Eruvin 64b

עירובין ס״ד ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 64b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 64b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Windfall money and מצוות, sobering up from wine, and lessons from רבן גמליאל's journey

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a list: when money comes easily, such as a husband's profit from נכסי אשתו, a big business gain, or a מציאה, a person should spend part of it on a מצוה like a ספר תורה or even תפילין, and a פסוק about Israel's vow is brought as a hint. The גמרא then turns to wine. רמי בר אבא says walking a מיל or a short sleep wears off wine, and רב נחמן limits this to someone who drank a רביעית. The גמרא challenges this with a ברייתא about רבן גמליאל, who had a man follow them three מילין before he would release the man's vow after drinking Italian wine. The ברייתא also teaches side lessons: רבן גמליאל's רוח הקודש, not passing by food, following the majority, a gentile's חמץ after פסח, and releasing vows only while sitting. The גמרא answers that Italian wine is stronger, and that riding is different from walking. It explains the need to sit for releasing vows as a dispute between תנאים about whether חרטה alone is enough. It then limits the rule about passing by food because of the fear of witchcraft: whole loaves may be passed by, but pieces may not. The amud ends by introducing a teaching of רב ששת in the name of רבי אלעזר בן עזריה, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementThe last item on the list: a husband who gains from his wife's property
2. StatementAdding more cases of easy money: business profit and a found object
3. StatementEven writing תפילין with the money is enough
4. ProofA verse hint: Israel's vow before battle
5. StatementWalking a מיל or a short sleep wears off wine
6. StatementThis only works for someone who drank a רביעית
7. ChallengeDoes walking a מיל really remove wine's effect? A story begins
8. Proofרבן גמליאל finds loaves and tells a gentile by name to take them
9. Proofרבי אילעאי questions the gentile and learns רבן גמליאל never met him
10. Conclusionרבן גמליאל knew the name through divine inspiration
11. StatementThree lessons from the story: first, do not pass by food
12. StatementSecond and third lessons: follow the majority, and a gentile's חמץ after פסח
13. ProofA man asks to release his vow, and רבן גמליאל delays
14. ProofAfter three מילין, רבן גמליאל sits and releases the vow
15. StatementFour lessons learned from the vow episode
16. ChallengeBut the ברייתא says it took three מילין
17. ResolutionItalian wine is stronger
18. ChallengeTravel should make a person who drank a lot even drunker
19. ResolutionRiding is different from walking
20. ResolutionThe same answer also resolves the question on רמי בר אבא
21. ChallengeWhy did רבן גמליאל get off his donkey to release the vow?
22. ResolutionIt is a dispute between תנאים about how a vow is released
23. ResolutionThe other opinion: regret alone cannot open a vow
24. ProofThe actual opening רבן גמליאל used
25. StatementPassing by food applied only in earlier generations
26. StatementWhole loaves may be passed by, pieces may not
27. ChallengeA verse suggests sorcery was done with pieces of bread
28. ResolutionThe pieces were the sorcerers' payment
29. StatementIntroducing a teaching of רבי אלעזר בן עזריה through רב ששת