Beitzah 33b

ביצה ל״ג ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 33b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 33b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Cutting spice wood and toothpicks on שבת and יום טוב, and lines of the משנה about gathering fuel, making fire and heating tiles

Overview

The amud opens with רב יהודה's rule that animal fodder carries no problem of תיקון כלי. רב כהנא challenges him from a בריתא about spice wood. The גמרא explains that the בריתא is missing words and is really teaching two cases: soft wood may be cut to smell it, but hard wood may not. רב אחא בר יעקב objects that cutting hard wood should be no worse than breaking a חבית to get figs, and adds that רב יהודה himself broke off hard spice sticks. The גמרא answers that this depends on a מחלוקת between רבי אליעזר and the חכמים about breaking off a toothpick. Cutting wood just to smell it is one level more lenient than cutting a toothpick under each opinion. רב אשי then explains that the חבית משנה is about a barrel that was already patched, so it fits רבי אליעזר too. The גמרא then explains three more lines of the משנה: gathering fuel from the courtyard, why one may not make new fire on יום טוב, and the ban on heating new tiles, whose reason continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. StatementAnimal fodder has no problem of making a utensil
2. Challengeרב כהנא's challenge from the spice-wood בריתא
3. Resolutionרב יהודה: the בריתא is about hard wood
4. ChallengeCan hard wood be crushed by hand?
5. ResolutionThe בריתא is missing words: soft wood versus hard wood
6. ChallengeTwo teachings contradict each other about cutting spice wood to smell it
7. ResolutionSoft wood may be cut, hard wood may not
8. ChallengeWhy should hard wood be any worse than breaking a barrel?
9. Challengeרב יהודה himself broke off hard spice sticks
10. ResolutionIt depends on a מחלוקת between רבי אליעזר and the חכמים
11. ProofThe ברייתא about toothpicks: רבי אליעזר's strict view
12. StatementThe חכמים: breaking off a toothpick is only a rabbinic ban
13. ConclusionApplying the מחלוקת to cutting wood for smelling
14. ChallengeDoes רבי אליעזר reject the barrel-breaking משנה?
15. Resolutionרב אשי: the barrel was already patched
16. StatementGathering kindling from the courtyard
17. QuestionWhat is the argument about?
18. ResponseLooks like storing vs. the pot proves it
19. QuestionWhy no new fire on יום טוב?
20. ResponseBecause it creates something new
21. QuestionWhat is wrong with heating tiles?
22. Responseרבי יוחנן: the case is about new tiles