Gemara Clarity

Beitzah 30a

ביצה ל׳ ע״א

Learn Beitzah 30a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 30a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Changing how one carries on יום טוב, when we do not rebuke people, and starting to take from a storeroom (מוקצה)

Overview

The amud opens with the last line of the משנה: on יום טוב one may start taking from a pile of straw, but not from wood in the storage yard. The גמרא quotes a ברייתא saying that if it is impossible to change the usual way of carrying, carrying normally is permitted. רבא puts this into practice in מחוזא with a ladder of changes, one for each kind of carrier. רב אשי then explains why women fill their water jugs normally on יום טוב: every possible change either adds work or risks a new איסור. Next, אביי explains why no one stops women from clapping and dancing on יום טוב: it is better that people sin without knowing than sin on purpose, and the גמרא adds that this applies even to Torah prohibitions. Finally, the גמרא brings two versions of רב כהנא's lesson about starting to take from a storeroom. In the first version the משנה follows רבי שמעון, who does not forbid מוקצה. In the second it follows רבי יהודה, and each version explains away the clause of the משנה that seems to go the other way.

Opening lines

בַּעֲרֵמַת הַתֶּבֶן,

from the pile of straw,

אֲבָל לֹא בָּעֵצִים שֶׁבַּמּוּקְצֶה.

but not from the wood in the storage yard.

גְּמָ׳ תָּנָא:

GEMARA: It was taught:

אִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְשַׁנּוֹת — מוּתָּר.

If it is impossible to change, it is permitted.

The steps (21)

  1. StatementEnd of the משנה: straw pile allowed, storage wood not
  2. Statementברייתא: if you cannot change, it is permitted
  3. Statementרבא's ladder of changes in מחוזא
  4. ChallengeChallenge: women fill water jugs without changing
  5. ResolutionNo change is possible: switching jug sizes only makes it worse
  6. ResolutionCovering the jug also fails, so the women may act normally
  7. ChallengeWhy do we let women clap and dance on יום טוב?
  8. Resolutionאביי points to another case where no one stops the women
  9. ResolutionBetter they sin by mistake than on purpose
  10. StatementA suggested limit: only for rabbinic rules
  11. RejectionNo: the rule covers Torah prohibitions too
  12. Statementרב כהנא: one may start taking from a storeroom
  13. StatementThis follows רבי שמעון, who has no מוקצה
  14. ChallengeBut the end of the משנה sounds like רבי יהודה
  15. ResolutionExpensive wood: even רבי שמעון agrees
  16. StatementSecond version: רב כהנא's statement is on the סיפא
  17. StatementThis version follows רבי יהודה
  18. ChallengeBut the רישא sounds like רבי שמעון
  19. ResolutionThe straw is rotten
  20. ChallengeRotten straw is still good for clay
  21. ResolutionThe straw has thorns