## Pesachim Daf 55a

###### Pesachim 55a:1
[Pesachim 55a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:1)

תַּנָּא קוּלֵּי קוּלֵּי קָתָנֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The *tanna* is teaching** a series of **leniencies.** He taught only those aspects in which the Ninth of Av is more lenient than a communal fast. He did not teach those aspects in which it is more stringent. There was no attempt made to enumerate all the differences.


###### Pesachim 55a:2
[Pesachim 55a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:2)

וּבְכׇל מָקוֹם תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וְכוּ׳. לְמֵימְרָא דְּרַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל סָבַר: לָא חָיְישִׁינַן לְיוּהֲרָא, וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: חָיְישִׁינַן לְיוּהֲרָא? וְהָא אִיפְּכָא שָׁמְעִינַן לְהוּ, דִּתְנַן: חָתָן, אִם יִרְצֶה לִקְרוֹת קְרִיַּת שְׁמַע לַיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן — קוֹרֵא. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אֲמַר: לֹא כׇּל הָרוֹצֶה לִיטּוֹל אֶת הַשֵּׁם יִטּוֹל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
It was stated in the mishna: **And in all places Torah scholars are idle** and do not perform labor on the Ninth of Av, and according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel one should always conduct himself like a Torah scholar in this regard and refrain from performing labor. The Gemara asks: **Is that to say that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel holds** that **we are not concerned about presumptuousness** when a person conducts himself like a Torah scholar? **And** conversely, do **the Rabbis hold** that **we are concerned about presumptuousness? Didn’t we hear them** say **the opposite? As we learned** in a mishna: With regard to the recitation of *Shema* on one’s wedding night, the Rabbis said that **if a groom wishes to recite *Shema* on the first night** despite his exemption, he may do so. **Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Not everyone who wishes to assume the reputation** of a God-fearing person **may assume** it, and consequently not everyone who wishes to recite *Shema* on his wedding night may do so. Their opinions in that mishna appear contrary to their opinions in the current mishna.


###### Pesachim 55a:3
[Pesachim 55a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:3)

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מוּחְלֶפֶת הַשִּׁיטָה. רַב שִׁישָׁא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִידִי אָמַר לָא תֵּיפוֹךְ: דְּרַבָּנַן אַדְּרַבָּנַן לָא קַשְׁיָא; הָכָא, כֵּיוָן דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא עָבְדִי מְלָאכָה וְאִיהוּ לָא עָבֵיד — מִיחְזֵי כְּיוּהֲרָא, אֲבָל הָתָם, כֵּיוָן דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא קָרֵי וְאִיהוּ נָמֵי קָרֵי — לָא מִיחְזֵי כְּיוּהֲרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The** attribution of the **opinions is reversed** in one of the sources. **Rav Sheisha, son** of **Rav Idi, said: Do not reverse** either text, as it is possible to resolve the difficulty in another manner. The contradiction between the statement of **the Rabbis** here **and** the statement of **the Rabbis** there is **not difficult. Here,** on the Ninth of Av, **since everyone is performing labor and he is not performing labor,** his idleness is conspicuous and **appears like presumptuousness. However, there,** in the case of reciting *Shema* on one’s wedding night, **it does not appear like presumptuousness, as everyone is reciting** *Shema* **and he is also reciting** it with them.


###### Pesachim 55a:4
[Pesachim 55a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:4)

דְּרַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אַדְּרַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל לָא קַשְׁיָא; הָתָם הוּא דְּבָעֵינַן כַּוּוֹנָה, וַאֲנַן סָהֲדֵי דְּלָא מָצֵי כַּוּוֹנֵי דַּעְתֵּיהּ — מִיחְזֵי כְּיוּהֲרָא: אֲבָל הָכָא לָא מִיחְזֵי כְּיוּהֲרָא, אָמְרִי: מְלָאכָה הִיא דְּלֵית לֵיהּ, פּוֹק חֲזִי כַּמָּה בַּטְלָנֵי אִיכָּא בְּשׁוּקָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Similarly, the contradiction **between** the statement of **Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel** here **and** the statement of **Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel** there is **not difficult. There,** in the case of reciting *Shema* on one’s wedding night, **it is that we require concentration, and it is clear to all** that **he is unable to concentrate** because of his preoccupation with the mitzva that he must perform. Therefore, if he recites *Shema* **it appears like presumptuousness.** It is as though he is announcing: I am able to concentrate although others in my situation are not. **However, here,** by not performing labor on the Ninth of Av **it does not appear like presumptuousness,** as people **say: It is** because **he has no labor** to perform. **Go out and see how many idle people there are in the marketplace,** even on days when it is permitted to perform labor.


###### Pesachim 55a:5
[Pesachim 55a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:5)

**מַתְנִי׳** וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: בִּיהוּדָה הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין מְלָאכָה בְּעַרְבֵי פְסָחִים עַד חֲצוֹת, וּבַגָּלִיל לֹא הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין כׇּל עִיקָּר. הַלַּיְלָה, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹסְרִים, וּבֵית הִלֵּל מַתִּירִין עַד הָנֵץ הַחַמָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** Apropos the discussion of performing labor on Passover eve, differences in other customs were cited. **And the Rabbis say: In Judea,** people **would perform labor on Passover eves until midday, and in the Galilee** people **would not perform** labor on Passover eve **at all.** With regard to performing labor on **the night** before Passover eve, the night between the thirteenth and fourteenth of Nisan, **Beit Shammai prohibit** performing labor, **and Beit Hillel permit** doing so **until sunrise.**


###### Pesachim 55a:6
[Pesachim 55a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:6)

**גְּמָ׳** מֵעִיקָּרָא תְּנָא מִנְהָגָא, וּלְבַסּוֹף תְּנָא אִיסּוּרָא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The Gemara asks with regard to the mishna: **Initially,** at the beginning of the chapter, the *tanna* **taught** that in certain places there is merely a **custom** not to perform labor, **and** yet **ultimately,** in this latest mishna, **he taught that** according to the opinion of Beit Shammai, **it is prohibited** to perform labor. Apparently, performance of labor is not dependent on custom but is actually prohibited.


###### Pesachim 55a:7
[Pesachim 55a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:7)

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא — רַבִּי מֵאִיר, הָא — רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. דְּתַנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: בִּיהוּדָה הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין מְלָאכָה בְּעַרְבֵי פְסָחִים עַד חֲצוֹת, וּבַגָּלִיל אֵינָן עוֹשִׂין כׇּל עִיקָּר. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי מֵאִיר: מָה רְאָיָיה יְהוּדָה וְגָלִיל לְכָאן? אֶלָּא, מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה — עוֹשִׂין, מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת — אֵין עוֹשִׂין. מִדְּקָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר מִנְהָגָא — מִכְּלָל דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה אִיסּוּרָא קָאָמַר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yoḥanan said:** This is **not difficult,** since **that** first mishna is in accordance with the opinion of **Rabbi Meir,** and **this** current mishna is in accordance with the opinion of **Rabbi Yehuda. As it was taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Yehuda said: In Judea they would perform labor on Passover eves until midday, and in the Galilee they would not perform** labor **at all. Rabbi Meir said to him: What proof** do you cite **from Judea and the Galilee to** the discussion **here? Rather,** in **a place where** people **were accustomed to perform labor, one performs** labor, **and** in **a place where** people **were accustomed not to perform** labor, **one does not perform** labor. The Gemara analyzes this *baraita*: **From** the fact **that Rabbi Meir is speaking** about **custom, by inference, Rabbi Yehuda is speaking** about a **prohibition** against performing labor in the Galilee.


###### Pesachim 55a:8
[Pesachim 55a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:8)

וְסָבַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר מוּתָּר בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלָאכָה? וְהָתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: הַמְנַכֵּשׁ בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר וְנֶעְקְרָה בְּיָדוֹ — שׁוֹתְלָהּ בִּמְקוֹם הַטִּיט, וְאֵין שׁוֹתְלָהּ בִּמְקוֹם הַגְּרִיד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And does Rabbi Yehuda hold that performance of labor on the fourteenth is permitted** everywhere other than the Galilee? **Wasn’t it taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Yehuda says:** With regard to **one who is weeding** a field on **the thirteenth** of Nisan **and** a stalk of grain **was uprooted in his hand, he plants it in a muddy place** so that it will take root before the *omer* offering is brought on the sixteenth of Nisan? It will then be permitted to eat the grain after the *omer* offering is brought. However, **one** should **not plant it in a dry place,** as it will not take root there immediately. If it begins to sprout only after the *omer* offering is brought, that grain will remain prohibited until after the following year’s *omer* offering is brought.


###### Pesachim 55a:9
[Pesachim 55a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:9)

בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר — אִין, בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר — לָא. מִכְּדִי שָׁמְעִינַן לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה דְּאָמַר: כׇּל הַרְכָּבָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ קוֹלֶטֶת לִשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים — שׁוּב אֵינָהּ קוֹלֶטֶת. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר מוּתָּר בַּעֲשִׂיַּית מְלָאכָה, לְמָה לִי שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר? וְהָאִיכָּא אַרְבֵּיסַר וַחֲמֵיסַר וּמִקְצָת שִׁיתְּסַר! אָמַר רָבָא: בַּגָּלִיל שָׁנוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
From Rabbi Yehuda’s statement it can be inferred that if a person was weeding **on the thirteenth** of Nisan, **yes,** this is the *halakha*; however, **on the fourteenth** of Nisan, **no,** one may not replant the stalk of grain. **Now, we learned** that **Rabbi Yehuda said: Any graft that does not take hold within three days will no longer take hold. If it could enter your mind** that **performing labor on the fourteenth is permitted, why** do **I** need this *halakha* to be taught specifically with regard to the **thirteenth?** It would have been a greater novelty had he taught the *halakha* with regard to a case that occurs on the fourteenth. **Aren’t there** three days remaining for grain planted on the fourteenth to take root before the *omer* offering, i.e., **the fourteenth** of Nisan, **the fifteenth** of Nisan, **and part of the sixteenth** of Nisan? **Rava said: They taught** this *halakha* of replanting a stalk of wheat with regard to **the Galilee;** as mentioned in the *baraita*, Rabbi Yehuda says that in the Galilee they do not perform labor at all.


###### Pesachim 55a:10
[Pesachim 55a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:10)

וְהָאִיכָּא לֵילְיָא! אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: כְּבֵית שַׁמַּאי. רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם כְּבֵית הִלֵּל — לְפִי שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכָּן שֶׁל בְּנֵי אָדָם לְנַכֵּשׁ בַּלַּיְלָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara further asks: **Isn’t there the night** between the thirteenth and the fourteenth of Nisan, during which according to the opinion of Beit Hillel, labor is permitted even in the Galilee, which is the *halakha*? Rabbi Yehuda could have taught the *halakha* with regard to weeding on the night before the fourteenth. **Rav Sheshet said:** Rabbi Yehuda said this **in accordance with** the opinion of **Beit Shammai,** who prohibit performing labor that night. **Rav Ashi said:** There is no reason to suggest implausibly that Rabbi Yehuda holds in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai, contrary to the accepted *halakha*. **Actually,** Rabbi Yehuda holds in accordance **with** the opinion of **Beit Hillel.** However, he did not teach the case about the night before the fourteenth of Nisan **because it is not the** typical **manner of people to weed at night.** It is virtually impossible to identify weeds in the dark.


###### Pesachim 55a:11
[Pesachim 55a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:11)

רָבִינָא אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם בִּיהוּדָה, וּבְהַשְׁרָשָׁה חַד ״מִקְצָת הַיּוֹם כְּכוּלּוֹ״ — אָמְרִינַן, תְּרֵי ״מִקְצָת הַיּוֹם כְּכוּלּוֹ״ — לָא אָמְרִינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ravina said: Actually,** it can be explained that Rabbi Yehuda is referring **to Judea.** With regard to a plant **taking root, we state** only **once** the principle: The legal status of **part of the day is like** that of **the entire** day, but we **do not state twice** the principle: The legal status of **part of the day is like** that of **the entire** day. When discussing a plant that was replanted on the fourteenth, in the tally of three days, the legal status of part of both the fourteenth and the sixteenth cannot be like that of entire days. A plant takes root after a fixed amount of time, and this is not affected by formalistic halakhic principles like: The legal status of part of the day is like that of the entire day.


###### Pesachim 55a:12
[Pesachim 55a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:12)

**מַתְנִי׳** רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל מְלָאכָה שֶׁהִתְחִיל בָּהּ קוֹדֶם לְאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, גּוֹמְרָהּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר. אֲבָל לֹא יַתְחִיל בָּהּ בַּתְּחִלָּה בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְגוֹמְרָהּ. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: שָׁלֹשׁ אוּמָּנִיּוֹת עוֹשִׂין מְלָאכָה בְּעַרְבֵי פְסָחִים עַד חֲצוֹת, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: הַחַיָּיטִין, וְהַסַּפָּרִים, וְהַכּוֹבְסִין. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אַף רַצְעָנִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **Rabbi Meir says:** With regard to **any labor that one began before the fourteenth** of Nisan, **he may complete it on the fourteenth** before midday. **However, one** may **not begin** to perform that labor **from the outset on the fourteenth, even if he is able to complete it** before midday. **And the Rabbis say:** The practitioners of only **three crafts** are permitted to **perform labor until midday on Passover eve, and they are: Tailors, barbers, and launderers,** whose work is needed for the Festival. **Rabbi Yosei bar Yehuda says: Even shoemakers** are permitted to work on the fourteenth.


###### Pesachim 55a:13
[Pesachim 55a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:13)

**גְּמָ׳** אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: לְצוֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד תְּנַן, אֲבָל שֶׁלֹּא לְצוֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד — אֲפִילּוּ מִיגְמַר נָמֵי לָא, אוֹ דִילְמָא: שֶׁלֹּא לְצוֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד תְּנַן, אֲבָל לְצוֹרֶךְ — אַתְחוֹלֵי מַתְחֲלִינַן, אוֹ דִילְמָא: בֵּין לְצוֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא לְצוֹרֶךְ, מִיגְמַר — אִין, אַתְחוֹלֵי — לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: Was it with regard to labor **for the purpose of the Festival** that **we learned** in the mishna that Rabbi Meir permits completing labor on the fourteenth, **but** labor **that is not for the purpose of the Festival may not even be completed? Or perhaps** it was with regard to labor **that is not for the purpose of the Festival** that **we learned** that Rabbi Meir permits completing labor on the fourteenth, **but** with regard to labor **that is for the purpose** of the Festival, **we** may even **initiate** it. **Or perhaps,** with regard to **both** labor **that is for the purpose of the Festival and** labor **that is not for the purpose** of the Festival, **completing, yes,** it is permitted, but **initiating, no,** it is prohibited.


###### Pesachim 55a:14
[Pesachim 55a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:14)

תָּא שְׁמַע: אֲבָל לֹא יַתְחִיל בַּתְּחִילָּה בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אֲפִילּוּ צִלְצוֹל קָטָן אֲפִילּוּ שְׂבָכָה קְטַנָּה. מַאי ״אֲפִילּוּ״? לָאו אֲפִילּוּ הָנֵי, דִּלְצוֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד, מִיגְמַר — אִין, אַתְחוֹלֵי — לָא?! מִכְּלָל דְּשֶׁלֹּא לְצוֹרֶךְ — מִיגְמַר נָמֵי לָא גָּמְרִינַן!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Come** and **hear** a resolution to the dilemma from that which we learned: **However, one may not begin** work **from the outset on the fourteenth, even** if it is **a small belt, or even a small hairnet. What** is the meaning of the term **even** in this context? **Isn’t it** that **even** with regard to **those** items **that are for the purpose of the Festival, completing, yes,** it is permitted, but **initiating, no,** it is prohibited? And **by inference,** with regard to labor **that is not for the purpose** of the Festival, **we may not even complete** labor that was begun previously. This supports the first possibility cited above.


###### Pesachim 55a:15
[Pesachim 55a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:15)

לָא, לְעוֹלָם דְּשֶׁלֹּא לְצוֹרֶךְ מִיגְמַר נָמֵי גָּמְרִינַן, וּמַאי ״אֲפִילּוּ״? אֲפִילּוּ הָנֵי נָמֵי, דְּזוּטְרֵי נִינְהוּ, דְּסָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא הַתְחָלָתָן זוֹ הִיא גְּמַר מְלַאכְתָּן — נַתְחֵיל בְּהוּ נָמֵי לְכַתְּחִילָּה, קָמַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara rejects this answer: **No; actually** this means that even labor **that is not for the purpose** of the Festival **we** may **also complete,** in accordance with the third possibility above. **And what** is the meaning of the term **even?** It is that this *halakha* applies **even** to **these** items, a belt and a hairnet, **which are small; as it could enter your mind to say:** Since they are small and **their initiation is their completion, let us even initiate** their manufacture on the fourteenth ***ab initio*.** Therefore, **it teaches us** that even with regard to this type of labor, initiating is prohibited. This *baraita* does not provide an unequivocal resolution to the dilemma.


###### Pesachim 55a:16
[Pesachim 55a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Pesachim/r/55a:16)

תָּא שְׁמַע. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל מְלָאכָה שֶׁהִיא לְצוֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד —

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Come** and **hear** the resolution to the dilemma from another source from another source. **Rabbi Meir says:** With regard to **any labor that is for the purpose of the Festival,**