Siman - Pesachim Daf 81
- Tumas hatahom is permitted for the Kohen bringing the tamid
Rav Yosef inquired, כהן המרצה בתמיד – Concerning the Kohen who effects acceptance for the tamid, meaning the one that does the avodah, הותרה טומאת התהום או לא – was tumas hatahom permitted for him or not? If you will say that tumas hatahom was permitted for the Kohen who is meratzeh the korban for a nazir or pesach, do we say that we only received this tradition in regards to a nazir and pesach but not for the tamid, or perhaps we can derive the law of the tamid from the tradition received about nazir and the pesach? Rabbah said it is a kal vachomer. If in a place where known tumah is not permitted, such as in the case of a nazir or pesach, tumas hatahom is permitted, then in a place where known tumah is permitted, such as a tamid, which Rashi explains can be offered by a tamei Kohen when no tahor Kohen is available, is it not logical that tumas hatahom would be permitted for it? The Gemara rejects this proof because אין דנין קל וחומר מהלכה – we do not derive a kal vachomer from Halachah LeMoshe MiSinai. Rava answered instead, that we derive the law for the tamid that tumas hatahom is permitted for the Kohen, from the gezeirah shaveh of מועדו מועדו, from the case of the pesach.
- Tumas hatahom is defined as tumah that no one is aware of
The Gemara asks for the Torah source for tumas hatahom, and three sources are brought. The Gemara challenges the interpretations based on a Baraisa that states, אי זהו טומאת התהום – Which is tumas hatahom? כל שלא הכיר בה אחד בסוף העולם – Any tumah that no one, even at the end of the earth, is aware of. הכיר בה אחד בסוף העולם – If even one person at the end of the earth is aware of it, אין זה טומאת התהום – it is not tumas hatahom. Since none of the sources were consistent with that definition, the Gemara concludes, טומאת התהום הלכתא גמירי לה וקרא אסמכתא בעלמא – The law of tumas hatahom is Halachah LeMoshe MiSinai and the passuk, brought by each Amorah was only an asmachta, (a written support) for what was transmitted orally.
- A meis found under straw, earth or pebbles qualifies as tumas hatahom
A Baraisa defines the type of concealment that qualifies for tumas hatahom. מצאו טמון בתבן בעפר ובצרורות – If one found it concealed under straw, earth or pebbles, הרי זה טומאת התהום – it is tumas hatahom, במים באפילה בנקיקי הסלעים – but if one found it in water, in the darkness, or in crevices in the boulders, אין זה טומאת התהום – it is not tumas hatahom. Rashi explains that although the tumah is not readily apparent, it is not deemed concealed and “unknown”, since one who looks closely can find it in spite of its position. The Halachah LeMoshe MiSinai was handed down only concerning a corpse that is in a place concealed from all people. The Baraisa concludes, התהום אלא למת בלבד ולא אמרו טומאת – and they said the law of tumas hatahom only in regard to a meis, that it is permitted.
