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Today’s Daf Yomi Question:
Why is there no mention in the Mishna regarding the minimum height of a Kora (ten tefachim – see 3b)?
The Gemara says the Heichal had doors for ‘tznius’ – why wasn’t that achieved by the curtain (that was hanging over the entrance) and how was this achieved by the doors which were apparently open all day (to allow for shechita)?
Less than ten Tefachim is not learned from the Heichal or Ulam. It is a different category, as Rashi in 3b writes, under ten is not a Mavui. If we would be listing all Pesulim (e.g. weak Kore, short Kore, open walls etc…) then we might have listed this as well. However, we listed two similar, and common, issues with setting up a Kore.
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To the second question, it might be precisely because of the point of it being open all day that the Gemara said it is only for Tznius. At night, we close the doors for Kavod, just as there are watchmen for Kavod. The Beis Hamikdash shouldn’t look abandoned and left alone. If the doors would be open it would look hollow. Closing the doors is a Tznius and a Kavod.
We should keep in mind that although the Gemara says that we learn from the Heichal, obviously the whole Halacha is a Derabanan. The Chachamim decided that the Mavui should have a valid Pesach, and we merely looked to the Pasuk to see what is defined as a Pesach. Rebbi Yehuda, according to Reb Chisda, holds that we didn’t look there and we went after our own understanding and definition.
This being the case we can use discretion as to what we are looking for. We care about the dimensions of the Pesach Haheichal since we find that the Pasuk bestows the title of Pesach. We decided to look away from the fact that it had doors, since we are looking for dimensions of a Pesach and not learning a Gezeiras Hakasuv about the Din of a Pesach. We understand that the function of doors is for Tznius and don’t contribute to an area being designated as a Pesach.
To summerize, the difference between these two approches is that according to the first we are saying that in this case the doors were merely for Tznius, and according to the second approach we understand that in general doors are for Tznius and aren’t part of what makes a Pesach a Pesach.
It would seem that your first approach is more plausible, since doors do seem to add a valuable element to a the ‘partitioning function’ of a doorway as we see later (6a) that only a doorway with doors can be effective in a Mavoi mefulash (lirshus harabim). As opposed to when they are merely for tzenius they are not functioning in that capacity.
True. In fact, the Gemara’s language also suggests that we are talking about those doors.
Dear Rabbi Kessler, deep thanks for adding the “Insights on the Daf.” A great innovation to the Shiur Yomi.
I pray that you will be constantly guided to contribute to your many Talmidim.