Pesachim

Rab was the son of R. Hiyya's brother and the son of his sister.1 When he went up thither2 he [R. Hiyya] asked him, ‘Is Aibu alive?’ ‘[Ask me whether] my mother is alive,’ he replied. ‘Is your mother alive?’ asked he. ‘Is then Aibu alive?’ he replied.3 [Thereupon] he [R. Hiyya] said to his servant, ‘Take off my shoes and carry my [bathing] things after me to the baths.’ From this three [laws] may be inferred: [i] A mourner is forbidden to wear shoes; [ii] on a delayed report [of death]4 it [sc. mourning] is observed for one day only;5 and [iii] part of the day is as the whole of it.6 A certain man used to say, ‘Judge my case’.7 Said they, This proves that he is descended from Dan, for it is written, Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.8 A certain man was wont to go about and say, ‘By the sea shore thorn-bushes are fir-trees.’9 They investigated and found that he was descended from Zebulun, for it is written, Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea.10 And now that it is established that all agree that ‘or’ means evening, consider: according to both R. Judah and R. Meir,11 leaven is forbidden from six hours12 and onward only, then let us search in the sixth [hour]? And should you answer, The zealous are early [to perform] religious duties, then let us search from the morning? For it is written, and in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised,13 and it was taught: The whole day is valid for circumcision, but that the zealous are early [to perform] their religious duties, for it is said, And Abraham rose early in the morning!14 — Said R. Nahman b. Isaac: [It was fixed] at the hour when people are found at home, while the light of a lamp is good for searching.15 Abaye observed: Therefore a scholar must not commence his regular session in the evening of the thirteenth breaking into the fourteenth, lest his studies absorb him16 and he come to neglect his religious duty. R. Nahman b. Isaac was asked: If one rents a house to his neighbour from the fourteenth, upon whom [rests the duty] to make the search? [Does it rest] upon the landlord, because the leaven is his; or perhaps upon the tenant, because the forbidden matter exists in his domain? Come and hear: If one rents a house to his neighbour, the tenant must affix a mezuzah!17 - There, surely R. Mesharsheya said: The mezuzah is the inhabitant's obligation; but how is it here? — Said R. Nahman b. Isaac to them, We learned it: If one rents a house to his neighbour, if the fourteenth occurs before he delivers him the keys, the landlord must make the search; while if the fourteenth occurs after he delivers the keys, the tenant must make search. R. Nahman b. Isaac was asked: If one rents a house to his neighbour on the fourteenth, does it stand in the presumption of having been searched or not? What difference does it make? Let us ask him! — He is not present to be asked: hence what about troubling this one [the tenant]?18 — Said R. Nahman b. Isaac to them, We have a teaching:19 All are believed concerning the removal of leaven, even women, even slaves, even minors.20 Now why are they believed? reading. a short while only and then proceed to the baths. the coast. Rashi offers another explanation: By the sea-shore would I build my palaces.