Eruvin 38b

עירובין ל״ח ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 38b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 38b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

עירוב תחומין for שבת next to יום טוב: one קדושה or two, רב's ruling, and רבה's rule of הכנה tested by אביי

Overview

This amud deals with עירוב תחומין when שבת and יום טוב (or two days of יום טוב) fall back to back, and asks whether they are one קדושה or two. A ברייתא ends with a doubtful view in which the person is 'a donkey driver and a camel driver' and must be strict both ways. רבן שמעון בן גמליאל and רבי ישמעאל then say one עירוב covers both days. רב rules like 'four זקנים' and like רבי אליעזר that the days are שתי קדושות, and the גמרא defends his list: it reverses the names in the ברייתא, reads them as agreeing with רבי, and says רב had a direct tradition. רב חסדא then points out that רב also forbade an egg laid on one day on the other, which sounds like one קדושה. רבה answers that the egg is forbidden because of הכנה, since one holy day may not prepare for another, and a ברייתא backs this rule. אביי tests the rule of הכנה several times, and רבה answers each challenge: the עירוב takes effect at the start of שבת, the food must be fit while it is still day, the two עירובין sit 1,000 אמות out, and an עירוב made with one's feet needs only silent sitting, which works even according to the רבנן. The amud ends as רבה בר רב חנין begins quoting a ברייתא against רבה, and that quote continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementStuck between two directions
2. StatementTwo sages: one עירוב covers both days
3. Statementרב rules: two separate קדושות
4. StatementWho are the four זקנים
5. StatementAnother version of the list
6. ChallengeBut these two sages said the opposite
7. ResolutionReverse the ברייתא
8. ChallengeAfter the switch, they seem to agree with רבי
9. ResolutionRead it as 'and so too said רבן שמעון בן גמליאל'
10. ChallengeWhy not count רבי among the elders?
11. Resolutionרבי taught it but did not hold it
12. ChallengeMaybe the other רבנן also only taught it
13. Resolutionרב had a direct tradition
14. Challengeרב חסדא begins to contradict רב's rulings
15. Challengeרב's ruling on the egg seems to treat the two days as one
16. ResolutionThe egg is forbidden because of preparation, not one sanctity
17. ProofA ברייתא shows that one holy day may not prepare for another
18. ChallengeThe עירוב in our משנה seems to be preparing from יום טוב for שבת
19. ResolutionThe עירוב takes effect at the start of שבת, so שבת prepares for itself
20. ChallengeIf so, an עירוב should work with wine that only becomes permitted at night
21. ResolutionAn עירוב needs food that is edible while it is still day
22. Challengeרבי אליעזר's two עירובין seem to lack a meal usable while it is still day
23. ResolutionThe two עירובין are only a thousand אמות from town
24. Challengeרב יהודה's ruling seems to require preparing on יום טוב for שבת
25. ResolutionHe walks there silently and sits
26. Challengeרבה's answer only fits רבי יוחנן בן נורי
27. Resolutionרבה's view works even according to the רבנן
28. Challengeרבה בר רב חנין begins a challenge from a ברייתא about walking in one's field