More Discussions for this daf
1. Charoses symbolizes mortar 2. Blind people and the Hagadah 3. Chiyuva l'Dardekei
4. Eight Daughters in Law
DAF DISCUSSIONS - PESACHIM 116

Levi Yehudah Weiss asked:

The Gemorah in Pesachim 116b speaks about whether a blind person can be moitze others (pikchim) in Mitzvas Sippur Yetzias Mitzraim, but both the Rif and the Rosh which I saw on this perek didn't rule in this question. Do you know the reason and maybe the psak of different Rishonim (maybe in different places)?

Levi Yehudah Weiss, Modiin Illit, Israel

The Kollel replies:

The Beis Yosef (OC 473, end) brings the opinion of Rabeinu Yerucham that a blind person is exempt from the obligation to recite the Hagadah just as he is exempt from all Mitzvos mid'Oraisa (and is obligated mid'Rabanan). The Beis Yosef, disagrees with him and says that the Halachah follows the opinion of the Chachamim - and not that of Rebbi Yehudah - that blind people are obligated in all Mitzvos (Bava Kama 87a). The Pri Chadash (OC 53:14) agrees with the Beis Yosef and actually brings proof from our Gemara in Pesachim that the Halachah follows the opinion of the Chachamim, from the fact that even Rav Acha, who holds that a blind person is exempt from reciting the Hagadah, agrees that a blind person is obligated in Mitzvos and it is only an exception to the rule that he is exempt from reciting the Hagadah because of a Gezeirah Shavah. Rabeinu Yerucham's opinion, he says, is a Da'as Yachid (minority opinion).

Why the Rif and the Rambam and the Rosh didn't rule on this question of a blind person and the Hagadah is a good question. As we mentioned above, it is clear that the Machlokes here in Pesachim is independent of the general question of the obligation of blind people to perform Mitzvos. My answer is that the Poskim felt that it was clear from the Gemara that Rav Acha's opinion was rejected from the fact that both Rav Yosef and Rav Sheshes (who were both blind) actually recited the Hagadah.

Kol Tuv v'Chag Sameach,

Yonasan Sigler