Shabbos 102b

שבת ק״ב ע״ב

Shabbat 102b

Learn Shabbos 102b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The מלאכה of בונה on שבת: the minimum amount, setting stones, and whether chiseling is בונה or מכה בפטיש

Overview

The משנה teaches that one who builds on שבת is liable for even a tiny amount (כל שהוא). The same is true of chiseling, the final hammer blow (מכה בפטיש), and drilling, because any מלאכה whose result lasts makes one liable. The גמרא asks what use a tiny building could have. After two examples are rejected, it settles on sealing a small hole, which parallels filling a worm hole in a משכן beam with lead. Next, שמואל rules that setting a stone in place is building. The גמרא answers a challenge to him by explaining that each row of a wall has its own requirement: dirt for the bottom row, mortar for the middle row, and mere placement for the top row. רב and שמואל then argue whether chiseling, making a hole in a chicken coop, and putting a pin in a hoe handle count as בונה or מכה בפטיש, and the גמרא explains why all three cases are needed. רבי יוחנן answers with a hand gesture that chiseling is מכה בפטיש. The גמרא reads the משנה to fit his answer, and then begins a proof that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementThe משנה: building any amount makes one liable
2. StatementThe general rule: lasting work makes one liable
3. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: striking the anvil also counts
4. QuestionWhat use is a tiny bit of building?
5. Responseרבי ירמיה: a small hole to hide coins or needles
6. Rejectionאביי: needles rust, so they would not do that
7. Responseאביי's answer: legs for a small stove
8. Rejectionרב אחא בר יעקב: no poverty in a place of wealth
9. Responseרב אחא's answer: sealing a small hole
10. Statementשמואל: setting a stone in place is building
11. ChallengeChallenge: only the one who adds mortar is liable
12. ResolutionYour reading has a problem too: רבי יוסי makes placing alone liable
13. ResolutionThree kinds of rows, each with its own requirement
14. QuestionWhich מלאכה does a chiseler violate?
15. Responseרב says building, שמואל says the final hammer blow
16. StatementThe same disagreement in two more cases: a coop hole and a hoe pin
17. ResolutionWhy the coop case is needed after the chiseling case
18. ResolutionWhy the hoe-pin case is needed after the coop case
19. ConclusionFrom שמואל's side, the other two cases are needed, so all three are necessary
20. Questionרב נתן בר אושעיא asks רבי יוחנן about chiseling
21. Responseרבי יוחנן gestures: it is striking with a hammer
22. ChallengeChallenge: the משנה lists chiseling and hammer-striking separately
23. ResolutionAnswer: read the משנה as one item
24. ProofCome and hear: a proof is about to be brought