A Pesach is not slaughtered for an individual, [it being written (Deuteronomy 16:5): "You may not sacrifice the Pesach b'achad…", i.e., "beyachid" ("for an individual")]. These are the words of R. Yehudah. R. Yossi permits it. The Pesach is not slaughtered even for a company of a hundred who cannot eat an olive-size. [R. Yossi says this. That is, the criterion is eating (and not number). If one individual can eat an olive-size, a Pesach is slaughtered for him. If there are a hundred, none of whom can et an olive-size, the Pesach is not slaughtered for them. The halachah is in accordance with R. Yossi.] A company is not made of women, bondsmen, and minors [to slaughter the Pesach. Women and bondsmen in one company — for fear of sexual license. Minors and bondsmen in one company — for fear of promiscuity, i.e., homosexuality. But women and bondsmen may form companies by themselves.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Pesachim
אין שוחטין את הפסח ביחיד – as it is written (Deuteronomy 16:5): “You are not permitted to slaughter the Passover sacrifice [in any of the settlements that the LORD your God is giving you],” that is to say, for an individual.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Pesachim
Introduction
This mishnah continues to deal with how the company of those who would together eat the pesah was formed.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Pesachim
אפילו חבורה של מאה – Rabbi Yosi said it, that is to say, the matter does not depend other than on eating. An individual and he is able to eat an olive’s bulk, we slaughter for him; one hundred people and none of them can eat an olive’s bulk, we don’t slaughter for them, and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yosi.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Pesachim
They may not slaughter the pesah for a single person, the words of Rabbi Judah. But Rabbi Yose permits it. The problem with slaughtering the pesah for a single person is that it is highly unlikely that he will be able to eat the whole thing. In all likelihood, a large portion of it will become “remainder” and it is prohibited to let any of the pesah remain uneaten until the morning. Therefore, Rabbi Judah forbids slaughtering the pesah for a single person. Rabbi Yose permits it, assuming that the person will be able to eat the entire pesah (a Homer Simpsonesque pesah feast).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Pesachim
אין עושין חבורת נשים ועבדים – to slaughter the Passover offering. Women and slaves are in one group because it offers an occasion to sin, but minors and slaves are not in one group, because of the licentiousness of pederasty. But women and slaves, each one alone, they make a group.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Pesachim
And even a company of a hundred who cannot eat as much as an olive, one may not slaughter [a pesah] for them. While Rabbi Yose allows one to slaughter a pesah for a single person who can eat the whole thing he does not allow slaughtering for a large group that can certainly together eat the whole thing unless each person can eat as much as an olive’s worth.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Pesachim
And one may not form a company of women and slaves and minors. There are two different explanations for this section. According to one explanation, it is forbidden to have a company that is all women, all slaves or all minors. According to another explanation, it is forbidden to have a company mixed with slaves and women for fear of licentiousness. This is a common theme with regard to slaves they are considered to be sexually licentious.
