Ketubot 106: What Pays for What?

The Gemara completes the story of Rav Anan's attempt to prioritize the relative of a Torah scholar and then losing the support of Elijah.  Next, the Gemara looks at other circumstances where there was great anger - thought to be great hunger - and Elijah remained with the Sages as long as a group of those Sages stayed back.  

The conversation turns toward those with different responsibilities.  How were people reimbursed for sacred tasks, from judging to removing a handful of fine flour to weaving the curtains to those from the house of Garmu who prepared the shewbread to those who raised their children for the red heifer?  Were their wages taken from the collection of the chamber, or were they taken from the funds that were consecrated for Temple maintenance?  Were they provided for by wealthier community members?  Were they not paid for their sacred duties but instead paid for the time lost at their other jobs?

The Gemara goes on to question other grey areas.  How are sacred vessels paid for, for example?  Are main funds used or is the remainder designated for such items?  Even maintaining the walls and floors of the Holy of Holies must be paid for somehow.  The rabbis suggest different funds for different items and services.  They also note that the sale of produce might result in a leftover remainder.  Rabbi Akiva reminds us that one cannot profit by selling consecrated property nor from funds set aside for the poor.  This ensures that even in a place of wealth, there will always be money available should one encounter a person who needs those funds.  

Today's daf offers a great example of the rabbis truly struggling to understand what happened in the times of the Temple.  They can't be sure which pot of money paid for what items and services.  They can guess, based on all of the information that they have gathered.  Those opinions then guide us, dozens and dozens of generations later, on how to organize our money regarding sacred and secular items.