Eruvin 63a

עירובין ס״ג ע״א

Learn Eruvin 63a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

A student ruling during his רב's lifetime or in his presence: the תלמיד חבר exception, checking a שחיטה knife, stopping an איסור, and the punishments for ruling before one's רב

Overview

This amud deals with a student who gives halachic rulings (הוראה) while his רב is alive or present. רבינא checked a שחיטה knife, and he defends himself by saying he is רב אשי's תלמיד חבר, just as רב המנונא was to רב חסדא. רבא rules that a צורבא מרבנן may check a knife for himself, and two stories test that rule. In one, רבינא sends his host's knife to רבא because he is only buying the meat. In the other, רבי אלעזר מהגרוניא is punished for checking a knife in רב אחא בר יעקב's town. רבא adds that a student may speak up even in front of his רב to stop an איסור, because where there is חילול השם the רב's honor is set aside. He then says that ruling in the רב's presence carries מיתה, while ruling away from him is only forbidden, and the גמרא defends this against the story of יהודה בן גוריא. The amud ends with a series of teachings on how severe it is to rule before one's רב: a snake bite, being called a חוטא, אלעזר הכהן being lowered from his greatness, and dying childless. Along the way there is a side teaching that giving all one's priestly gifts to one כהן brings famine.

Opening lines

The steps (43)

1. Statementרב המנונא ruled in חרתא דארגז while רב חסדא was alive
2. Statementרבינא checks a slaughterer's knife in Babylonia
3. Challengeרב אשי asks רבינא why he did this
4. Proofרבינא cites רב המנונא as precedent
5. Rejectionרב אשי says the report was that רב המנונא did not rule
6. ResolutionBoth reports are true: no rulings under רב הונא, rulings under רב חסדא
7. Conclusionרבינא is also רב אשי's student-colleague
8. StatementA Torah scholar may check a knife for himself
9. Statementרבינא sends his host's knife to רבא
10. ChallengeThe host asks why רבינא doesn't rely on רבא's rule
11. Resolutionרבינא explains that he is only a buyer
12. StatementA memory aid for the next story
13. Statementרב אחא בריה דרב איקא shows his guests a knife
14. QuestionShould we not respect the Elder?
15. Responseרבי אלעזר cites רבא's rule
16. StatementHe checked the knife and was punished
17. ChallengeBut רבא allowed it
18. ResolutionThey had already raised his honor
19. Resolutionרב אחא בר יעקב was exceptionally great
20. StatementTo stop an איסור, one may rule even before his teacher
21. Statementרבינא sees a man tie his donkey to a tree on שבת
22. Statementרבינא declares the man excommunicated
23. Questionרבינא asks if his outburst was disrespectful
24. ResponseNo honor for the teacher when God's name is desecrated
25. Statementרבא distinguishes ruling in the teacher's presence and away from him
26. ChallengeChallenge from the death of Aaron's sons
27. Challengeרבי אליעזר's student who ruled and died
28. Challengeרבי אליעזר explains his prediction to his wife
29. ChallengeThe student was three parasangs away
30. ResolutionThe ruling was actually in his presence
31. ChallengeBut he said three parasangs away
32. ResolutionDetails were given so it would not seem like a parable
33. StatementRuling before one's teacher deserves a snake bite
34. StatementOne who rules before his teacher is called a sinner
35. ChallengeContradiction between two verses of David
36. ResolutionSilent while his teacher lived, public after
37. StatementGiving all gifts to one priest brings famine
38. ChallengeWas he a priest only for David?
39. ResolutionDavid sent all his gifts to Ira, and famine followed
40. StatementOne who rules before his teacher is lowered from greatness
41. StatementEven crediting משה did not save Elazar
42. ProofHow אלעזר was lowered: יהושע never needed him
43. Statementרבי לוי: answering in front of one's teacher leads to dying childless