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Eruvin 103b

עירובין ק״ג ע״ב

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

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Topic

Proving רבי אליעזר's rule from a כהן's wart, and wrapping a כהן's injured finger in the מקדש: extra garments (יתור בגדים) and barriers (חציצה)

Overview

The גמרא looks for a source that רבי אליעזר holds: even when preparations for a מצוה (מכשירי מצוה) override שבת, we still change the method as much as possible. It brings a ברייתא: a fellow כהן may bite off a כהן's wart (יבלת) in the מקדש, but not with a tool, and the כהן may not do it himself. The גמרא first suggests the ברייתא could follow the רבנן, with the 'fellow כהן' detail reflecting only where the wart is. But then it asks why the רבנן would not allow removing the wart by hand. It concludes that only רבי אליעזר explains the ban on the hand, as a safeguard against using a tool. A new משנה follows: a כהן with an injured finger may wrap it with a reed (גמי) in the מקדש, but not outside it. The גמרא discusses whether a small sash (צלצול קטן) is also allowed, either as a question of an extra garment (יתור בגדים) or of a barrier (חציצה). It brings רב חסדא's size rule of 3x3 fingerbreadths. A second version of the dispute between רב יהודה בריה דרבי חייא and רבי יוחנן begins here and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מַאי הִיא, דְּתַנְיָא:

What is it (the source)? As it was taught:

כֹּהֵן שֶׁעָלְתָה בּוֹ יַבֶּלֶת —

A priest who grew a wart

חֲבֵירוֹ חוֹתְכָהּ לוֹ בְּשִׁינָּיו.

his fellow cuts it off for him with his teeth.

בְּשִׁינָּיו — אִין, בִּכְלִי — לָא.

With his teeth, yes; with a tool, no.

The steps (20)

  1. ProofThe source: a ברייתא about a כהן with a wart
  2. StatementReading the limits in the ברייתא
  3. ChallengeIt cannot be the רבנן, since they would see no difference
  4. ProofSo it must be רבי אליעזר, who changes the method when possible
  5. RejectionNo, it can be the רבנן; it depends on where the wart is
  6. ResolutionDefining the case: a wart the כהן cannot reach himself
  7. ChallengeIf the רבנן, why not by hand? And it would settle רבי אלעזר's view
  8. ChallengeCounter-question: רבי אליעזר should also allow the hand
  9. Rejectionרבי אליעזר forbids the hand as a safeguard; the רבנן have no reason to
  10. StatementNew משנה: a כהן with an injured finger
  11. StatementOnly a reed is allowed, not a small sash
  12. StatementAn extra garment is only a problem where priestly garments are worn
  13. ChallengeShouldn't the bandage be forbidden as a barrier?
  14. ResolutionThe wound is on the left hand
  15. ResolutionOr on the right hand, but not where it touches the service
  16. Statementרבא quotes רב חסדא on when a covering is a problem
  17. QuestionDoes רב חסדא also argue with רב יהודה בריה דרבי חייא?
  18. ResponseA small sash is different because it is significant
  19. StatementAnother version of רב יהודה בריה דרבי חייא's ruling
  20. Statementרבי יוחנן limits small barriers to the area of the garments