Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 62b

סנהדרין ס״ב ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 62b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 62b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The ברייתא of רבי זכאי comparing שבת to other מצוות, and why רבי יוחנן rejected it

Overview

רבי זכאי taught a ברייתא before רבי יוחנן saying שבת is stricter than other מצוות in one way, and other מצוות are stricter than שבת in another. The גמרא first tests the שבת side. Two different acts bring two חטאות everywhere, and the same act repeated brings one חטאת everywhere, so no difference appears. That explains why רבי יוחנן sent the ברייתא outside. The גמרא then suggests that 'other מצוות' means עבודה זרה, where רבי אמי says several acts in one lapse bring only one חטאת. But the second half of the ברייתא needs a case of שוגג בלא מתכוין in עבודה זרה. Every case tried fails: love or fear does not work for רבא, and 'thinks it is permitted' does not work for שבת. Next the גמרא suggests splitting the ברייתא, with the first half about עבודה זרה and the second half about ordinary מצוות, backed by שמואל's rule about a מתעסק. רבי יוחנן rejects this kind of split, as his statement about the barrel משנה shows. The גמרא then turns back to רבי אמי's statement itself, and that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הָכִי תְּנָא קַמֵּיהּ:

This is what he taught before him:

חוֹמֶר בַּשַּׁבָּת מִשְּׁאָר מִצְוֹת,

There is a stringency in Shabbat over other מצוות,

חוֹמֶר בִּשְׁאָר מִצְוֹת מִבַּשַּׁבָּת.

and a stringency in other מצוות over Shabbat.

חוֹמֶר בַּשַּׁבָּת –

The stringency of Shabbat:

The steps (19)

  1. StatementThe ברייתא: how שבת is stricter than other מצוות
  2. StatementThe ברייתא: how other מצוות are stricter than שבת
  3. QuestionWhat case does the שבת stringency mean?
  4. ChallengeTwo different acts: no difference
  5. ChallengeThe same act twice: still no difference
  6. ConclusionWhy רבי יוחנן sent the ברייתא outside
  7. ChallengeMaybe the ברייתא means idol worship, following רבי אמי
  8. RejectionThe second half of the ברייתא does not fit idol worship
  9. QuestionWhat would an unintended act of idol worship even look like?
  10. ResponseA possible case: worship out of love or fear
  11. ChallengeThis case works for אביי but not for רבא
  12. ResponseA new case: someone who thinks it is permitted
  13. ChallengeNo one says such a person is fully exempt on שבת
  14. ResolutionMaybe the two halves of the ברייתא talk about different things
  15. ResolutionWhat 'unwitting without intent' means in other מצוות
  16. Proofשמואל's rule supports the difference between forbidden foods and שבת
  17. ResolutionWhy רבי יוחנן did not use this answer
  18. ProofThe barrel statement proves רבי יוחנן's approach
  19. StatementReturning to the main topic