Pesachim 40a, b

Daf 40 focuses on preventing grains from leavening.  The rabbis consider

• whether or not fruit juice can leaven grains, 
• whether vinegar or brine will cause grains to split/rise or contract, 
• what are the differences between grains of wheat and grains of barley, 
• from when grains should be guarded,** and
• whether flour can be added to a soup or stew

and other similarly disparate questions.  

One particular example described a load of wheat that fell into the river on route to be sold.  The rabbis debate: what should be done with this wheat?  It could begin the process of leavening immediately and thus be disqualified for use on Pesach.  If the wheat is sold only to Gentiles, who is to say that those Gentiles would not resell the wheat back to Jews, who might use it on Pesach?  If the wheat is sold in small bundles, can we be assured that those small bundles would be used before the start of the chag?  The rabbis agree that full disclosure should be made regarding the status of the wheat upon its sale. Jews will then use the wheat before the start of the holiday.

Interesting that a tighter fence is not drawn regarding this wheat.  After all, the rabbis trust Jews to 'do the right thing' in this circumstance, when we are not afforded that degree of trust in other circumstances.  Is the threat of financial loss usually powerful enough to risk breaching a halacha?  Perhaps something else is being protected... a rabbi whose family business in bringing wheat across the river?  A friend who might lose his livelihood if he could not sell the waterlogged stalks?  Or as unlikely as it seems, might this be a common occurrence -- the soaking of wheat in the river before it is sold?

Another side note: Rabbi Yehuda is identified as the rabbi referred to as "some say".  To be quoted in the Talmud at all is a significant achievement.  Thought it sounds like it could be a disrespectful moniker, "some say" denotes deference and respect in this ancient context.

A new mishna ends daf 40.  Flour may not be added to mustard or charoset; if this happens, they must be consumed immediately.  Rabbi Meir says that they should not be consumed at all but burned.  The Pascal lamb must be roasted and not boiled in fruit juices; basting is fine and dipping in its juices on consumption is fine, too.  The Gemara begins with Rav Kahana's understanding that prohibited foods like those mentioned in the mishna must be burned.

I wonder how my Pesach traditions may or may not change next spring.  My learning about the meanings behind the traditions is both inspiring and discouraging regarding the actual practice of halachot.

** The mother of Mar (an Exilarch?), son of Ravina, guarded wheat in a trough from when they were pulled from their roots to ensure that the wheat would not have opportunity to rise.