Shabbos 118b

שבת קי״ח ע״ב

Shabbat 118b

Learn Shabbos 118b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 118b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Rewards of שבת and the sages' cherished practices (שבת קיח:)

Overview

The amud begins by finishing the rewards for עונג שבת: a boundless inheritance like יעקב's, rescue from exile, and the granting of one's heart's desires. The גמרא explains that עונג שבת can be a fine meal or even a small dish, as long as it is made לכבוד שבת. רבי יוחנן teaches that keeping שבת properly brings forgiveness even for idolatry like דור אנוש. Two statements tie the fate of ישראל to שבת: breaking the first שבת brought עמלק, and keeping two שבתות would bring immediate גאולה. Then comes a long list of רבי יוסי's 'יהא חלקי' wishes, such as שלש סעודות, daily פסוקי דזמרא, and davening at sunrise and sunset. Each one is clarified when the גמרא raises a question. Next come רבי יוסי's personal statements about his five sons, his refined speech, his modesty, and his honesty. Finally, several אמוראים name the מצוה each was especially careful with, using the phrase 'תיתי לי'. A story shows רבה's care for ציצית, and אביי begins a statement that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (48)

1. StatementWhy the reward is the inheritance of יעקב
2. StatementAnother reward: rescue from exile
3. StatementDelighting in שבת brings one's heart's desires
4. QuestionWhich delight does the verse mean?
5. ResponseThe delight is the delight of שבת
6. QuestionHow does one delight in שבת?
7. ResponseBeets, big fish, and garlic
8. ResponseEven a small dish counts if made for שבת
9. QuestionWhat is the 'small item'?
10. ResponseA dish of small fried fish
11. StatementKeeping שבת properly brings forgiveness
12. StatementHad ישראל kept the first שבת, no nation would rule them
13. StatementKeeping two שבתות properly would bring immediate redemption
14. StatementWishing to be among those who eat three meals on Shabbat
15. StatementWishing to be among those who complete הלל every day
16. ChallengeChallenge: reading הלל daily is disrespectful
17. ResolutionAnswer: he meant פסוקי דזמרא
18. StatementWishing to pray at sunrise and sunset
19. Statementרבי יוחנן: it is a מצוה to pray at the sun's reddening
20. Proofרבי זירא gives the verse for praying with the sun
21. StatementWishing to die of intestinal illness, like most righteous people
22. StatementWishing to die while on the way to a מצוה
23. StatementWishing to start שבת early in טבריה and end it late in ציפורי
24. StatementWishing to seat people in the study hall, not send them out
25. StatementWishing to collect charity rather than distribute it
26. StatementWishing to be falsely suspected
27. Statementרב פפא: I was falsely suspected
28. StatementFive relations, five great sons
29. ChallengeWhat about the son named ורדימס?
30. Resolutionורדימס is מנחם's nickname
31. ChallengeDid רבי יוסי fail to keep the מצוה of עונה?
32. ResolutionRereading: five times, each time done twice
33. StatementHe called his wife 'my home' and his ox 'my field'
34. StatementHe never looked at his circumcision
35. Challengeרבי was called holy for this same thing
36. Resolutionרבי had an extra level of modesty
37. StatementHis walls never saw the seams of his robe
38. StatementHe never went against his colleagues' words
39. StatementHe never took back his words
40. Statementרב נחמן: three meals on שבת
41. Statementרב יהודה: concentration in prayer
42. Statementרב הונא בריה דרב יהושע: never walking bareheaded
43. Statementרב ששת: the מצוה of תפילין
44. Statementרב נחמן: the מצוה of ציצית
45. Questionרב יוסף asks what רבה was most careful about
46. ResponseThe answer: ציצית
47. StatementStory: רבה on the stairs with a torn string
48. Statementאביי begins: when a young scholar finishes a tractate