Eruvin 43b

עירובין מ״ג ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 43b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The נזיר-on-the-day-משיח-comes ברייתא and תחומין above ten טפחים; רבן גמליאל's measuring tube; נחמיה outside the תחום and the human partition.

Overview

The גמרא is trying to answer whether תחומין (the שבת travel limits) apply in the air, more than ten טפחים above the ground. It uses a ברייתא about someone who vowed to be a נזיר on the day בן דוד comes: he may drink wine on שבת and יום טוב but not on weekdays. First it seems the ברייתא proves יש תחומין. Then the גמרא suggests a different reason: אליהו comes the day before משיח, and there is a promise that אליהו never comes on ערב שבת or ערב יום טוב. Next the גמרא asks why Sunday is not permitted, which seems to prove אין תחומין. It answers that the תנא was unsure about תחומין and ruled strictly, so the ברייתא proves nothing either way. The גמרא then explains that the permission applies only when the vow was made on שבת or יום טוב itself. Next it returns to the משנה about רבן גמליאל's boat. It explains that he had a tube for measuring 2,000 אמות, and adds some practical measuring tricks. Finally it tells of נחמיה, who walked past the תחום while learning, and רב נחמן's advice to make a human partition. It then begins asking what רב חסדא's exact doubt was, a discussion that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementThe vow-keeper may not drink wine on weekdays
2. ProofThe ברייתא seems to prove that תחומין apply in the air
3. RejectionA different reason: אליהו must come the day before
4. ChallengeThen weekdays should be allowed too
5. ChallengeWeekdays are forbidden because אליהו may have come quietly to the court
6. ChallengeThe same worry should apply to שבת
7. Resolutionאליהו Will Not Come on ערב שבת
8. ChallengeShould Wine Also Be Allowed on Friday?
9. Resolutionמשיח Can Still Come on Friday
10. ChallengeShould Wine Be Allowed on Sunday?
11. ProofA Proof That There Are No תחומין Above Ten טפחים
12. RejectionThe תנא Was Unsure, So He Ruled Strictly
13. QuestionWhen did the person make his vow?
14. ChallengeA weekday vow cannot work
15. ResponseHe vowed on שבת or יום טוב
16. StatementBack to the משנה: the boat that reached port late
17. Statementרבן גמליאל's measuring tube
18. StatementUsing a tube to measure a valley's depth
19. StatementUsing shadows to measure a palm tree's height
20. StatementAngling a grave so animals won't rest in its shade
21. Statementנחמיה walks past the Shabbat limit while learning
22. Questionרב חסדא tells רב נחמן that his student is stuck
23. Responseרב נחמן: Make a human wall so he can come back in
24. QuestionWhat exactly was רב חסדא unsure about?
25. ResponseFirst suggestion: Was the question whether the law follows רבן גמליאל?