Shabbos 108b

שבת ק״ח ע״ב

Shabbat 108b

Learn Shabbos 108b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 108b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Salt water and salting on שבת, and healing the eyes on שבת

Overview

The משנה forbids making brine (הילמי) on שבת but allows ordinary salt water for dipping bread. רבי יוסי objects that a little or a lot is still brine, and he allows only salt water made with oil first. The גמרא explains the first view as large versus small amounts. It concludes, with רבה, רבי יוחנן and a supporting ברייתא, that רבי יוסי forbids both amounts. A set of teachings from רבי יהודה בר חביבא follows. Strong salt water, which an egg floats in, is forbidden. Salting radishes is forbidden, though dipping them while eating is fine. An אתרוג, a radish and an egg are hard to digest. רב דימי reports that no one drowns in the Sea of Sodom, which leads to rulings on healing on שבת: washing in its water is allowed, and wine or eye salve may go on the eye but not inside it. The amud ends with health advice about eye care and a list of body parts a hand should not touch, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. StatementThe משנה permits ordinary salt water
2. Statementרבי יוסי: a little or a lot, it is still brine
3. StatementThe permitted way: put oil in first
4. QuestionWhat is the משנה saying?
5. Responseשמואל: a large amount is forbidden, a small amount is allowed
6. QuestionDid רבי יוסי mean to forbid or to permit?
7. Responseרב יהודה: רבי יוסי permits
8. Challengeרבה: the end of the משנה shows he forbids
9. Conclusionרבה and רבי יוחנן: רבי יוסי forbids
10. ProofA ברייתא supports the reading: the first view
11. Proofרבי יוסי explicitly forbids both amounts
12. ConclusionThe permitted salt water according to the ברייתא
13. StatementA memory aid for the next three teachings
14. StatementOne may not make strong salt water on שבת
15. QuestionWhat counts as strong salt water?
16. ResponseWater that an egg floats in
17. QuestionHow much salt is that?
18. ResponseTwo-thirds salt, one-third water
19. QuestionWhat is strong salt water used for?
20. ResponseIt is made for fish brine
21. StatementOne may not salt a radish or an egg on שבת
22. StatementRadish forbidden, egg permitted
23. Statementרב נחמן used to salt radishes, thinking it ruined them
24. Conclusionרב נחמן stops salting, but still dips
25. StatementCitron, radish and egg are hard to digest
26. StatementNo one ever drowned in the Sea of Sodom
27. Challengeרב יוסף says the wording is backwards
28. Resolutionאביי explains: 'not only a plank, but even a man'
29. QuestionWhat practical law comes from this?
30. ResponseWashing in Sea of Sodom water on שבת is allowed
31. QuestionMay one close and open the eyes in that water?
32. ResponseA similar case: wine and saliva on the eye
33. ProofProof that שמואל's father said the wine ruling
34. RejectionThe proof fails: we can't tell who said which
35. StatementEye salve soaked before שבת may be put on the eyes
36. Challengeבר לואי: שמואל didn't permit blinking it in
37. StatementBetter than any salve: cold water and warm washing
38. ProofA ברייתא says the same health advice
39. StatementA hand that touches sensitive body parts should be cut off