Daf 63 — Menachos 63 Summary

Menachos 63 – Good Morning Raboisai Machavas vs. Marcheshes The Torah lists two types of pans used for baking a Mincha : • Machavas – a shallow pan • Marcheshes – a deeper vessel Because the Marcheshes is deeper, the oil remains inside and the Mincha becomes softer and spongier , while the Machavas produces a firmer baked Mincha . Some opinions explain that the Marcheshes has a cover , trapping heat and oil inside, which also creates a softer texture. The Symbolism of the Two Pans The Gemara suggests a symbolic explanation: • Marcheshes (covered vessel) corresponds to hidden thoughts of the heart . • Machavas (open pan) corresponds to things expressed openly , such as speech. Thus different Menachos can represent different types of human behavior that require atonement . If Someone Says “I Accept Upon Myself a Marcheshes” If a person says “ הרי עלי מרחשת ” , there is a question what he meant: • Did he mean a Mincha prepared in that vessel , or • Did he mean donating the vessel itself to the Beis HaMikdash? The halacha follows Beis Hillel that he meant the vessel itself — a Marcheshes as a כלי . Baking a Mincha in an Oven If someone vows to bring a Mincha baked in a Tanur (oven) : • It must be baked in a proper oven . • It cannot be baked on tiles or other surfaces . Some opinions include a Kupach (smaller oven) as valid, while others require specifically a Tanur . Mixing Chalos and Rekikin A Mincha baked in an oven may be either: • Chalos (thicker loaves mixed with oil) • Rekikin (thin wafers with oil spread on top) According to Rabbi Yehudah , a person must bring all Chalos or all Rekikin , but cannot mix the two . Rabbi Shimon argues that since the Torah refers to them together as one korban , a mixture is allowed. A Stronger Reason Not to Mix Rabbi Yehudah the son of Rabbi Yehudah adds another reason: Chalos and Rekikin have different oil requirements . Mixing them could place oil where the Torah forbids it , which would invalidate the Mincha. Therefore the mixture would be פסול even after the fact . The Omer on Shabbos The Mishnah discusses harvesting the Omer barley when the second day of Pesach falls on Shabbos . • Rabbi Yishmael: On Shabbos they harvest only three se’ah , reducing extra melachah. • Chachamim: The same amount is harvested both on weekday and Shabbos . The goal is to obtain one Isaron of fine flour for the Omer offering. Minimizing Melachah on Shabbos Rabbi Yishmael explains that although more grain might produce better flour, it is preferable on Shabbos to: • Harvest less grain , • Even if it requires extra effort in processing , • In order to minimize additional melachah . Yesodos of the Daf • Machavas and Marcheshes produce different types of Mincha texture . • The deeper vessel represents hidden thoughts , while the open pan reflects open actions . • A vow mentioning Marcheshes refers to the vessel itself . • Chalos and Rekikin are usually not mixed according to Rabbi Yehudah . • The Omer offering must produce one Isaron of flour . • On Shabbos the focus is reducing melachah even if it requires more effort . לעילוי נשמת אמי מורתי רות בת הרב מנחם מנדל