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Eruvin 30a

עירובין ל׳ ע״א

Learn Eruvin 30a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which foods and measures are valid for an עירוב: majority practice versus individual measures, raw foods, the meaning of מזון, vowed-off loaves, and wine for a נזיר.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing אביי's proof: in the laws of טומאה, the measure that suits rich people's clothing does not set the rule for the poor, so one group's custom (like the Persians' roasted meat) does not set the rule for עירוב. The גמרא rejects a suggestion to be strict in עירוב anyway, because רבי שמעון בן אלעזר measures an עירוב leniently for the sick, the old and the glutton. It then contrasts that ruling with his view that עוג מלך הבשן needs a doorway as big as himself, and explains that there the body simply has no other way out. Next come rulings that raw meat and raw eggs are valid for an עירוב, with a dispute over whether one egg or two is needed. The גמרא discusses the משנה about vowing off מזון, and רב הונא saves רב and שמואל by separating 'anything that nourishes' (זן) from real מזון. A long discussion follows about a loaf someone swore not to eat versus a loaf he forbade with 'עלי'. It ends with two traditions of רבי אליעזר's view. Finally, the גמרא shows that our משנה, which allows wine for a נזיר's עירוב, follows בית הלל. בית הלל's argument against בית שמאי continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֲבָל בִּגְדֵי עֲשִׁירִים לַעֲנִיִּים — לָא.

But the clothing of the rich, for the poor — no.

וְכִי תֵּימָא:

And if you say:

הָכָא לְחוּמְרָא וְהָכָא לְחוּמְרָא,

here it is a stringency and there it is a stringency,

וְהָתַנְיָא,

but wasn't it taught in a ברייתא,

The steps (34)

  1. ProofRich people's clothing is not measured by the poor
  2. ChallengeChallenge: an עירוב can be measured by the individual
  3. ConclusionThe challenge stands
  4. Challengeרבי שמעון בן אלעזר seems to contradict himself about עוג
  5. Resolutionעוג is different: there is no other way to get him out
  6. QuestionDo the Sages disagree with רבי שמעון בן אלעזר?
  7. ProofProof from רבי יוחנן: עוג's doorway is four טפחים
  8. RejectionRejection: the four-handbreadth opening is the obvious exit
  9. StatementAn עירוב may be made with raw meat or raw eggs
  10. QuestionHow many eggs are needed?
  11. ResponseOne egg or two
  12. StatementQuoting the משנה: one who vows off food may drink water
  13. ChallengeDoes the משנה refute רב and שמואל?
  14. QuestionWhy bring a second challenge?
  15. ResponseHere is one more refutation
  16. ResolutionThe vow was about anything that nourishes
  17. Challengeרבי יוחנן ate huge amounts of fruit and said he had not eaten anything nourishing
  18. ResolutionHe really said מזונא
  19. StatementA loaf you swore not to eat versus a loaf you forbade on yourself
  20. ChallengeA ברייתא seems to allow an עירוב even with a loaf forbidden by 'עלי'
  21. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about an oath on 'this' loaf
  22. ProofThe ברייתא's own wording supports reading it as an oath
  23. QuestionSo with 'עלי', is the עירוב not allowed?
  24. ChallengeThen the ברייתא should have drawn the line inside the case of a regular loaf
  25. Resolutionרב הונא could reply that the other reading has a problem with the first clause
  26. ResolutionThe ברייתא is missing words: even 'עלי' counts like an oath
  27. ChallengeThis reading still contradicts רב הונא
  28. Resolutionרב הונא follows רבי אליעזר
  29. ProofA ברייתא where רבי אליעזר splits oath and 'עלי'
  30. ChallengeAnother ברייתא has רבי אליעזר allow 'עלי'
  31. ResolutionTwo תנאים report רבי אליעזר differently
  32. StatementThe משנה follows בית הלל, not בית שמאי
  33. ProofA ברייתא shows the disagreement between בית שמאי and בית הלל
  34. Challengeבית הלל begin to argue against בית שמאי