Beitzah 31b

ביצה ל״א ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 31b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 31b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Chopping wood on יום טוב, and opening a sealed house or fastening on יום טוב (ביצה 31b)

Overview

The גמרא first notices that the משנה seems to contradict itself: it says 'one may not chop at all' and then explains how to chop. שמואל answers that the משנה is missing words. Building beams and beams that broke on יום טוב may not be chopped, but a beam that broke before יום טוב may be chopped with a cleaver, and a ברייתא supports this. רב then rules on a two-sided tool: the narrow, cleaver-like side is allowed and the wide, ax-like side is forbidden. This ruling is reported in two versions. A new משנה follows: produce may be taken from a house through a hole that formed by itself, and רבי מאיר allows making the hole on purpose. The גמרא explains that the wall is loosely stacked bricks, and רבי זירא limits the permission to יום טוב, not שבת. Finally שמואל rules on rope fastenings on doors, and a ברייתא challenges him. He answers that it follows רבי מאיר, but another ברייתא says the חכמים agree with רבי מאיר here. The גמרא's reply comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ChallengeThe משנה seems to contradict itself
2. Resolutionשמואל fills in the missing words of the משנה
3. ProofA ברייתא supports שמואל's reading
4. Statementרב: only the wide side of the ax is forbidden
5. ChallengeIsn't that obvious from the cleaver?
6. ResolutionA tool with a forbidden side might seem forbidden on both sides
7. StatementSecond version: רב's ruling is about the cleaver
8. ChallengeIsn't this obvious? The משנה already forbids an ax
9. ResolutionA two-sided tool might have been fully permitted
10. StatementNew משנה: taking produce through a hole in a house
11. ChallengeIsn't making the hole tearing down a structure?
12. ResolutionThe wall is just loosely stacked bricks
13. ChallengeChallenge from רב נחמן: arranged bricks are set aside
14. Resolutionרבי מאיר spoke about יום טוב, not שבת
15. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי זירא
16. Statementשמואל's rule on ground fastenings versus vessel fastenings
17. ChallengeA ברייתא allows cutting ground fastenings on יום טוב
18. ResolutionThe ברייתא follows רבי מאיר, but שמואל follows the רבנן
19. ChallengeThe חכמים agree with רבי מאיר about ground fastenings