Gemara Clarity

Moed Katan 23b

מועד קטן כ״ג ע״ב

Learn Moed Katan 23b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Moed Katan 23b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Is there אבילות on שבת? Proofs from the משנה's wording and from a ברייתא about an אונן on שבת, both of which turn out not to decide the question.

Overview

The גמרא presents two opinions: one holds there is some אבילות on שבת, and the other holds there is none. Each side points to a different phrase in the משנה. One side relies on 'עולה' (שבת counts toward the mourning days), and the other relies on 'אינה מפסקת' (שבת does not interrupt them). Each side explains away the other's phrase as wording chosen only to match the סיפא about the רגלים, so the משנה does not settle the question. The גמרא then suggests that the question is an older dispute between תנאים, found in a ברייתא about an אונן whose dead lies before him. On weekdays the אונן has many restrictions, but on שבת he eats normally and keeps the מצוות. רבן גמליאל adds that he is obligated in all of them, and רבי יוחנן explains that the difference is marital relations. The גמרא rejects the link: the ברייתא is about the stage before burial, so both opinions can be explained without deciding anything about an אבל on שבת.

Opening lines

יֵשׁ אֲבֵילוּת בְּשַׁבָּת,

There is mourning on Shabbat,

וְהָנֵי אָמְרִי: אֵין אֲבֵילוּת בְּשַׁבָּת.

and those say: There is no mourning on Shabbat.

מַאן דְּאָמַר יֵשׁ אֲבֵילוּת בְּשַׁבָּת,

The one who says there is mourning on Shabbat,

דְּקָתָנֵי ״עוֹלָה״.

is because it teaches: 'It counts.'

The steps (15)

  1. StatementTwo opinions: is there mourning on שבת or not?
  2. ProofEach side's source in the משנה
  3. ChallengeIf mourning applies on שבת, why say it doesn't interrupt?
  4. ChallengeBut the משנה says שבת counts
  5. Resolution'Counts' was said only to match the second half
  6. ChallengeChallenging the view that there is mourning on שבת
  7. ResolutionThe phrase was said only to match the latter clause
  8. QuestionProposing a dispute of תנאים: where the אונן eats
  9. StatementWeekday restrictions and exemptions of the אונן
  10. StatementOn שבת the אונן eats normally and keeps the מצוות
  11. Statementרבן גמליאל: obligated in these, so obligated in all
  12. Statementרבי יוחנן: the difference is marital relations
  13. ProofSuggesting the dispute is about mourning on שבת
  14. RejectionThe תנא קמא may forbid only because the dead is unburied
  15. Rejectionרבן גמליאל may permit only because mourning has not begun