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Kereisos 20a

כריתות כ׳ ע״א

Keritot 20a

Learn Kereisos 20a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kereisos 20a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether a מתעסק on שבת is פטור, the order of planned acts, and why stoking coals might bring one חטאת or two.

Overview

רב אושעיא challenges שמואל's rule that everyone agrees a מתעסק on שבת is פטור. He argues that רבי יהודה's grapes-and-figs case seems to repeat the two Shimons' view, so maybe רבי יהודה holds a מתעסק is חייב. The גמרא answers that everyone agrees a מתעסק is פטור. Instead, the opinions differ about a picker who forgot his plan (שכח מלקט מלבו): the Shimons limit the argument to two categories, while רבי יהודה says it applies to one category too. רבא gives another answer: the difference is someone who did his planned acts in the reverse order, and a ברייתא about two candles supports the idea that order matters. Next comes a ברייתא about stoking coals on שבת: the תנא קמא says one חטאת, while רבי אליעזר ברבי צדוק says two, for putting out the top coals and lighting the bottom ones. The גמרא asks what case fits both opinions. רבי אלעזר and רבי חנינא, backed by רבי יוחנן, explain it as a blacksmith (נפח), and say the argument is whether מקלקל בהבערה is חייב. A second explanation, from אמי בר אבין and רב חנניא בר אבין, begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מֵתִיב רַב אוֹשַׁעְיָא:

Rav Oshaya raised an objection:

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן שֵׁזוּרִי וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמְרִים:

Rabbi Shimon Shezuri and Rabbi Shimon say:

לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ עַל דָּבָר

They did not disagree about a matter

שֶׁהוּא מִשֵּׁם אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא חַיָּיב,

that is of one category, that he is liable;

The steps (15)

  1. Challengeרב אושעיא quotes the view of the two Shimons
  2. ChallengeWhat does רבי יהודה add?
  3. ChallengeSuggestion: רבי יהודה holds a מתעסק is liable
  4. RejectionNo: everyone agrees a מתעסק is exempt
  5. ResolutionThe real argument: a picker who forgot his intention
  6. ResolutionThey argue only about two categories, but רבי יהודה says they argue about both
  7. Resolutionרבא: The difference is doing the second act first
  8. ProofA ברייתא about two candles shows that order matters
  9. ChallengeIsn't the one-breath ruling obvious?
  10. ResolutionIt is needed because the order might seem reversed
  11. StatementStoking coals on שבת: one חטאת or two
  12. ChallengeWhat case is this? Either way one opinion seems hard
  13. ResolutionThe argument is whether damaging kindling is exempt
  14. Proofרבי יוחנן agrees: the case is a blacksmith
  15. ResolutionAnother pair of אמוראים begins a different explanation