Beitzah 3a

ביצה ג׳ ע״א

Learn Beitzah 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 3a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why an egg laid on יום טוב is forbidden: the comparisons of רב יוסף and רבי יצחק, the problem of גזרה לגזרה, and the proof that רבי יוחנן agrees with רבי יצחק

Overview

This amud continues the גמרא's search for why an egg laid on יום טוב is forbidden. רב יוסף compares the egg to פירות הנושרין, fruit that fell from a tree. רבי יצחק compares it to משקין שזבו, juice that seeped out of fruit. Each comparison is challenged as a גזרה לגזרה, a decree on top of a decree. Each challenge is answered the same way: the egg was part of one single original decree. The גמרא then explains why these אמוראים did not follow רב נחמן or רבה. It also explains why רב יוסף and רבי יצחק each preferred his own comparison: one says food matches food, the other says something hidden inside matches something hidden inside. Finally, the גמרא proves that רבי יוחנן agrees with רבי יצחק. רבי יוחנן set רבי יהודה's ruling on juice against his ruling on the egg as a contradiction, and that shows both rulings rest on one reason.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ResponseWhy fallen fruit is forbidden: he might climb and pick
2. ChallengeA decree on top of a decree?
3. ResolutionIt was all one decree
4. Statementרבי יצחק: The egg is like juice that seeped out
5. Questionאביי asks: Why is seeped juice forbidden?
6. ChallengeAgain: a decree on top of a decree?
7. ResolutionAgain: it was all one decree
8. ConclusionWhy no one followed רב נחמן
9. ConclusionWhy the others did not follow רבה
10. QuestionWhy did רב יוסף not explain like רבי יצחק?
11. Responseרב יוסף: an egg is food, just like fruit
12. QuestionWhy did רבי יצחק not explain like רב יוסף?
13. Responseרבי יצחק: an egg is hidden inside, just like juice
14. Statementרבי יוחנן also holds the decree is because of juice
15. ProofThe proof: רבי יוחנן's contradiction in רבי יהודה
16. ProofFirst source: the משנה about squeezing fruit on שבת
17. ProofInference: For רבי יהודה, all food that comes out of food is 'separated food'
18. ChallengeA contradicting ruling of רבי יהודה about two-day יום טוב
19. ChallengeThe contradiction: only on the second day, not the first
20. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: The opinions are reversed
21. ProofThe contradiction itself proves the egg and the juice share one reason