Recently in my Gemara studies, I surprisingly encountered a Teiku on a matter I found to be simple. The Teiku is in the 2nd Perek of Maseches Yoma. It is talking about when Kohanim had to run up the Mizbeach in order to be Zocheh in the Avodah of (I believe)Terumas ha'Deshen.
The Gemara states that obviously this doesn't include the ramp because of the way the Ma'aseh was given over in the Mishnhah. The Gemara then asks, which parts of the Mizbe'ach count as the beginning of the prescribed "Finish Line" to the Terumas ha'Deshen race. It answers as Teiku.
How is it possible that there is no source in all of Torah and Shas of where the top of the Mizbe'ach starts and ends in this case? Would it not be so simple to say that any part of the top of the Mizbe'ach counts, and anyone who moves enough distance on the Mizbe'ach from where the Kevesh ends (meaning you are now on what is structurally considered the top, and completely on the actual Mizbe'ach? What is the Nafka Minah between that and fenced in areas, etc.
Moshe Litenatsky, Los Angeles, USA
The Gemara means that this does not include the bottom or middle of the ramp. The Gemara never says that you have to get onto the Mizbe'ach itself to win the race. Rav Papa's question was how near the Mizbe'ach, at the top of the ramp, must one reach.
The Me'iri writes that even though the Gemara ends with a Teiku, it still makes sense to say that one wins the race only if he gets actually within four Amos of the Mizbe'ach.
Chag Same'ach!
Dovid Bloom