Eruvin 46a

עירובין מ״ו ע״א

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Topic

Moving water and שביתה; why רבי יהושע בן לוי ruled both like רבי יוחנן בן נורי and like the lenient view in עירוב; whether one-against-many matters in rabbinic law

Overview

The גמרא finishes its discussion of rain that falls on יום טוב. It rejects the idea that the water did not yet exist, because then it would be נולד and forbidden. Instead it says that water in clouds, and in the ocean, is always moving, so it never acquires שביתה. A ברייתא supports this: flowing rivers and springs are like the feet of whoever draws from them. Then רבי יהושע בן לוי rules that the הלכה follows רבי יוחנן בן נורי, and he also says that the הלכה follows the lenient view in עירוב. The גמרא explains why both rulings were needed: the general rule limits us to his leniencies, and the specific ruling shows we follow a lone lenient view even against the majority. רבא asks why the number of sages should matter in a rabbinic law. Two challengers prove that it does matter: רבי relied on the lone רבי אלעזר only בשעת הדחק, and רבי יוחנן followed the lone רבי עקיבא in mourning only because of a special rule to be lenient in אבל.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ChallengeIf the water was not yet formed, it would be forbidden as newly created
2. ResolutionWater in the clouds is always moving
3. ResolutionThe same answer solves the ocean question
4. ProofA ברייתא: flowing water belongs to everyone's feet
5. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי יוחנן בן נורי
6. QuestionDid you hear it explicitly or by inference?
7. ResponseI heard it explicitly
8. QuestionWhat general rule could it have been inferred from?
9. ResponseThe general rule: follow the lenient view in עירוב
10. QuestionWhy were both rulings needed?
11. ResponseThe general rule limits the specific ruling to leniencies
12. ChallengeThen why not state only the general rule?
13. ResolutionThe specific ruling covers one opinion against many
14. Challengeרבא: In Rabbinic Law, Lone vs. Many Shouldn't Matter
15. Challengeרב פפא: Even in Rabbinic Law the Distinction Exists
16. ProofThe משנה: רבי אלעזר on a Woman Who Missed Three Cycles
17. Proofרבי Relied on רבי אלעזר Only in a Pressing Situation
18. QuestionWhat did רבי suddenly remember?
19. ResponseHe remembered that רבי אלעזר stood alone against many
20. ChallengeA second challenge to רבא about rabbinic laws
21. ProofThe ברייתא about near and distant news of a death
22. ProofDefining a near report and a far report: רבי עקיבא against the חכמים
23. Proofרבי יוחנן rules like the lone רבי עקיבא as an exception
24. StatementWhy the exception: רבי יוחנן agrees with שמואל on mourning
25. ConclusionOutside mourning, one-against-many matters even in rabbinic law