbi Meir,** that one doorpost suffices to obligate one to affix a *mezuza*? **As it is taught** in a *baraita*: When it states **“doorposts”** (Deuteronomy 6:9), **I** would **derive the minimum** number **of doorposts,** which is **two. When it says “doorposts” in the second passage** (Deuteronomy 11:20), this also serves to teach a *halakha*, **as** otherwise there is **no** need for **the verse to state** this. This **is** one **amplification following** another **amplification, and** the principle is that **an amplification following an amplification is** stated **only** in order **to restrict** its extent. In this manner **the verse restricted** the minimum number **to one doorpost.** This is **the statement of Rabbi Yishmael.**


###### Menachot 34a:10
[Menachot 34a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:10)

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: ״עַל הַמַּשְׁקוֹף וְעַל שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת״, שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״שְׁתֵּי״, מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״שְׁתֵּי״? זֶה בָּנָה אָב, כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״מְזוּזוֹת״ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אַחַת, עַד שֶׁיִּפְרֹט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב שְׁתַּיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Akiva says:** This proof **is not necessary.** Rather, **when** the verse **states:** “And strike **the lintel and the two doorposts”** (Exodus 12:22), one can claim that there is a superfluous word in this verse, **as** there is **no** need for **the verse to state “two,”** since the minimum of doorposts is two. **What** is the meaning when **the verse states “two”? This established a paradigm** that **anywhere where it is stated “doorposts,”** it means **only one** doorpost, **unless the verse specifies** that it is referring to **two** doorposts.


###### Menachot 34a:11
[Menachot 34a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:11)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״וּכְתַבְתָּם״ – יָכוֹל יִכְתְּבֶנָּה עַל הָאֲבָנִים? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן כְּתִיבָה, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן כְּתִיבָה – מָה לְהַלָּן עַל הַסֵּפֶר, אַף כָּאן עַל הַסֵּפֶר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: The verse states: **“And you shall write them** upon the doorposts of your house, and upon your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:9). One **might** have thought that **one writes** a *mezuza* **on the stones** of the entrance. To counter this, an expression of **writing is stated here,** with regard to a *mezuza*, **and** an expression of **writing is stated there. Just as there** the mitzva of writing means **on a book,** i.e., parchment, **so too,** a *mezuza* must be written **on a book.**


###### Menachot 34a:12
[Menachot 34a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:12)

אוֹ כְּלָךְ לְדֶרֶךְ זוֹ: נֶאֱמַר כָּאן כְּתִיבָה, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן כְּתִיבָה, מָה לְהַלָּן עַל הָאֲבָנִים, אַף כָּאן עַל הָאֲבָנִים!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* suggests: **Or** perhaps, **go [*kalekh*] this way,** i.e., one can suggest a different interpretation: An expression of **writing is stated here,** with regard to a *mezuza*, **and writing is stated there,** with regard to the mitzva of writing the words of the Torah on stones upon the entry to Eretz Yisrael (Deuteronomy 27:3). **Just as there,** the words are written **on the stones** themselves, **so too here,** the *mezuza* should be written **on the stones.**


###### Menachot 34a:13
[Menachot 34a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:13)

נִרְאֶה לְמִי דּוֹמֶה? דָּנִין כְּתִיבָה הַנּוֹהֶגֶת לְדוֹרוֹת מִכְּתִיבָה הַנּוֹהֶגֶת לְדוֹרוֹת, וְאֵין דָּנִין כְּתִיבָה הַנּוֹהֶגֶת לְדוֹרוֹת מִכְּתִיבָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ נוֹהֶגֶת לְדוֹרוֹת, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְהַלָּן: ״וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם בָּרוּךְ מִפִּיו יִקְרָא אֵלַי אֵת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַאֲנִי כֹּתֵב עַל הַסֵּפֶר בַּדְּיוֹ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **Let us see to which it is similar,** i.e., which comparison appears more apt. **We derive writing that is performed in** all **generations,** i.e., that of a *mezuza*, **from** another **writing that is performed in** all **generations, but we do not derive writing that is performed in** all **generations from writing that is not performed in** all **generations. And** furthermore, a *mezuza* must be written with ink, **as it is stated below: “And Baruch said to them: He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink in the scroll”** (Jeremiah 36:18).


###### Menachot 34a:14
[Menachot 34a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:14)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: רַחֲמָנָא אָמַר ״עַל מְזוּזֹת״, וְאַתְּ אָמְרַתְּ נֵילַף כְּתִיבָה כְּתִיבָה? אָמַר קְרָא ״וּכְתַבְתָּם״ – כְּתִיבָה תַּמָּה, וַהֲדַר ״עַל הַמְּזוּזוֹת״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: The Merciful One states: “Upon the doorposts,”** which indicates that a *mezuza* should be written on the doorposts themselves, **and** yet **you say: Let us derive** a verbal analogy between **“writing”** and **“writing,”** to teach that one writes it on parchment. Why isn’t the verse interpreted in accordance with its straightforward meaning? Rav Ashi said to him: **The verse states: “And you shall write them [*ukhtavtam*],”** which means that it should first be **complete writing [*ketiva tamma*],** i.e., the full passages written down, **and** only **then** should one place them **“upon the doorposts”** of the house.


###### Menachot 34a:15
[Menachot 34a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:15)

וּמֵאַחַר דִּכְתִיב [״וּכְתַבְתָּם״], הַאי גְּזֵירָה שָׁוָה לְמָה לִי? אִי לָאו גְּזֵירָה שָׁוָה, הֲוָה אָמֵינָא לִיכְתְּבַהּ אַאַבְנָא וְלִיקְבְּעַהּ אַסִּיפָּא, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And since it is written:** “And you shall write them,” from which it is derived that the *mezuza* should be written first and then placed on the doorpost, **why do I** need **this verbal analogy** between “writing” and “writing”? The Gemara explains that **were it not** for the **verbal analogy, I would say** that one **should write** the passages of a *mezuza* **on a stone, and** afterward **affix** the stone **to the doorpost.** To counter this, the verbal analogy **teaches us** that a *mezuza* must be written on a scroll.


###### Menachot 34a:16
[Menachot 34a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:16)

אַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת שֶׁבַּתְּפִילִּין מְעַכְּבוֹת זוֹ אֶת זוֹ, וַאֲפִילּוּ כְּתָב אֶחָד מְעַכְּבָן. פְּשִׁיטָא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches: With regard to **the four passages that are in the phylacteries,** i.e., the two passages that are written in the *mezuza* and two additional passages (Exodus 13:1–9, 11–16), the absence of **each prevents fulfillment of the mitzva with the others, and** the absence of **even one letter prevents fulfillment of the mitzva with** the rest of **them.** The Gemara asks: Isn’t it **obvious** that the inclusion of every letter is necessary?


###### Menachot 34a:17
[Menachot 34a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/34a:17)

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה, אָמַר רַב: לֹא נִצְרְכָא אֶלָּא לְקוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יוּד. וְהָא נָמֵי פְּשִׁיטָא! לֹא נִצְרְכָה אֶלָּא לְאִידַּךְ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה, דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: כׇּל אוֹת שֶׁאֵין גְּוִיל מוּקָּף לָהּ מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹתֶיהָ, פְּסוּלָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yehuda says** that **Rav says:** It is **necessary** to state this ruling **only** to teach **that** even the absence of **the thorn,** i.e., a small stroke, **of** a letter ***yod*** prevents fulfillment of the mitzva. The Gemara asks: **But** isn’t **this also obvious,** since the letter is not formed properly? **Rather, it is necessary only according to another** statement **that Rav Yehuda** says. **As Rav Yehuda says** that **Rav says: Any letter that is not encircled with** blank **parchment on** all **four of its sides,** as its ink connects to the letter above it, below it, preceding it, or succeeding it, is **unfit.**