Талмуд к Менахот 3:7

The Torah said, four compartments for four paragraphs⁶⁴The word טטפת (Ex. 13:16, Deut.6:8,11:18) “head tefillin” is confirmed by the Babli’s use, Šabbat 57a, as “woman’s headband”. A fancy etymology, which reads the number 4 into the word, to support the statement that head phylacteries must bemade with four compartments (Sanhedrin 4b, Zevahim37b, Menahot 34b) is rabbinic.. If he made five compartments for four paragraphs, he is punishable. Rebbi Abba, Rebbi Joḥanan in the name of Rebbi Hoshaia: He is punishable only if he instructs in a matter whose root is from the Torah but whose explanation is from the words of the Sopherim; for example, the carcass; for example, the crawling animal, whose root is from the words of the Torah⁶⁵The different kinds of impurity of dead animals are described in Lev. 11 but the details, in particular the minimal quantities which induce impurity, are rabbinic. but whose explanation is from the words of the Sopherim. Rebbi Zeˋira said, he never is punishable unless he deny and instruct in a matter whose root is from the Torah but whose explanation is from the words of the Sopherim; for example, the carcass; for example, the crawling animal, whose root is from the words of the Torah but whose explanation is from the words of the Sopherim, on condition that he simultaneously deduct in a matter which permits subtraction and addition⁶⁶R. Zeˋira restricts the original saying of R. Hoshaia, which was extended by R. Johanan to include impurity of dead animals. In the Babli 88b it is asserted that in the interpretation here ascribed to R. Zeˋira the only crime a rebellious Elder could be charged with was to instruct to make head phylacteries not with four but with five compartments. Then he obviously adds to the number of compartments but at the same time, since one of the four texts now has to occupy two compartments, he eliminates the rule which determines the order in which the texts have to be placed into compartments. This is simultaneously adding and subtracting; from the following discussion (Notes 63–71) it follows that this also is the interpretation required for the Yerushalmi. It is clear that tefillin of the kind found in the Judean desert (Note 50) are not considered.. The face of Rav⁶⁷This should read “Rebbi”. Hoshaia lit up⁶⁸He was happy that R. Johanan quoted him even though the extension to include carcasses and dead crawling animals was not his formulation.. He⁶⁹R. Johanan. told him, do I need you that you enjoy it? I do not need you, I am adding to your statement. Thirteen years he⁶⁹R. Johanan. went and came before his teacher even though he did not need him. Rebbi Samuel in the name of Rebbi Zeˋura: Was it not enough for him to have paid his respects to his teacher since anybody who pays his respects to his teacher is as if he paid his respects to the Divine Presence. Rebbi Berekhiah objected, did we not state⁷⁰Mishnah Negaˋim 6:1; cf. Nedarim 3:2 Note 49, Maˋserot 5:7 Notes 122–125.
Baheret is a skin disease in which white spots appear on the skin (Lev. 13). The minimum size of such a spot which makes its bearer impure is that of a “square split cilician bean” which is defined as 36 (hairwidths)². All questions are directed to R. Zeˋira; one tries to find a law other than that of phylacteries where a ruling by a rebellious Elder could simultaneously add and subtract from the received norm.
It was shown in Masˋerot, by a question of R. Berekhiah, that square cannot mean that the white spot be an exact square, since nothing in biology exhibits geometrically straight lines and right angles. Therefore, the question can only be whether the spot must contain a square of minimal size or only have surface area of 36 (hairwidths)²., “the body of baheret is the square area of a split cilician bean”? Rebbi Abba Mari said, one who said it is pure⁷¹For ms. דכן “pure” (Mishnah Idiut 8:4) editio princeps has הכן “so”, which made the clause incomprehensible. In Maˋserot and Nedarim, it was determined that the Mishnah has to be read as referring to surface area. An elder who would read the Mishnah as requiring a white spot containing a square of minimal size would actually declare most impure spots as pure. This is diminution; nothing is added.. Rebbi Abba bar Mamal objected, did we not state⁷²Mishnah Menahot 3:7. Again the obligation to write words of the Torah on one’s doorposts is biblical (Deut. 6:9,11:19) while the selection of the texts and the details are rabbinic. If one put the two texts into two cases instead of writing them on one sheet of parchment, it would be simultaneously adding and subtracting., “two paragraphs in the mezuzzah”? He told him, phylacteries and mezuzah are the same⁷³It is agreed that instead of “only tefillin” one should accept “only tefillin and mezuzzot” as possible objects of the Elder’s misdeeds since both are mentioned together in the biblical texts.. Rav Hamnuna objected, was it not stated⁷⁴Menaḥot 41b, Bekhorot 39b, determining the minimal length of the unknotted part of the ṣisit, the threads to be attached to the corners of one’s rectangular garment.: The ṣiṣit must be four finger lengths for four threads? He told him, in that he diminished but did not add⁷⁵This is pure diminution; nothing is added.. Rebbi Ḥaggai objected before Rebbi Yose, was it not stated⁷⁶Mishnah Menahot 7:1, Menaḥot 89a, Sifra Saw Pereq 11(6). The rules of a thanksgiving sacrifice (Lev. 7:12–14) require three kinds of unleavened oiled breads in addition to a set of leavened bread. The rabbinic interpretation requires that the flour be divided into three equal parts but that half of the oil be used on the unleavened bread scalded in hot water like a bagel, the rest being used for the other two kinds. If instead somebody instructed also to distribute the oil evenly, would he not subtract from one kind and add to the others?, one third for the scalded⁷⁷Explanation of Rashi in Menaḥot., one third for round cakes, one third for flat cakes. If he used it in thirds, one third for the scalded, one third for round cakes, one third for flat cakes? He told him, he subtracts from the scalded and adds for round cakes and flat cakes⁷⁸The questioner considered all three kinds of mazzah as one commandment when in fact they are three different obligations; there is no simultaneity for one obligation..