Gemara Clarity

Beitzah 18b

ביצה י״ח ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 18b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 18b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Immersing (טבילה) on שבת, יום טוב and יום הכיפורים, רבא's 'since' reasoning, and purifying water and vessels on יום טוב

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining why one may immerse (טבילה) on שבת and יום טוב: it doesn't clearly look like purifying, because people sometimes bathe just to cool off. It then tests this answer. In the rainy season nobody bathes to cool off, but רב נחמן בר יצחק says people also wash off mud and filth. On יום הכיפורים all ordinary bathing is forbidden, so רבא gives a rule instead: whatever is allowed on שבת is also allowed on יום הכיפורים. The גמרא asks whether רבא really uses this kind of 'since' (הואיל) reasoning, because in the case of vinegar for a toothache he did not. It concludes that רבא took back his vinegar answer, and a ברייתא confirms that טבילה is allowed on יום הכיפורים and תשעה באב. Then the גמרא turns to a line of the משנה about purifying water in a stone vessel. שמואל explains that one may not immerse an impure vessel together with its water on יום טוב. This reading seems to match neither רבי nor the חכמים, and the גמרא begins to show that it can fit רבי by placing his two rulings on יום טוב and שבת. The answer that follows the חכמים comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

בַּשָּׁרָב,

in a heat wave,

וְרוֹחֵץ אֲפִילּוּ בְּמֵי מִשְׁרָה.

and he washes even in flax-soaking water.

תִּינַח בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה,

This works well in the summer season;

בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?

in the rainy season, what is there to say?

The steps (18)

  1. ResolutionA person may bathe in a heat wave, even in foul water
  2. ChallengeWhat about the rainy season?
  3. ResolutionPeople wash off mud and filth even in winter
  4. ChallengeWhat about יום הכיפורים?
  5. ResolutionWhatever is allowed on שבת is allowed on יום הכיפורים
  6. ChallengeDoes רבא really use the since argument? The toothache case
  7. ChallengeA ברייתא contradicts the toothache משנה
  8. Resolutionאביי: the משנה means sipping and spitting
  9. Resolutionרבא: before dipping versus after dipping
  10. ChallengeWhy didn't רבא say since it is allowed before, it is allowed after?
  11. Resolutionרבא took back his vinegar answer
  12. QuestionHow do we know which statement he took back?
  13. ResponseA ברייתא allows טבילה on יום הכיפורים
  14. QuestionWhat does 'but one may not immerse' mean?
  15. Responseשמואל: no immersing a vessel with its water
  16. ChallengeThe משנה seems to fit neither רבי nor the חכמים
  17. ChallengeSpelling out the clash on each side
  18. ResolutionThe משנה can follow רבי: his rulings cover יום טוב and שבת