Beitzah 28b

ביצה כ״ח ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 28b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 28b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Sharpening and fixing tools on יום טוב, מכשירי אוכל נפש, rulings about skewers, רב מלכיו and רב מלכיא, and buying meat on יום טוב

Overview

The גמרא finishes two matching stories about teachers who rubbed a knife on יום טוב. Each said he was only cleaning off the fat, but his student saw he was really sharpening it. This shows the הלכה follows רבי יהודה, but it is not taught publicly (הלכה ואין מורין כן). Next comes a debate about showing a knife to a חכם on יום טוב, and רב יוסף's rule that a dull knife may be sharpened if it still cuts with effort. Fixing a nicked knife, a crushed skewer, or sweeping out an oven all depend on the מחלוקת about מכשירי אוכל נפש. The גמרא explains each side's reading of the פסוק and concludes that רבי יהודה allows only preparations that could not have been done before יום טוב. Then come שמואל's rulings about bent and used skewers, a debate about moving a used skewer to a corner, and a side discussion telling רב מלכיו apart from רב מלכיא. Finally, a new משנה forbids asking a butcher for meat by price on יום טוב. The גמרא's explanation of how this is done continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ProofThe teacher who said he was only cleaning the knife
2. Proofאביי tells the same kind of story about his teacher
3. QuestionMay one show a knife to a sage on יום טוב?
4. ResponseOne sage permits, the רבנן forbid
5. Responseרב יוסף: the sage checks it privately and lends it out
6. StatementA dull knife may be sharpened if it still cuts with effort
7. StatementThree tool-fixing cases depend on one dispute
8. ProofThe ברייתא that holds the dispute
9. QuestionWhy does the first תנא forbid preparations?
10. ResponseEach side reads a different word in the פסוק
11. ChallengeWhat does the first תנא do with "for you"?
12. Resolution"For you" and not for non-Jews
13. ChallengeWhat does רבי יהודה do with "it"?
14. ResolutionBefore יום טוב or not possible before יום טוב
15. StatementA bent skewer may not be fixed on יום טוב
16. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
17. ResolutionForbidden even when it can be straightened by hand
18. StatementA used skewer may not be moved
19. StatementPull it out and put it in a corner
20. StatementOnly when an olive-size of meat is still on it
21. StatementEven with no meat, like a thorn in the street
22. StatementThree rulings that come from רב מלכיו
23. StatementThe other three rulings belong to רב מלכיא
24. Statementרב פפא's rule for telling the two sages apart
25. QuestionWhere do רב חיננא and רב פפא disagree?
26. ResponseThey differ on the maidservants ruling
27. Statementמשנה: Do not ask the butcher for a דינר's worth of meat
28. QuestionHow is it done in practice?
29. ResponseThe answer begins: like this case