Two sets of blessings TB Pesakhim 121

 With today’s daf TB Pesakhim 121 we finish massekhet Pesakhim! We know that we have reached the end because the penultimate Mishna deals with falling asleep during the meal and leftovers. Today’s daf discusses two pairs of blessings.

The first pair of blessings concerns the korban Pesakh and the Haggigah, the holiday sacrifice. Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva argue whether saying the blessing over the korban Pesakh also covers the blessing for the Haggigah.

“MISHNA: If one recited the blessing over the Paschal lamb, he has also exempted himself from reciting a blessing over the Festival offering. However, if he recited the blessing over the Festival offering, he has not exempted himself from reciting a blessing over the Paschal lamb. This is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Akiva says: This blessing does not exempt one from reciting a blessing over this one, and that blessing does not exempt that one, as there is a separate blessing for each offering.” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Gemara does not provide the actual language for these blessings. Since we have not recited these blessings for over 2000 years, we are unsure what is the correct formula. Rashi and his grandson Rashbam disagree on what a person should say. Rashi holds that we say “Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded concerning the eating of the Paschal lamb” and “Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us concerning the eating of shelamim.” Rashbam holds that we say “Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us to eat the Paschal lamb” and “Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us to eat the zevakh.” Rambam poskins according to Rabbi Akiva’s understanding. (Mishneh Torah, Sefer Zemanim, Hilkhot Hametz and Matza, Chapter 8 Halakha 7)

The next set of blessings concern the redemption of the firstborn son, (pidyon haben-פִדְיוֹן הַבֵּן) These blessings are not as rare as the blessings over the sacrifices; however, they are some the more infrequent ones in our liturgy.

“The Gemara discusses another case concerning the order of the blessings: Rabbi Simlai attended a redemption of the firstborn son. The celebrants raised a dilemma before him with regard to the blessings. First they noted that it is obvious that the blessing over the redemption of a firstborn son, which is: Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us over the redemption of the firstborn son, is certainly recited by the father of the son, as he is the one obligated to redeem his son. However, with regard to the second blessing: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has given us life [shehekheyanu], sustained us, and brought us to this time, does the priest recite this blessing, or does the father of the son recite it?

“The Gemara explains the two sides of the dilemma. It can be suggested that the priest recites the blessing, as he benefits from the five sela he receives when the boy is redeemed. The blessing of shehekhiyanu is generally recited by the one who receives the benefit. Or, perhaps the father of the son recites shehekheyanu, as he is the one who performs the mitzva. Rabbi Simlai did not have an answer readily available, and he went to ask this question in the study hall. The scholars said to him that the father of the son recites the two blessings: Over the redemption of the son and shehe?eyanu. The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is that the father of the son recites two blessings.” (Sefaria.org translation) 

Tomorrow we begin TY (Talmud Yerushalmi-Jerusalem Talmud) Shekalim.