Pesachim

because the light of a lamp is suitable for searching. And though there is no proof of the matter yet there is a hint of it, for it is said, ‘seven days shall there be no leaven found [in your houses]’; and it is said, ‘and he searched, and began at the eldest, [etc.]’; and it is said, ‘and it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps’; and it is said, ‘The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of the belly’. This light of the sun, where is it meant? Shall we say, in a courtyard, — but Raba said: A court-yard does not require searching, because birds frequent it.1 While if in a hall,2 — but Raba said: A hall is searched by its own light? — This is meant only in respect of a skylight in a room. But [then] what part of it? If [that which is] opposite the skylight, then it is the same as a hall? — Rather, it means [the part of the room] at the sides. And not [by the light of] a torch? Surely Raba said, What is the meaning of the verse, And his brightness was as the light; he had rays coming forth from his hand: and there was hiding of his power?3 To what are the righteous comparable in the presence of the Shechinah? To a lamp in the presence of a torch.4 And Raba also said: [To use] a torch for habdalah5 is the most preferable [way of performing this] duty? — Said R. Nahman b. Isaac: The one6 can be brought into holes and chinks [in the wall], whereas the other7 cannot be brought into holes and chinks. R. Zebid said: The one6 [throws] its light forward, whereas the other7 [throws] its light behind.8 R. Papa said: Here [with a torch] one is afraid, whereas there [with a lamp] one is not afraid.9 Rabina said: The light of the one6 is steady. whereas that of the other7 is fitful.10 EVERY PLACE WHEREIN LEAVEN IS NOT TAKEN, etc. What does EVERY PLACE add? — It adds the following taught by our Rabbis: The topmost and the nethernmost holes of a room,11 the roof of the verandah,12 the roof of a turret,13 a cow's stable, hen-coops, a shed for straw, and store-houses of wine and oil do not need searching.14 R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: A bed which makes a division in a room,15 and leaves a space16 needs searching. But the following contradicts it: A hole [lying] between a man and his neighbour,17 this one searches as far as his hand reaches and that one searches as far as his hand reaches,18 and the rest he annuls in his heart. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: A bed which makes a division in a room, timber and stones being arranged under it, and it leaves a space.19 does not require searching. Thus [the rulings on] a bed are contradictory and [those on] holes are contradictory? [The rulings on] holes are not contradictory: the one refers to the topmost and the nethermost;20 the other to [holes in] the middle [of the wall]. [The rulings on] a bed are not contradictory: here it is raised; there it is low down.21 But, do not store-houses of wine require searching? Surely it was taught. Store-houses of wine need searching; stores of oil do not need searching? — The case we discuss here is where one draws his [immediate] supplies [from it].22 If so, oil too? — As for oil, there is a limit to eating; but [in respect to] wine, there is no limit to drinking.23 R. Hiyya taught: Stores of beer in Babylonia were made the same as stores of wine in Palestine, where one draws his supplies from them.24 R. Hisda said: A fish pantry does not require searching. But it was taught [that] they require searching? — There is no difficulty: the one treats of large [fish]; the other of small.25 Rabbah son of R. Huna said: Salt sheds and wax sheds26 need searching.27 R. Papa said: Storehouses for fuel28 and storehouses for dates need searching. A Tanna taught: We do not oblige him to insert his hand into holes and chinks and search [there], on account of the danger. Which danger? Shall we say. the danger of a snake, — then when he used it, how could he use it? — This arises only where it [the wall] collapsed.29 But if it collapsed, why do I need searching [at all]? Surely we learned: If ruins collapsed on leaven, it is regarded as removed? — There [the circumstances are] that a dog cannot search it out; here, that a dog can search it out. But R. Eleazar said: Those sent [to perform] a religious duty do not suffer harm? — Said R. Ashi: He may have lost a needle and come to look for it.30 But is it not [regarded as the fulfilment of] a religious duty in such a case? Surely it was taught: If one declares, ‘This sela’31 be for charity in order that my son may live,’ or, ‘that I may merit the future world,’32 Thus a torch gives more light, and therefore it is even better than a lamp. a proper search. side of the wall to the other. down, even if a space is left it is not easy to use it, hence it need not be searched. one cannot determine beforehand how much wine will be drunk. small fish this may be necessary, and so it must be searched. below the surface.