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[Daf Hashavuah Weeky Email] Pesachim 3

04/14/2014 08:34:02 AM

Apr14

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Pesachim 3a
ותנא דידן מאי טעמא לא קתני לילה - Why did our tana not use the word lailah
The Meiri writes that even though the word לילהis not inappropriate language, nevertheless it is not considered לשון כבוד, honorable language. When beginning the massechta the tanna selected the choicest of words. The Meiri notes that this is expressed in the passuk (Tehillim 119:139) ״פתח דבריך יאיר״, 'Your beginnings words should be enlightening' . [Interestingly this passuk also alludes to us that Masseches Pesachim (פסח  is phonetically related to פתח) should begin with the word ohr (יאיר). The Raavad takes another approach, saying that whenever the Tanna wishes to tell us that we should begin at the beginning of the night, even before it is fully dark, the word ohr is used. 

 
אל יצא אדם דבר מגונה מפיו - An inappropriate word should not leave your mouth
The Imrei Emes (Gur) notes that in our massechess that the Tanna was particular to begin with refined language. This is because the word Pesach refers to proper speech (פה סח). The antagonist of the Yom Tov, Pharaoh, alludes to inappropriate speech.

Pesachim 3b

הנהו תרי תלמידי... שויתינן האי שמעתא כדבר אחר... ולא אישתעי רב בהדי דהאיך
הנהו תרי תלמידי... מפני מה אין מוסקין בטהרה...מובטח אני בזה שמורה הלכה בישראל
הנהו תלתא כהני.. הגיעני כזנב הלטאה... ומצאו בן שמץ פסול
There were two students.. one said this teaching is to me like something else (a euphemism for a pig), .. and Rav did not deal with this student
There were two students.. one asked why are we not careful to harvest grapes in a state of purity.. I am sure that this student will be one who decides halacha. 
There were three kohanim .. one said give to me like the tail of lizard.. and they found a defect in his lineage. . 
From this gemora we can see ones subconscious choice of words can serve as a barometer for his spiritual station. In each of the three examples cited by the gemora we see this idea. In the first, Rav, noticed a student who was unable to relate to what he had learned in a refined fashion. The second student who was careful in his question would become someone who would be able to discern fine details. (note: Some opinions say that it was the second student who asked 'why are we careful to avoid tumah while we harvest' was the one that would become the decider of halacha.) In the third example, that of the kohain, the chachomim were able to discern a previously undetected defect in his lineage. 
This idea is related to us in Derech Eretz Zutah (chapter 5) "There are four things through which a talmid chacham can be recognized.... and some say by their speech" The Maharal (Nesitiv Hatznius Chapter 3) writes that a person's speach is compared to a fruit. Just as the fruit speaks of the overall health of the tree, so too, one's speech reflects who he is. 

 חג פסח שמח!

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