Eruvin 97a

עירובין צ״ז ע״א

Learn Eruvin 97a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Found תפילין on שבת, knots and bows, checking תפילין bought from an unproven seller, and the משנה's rules for bundles and danger

Overview

This amud deals with תפילין. It opens with the end of a ברייתא about תפילין found outside on שבת: רבי מאיר lets the finder bring in new or old ones by wearing them, while רבי יהודה allows only old ones. The גמרא first reads the dispute as a question of whether people make amulets that look like תפילין. A teaching of אבוה דשמואל בר רב יצחק then shows that 'new' means real תפילין whose straps are not yet knotted, so the real issue is tying a knot on שבת. On the question 'why not tie a bow?', רב חסדא says a bow is invalid for תפילין, and אביי says רבי יהודה holds a bow counts as a full knot. Next, רב rules that someone buying תפילין from an unproven seller checks three, from both the arm and head kinds, and the גמרא connects this to how many times it takes to set a חזקה, including the view of רבי and the special case of bundles. Finally, the גמרא explains the משנה's terms צבתים and כריכות, when one brings found תפילין in pair by pair or waits until dark, and how the rule in a time of danger depends on whether the danger comes from גוים or from bandits.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. Statementרבי מאיר and רבי יהודה on new and old tefillin
2. ProofInference that the תנאים disagree about whether a person bothers to make a fake
3. RejectionRedefining new and old: everyone agrees no one makes fakes
4. ChallengeWhy not just tie a bow?
5. Resolutionרב חסדא: a bow is invalid for tefillin
6. Resolutionאביי: for רבי יהודה a bow counts as a real knot
7. ChallengeHow could a bow be good enough for תפילין?
8. ResolutionThe bow is tied in the shape of the real knot
9. StatementChecking תפילין bought from someone who is not a proven expert
10. ChallengeIf bought from one person, he should check three of the same kind
11. ChallengeThe other side: if he bought from several sellers, every pair needs checking
12. ResolutionOne seller, who must prove himself on both kinds
13. Challengeרבה בר שמואל's ברייתא seems to say three of one kind
14. RejectionNo: three total, some arm and some head
15. Challengeרב כהנא's ברייתא says only two
16. ResolutionThat ברייתא follows רבי: a חזקה comes after two times
17. ChallengeBut the same ברייתא mentions a third bundle
18. Resolutionרבי agrees that bundles come from different sellers
19. ChallengeThen the fourth and fifth should need checking too
20. ResolutionYes, all bundles are checked; 'third' only blocks a חזקה
21. QuestionWhat are צבתים and כריכות?
22. ResponseBoth are multiple pairs, arranged differently
23. ChallengeWhy wait until dark? Bring them in pair by pair!
24. ResolutionPair by pair only if he can finish before sunset
25. StatementQuoting the משנה's rule for a time of danger
26. ChallengeA ברייתא gives a different rule for danger
27. ResolutionTwo kinds of danger: gentiles versus bandits