Eruvin 68a

עירובין ס״ח ע״א

Learn Eruvin 68a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Using a non-Jew and ביטול רשות to bring water for a מילה on שבת, and the שיתוף in רבה and אביי's alleyway, including בְּרֵירָה with stored food

Overview

This amud opens by finishing an objection to רבה, who let a non-Jew carry hot water for a baby's מילה on שבת. Telling a non-Jew is only a שבות, and so is הזאה, which does not override שבת. The answer is that a שבות involving an action is stricter, and רבה only had the non-Jew carry the water, not heat it. רבה בר רב חנן then asks אביי why their alleyway has no עירוב or שיתוף. אביי explains why no one arranges it, and why he cannot make the שיתוף with his own bread or with an unmarked רביעית of vinegar in a barrel. Two ברייתות disagree about using stored food for a שיתוף. רב אושעיא explains that they follow בית שמאי and בית הלל, who argue about בְּרֵירָה, as a משנה about a corpse in a house with many doorways shows. The amud then tells two stories of a baby whose warm water for the מילה spilled. In the first, רבא allows a גוי to heat water for the mother. In the second, רבא gives up his rights in his courtyard, relying on רבי יוחנן against שמואל. רבינא's follow-up question begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ChallengeTelling a non-Jew is like sprinkling: neither overrides שבת
2. ResolutionA rabbinic prohibition with an action differs from one without an action
3. ChallengeHow can an alleyway with two great scholars lack an עירוב?
4. Resolutionאביי explains why no one arranged the עירוב
5. ResolutionWhy אביי cannot donate his own bread for the שיתוף
6. ProofA ברייתא: if a resident is refused food, the merging is void
7. ChallengeWhy not set aside a little vinegar from a barrel?
8. ResolutionFood in a storeroom cannot be used for a merging
9. ChallengeBut another ברייתא allows a storeroom
10. ResolutionOne ברייתא follows בית שמאי, the other בית הלל
11. ProofThe source: a corpse in a house with many doorways
12. ProofChoosing one exit saves the other doorways
13. ProofWhen the decision must be made: before or after death
14. Statementרבא's ruling: heat water through the mother
15. ChallengeThe mother is eating dates, so she seems healthy
16. ResolutionIt may just be a ravenous hunger
17. Statementרבא's plan to bring warm water to the baby
18. ChallengeChallenge from שמואל: giving up rights does not work between courtyards
19. Resolutionרבא follows רבי יוחנן
20. Challengeרבינא begins a follow-up challenge