Pesachim (lit. "Passovers") is the third tractate of the Order of Festivals of the Mishnah. It is concerned mainly with the laws for the ritual observance of Passover including the paschal lamb offering. The first four chapters cover the laws of chametz, chapters 5-9 discuss the laws of the communal offering of the sacrificial lambs, and the tenth and final chapter discusses the order of the Passover seder.

At the end of the tractate, the Talmud is discussing cases where multiple blessings are recited in conjunction with each other, such as when one offers the paschal lamb and the other sacrifices of the holiday. This introduces a story in which the sage R. Simlai was asked a question about the blessings made at a pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn).

R. Simlai once happened to be at a celebration of the redemption of a first-born son, and he was asked the following: "It is self-evident that the blessing, 'who has sanctified us with his commandments and has commanded us the redemption of our son,' should be said by the father, but the other blessing, namely, 'who has permitted us to live to this time,' who is to say this—the priest, because he derives material benefit from it [ie: by receiving monetary payment], or also the father, because he fulfills a mitzvah?" R. Simlai did not know; so he went to the academy and inquired, when he was told that the father of the son must pronounce both blessings, and such is the final ruling — the father recites both blessings.