Zevachim 45: When Moshiach Comes, Forbidden Acts Do Not Exist

Some notes from today's daf:

• the rabbis continue to argue about piggul, thinking inappropriate thoughts regarding a particular sacrifice
• specifically the arguments regard timing, location (inner alter/outer courtyard)
• Rava asks if we are creating halacha for Messianic times
• Abaye asks whether we should bother learning any topics about the Temple service, for all of this is in fact about Messianic times
• Abaye argues we study all aspects of Torah because we are rewarded for Torah lishma, Torah studied for its own sake
• Rava says we should not strive for final rulings on Temple matters, for they are not practical at this time
• Tosafot suggest other places in the Gemara where a conclusion is decided upon regarding the Temple service, but this only happens in cases where the ruling will be practically applied as well
• Tosafot quote Rabbi Chayyim HaKohen who suggests there is a particular problem with halacha about forbidden acts in the Temple because there would be no need to rule about a forbidden act in Temple times!
• Thus the rabbis recognize that all of their rulings should be practically applicable and, if not, that Torah study is for its own sake, as we cannot predict when Messianic times might come
• Torah study is always good;
• Reaching a halacha is sometimes only practically required
• Thus we can study the laws of piggul
• It may be surprising to learn that there are final rulings about piggul laws since they will not have practical application until Messianic times, and at that time they would not be necessary