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Shabbos 112a

שבת קי״ב ע״א

Shabbat 112a

Learn Shabbos 112a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 112a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Knots on שבת (robe, hairnet, shoe and sandal straps) and the status of a torn sandal for שבת, טומאה, and חליצה

Overview

This amud continues the גמרא's explanation of the משנה about tying knots on שבת. It sets out three levels: knots that carry a חיוב חטאת, knots that are פטור אבל אסור (a camel's nose ring, a ship's ring), and knots that are מותר לכתחילה (a robe opening). The גמרא asks 'פשיטא!' about the robe opening and the hairnet strings, and shows the חידוש in each. In each case, a knot that looks like it might stay tied forever is really untied regularly. Three ברייתות on untying shoe and sandal straps seem to contradict each other. The גמרא solves this by matching each ruling to a different kind of knot, depending on how long it is meant to last. The story of רב יהודה's sandals, shared with his child, shows אביי changing his ruling once he learns the knot is retied all the time. Next come two stories about a torn sandal strap on שבת: רבי אבהו allows a fix, and רב יוסף forbids handling the sandal. רב יוסף explains the difference and rests on the view of רבי יהודה. The גמרא then analyzes רבי יוחנן's statement about a broken sandal for טומאה, שבת, and חליצה, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

קִיטְרָא דְּקָטְרִי בִּזְמָמָא

A knot that they tie to a camel's nose ring

וְקִיטְרָא דְּקָטְרִי בְּאִיסְטָרִידָא,

and a knot that they tie to a ship's ring,

חִיּוּבָא הוּא דְּלֵיכָּא,

it is liability that there is not,

הָא אִיסּוּרָא — אִיכָּא.

but a prohibition, there is.

The steps (29)

  1. StatementKnots with no liability but still prohibited
  2. StatementKnots permitted from the start: the robe opening
  3. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need to permit the robe opening?
  4. ResolutionA robe with two laces
  5. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need to permit hairnet strings?
  6. ResolutionA loose hairnet: a woman protects her hair
  7. StatementThree conflicting rulings on untying shoe and sandal straps
  8. ChallengeShoe contradicts shoe, sandal contradicts sandal
  9. ResolutionThree kinds of shoe knots answer the shoe contradiction
  10. ResolutionThree kinds of sandal knots answer the sandal contradiction
  11. Statementרב יהודה asks אביי about his shared sandals
  12. Challengeרב יהודה is surprised by the strict ruling
  13. Questionאביי asks for the reason
  14. ResponseThe sandals are retied all the time, even on weekdays
  15. Conclusionאביי rules it is fully permitted
  16. Statementרבי אבהו lets רבי ירמיה wrap a torn strap with a reed
  17. Statementרב יוסף tells אביי to leave his torn sandal
  18. Challengeאביי asks why his case differs from Rabbi Yirmeya's
  19. ResolutionThere it would be lost, here it is safe
  20. ChallengeBut the sandal is still a usable utensil
  21. ResolutionThe הלכה follows רבי יהודה
  22. QuestionWhich ruling of רבי יהודה is meant?
  23. ResponseThe ברייתא about a broken sandal
  24. Statementרבי יוחנן: the same dispute applies to שבת but not to חליצה
  25. QuestionWhich view does רבי יוחנן follow?
  26. ChallengeFollowing רבנן clashes with the משנה about a left shoe on the right foot
  27. ResolutionSo רבי יוחנן must follow רבי יהודה
  28. ChallengeThe משנה only applies to a shoe that is a real כלי
  29. ResolutionChange the wording: 'and the same for חליצה'