Daf 69 — Menachos 69 Summary

Menachos 69 – Good Morning Raboisai Omer and Shtei HaLechem – Must They Be in Order? We know: • Omer (Pesach) → permits Chadash for eating • Shtei HaLechem (Shavuos) → permits Chadash for use in the Beis HaMikdash The Gemara asks: What if they happened out of order ? Example: • The grain took root after Pesach , so it missed the Omer • But it was ready by Shavuos , so it encountered Shtei HaLechem first Question: Can Shtei HaLechem permit it, and later the Omer complete the process? Or must it follow the proper order (Omer → Shtei HaLechem) ? Conclusion: The concept of “Bikurim” requires that the Mizbeach has not yet received this type of grain that season — so order matters . Why the Omer Must Be Barley The Gemara proves: • The Omer is brought from barley , not wheat Because: • Shtei HaLechem are called “Bikurim” (first of the wheat) • If the Omer were also wheat, then Shtei HaLechem would not be first Thus: Omer = barley Shtei HaLechem = wheat When Does Shtei HaLechem Permit Fruit? The Gemara asks: At what stage must produce be for Shtei HaLechem to permit it? Possibilities: • When it has already taken root • When it has begun to form (buds/fruit stage) • Or even later stages of development The Gemara concludes: If rooting already works , then certainly later stages do But there is still a question about intermediate stages (like early leaves) Result: The exact boundary remains a Teiku (unresolved) Grain Planted in the Ground – Still Food or Not? Case: • Someone takes grain and plants it whole in the ground Question: Does it still retain its status as food , or is it now considered part of the ground (karka) ? This affects multiple halachos: • Whether the Omer permits it • Whether it is subject to ona’ah (pricing laws) • Whether it requires shevuah (oath laws) The Gemara leaves this as an open question . Grain from Animal Waste Case: • Wheat or barley found in animal waste Questions: • Can it become tamei (receive tumah) ? • Can it be used for a korban ? If someone actively designates it for eating, it can become food. However: Using it for korban is problematic due to “ הקריבהו נא לפחתך ” — we do not bring something low - quality before Hashem. But: • If it is replanted and grows fresh, the question becomes whether it was weakened or changed through digestion. This too remains unresolved . Objects Passing Through Digestion Extreme cases discussed: • A basket swallowed by an elephant • Human flesh consumed and later recovered Key question: Does passing through digestion change its halachic identity ? Findings: • Soft materials (like flesh) may change status • Hard materials (like bone or wood) may not The halacha depends on whether the object is considered “digested and transformed” or not. Grain Falling from Clouds A strange but real halachic question: • Grain that came down via clouds (e.g. ship cargo carried in clouds) Question: Can it be used for Shtei HaLechem ? Requirement: • Shtei HaLechem must come from Eretz Yisrael So: • If “ ממושבותיכם ” excludes only Chutz LaAretz → maybe valid • If it requires specifically normal growth from the land → invalid This question also remains unresolved . Yesodos of the Daf • The process of Chadash requires correct order: Omer → Shtei HaLechem . • The Omer must be barley so that Shtei HaLechem can be true “Bikurim” of wheat. • The stage of growth needed for היתר remains partially unresolved . • Grain planted whole raises questions of food vs. land status . • Items changed through digestion may or may not lose their original halachic identity . • Korbanos must be brought from respectable quality materials . • Some rare cases (like grain from clouds) remain Teiku . לעילוי נשמת אמי מורתי רות בת הרב מנחם מנדל