Gemara Clarity

Shabbos 105a

שבת ק״ה ע״א

Shabbat 105a

Learn Shabbos 105a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 105a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Splitting letters and נוטריקון in the מלאכה of writing, ידיעה for a חצי שיעור, and the start of the new chapter on the minimum amounts for weaving, sewing and tearing.

Overview

This amud opens with a quick קשיא and תירוץ. Someone who splits one letter into two is חייב only if the new letters do not still need their crowns (זיונין). Next comes the מחלוקת about writing one letter as a נוטריקון: רבי יהושע בן בתירה holds him חייב and the חכמים hold him פטור. The גמרא then gives a long list of נוטריקון readings to show that the Torah really uses abbreviations: אב המון, אנכי, ירט, כרמל, נמרצת and נצטדק. A new משנה follows about two letters written in two separate העלמות. The גמרא explains that רבן גמליאל and the חכמים argue over whether awareness (ידיעה) divides a חצי שיעור. After the הדרן for פרק הבונה, a new chapter opens with the minimum amounts for weaving, making loops, sewing and tearing. The גמרא resolves the dispute over 'two' or 'three' threads, quotes two ברייתות and identifies whose view each follows, and defines the loom terms. It then explains why the משנה repeats sewing and tearing: to lead into tearing in anger or for the dead. At the end it asks when one would tear in order to sew, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְעָלוּ בְּיָדוֹ שְׁתַּיִם — חַיָּיב.

and he ended up with two letters — he is liable.

וְהָתְנַן פָּטוּר!

But didn't we learn: he is exempt!

לָא קַשְׁיָא:

It is not difficult:

הָא דְּבָעֵי זַיּוֹנֵי,

that one (exempt) is where they need crowns,

The steps (36)

  1. StatementSplitting a letter into two letters makes one liable
  2. ChallengeBut the משנה says he is exempt
  3. ResolutionIt depends on whether the letters need crowns
  4. StatementThe משנה's dispute about writing an abbreviation
  5. ProofThe Torah itself uses abbreviations: אב המון
  6. Statementאנכי as an abbreviation: I Myself wrote and gave
  7. StatementThe Rabbis' reading of אנכי
  8. StatementReading אנכי backwards
  9. Statementירט: the donkey feared, saw, and turned
  10. Statementכרמל: a full kernel
  11. Statementנמרצת: the five insults of שמעי
  12. Statementנצטדק as an abbreviation for five claims of innocence
  13. StatementTwo letters written with awareness in between
  14. QuestionWhat is the root of their argument?
  15. ResponseDoes awareness count for half a measure?
  16. ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק הבונה
  17. Statementמשנה: How many threads of weaving make one liable
  18. Statementמשנה: Making two loops, sewing two stitches, tearing to sew
  19. Statementרבי יצחק's version: two threads
  20. ChallengeBut our משנה says three
  21. ResolutionAnswer: thick threads versus thin threads
  22. ResolutionFirst version: what matters is whether the weave holds
  23. ResolutionSecond version: what matters is whether the weave is noticeable
  24. StatementFirst ברייתא: weaving threads, a hem, and a small belt
  25. ConclusionThe unattributed opening of the first ברייתא follows רבי אליעזר
  26. StatementSecond ברייתא: two threads on a large fabric or border
  27. ConclusionThe unattributed opening of the second ברייתא follows the רבנן
  28. QuestionWhat does 'on the heddles' mean?
  29. Responseאביי explains the heddle-loops
  30. QuestionWhat is a קירוס?
  31. Responseרב defines קירוס
  32. ChallengeSewing was already taught
  33. ResolutionSewing is a lead-in to tearing in order to sew
  34. ChallengeTearing was also already taught
  35. ResolutionThe real new law: tearing in anger or for the dead
  36. QuestionWhen would someone tear in order to sew?