Gittin 54a

גיטין נ״ד ע״א

Learn Gittin 54a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 54a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When the רבנן penalize accidental sins: רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה on שביעית, שבת and other cases

Overview

Just before this amud, רבי מאיר taught that a tree planted on שבת by accident may stay, but a tree planted during שביעית must be uprooted even if it was an accident. He gives two reasons. First, people count years from שביעית but not days from שבת. Second, people were suspected of breaking שביעית but not שבת. The גמרא explains that the second reason is needed because sometimes the exact planting day, even a שבת, does matter. It then explains why רבי יהודה did not penalize for שביעית: in his area people already took it very seriously, as a story about an insult shows. Next, a ברייתא about paying back תרומה with impure חולין seems to show that רבי מאיר does not penalize accidental sinners. The גמרא answers that a person who slips up while trying to do a good act, like paying back, atoning, tithing or purifying utensils, is never penalized. Finally, the גמרא begins a contradiction between two statements of רבי יהודה about rabbinic laws, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. StatementNo one counts from שבת
2. StatementA second reason: people were suspected about שביעית but not about שבת
3. QuestionWhy was a second reason needed?
4. ResponseSometimes the day of planting, even שבת, does matter
5. ConclusionThat is why the second reason is needed
6. ResolutionNo contradiction between רבי יהודה's two rulings
7. ProofA story showing how seriously they took שביעית
8. StatementA ברייתא about paying back impure תרומה
9. ChallengeWhy shouldn't an on-purpose impure payment count?
10. ResolutionThe ברייתא is missing words: the argument is only about pure תרומה
11. ChallengeDoes this show רבי מאיר does not penalize accidental sinners?
12. ResolutionThis case is different because the man was trying to pay
13. ProofTest case: impure blood sprinkled on the מזבח
14. RejectionThe blood case is different because the person wanted to atone
15. ProofA proof from someone who tithes on שבת
16. RejectionThe tithing case is different because the person wanted to fix his food
17. ProofA proof from someone who immerses utensils on שבת
18. RejectionThe immersion case is different because the person wanted to purify the utensils
19. ChallengeSetting up a contradiction between two statements of רבי יהודה