Gemara Clarity

Eruvin 65a

עירובין ס״ה ע״א

Learn Eruvin 65a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 65a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The status of a שיכור, the need for a settled mind in תפלה and learning, and sayings about wine

Overview

This amud finishes the teaching of רבי אלעזר בן עזריה that, because of the חורבן, the Jewish people are 'drunk, but not from wine' and can be exempted from judgment. The גמרא challenges this with a ברייתא saying a שיכור is fully responsible except for תפלה, and answers that he meant only the judgment of תפלה. רבי חנינא adds that someone who reaches 'the drunkenness of לוט' is exempt from everything. רבי חנינא and רבי יוחנן then disagree about the word מפיק in a teaching that a drunk person should not pray. The practical difference is רב ששת's practice of napping and having his attendant wake him for prayer. Next comes a series of teachings that תפלה, judging, and Torah study all need a calm, clear mind, followed by sayings about whether the night is for sleep or for learning. רבי אלעזר says a traveler should not pray for three days, and some אמוראים avoided praying near strong smells. The amud ends with sayings about wine, including the teaching that plentiful wine in the home is part of the Torah's ברכה.

Opening lines

יָכוֹל אֲנִי לִפְטוֹר

I am able to exempt

אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ מִן הַדִּין

the entire world from judgment

מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ

from the day the Temple was destroyed

וְעַד עַכְשָׁיו,

until now,

The steps (33)

  1. StatementSince the חורבן, everyone can be considered 'drunk'
  2. ChallengeA ברייתא says a drunk person is fully responsible
  3. ResolutionHe meant only exemption from the judgment of תפלה
  4. StatementDrunkenness at the level of לוט exempts from everything
  5. StatementSkipping the מגן at a time of drunkenness protects from troubles
  6. QuestionHow do we know אפיק means 'passing'?
  7. ResponseProof from איוב that אפיק means passing
  8. Statementרבי יוחנן: the teaching was 'whoever does NOT מפיק'
  9. QuestionHow do we know מפיק means 'revealing'?
  10. ResponseProof from תהלים that אפיק means revealing
  11. QuestionIf both readings are supported, what is the practical difference?
  12. ResponseThe difference is the practice of רב ששת
  13. StatementSomeone with an unsettled mind should not pray
  14. Proofרבי חנינא did not pray on a day he was angry
  15. Proofמר עוקבא did not go to court on a day of hot wind
  16. StatementLearning הלכה needs a clear mind, like a clear day
  17. Statementאביי: even a small errand ruined his learning
  18. Statementרבא: even a louse bite ruined his learning
  19. Proofמר בריה דרבינא's mother made him seven garments
  20. StatementNight was created for sleep
  21. StatementThe moon was created for study
  22. Proofרבי זירא's sharp teachings came from the daytime
  23. Proofרב חסדא refuses to sleep
  24. StatementTorah scholars are day workers
  25. Proofרב אחא בר יעקב borrows and repays
  26. StatementNo prayer for three days after a journey
  27. Proofשמואל's father did not pray for three days after a trip
  28. Proofשמואל and רב פפא avoided praying near strong smells
  29. StatementSomeone calmed by wine is like his Creator
  30. StatementSomeone who stays clear-headed with wine is like the seventy elders
  31. StatementWine was created to comfort mourners and to repay the wicked
  32. StatementA home without plentiful wine is not yet included in the blessing
  33. ProofProving that 'water' in the verse means wine