Beitzah 32b

ביצה ל״ב ע״ב

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

Open Beitzah 32b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Wick laws, רב נתן בר אבא's sayings on compassion and dependence, and a new משנה on kitchen preparations and building on יום טוב

Overview

The amud starts by asking why cutting a wick in two is forbidden on יום טוב, when cutting it with fire is allowed. רבי חייא explains that the fire method means lighting one long wick between two lamps. רב permits removing the burnt tip of a wick, and בר קפרא lists six wick rules: three strict and three lenient. Next comes a series of sayings by רב נתן בר אבא: the wealthy of Babylonia, who refused to help שבתאי בר מרינוס, lack the compassion that marks אברהם's children, and a person who depends on others' tables lives a dark life. A ברייתא then lists three people whose lives are 'not lives.' A new משנה lists kitchen actions forbidden on יום טוב: breaking clay or cutting paper for roasting, sweeping out an oven, setting up barrels or propping a pot, and leading an animal with a stick. The גמרא explains these rules. Sweeping is allowed when baking is impossible otherwise, and an oven may be sealed with ready-made riverbank mud or ashes. Bathroom stones may be arranged out of respect for human dignity. A bonfire may be stacked from the top down but not from the bottom up.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. ChallengeWhy is cutting a wick forbidden, if cutting with fire is allowed?
2. ResolutionThe fire method means lighting one wick between two lamps
3. Statementרב permits doing מוחטין to a wick on יום טוב
4. QuestionWhat does מוחטין mean?
5. Responseמוחטין means removing the burnt part
6. Statementבר קפרא: six rules about a wick
7. StatementThe three strict rules
8. StatementThe three lenient rules
9. StatementThe wealthy of Babylonia are headed for גיהנם
10. ProofThe story of שבתאי בר מרינוס
11. StatementThese people come from the ערב רב
12. ProofCompassion is the sign of אברהם's children
13. StatementDepending on others' tables makes the world dark
14. ProofThe פסוק about wandering for bread
15. Statementרב חסדא: his life is not a life
16. ProofA ברייתא: three whose lives are not lives
17. StatementSome add one who has only one garment
18. ResolutionWhy the first תנא leaves out the one-garment case
19. StatementNew משנה: no breaking earthenware or cutting paper
20. StatementNo sweeping the oven, but pressing down is allowed
21. StatementNo setting up barrels or propping a pot
22. StatementLeading an animal with a stick
23. ResponseWhy breaking earthenware is forbidden
24. StatementSweeping the oven is allowed if baking needs it
25. Proofרבי חייא hints to his wife to clear the oven
26. Proofרבא tells his attendant not to burn the duck
27. QuestionDid רב אשי seal his oven on יום טוב?
28. ResponseUsing ready-made riverbank mud
29. StatementOnly if the mud was set aside the day before
30. ConclusionAshes are permitted
31. StatementQuoting the משנה about barrels
32. StatementBathroom stones may be arranged on יום טוב
33. ChallengeChallenge from the barrels
34. ResolutionBarrels are different because they make a tent
35. ChallengeThen a solid bench should be allowed
36. ResolutionPermanent vs. temporary building, and human dignity
37. StatementStacking a bonfire: top-down vs. bottom-up