“On the three Regalim (Pilgrimage Festivals) all are believed, even regarding teruma (to say that it is tahor – ritually pure – and did not come into contact with anything that would make it tamei – ritually not pure).”

This statement in a mishna on our daf is derived in the gemara from the following verse: “And every person of Israel gathered to the city (Jerusalem), as one person, chaverim” (scholars who are honest and trusted regarding ritual purity). The gemara picks up from the word “chaverim” that all of the Jewish People have this status during the Regalim and are therefore trustworthy. Another way of deriving this special trust during the Festivals is found in the Jerusalem Talmud. A different verse there refers to “Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is connected to it together”, meaning that it is a city that unifies all of the Jewish People and assigns them the equal status of “chaverim” (Maharsha).

• Chagiga 26a

Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish both stated, "When there was a Beit Hamikdash in existence, the altar achieved atonement for sin; but nowadays it is a person’s table (through hospitality to the needy – Rashi) that atones for him."

• Chagiga 27a

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