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Kereisos 19b

כריתות י״ט ע״ב

Keritot 19b

Learn Kereisos 19b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The law of a מתעסק on שבת and in other איסורים, רבי יוסי on work done at בין השמשות, and when an אשם תלוי is brought.

Overview

The גמרא first asks which case the rule 'a מתעסק is exempt' is about. It answers that the rule teaches a specific שבת case, which differs for אביי and רבא depending on how much intent to cut is needed. Next it explains רבי יוסי's claim that work done at בין השמשות is פטור because it is split across two days. He holds to this even for a quick lifting. רב יוסף then answers a question from רבי אליעזר's weaving rule. The גמרא then turns to the אשם תלוי. רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון read the same פסוק differently, and a ברייתא proves that רבי שמעון requires an אשם תלוי even when it is unclear whether one sinned at all. Finally, שמואל rules that a מתעסק is liable for חלבים and עריות because he had pleasure, but exempt on שבת because only מלאכת מחשבת is forbidden. He defends this rule against two challenges: the case of the two babies, which is about wounding, and the case of picking the wrong fruit.

Opening lines

מִתְעַסֵּק דְּמַאי?

One who acts unawares — regarding what?

אִי דַּחֲלָבִים וַעֲרָיוֹת – חַיָּיב,

If it is about forbidden fats and forbidden relations — he is liable,

דְּאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל:

as Rav Naḥman said that Shmuel said:

הַמִּתְעַסֵּק בַּחֲלָבִים וַעֲרָיוֹת – חַיָּיב,

One who acts unawares with forbidden fats and forbidden relations is liable,

The steps (30)

  1. QuestionWhich case is the exemption talking about?
  2. ChallengeIt cannot mean forbidden fats or forbidden relations
  3. ChallengeFor שבת the exemption is already obvious
  4. ResolutionIt refers to a specific שבת case, different for רבא and אביי
  5. ProofEveryone agrees: meant to lift, but cut, is exempt
  6. StatementThe dispute: meant to cut a detached plant, but cut an attached one
  7. Statementרבי יוסי's view and his reply to the חכמים
  8. QuestionWhat did the חכמים say to him?
  9. ResponseThey asked about lifting at בין השמשות
  10. ChallengeWhy didn't he say lifting is also split?
  11. ResolutionHe meant: your question gained nothing
  12. ChallengeDoes רבי אליעזר really exempt finishing a מלאכה?
  13. ProofProof from weaving one thread
  14. Resolutionרבי יוסי had a different version of the weaving teaching
  15. Statementרבי יהודה: רבי יהושע exempts even from an אשם תלוי
  16. StatementThe verse source for רבי יהודה's view
  17. Rejectionרבי שמעון reads the same verse the opposite way
  18. Statementרבי שמעון leaves the pure doubt case open
  19. QuestionWhat was decided about the open question
  20. ProofA ברייתא that puts both cases together
  21. ConclusionThe ברייתא follows רבי שמעון, so he requires an אשם תלוי even in a pure doubt
  22. StatementThe משנה's final clause: the פסוק excludes a מתעסק
  23. Statementשמואל's rule: a מתעסק is liable for fats and forbidden relations but exempt on שבת
  24. Challengeרבא brings the case of the two babies
  25. ChallengeEven רבי יהושע would hold a regular מתעסק liable
  26. ResolutionWounding is a special case
  27. ChallengeA new challenge from picking the wrong fruit
  28. ChallengeEven רבי יהושע would hold him liable within one type
  29. Resolutionשמואל reads the משנה as a forgetful picker
  30. ResolutionWhy רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע disagree