Beitzah 23a

ביצה כ״ג ע״א

Learn Beitzah 23a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 23a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Creating a scent on יום טוב, the גדי מקולס, and רבי אלעזר בן עזריה's leniencies, including the rule of an unintended act (דבר שאינו מתכוין).

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ruling that spices may be placed on hot earthenware on יום טוב to make a nice smell. רבה forbids even that because it creates a new scent (מוליד ריחא), while רבא permits smoking fruit with spices even on coals, as food preparation, like roasting meat on coals. A story follows: רב גביהא taught that קטורא is permitted, אמימר challenged it, and רב אשי explained that it means smoking fruit with spices, which is permitted as food preparation, like roasting meat on coals. The גמרא then discusses רבן גמליאל's leniency of a whole roasted goat (גדי מקולס) on פסח night, and why the חכמים objected to תודוס of Rome. A new משנה lists three things רבי אלעזר בן עזריה permits and the חכמים forbid: a cow with a strap between its horns, combing an animal, and grinding pepper in its mill. The גמרא explains that 'his cow' was really his neighbor's, called his because he did not protest. It then explains the three opinions on combing and brushing as a dispute about an unintended act (דבר שאינו מתכוין). It ends with רב נחמן ruling that the הלכה follows רבי שמעון, who permits an unintended act.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementSpices on hot earthenware are permitted
2. Statementרבה forbids even earthenware because it creates a scent
3. ProofA parallel ruling about perfume on silk clothes
4. ChallengeWhy is pressing fragrant wood allowed?
5. ResolutionAdding to a scent versus creating a new one
6. Statementרבא permits smoking fruit with spices even on coals
7. Statementרב גביהא teaches that קטורא is permitted
8. Challengeאמימר: either meaning should be forbidden
9. Resolutionרב אשי: it means smoking fruit, like meat on coals
10. ChallengeA second version of Ameimar's challenge
11. Resolutionרב אשי again permits smoking fruit like roasting meat
12. Statementתודוס of Rome and the whole roasted goat
13. ChallengeCould it really be holy offerings?
14. ResolutionRead it as similar to holy offerings
15. StatementNew משנה: רבי אלעזר בן עזריה's three leniencies
16. StatementThe second and third leniencies: combing an animal and grinding pepper
17. Statementרבי יהודה and the חכמים on combing versus brushing
18. ChallengeDid רבי אלעזר בן עזריה really own just one cow?
19. ResolutionThe cow was his neighbor's, called by his name
20. StatementDefining combing and brushing
21. StatementThree opinions, starting with רבי יהודה
22. StatementThe view of the חכמים and of רבי אלעזר בן עזריה
23. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי שמעון
24. Challengeרבא asks why not follow רבי יהודה
25. Resolutionרב נחמן: I hold like רבי שמעון anyway