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Shabbos 119b

שבת קי״ט ע״ב

Shabbat 119b

Learn Shabbos 119b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 119b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Honoring שבת, the power of answering אמן, and the sins that caused חורבן ירושלים

Overview

This amud is a long chain of אגדה. It opens by finishing a story about a Sage who begged scholars not to neglect עונג שבת. The גמרא then teaches that even a יחיד must say ויכולו on Friday night, because this makes him a partner with הקב"ה in creation and brings blessings from the escorting angels. A good angel and a bad angel check whether the home is ready for שבת. Next come teachings about setting a table on ערב שבת and on מוצאי שבת, and the story of רבי אבהו's calf, which warns against being stingy in honoring שבת. The גמרא then praises answering אמן and אמן יהא שמיה רבא with full strength, and explains that אמן stands for אל מלך נאמן. Returning to שבת, it teaches that fires come from חילול שבת. This leads into a list of sins that caused חורבן ירושלים, including neglecting קריאת שמע, interrupting children's Torah learning, failing to rebuke, and disgracing תלמידי חכמים. Along the way there is a section on the great value of תינוקות של בית רבן. The amud ends with רבא's claim that trustworthy people had disappeared, and a challenge from רב קטינא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מְהַדַּר אַזּוּזֵי זוּזֵי דְּרַבָּנַן,

would go around to pairs and pairs of Sages,

אֲמַר לְהוּ:

he said to them:

בְּמָטוּתָא מִינַּיְיכוּ

Please, I beg of you,

לָא תְּחַלְּלוּנֵיהּ.

do not desecrate it (Shabbat).

The steps (36)

  1. StatementA Sage urges scholars not to neglect עונג שבת
  2. StatementEven an individual must say ויכולו on Friday night
  3. ProofSaying ויכולו makes one a partner in Creation
  4. ProofSpeech counts like action
  5. StatementAngels bless one who says ויכולו with atonement
  6. StatementThe good angel and the bad angel inspect the Shabbat home
  7. StatementAlways set a full table on ערב שבת
  8. StatementAlso set a table on מוצאי שבת
  9. StatementHot water and warm bread after Shabbat are healing
  10. Conclusionרבי אבהו's calf and the danger of cutting corners
  11. StatementAnswering 'אמן יהא שמיה רבא' with full strength tears up a harsh decree
  12. StatementEven a trace of idolatry is forgiven
  13. StatementAnswering אמן with full strength opens the gates of גן עדן
  14. QuestionWhat does the word אמן stand for?
  15. Responseאמן stands for 'God, faithful King'
  16. StatementFires break out where שבת is desecrated
  17. QuestionWhat does 'it will not be extinguished' mean?
  18. ResponseThe fire breaks out when no one is around to put it out
  19. Statementירושלים was destroyed because of חילול שבת
  20. Statementירושלים was destroyed because they neglected קריאת שמע
  21. Statementירושלים was destroyed because children's Torah learning was stopped
  22. Statementירושלים was destroyed because people had no shame before each other
  23. Statementירושלים was destroyed because small and great were treated as equals
  24. StatementDestroyed because no one rebuked anyone
  25. StatementDestroyed because Torah scholars were disrespected
  26. QuestionWhat does 'until there was no cure' mean?
  27. ResponseOne who disgraces scholars has no cure
  28. Statement'My anointed' are schoolchildren and 'My prophets' are scholars
  29. StatementThe world exists because of children's Torah breath
  30. QuestionWhat about the learning of adults like us?
  31. ResponseBreath without sin is different
  32. StatementDo not stop children's learning, even to build the בית המקדש
  33. StatementA city without schoolchildren is destroyed
  34. Statementרבינא's version: the city is made desolate
  35. StatementDestroyed because trustworthy people disappeared
  36. ChallengeBut רב קטינא says trustworthy people never disappeared