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Eruvin 28a

עירובין כ״ח ע״א

Learn Eruvin 28a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 28a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Fowl and מעשר שני through כלל ופרט וכלל, and which cheap foods may be used for an ערוב

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a challenge to the idea that fish are the difference between two ברייתות about what may be bought with מעשר שני money. A ברייתא about lashes for eating insects shows that water creatures are not 'on the earth.' So רבינא says the real difference is fowl. The 'גידולי קרקע' wording includes birds, and the 'ולד ולדות הארץ' wording excludes them because birds were created from mud. The גמרא explains both views through כלל ופרט וכלל. If the last כלל is the main one, a two-way resemblance is enough and fowl are included. If the first כלל is the main one, a three-way match is needed and fowl are excluded. Then the גמרא turns to ערוב: רב allows cheap plants like cress, purslane and sweet clover, but not green grain or unripe dates. The ruling on sweet clover is defended with three alternative answers, including the principle that ערוב food only needs to be fit for someone. רב's ban on green grain is reconciled with his later permission by saying he changed his view after coming to בבל. The גמרא then objects that בבל is not most of the world, and its answer begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אָכַל פּוּטִיתָא — לוֹקֶה אַרְבַּע.

If he ate a putita (water insect), he gets four sets of lashes.

נְמָלָה — לוֹקֶה חָמֵשׁ.

An ant: he gets five sets of lashes.

צִירְעָה — לוֹקֶה שֵׁשׁ.

A hornet: he gets six sets of lashes.

וְאִם אִיתָא —

And if it is so (that water creatures count as from the earth),

The steps (16)

  1. ChallengeThe ברייתא about lashes for eating different insects
  2. ChallengeIf water creatures were from the earth, the water insect should get more lashes
  3. Resolutionרבינא: the difference between the two ברייתות is fowl
  4. QuestionWhat is each side's reason about fowl?
  5. ResponseThe reason of the one who includes fowl: the last generalization decides
  6. ResponseThe reasoning of the view that excludes fowl
  7. StatementCheap plants that may and may not be used for an ערוב
  8. ChallengeChallenge: sweet clover is not food for everyone
  9. ResolutionAnswer: unhardened clover, for people with many children
  10. ResolutionClover works even for people without children
  11. ProofProof from a נזיר and תרומה
  12. Resolutionרב meant the clover from Media
  13. Challengeרב also allowed green grain
  14. Resolutionרב changed his ruling after coming to בבל
  15. Challengeבבל is not most of the world
  16. ResolutionOpening of the answer about what רב meant