Eruvin 103a

עירובין ק״ג ע״א

Learn Eruvin 103a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 103a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Fixing a broken harp string in the מקדש on שבת, and when a wart may be cut off for the מקדש service on שבת.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the discussion of a לוי's harp string that tore on שבת. The משנה allows tying it with a knot, but a ברייתא allows only a bow. The גמרא gives three answers: it is a מחלוקת between רבי שמעון and the רבנן; or both follow the רבנן and it depends on whether the string tore in the middle or at the side; or both speak of a tear in the middle and they argue about making a גזירה. Then a new משנה teaches that a wart may be cut off by hand in the מקדש on שבת, but not elsewhere, and never with a tool. The גמרא contrasts this with a משנה in פסחים that says cutting the wart of the קרבן פסח does not override שבת. Two אמוראים answer: either hand versus tool, or moist versus dry, and each defends his answer against the other. רב יוסף rejects the hand-versus-tool answer and says a שבות for the מקדש is permitted inside the מקדש but not out in the country. רב ספרא challenges this with a scroll on a threshold and with the פסח in the oven, and the גמרא answers both. Finally, רבא explains that our משנה follows רבי אליעזר, who still requires doing the act in a changed way, by hand.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. RejectionThe answer based on רבי אליעזר does not work
2. ResolutionNew answer: the sources follow רבי שמעון and the רבנן
3. ProofProof: a ברייתא where רבי שמעון and the רבנן disagree about the harp string
4. Statementרבי שמעון בן אלעזר: neither a knot nor a bow works, so rewind the string
5. ResolutionSecond answer: both follow the רבנן; middle versus side
6. ResolutionThird answer: both sources speak of a tear in the middle, and they argue about a precaution
7. StatementNew משנה: cutting off a wart on שבת
8. ChallengeContradiction from the פסח משנה: cutting a wart does not push aside שבת
9. ResolutionFirst answer: both speak of a moist wart; hand is allowed, a tool is not
10. ResolutionSecond answer: both by hand, moist versus dry
11. QuestionWhy didn't the first אמורא split by moist and dry?
12. ResponseA dry wart may be removed even with a tool
13. QuestionWhy didn't the second אמורא split by hand and tool?
14. ResponseOur משנה already forbids a tool
15. ResolutionThe משנה in פסחים repeats it to show רבי אליעזר's disagreement
16. RejectionThe wart case is grouped with rabbinic cases
17. ResolutionThe other listed cases can be תורה-level
18. Challengeרבי אליעזר calls these cases שבות
19. ResolutionBoth are by hand: the place makes the difference
20. Challengeרב ספרא challenges with the holy scroll on the threshold
21. ResolutionThe threshold case is not a שבות at all
22. Challengeרב ספרא challenges with the קרבן פסח lowered into the oven
23. Resolutionאביי is silent; רב יוסף answers that a פסח group is careful
24. ResolutionWhy אביי did not accept the 'careful people' answer
25. Resolutionרבא resolves the contradiction using רבי אליעזר's view