Beitzah 26b

ביצה כ״ו ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 26b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 26b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Examining a בכור's blemish on יום טוב, and whether there is מוקצה for half of שבת

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a ברייתא about a בכור (firstborn animal) whose blemish is examined on יום טוב. רבה בר רב הונא teaches that a בכור born with its blemish may be examined even לכתחילה. רב נחמן objects from his father's teaching that it works only בדיעבד. אביי defends רבה בר רב הונא by reading the ברייתא as three levels of permission. The גמרא then brings רב אושעיא's ברייתא, which reads differently, and dismisses אביי's ברייתא as the mixed-up version of אדא בר אוכמי. רב נחמן בר יצחק proves from the wording of the משנה that the examination is valid only בדיעבד. Next, הלל asks רבא whether something can be מוקצה for half of שבת: fit, then unfit, then fit again. Two versions of רבא's answer are given. Proofs from the blemished בכור and from fruit drying on the roof are both pushed aside. רבי זירא begins a new proof from beans and lentils cooked on יום טוב, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. StatementEnd of the ברייתא: a blemish that appeared on יום טוב versus one the animal was born with
2. Statementרבה בר רב הונא: an animal born blemished may be examined on יום טוב from the start
3. Challengeרב נחמן objects: his father taught that the examination is only valid after the fact
4. Proofאביי supports רבה בר רב הונא: the ברייתא has three parts, and the first allows only after the fact
5. ProofThe second and third parts: forbidden even after the fact, and permitted even from the start
6. ChallengeRav Oshaya's ברייתא breaks אביי's three-level proof
7. ChallengeThen the earlier ברייתא is a problem
8. ResolutionThat ברייתא came from אדא בר אוכמי, who mixed things up
9. Proofרב נחמן בר יצחק: the משנה's wording supports this too
10. ConclusionA blemish not shown to a חכם is not מוכן: proof established
11. QuestionHillel asks whether מוקצה can apply to half of שבת
12. ChallengeHow could half-day מוקצה even happen?
13. ResolutionThe case: fit, then unfit, then fit again
14. Responseרבא: Yes, there is מוקצה
15. ChallengeChallenge from the בכור born with its blemish
16. ResolutionJudges were present at the birth
17. StatementSecond version: רבא says there is no מוקצה for half of שבת
18. ProofSupport for רבא from the blemished בכור
19. RejectionRejecting the proof: judges were there at the birth
20. ProofNew proof: grapes and figs left on the roof to dry
21. QuestionWhat case is the drying-fruit ברייתא about?
22. RejectionRuling out the case where the owner did not know whether the fruit was dry
23. ProofThe fruit was fit, became unfit, then became fit again, which proves מוקצה applies
24. ChallengeIf there is מוקצה, how would designating help?
25. ResolutionThe case is half-dry fruit that some people eat and some do not
26. Proofרבי זירא begins a proof from beans and lentils