Daf 57 — Menachos 57 Summary

Menachos 57 – Good Morning Raboisai Beginning an Action That Continues on Its Own The Gemara discusses a principle: If a person begins an action that then continues automatically, is he considered responsible for the full result? Example: A person places a leavening agent ( שאור ) into dough of a מנחה and walks away. Even though the fermentation happens later by itself, he is liable because his initial act caused the process . This is compared to Shabbos cooking . Cooking on Shabbos Case: A person places meat on a grill on Shabbos. • If he turns it over , he is liable. • If he does not turn it , he is exempt. Why? Because cooking requires both sides to cook properly. Without turning it, the cooking is incomplete. The Concept of מאכל בן דרוסאי The Gemara introduces the famous concept: מאכל בן דרוסאי – food cooked to about one - third of its normal cooking . This level was considered edible by a bandit named Ben Drusai , who ate food partially cooked. For Shabbos: • Cooking to this level is already considered halachic cooking . However, it must still be cooked on both sides to reach that stage. Minimum Amount of Cooking Rava rules: If an amount of meat equal to a dried fig ( כגרוגרת ) reaches sufficient cooking even on one side, that may already be considered cooking. But if the cooked amount is spread across several small areas, the Gemara discusses whether those pieces combine ( צירוף ) to form the required amount. Combining Small Actions The Gemara brings proof from the laws of building on Shabbos . If someone drills several small holes that together create one usable opening, the actions combine to constitute the melacha. This shows that separate small actions can combine into one halachic result . The Prohibition of Chametz in a Mincha The Torah states: “ לא תעשה חמץ ” From additional words in the פסוק , the Gemara derives: • The prohibition applies before the קמיצה . • It also applies after the קמיצה , to the שיירים . Thus, the prohibition covers all מנחות . The Prohibition Only Applies to Valid Offerings The Torah phrase “ כל המנחה ” teaches: The prohibition applies only to a valid מנחה . If the offering already became invalid ( פסול ) , the prohibition of making it chametz no longer applies. Examples of פסול : • The offering became טמא • It was taken outside the Azarah Chametz After Chametz The Gemara explores an unusual case. If someone: 1. Already made a מנחה chametz, 2. Then performs another action that would normally create chametz, Is he liable again? The discussion parallels earlier sugyos about multiple violations on the same object . If the Mincha Was Taken Outside If the מנחה was taken outside the Beis Hamikdash , it becomes פסול (יוצא) . Once something is פסול , normally new prohibitions cannot apply . But if the item was already partially invalid because of chametz, the דין of יוצא may not apply in the usual way, allowing another violation of chametz to occur. The Gemara leaves some of these cases unresolved. When the Mincha Is Placed on the Ramp Another question: If the mincha was already brought onto the ramp of the מזבח , but not yet burned on the fire: Can the prohibition of chametz still apply? The Gemara leaves this question תיקו (unresolved) . Additional Offerings Included in the Prohibition The Gemara examines which offerings are included in the prohibition of chametz. Two possibilities are discussed: • Minchas Nesachim (the flour brought with certain offerings) • Lechem HaPanim The discussion revolves around when these breads become קדוש . Do Dry Measuring Vessels Create Kedushah? A major dispute is presented: Rabbi Akiva • Dry measuring vessels do not create קדושה . Rabbi Yosi HaGelili • Dry vessels do create קדושה inside the vessel. Another opinion holds: • Liquid vessels sanctify both inside and outside . This debate affects whether certain offerings can become chametz while already sanctified . Yesodos of the Daf • Beginning a process that continues automatically can create liability. • Cooking on Shabbos requires reaching מאכל בן דרוסאי . • Small actions may combine through צירוף . • The prohibition of chametz applies only to a valid מנחה . • Multiple violations can sometimes apply to the same offering. • There is a major dispute whether dry vessels sanctify offerings . לעילוי נשמת אמי מורתי רות בת הרב מנחם מנדל