Megillah, Daf Kaf Vav, Part 1

 

Introduction

The first three mishnayot of this chapter and the Talmud that comments on them deal with the holiness of the synagogue and the articles found in it. The chapter begins with a mishnah discussing what one may do with the proceeds of a sale of the synagogue or the things in it.

 

/משנה/.

1)     בני העיר שמכרו רחובה של עיר – לוקחין בדמיו בית הכנסת,

a)     בית הכנסת – לוקחין תיבה,

i)      תיבה – לוקחין מטפחות,

(1)   מטפחות – יקחו ספרים,

(a)   ספרים – לוקחין תורה.

2)     אבל אם מכרו תורה – לא יקחו ספרים,

(a)   ספרים – לא יקחו מטפחות,

(2)   מטפחות – לא יקחו תיבה,

ii)    תיבה – לא יקחו בית הכנסת,

b)     בית הכנסת – לא יקחו את הרחוב,

3)     וכן במותריהן.

 

Mishnah One

1)     Townspeople who sold the town square, they may buy with the proceeds a synagogue.

a)     [If they sold] a synagogue, they may buy with the proceeds an ark.

i)      [If they sold] an ark they may buy covers [for scrolls].

(1)   [If they sold] covers, they may buy scrolls [of the Tanakh].

(a)   [If they sold] scrolls they may buy a Torah.

2)     But if they sold a Torah they may not buy with the proceeds scrolls [of the Tanakh].

(a)   If [they sold] scrolls they may not buy covers.

(2)   If [they sold] covers they may not buy an ark.

ii)    If [they sold] an ark they may not buy a synagogue.

b)     If [they sold] a synagogue they may not buy a town square.

3)     The same applies to any money left over.

 

Explanation

Section one: One can sell an object and buy something that is somewhat holier. The town square has some holiness to it because it is occasionally used for gathering in prayer, such as during a public fast (see Taanit 2:1). Scrolls refers to books of the Tanakh not part of the Five Books of Moses.

Section two: Conversely, one cannot sell an object and buy something with an object of less holiness.

Section three: If there is money left over from a permitted sale then they must still use that money to buy something with greater holiness. Thus if they sell covers and use the proceeds to buy scrolls and there is money left over, they must use the proceeds to buy other scrolls, or a Torah.

The other sages respond that it is problematic to quantify holiness based on the number of people within an entity. If a community is holier than an individual, than a large community is holier than a small community. Since this doesn t make sense, the sages reject Rabbi Meir s halakhah altogether.

 

 

גמרא. בני העיר שמכרו רחובה של עיר.

אמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר רבי יוחנן: זו דברי רבי מנחם בר יוסי סתומתאה, אבל חכמים אומרים: הרחוב אין בו משום קדושה. ורבי מנחם בר יוסי מאי טעמיה? – הואיל והעם מתפללין בו בתעניות ובמעמדות. – ורבנן: ההוא אקראי בעלמא.

 

GEMARA. Townspeople who sold the town square.

Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in the name of R. Johanan: This is the view of R. Menahem b. Yose the anonymous author, but the sages that there is no sanctity in the town square.

What is the reason of R. Menahem b. Yose? Because the people pray in it on fast days and at gatherings of the ma’amad.

And the rabbis? That happens only on occasion.

 

The mishnah accords sanctity to the town square. If the people sell it, only something of greater sanctity may be bought. Rabbah b. Bar Hannah says that that is only a minority opinion. Most rabbis accord no sanctity to the town square. Thus if it is sold anything could be purchased with the proceeds.

The Talmud then explains R. Menahem b. Yose and the rabbis’ dispute. R. Menahem holds that there is sanctity to the square because it is occasionally used for prayer. Specifically people pray there on fast days and on gatherings of the ma’amad. This refers a group of people who would pray and read from the Torah in the townsquare at the same time that the priests from the town were serving in the Temple.

But the other sages say that these temporary occasional gatherings are not enough to justify considering the space sacred. Therefore it can be sold.