Pesachim

of fine meal. Fat meat, of a goat which was not opened.1 Old wine: very old.2 Everything that is beneficial for the one is harmful for the other,3 and what is harmful for one is beneficial for the other, save moist zangebila,4 long peppers, white bread, fat meat and old wine, which are beneficial for the whole body. MEDIAN BEER. Because barley water is mixed into it. IDUMEAN VINEGAR. Because barley is cast into it. R. Nahman [b. Isaac] said:5 In former times, when they used to bring [wine] libations from Judah, the wine of Judah did not turn vinegar unless barley was put into it, and they used to call it simply vinegar.6 But now the wine of the Idumeans does not turn vinegar until barley is put into it, and it is called ‘Idumean vinegar’, in fulfilment of what is said, [Tyre hath said against Jerusalem...] I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste:7 if one is full [flourishing] the other is desolate, and if the other is full the first is desolate.8 R. Nahman b. Isaac quoted this: and the one people shall be stronger than the other people.9 It was taught, R. Judah said: Originally, he who bought vinegar from an ‘am ha-arez10 did not need to tithe it, because it was a presumption that it was produced from nought but tamad.11 But now, he who buys vinegar from an ‘am ha-arez must tithe it.12 Now does R. Judah hold [that] tamad is not liable to tithing, but we learned: He who makes tamad, pouring water on by measure, and [then] he finds the same quantity, is exempt [from tithing]:13 but R. Judah declares him liable?14 This is what he says: The ‘amme ha-arez were not under suspicion in connection with tamad.15 Alternatively, they were under suspicion, yet there is no difficulty: the one refers to [tamad made with] the straining bag; the other refers to [tamad made of] kernels.16 AND EGYPTIAN ZITHOM. What is EGYPTIAN ZITHOM?-R. Joseph learned: [A concoction made of] a third part barley, a third part safflower, and a third part salt. R. Papa omitted barley and substituted wheat. And your token is ‘sisane’.17 They soaked them [these ingredients], then roasted them, ground them and then drank them. From the [Passover] sacrifice18 until Pentecost, they who are constipated are relieved, while they who are diarrhoeic are bound. [But] for an invalid and a pregnant woman it is dangerous.19 AND DYER'S BROTH. Here it is explained: Bran water, with which lacca20 is primed. AND COOK'S DOUGH. A loaf [i.e., dough] made of corn less than a third grown, which she places on the mouth of the pot and it absorbs the froth. AND SCRIBES’ PASTE. Here it is explained: Shoemaker's paste.21 R. Shimi of Hozae22 said: It is a toilet paste used by the daughters of rich men, of which they leave [some] for the daughters of poor men.23 But that is not so, for R. Hiyya taught: They are four commodities of general use24 and three manufacturing commodities.25 Now if you say that it is a toilet paste used by the daughters of rich men, what manufacturing commodities are there?26 What then; [it is] shoemaker's paste? Then why does he call it SCRIBES’ PASTE; he should say, cobbler's PASTE? — Said R. Oshaia to him: In truth it is shoemaker's paste; yet why does he call it: SCRIBES’ PASTE? Because scribes too stick their papyruses together with it. R. ELIEZER SAID: WOMEN'S ORNAMENTS TOO etc. WOMENS’ ORNAMENTS! can you think so!27 Rather, say, WOMEN'S cosmetics TOO. For Rab Judah said in Rab's name: [As to] the daughters of Israel both be desolate simultaneously. — True religion and paganism are irrevocably opposed to each other, and the triumph of one must involve the defeat of the other. was too good to turn into vinegar. ‘am ha-arez himself should have tithed it, but they were suspected of neglecting tithes, and therefore the purchaser had to render tithe; v. Glos. s.v. Demai. kernels. made with kernels is merely coloured water, and is not subject to tithes at all. ‘sisane’ serve as mnemonic for this.