Menachos Daf 88 מנחוס דַף 88

The Mishnah on the previous Daf taught that there were seven מדות for liquids in the Mikdash. In a Baraisa, Rebbe Yehudah lists them in ascending order, from a quarter-לוג to a הין, and Rebbe Meir lists these מדות in descending order. Rebbe Yochanan explains that Rebbe Yehudah holds בירוצי המדות נתקדשו – the heaping above the measures was sanctified; he holds Hashem gave Moshe a רביעית (the smallest מדה) and told him to measure the other מדות (using the רביעית) to be large enough to include the additional בירוצין (because pouring into a larger vessel usually retains the בירוצין). Rebbe Meir holds the בירוצין were not sanctified, and holds that Hashem gave Moshe a הין and told him to measure the other מדות from it, whereby the בירוצין would fall (and not be included). Abaye says they disagree about the term "מלאים" – filled. Rebbe Meir holds it means שלא יחסר ושלא יותיר – one may not decrease nor increase the precise amount, so the הין (the largest מדה) was used to measure the other מדות (because carefully pouring into smaller vessels does not produce foam). Rebbe Yehudah holds overfilling is considered "מלאים", so the רביעית (the smallest מדה) could be used to measure the others, although the foam produced during pouring may result in larger מדות.

Rebbe said: נר שכבתה – if a lamp of the Menorah went out prematurely (during the night), נידשן השמן נידשנה הפתילה – and the oil became full of ash from the wick, or the wick turned to ash, he must clean it out, refill it with new oil, and light it. Rebbe Zerika asked how much oil is put in: כמדה ראשונה או כמו שחסרה – like the original amount (of a חצי לוג), or only as much as is missing from it (i.e., the amount which was left in it and discarded)? Rebbe Yirmiyah said that it obviously must be refilled with the full חצי לוג, because if he would replace the amount which was discarded, how would he know how much it is? In order to measure such arbitrary amounts, far more than seven מדות would be required in the Mikdash!? Rebbe Zerika cited a passuk in reference to Rebbe Yirmiyah: והדרך צלח רכב על דבר אמת וענוה צדק – and with your splendor, succeed and ride, for the sake of truth and righteous humility. Rebbe Yirmiyah’s answer is supported by a statement quoted from Rebbe.

Rav Sheishess said: נר שבמקדש של פרקים הוה – each lamp of the Menorah in the Mikdash was made of parts which were thin and flexible, and could be bent downwards during cleaning, but could not be detached from the Menorah. He holds that the requirements to make the Menorah from a ככר of gold, and "מקשה" – hammered out from a single piece, included the Menorah and its lamps, so the נרות were attached. Thus, if the Menorah were not made of flexible parts, it could not be properly cleaned before each day’s lighting. Rav Sheishess is challenged from a Baraisa which describes the cleaning process: מסלקן ומניחן באוהל – he removes [the lamps] and leaves them in the [משכן], ומקנחן בספוג – and he wipes them with a sponge, puts oil in them and lights them. This proves the נרות were detachable!? The Gemara answers that Rav Sheishess follows the Chochomim, who said: לא היו מזיזין אותה ממקומה – they would not move [a lamp] from its place during cleaning, which is interpreted to mean that a נר would not move from its place, because it was attached. The Gemara proceeds to cite more Tannaim’s opinions on this matter.