Gemara Clarity

Beitzah 15b

ביצה ט״ו ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 15b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 15b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

עירוב תבשילין, רבי אליעזר's יום טוב lecture, and how to divide יום טוב

Overview

The משנה teaches that when יום טוב falls on Friday, you may not cook on יום טוב just for שבת. You may still keep יום טוב leftovers for שבת, or make an עירוב תבשילין before יום טוב and rely on it. בית שמאי require two dishes and בית הלל one, and the עירוב works as long as any of it remains. The גמרא finds a source in 'זכור את יום השבת', and a תנא finds a hint in 'את אשר תאפו אפו'. רבא says the purpose of the עירוב is to save a good portion for שבת. רב אשי says it reminds people not to cook on יום טוב for another day. Next comes a story: רבי אליעזר criticized people who left his יום טוב lecture early to go eat. This leads to his מחלוקת with רבי יהושע about whether the day may be given entirely to ה' or must be split in half. The גמרא then explains phrases from the פסוק in נחמיה, including that הקב"ה repays money borrowed to honor the day, and adds a teaching about the אדר tree. The amud ends as רב תחליפא begins a ברייתא, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

יוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת —

A Festival that falls on Shabbat eve —

לֹא יְבַשֵּׁל בַּתְּחִלָּה מִיּוֹם טוֹב לְשַׁבָּת.

one may not cook from the outset on the Festival for Shabbat.

אֲבָל מְבַשֵּׁל הוּא לְיוֹם טוֹב,

But he may cook for the Festival,

וְאִם הוֹתִיר — הוֹתִיר לַשַּׁבָּת.

and if he left some over, he left it over for Shabbat.

The steps (30)

  1. StatementNo cooking on יום טוב for שבת, but leftovers are fine
  2. StatementPreparing a dish before יום טוב to rely on for שבת
  3. StatementHow many dishes: בית שמאי versus בית הלל
  4. StatementIf the עירוב is eaten or lost
  5. QuestionWhat is the source for these rules?
  6. Responseשמואל: remember שבת when another day may make you forget it
  7. QuestionWhat is the purpose of the עירוב?
  8. Responseרבא: so a good portion is saved for שבת
  9. Responseרב אשי: so people know not to cook on יום טוב for another day
  10. ChallengeThe משנה says ערב יום טוב, which fits רב אשי but not רבא
  11. ResolutionAnswer for רבא: a גזירה so he does not forget
  12. StatementA Torah hint for עירוב תבשילין from the מן
  13. Statementרבי אליעזר's lecture and the first three groups who left
  14. StatementThe fourth, fifth, and sixth groups leave
  15. Statementרבי אליעזר reassures the students who stayed
  16. Statementרבי אליעזר sends the remaining students off with a blessing
  17. ChallengeIsn't festive eating itself a מצוה?
  18. Resolutionרבי אליעזר holds that festive joy is optional
  19. ProofA ברייתא shows the מחלוקת of רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע
  20. Statementרבי יוחנן: both views come from the same two פסוקים
  21. ConclusionEither all one way, or split in half
  22. QuestionWhat does 'for whoever has nothing prepared' mean?
  23. Responseרב חסדא: someone who did not make an עירוב תבשילין
  24. ResponseSecond version: only someone who could not make one
  25. QuestionWhat does 'the joy of ה' is your strength' mean?
  26. ResponseBorrow on My account, and I will repay
  27. StatementPlant an אדר tree to protect your property
  28. StatementAnother reason: the tree's name means lasting
  29. ProofA ברייתא supports the teaching about the אדר
  30. Statementרב תחליפא introduces a teaching