Eruvin 27a

עירובין כ״ז ע״א

Learn Eruvin 27a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

רבי יוחנן's rule אין למדין מן הכללות, with proofs from three משניות, and whether a water-and-salt mixture counts for עירוב and for מעשר שני.

Overview

The amud opens with the last words of the משנה: רבי יהודה lets a כהן put his עירוב in a cemetery, because he can shield himself and go eat it. The גמרא then quotes רבי יוחנן: we do not learn from general statements in a משנה, even when the משנה lists exceptions with the word חוץ. From the word 'even', the גמרא concludes that his main case was the משנה in קידושין about מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא, which says כל and has no חוץ. It shows that this rule has exceptions in both directions: מצה, שמחה and הקהל obligate women, while תלמוד תורה, פריה ורביה and פדיון הבן do not. אביי (or רבי ירמיה) proves the 'even with חוץ' part from a משנה about a זב, whose list leaves out the מרכב, the handle of a saddle. רבינא (or רב נחמן) brings a second proof from our own משנה, whose list of foods not allowed for an עירוב leaves out truffles and mushrooms. Next the גמרא discusses a teaching that water and salt mixed together are allowed. One אמורא says it is about עירוב and the other says it is about buying with מעשר שני money, which needs real produce. רבי יצחק taught the מעשר version, and a ברייתא about fish brine challenges him. רב יוסף begins to answer, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementEnd of the משנה: why a כהן's עירוב can be placed in a cemetery
2. Statementרבי יוחנן: general rules in a משנה are not absolute
3. QuestionThe word 'even' shows he meant a different משנה
4. ResponseHe was referring to the משנה about time-bound מצוות
5. ChallengeTime-bound מצוות that women must still do
6. ChallengeNon-time-bound מצוות that women are exempt from
7. ConclusionThat is why רבי יוחנן said we cannot learn from general rules
8. ProofA proof from a משנה about a זב that uses חוץ
9. ChallengeThe list leaves out the מרכב
10. QuestionIs a riding item really different from a seat?
11. ResponseThe front handle of a saddle is a riding item, not a seat
12. ConclusionProof confirmed: even a חוץ list is not complete
13. ProofA second proof from our own משנה about עירוב
14. ChallengeTruffles and mushrooms are missing from the list
15. ConclusionConclusion: general rules are not complete, even with an exceptions list
16. StatementTwo Amoraim: where the teaching about water and salt belongs
17. StatementThe eruv version: water and salt together are allowed
18. StatementThe maaser version: water and salt together may be bought
19. StatementHow the two versions relate to each other
20. QuestionWhy is מעשר שני stricter?
21. Responseמעשר שני requires real produce
22. Statementרבי יצחק teaches the version about מעשר
23. ChallengeThe testimony about buying fish brine with מעשר money
24. ChallengeEven the lenient view was only about brine