Pesachim 99b — the Talmud in English

Mishna:

On the eves of Passover,

close

to Mincha

minor, that is, half an hour before its time [the time of Mincha minor is at the ninth-and-a-half hour of the day, according to intermediate hours]], that is, from the beginning of the tenth hour —

a person may not eat,

until it grows dark,

so that in the evening he will eat the matza of the mitzva with appetite. Since there is enhancement of the mitzva in eating the matza with appetite.

And

even the poorest person in Israel,

may not eat

on the night of Passover

until he reclines

on a bed beside the table in the manner of free people, in remembrance of freedom.

And they shall not reduce for him

the charity collectors, who provide sustenance for the poor,

from

giving him

four cups of wine.

which the Sages enacted to drink on the night of the seder [corresponding to the four expressions of redemption that were stated concerning the redemption from Egypt]],

“I shall bring out,” “I shall save,” “I shall redeem,” and “I shall take.”

And even

if he is the poorest of the poor, who is sustained

from the charity food-bowl

of charity, which is a bowl in which food is collected for the poor [and a poor person who has even only food for two meals does not take from the charity food-bowl], he likewise shall not be given fewer than four cups.

Gemara:

And we raise an objection concerning it:

Why specifically

did the tan­nay of the Mishna mention specifically

“the eves of Passover”?

But

even on

the

eves of Shabbat and festivals as well

it is forbidden to eat close to Mincha?

For it was taught: A person may not eat on the eves of Shabbat and festivals from Mincha onward, so that he will enter Shabbat while hungry,

so that he desires to eat and Kiddush and the Shabbat meal will be precious to him,

the words of Rabbi Yehuda.

Rabbi Yose says: He eats and proceeds until it grows dark.

And we answer:

Rav Huna said:

the Mishna, which teaches “the eves of Passover,” specifically,

is necessary only according to Rabbi Yose, who says: “He eats and proceeds until it grows dark.”

And the Mishna teaches us that

this applies to the eves of Shabbat and festivals. But on the eve of Passover, because of the obligation of matza

so that it will not be eaten at night while he is satiated,

Rabbi Yose admits

that he may not eat close to Mincha.

Rav Pappa said: You may even say

that the Mishna

is Rabbi Yehuda’s,

and nevertheless there is no difficulty.

For

there, on the eves of Shabbat and festivals, it is forbidden from Mincha onward

that is, specifically from nine and a half hours onward. But

close to Mincha

half an hour beforehand, that is, from the end of the ninth hour,

it is permitted.

But on the eve of Passover —

even close to Mincha as well it is forbidden!

And we raise an objection to Rav Pappa:

And on the eve of Shabbat, close to Mincha

is it

permitted?

But it was taught: A person may not eat on the eve of Shabbat and festivals from the ninth hour onward, so that he will enter Shabbat while hungry, the words of Rabbi Yehuda.

Rabbi Yose says: He eats and proceeds until it grows dark.

It follows that according to Rabbi Yehuda, even on the eves of Shabbat and festivals as well it is forbidden close to Mincha. And this is difficult for Rav Pappa.

Mar Zutra said: Who can tell us that

this beraita

is properly formulated,

that its version is correct?