Tract Pesachim (Passover): Chapter I. Concerning the Removal of Leaven from the House

Said R. Jehudah in the name of Samuel: "R. Jehudah (of the Mishna) retracted this statement." The schoolmen propounded a question: "Did R. Jehudah retract his statement concerning vessels only but as for eatables he holds as R. Jose and R. Simeon, or did his retraction also apply to eatables and he is of the same opinion as R. Meir?" Said R. Na'hman bar Itz'hak: "Come and hear: The flesh of a cow, which had drunk the waters wherein were contained the ashes of the (sacrificial) red heifer and was slaughtered immediately afterwards, is unclean. R. Jehudah, however, said, that the flesh is not unclean, as the water was annihilated in the entrails of the cow." If, then, R. Jehudah's retraction only referred to vessels, but as for eatables he holds with R. Jose and R. Simeon, why does he say that the flesh is not unclean? Granting that the water was not quite effective in the entrails of the cow, the uncleanness caused thereby is not severe but it certainly constitutes a mild uncleanness? R. Jehudah really means to state that the flesh was not severely unclean but was mildly so. R. Ashi, however, said, that the water was actually annihilated and R. Jehudah holds such to be the case not because of his retraction, but because the water mentioned is foul and can. not be considered a beverage. 3:1 There is a difference of eight letters in the Hebrew original, and by a strange coincidence there is the same difference in English.

3:2 These last two paragraphs are in the old edition, contained on page 4 a. 13:1 The beer of the Babylonians was made from dates. 14:1 This last sentence is according to others not contained in the earlier editions, and hence the questions on this point are decided according to Rabh. 18:1 The term used in the Mishna, which we render with "festival," is Moëd, and Rashi explains this to mean "at the appointed time"; but we render it according to the explanation of Tosphath, which is more reasonable. 18:2 The reason that search must be made even after the festival is because the Chometz situated in the house during the festival must not at any time be used. 19:1 The GEMARA in the original old edition is on Pages 4a to 6b. The proper place for it, however, is here. 20:1 Vide Tract Sabbath, Vol. I., page 136. 23:1 Vide Tract Sabbath, page 17. 26:1 For definition of the terms "parent of uncleanness," "child of uncleanness," etc., see Tract Shekalim, Ch. VIII., Mishna d. Next: Chapter II: Time for Eating Unleavened Bread and Material Used for Making Unleavened Bread and Bitter Herbs