Gemara Clarity

Beitzah 32a

ביצה ל״ב ע״א

Learn Beitzah 32a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 32a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Handling and cutting on שבת and יום טוב: רבי נחמיה's view, and the משנה on making a lamp, charcoal, and cutting a wick

Overview

The גמרא shows that שמואל's ruling about untying fastenings matches a ברייתא, then explains that the strict part of that ברייתא, about vessels on שבת, follows רבי נחמיה, who allows handling vessels only for their normal use. It challenges this from three ברייתות about burning vessels on יום טוב, one of which shows רבי נחמיה being strict on יום טוב too. It answers that two תנאים report רבי נחמיה's view differently. A new משנה then forbids shaping a clay lamp, making charcoal, and cutting a wick on יום טוב, while רבי יהודה allows cutting the wick with fire. רב יוסף traces the lamp rule to רבי מאיר, or in another version to רבי אליעזר ברבי צדוק, and אביי's pushback is answered because an unfired lamp can hold coins. A ברייתא about חרניות pots is brought and the word is explained as villagers' bowls. The ban on charcoal is explained as charcoal for a bathhouse that day, in a case of sweating before the decree. The amud ends as the גמרא begins asking why a knife may not be used to cut a wick, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

הוּא דְּאָמַר כִּי הַאי תַּנָּא,

He spoke in accordance with this Tanna,

דְּתַנְיָא:

as it is taught in a Baraisa:

חוֹתָמוֹת שֶׁבַּקַּרְקַע —

Fastenings that are attached to the ground —

מַתִּיר, אֲבָל לֹא מַפְקִיעַ וְלֹא חוֹתֵךְ,

one may untie them, but not unravel and not cut them,

The steps (25)

  1. Resolutionשמואל follows a ברייתא about fastenings
  2. ChallengeThe second half of the ברייתא still contradicts שמואל
  3. ResolutionThe second half follows רבי נחמיה
  4. ChallengeWhy would רבי נחמיה's rule apply only to שבת?
  5. RejectionDoes רבי נחמיה treat שבת and יום טוב differently?
  6. ChallengeThree conflicting teachings about burning vessels on יום טוב
  7. ProofEach teaching follows a different תנא, and the strict one is רבי נחמיה
  8. ResolutionTwo תנאים report רבי נחמיה's view differently
  9. StatementNew משנה: no making a lamp, charcoal, or cutting a wick on יום טוב
  10. QuestionWho holds that hollowing a lamp makes a vessel?
  11. Responseרב יוסף: It is רבי מאיר
  12. Rejectionאביי: A lamp may be different from a regular vessel
  13. ResolutionThe lamp can hold coins
  14. ResponseSecond version: It is רבי אליעזר ברבי צדוק
  15. ProofProof from the חרניות pots
  16. Rejectionאביי pushes back on the proof from רבי אליעזר ברבי צדוק
  17. ResolutionThe unfired lamp can hold small coins
  18. StatementA ברייתא on hollowing a lamp and making חרניות pots
  19. QuestionWhat are חרניות?
  20. QuestionWhat are ערניות? Villagers' bowls
  21. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need to forbid making charcoal?
  22. Resolutionרבי חייא: charcoal for the bathhouse that same day
  23. ChallengeIs bathing even allowed on that day?
  24. ResolutionUsing רבא's answer: sweating, before the decree
  25. QuestionWhy may a wick not be cut with a knife?