Beitzah 16a

ביצה ט״ז ע״א

Learn Beitzah 16a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 16a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Spending on שבת and יום טוב, the gift of שבת, and which foods can serve as עירובי תבשילין

Overview

The גמרא teaches that a person's income for the year is set between ראש השנה and יום הכפורים. The exception is what he spends on שבת, יום טוב, and his sons' תלמוד תורה, which Heaven adds back to him. רבי אבהו finds the source in תהלים, and the גמרא proves that the word חק means food. A ברייתא then contrasts שמאי הזקן, who saved the best food all week for שבת, with הלל הזקן, who trusted that ה׳ blesses each day. Next the גמרא discusses whether a giver must tell the receiver about a gift. It explains that ה׳ told ישראל about the gift of שבת because its reward, or the נשמה יתירה, would stay hidden. Returning to the משנה, אביי rules that עירובי תבשילין needs a cooked dish and not bread, and two versions explain why, using porridge as the test case. The amud ends with small foods that can serve as the עירוב, and with salted fish cooked by a גוי. The answer to the last question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (36)

1. StatementYearly income is set, with three exceptions
2. Proofרבי אבהו finds the source in תהלים
3. QuestionHow do we know חק means food?
4. ResponseProof from the food פרעה gave
5. Responseמר זוטרא's proof from משלי
6. StatementHow שמאי הזקן honored שבת all week
7. StatementHillel's different way: trusting each day
8. ProofA ברייתא shows the same dispute
9. StatementA giver does not need to tell the receiver
10. ChallengeChallenge: ה׳ told משה to announce שבת
11. ResolutionGifts that will be noticed versus hidden gifts
12. ChallengeBut שבת will also become known
13. ResolutionThe reward of שבת stays hidden
14. QuestionHow does the giver let the mother know?
15. ResponseOil and eye paint as a sign
16. QuestionWhat about today, when people fear witchcraft?
17. ResponseRub on some of the same food
18. Statementשבת was given privately
19. ChallengeThen how can גוים be held responsible?
20. Resolutionשבת was told, its reward was not
21. ResolutionAnother answer: the extra soul was kept secret
22. Proofריש לקיש on the extra soul of שבת
23. Statementאביי: only a cooked dish works, not bread
24. QuestionWhy is bread different?
25. ChallengeIs the reason that the food must go with bread? Porridge disproves it
26. ResolutionThe real reason: the food must be unusual
27. StatementSecond version: אביי's same rule
28. QuestionWhat is the reason?
29. ChallengeIs the reason that the food must be unusual? Porridge disproves it
30. ResolutionThe real reason: the food must go with bread
31. StatementLeftover lentils at the bottom of a pot
32. StatementFat scraped off a knife
33. StatementSmall salted fish are not considered food cooked by a non-Jew
34. StatementRoasted salted fish can be used for the עירוב, but a fancy fried dish is forbidden
35. ChallengeIsn't this obvious?
36. ResolutionStarting to explain what we might have thought