Shabbos 120b

שבת ק״כ ע״ב

Shabbat 120b

Learn Shabbos 120b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

גרם כיבוי and indirect action on שבת: candles near doors, the barrier of vessels, and ה׳'s name written on the skin

Overview

The גמרא first shows that an earlier lenient ruling follows רבי שמעון בן ננס, who permits גרם כיבוי. It proves this from רבי יוסי's dissent in the משנה. Next come two ברייתות about a candle that might go out. A candle on a board may be shaken off, but only if it was forgotten there. Otherwise the board is a בסיס לדבר האסור. רב cursed the ruling allowing a door to be opened with a candle behind it, because that is a פסיק רישיה, which even רבי שמעון forbids. רב יהודה and אביי argue about opening a door opposite a fire, and their argument turns on whether to make a גזירה. The גמרא then settles which side forbids גרם כיבוי by reading a ברייתא as missing words. It also resolves a contradiction from the case of ה׳'s name written on the skin: the reed there is about not standing undressed before the name, and the argument narrows to whether one must search for a reed. The explanation of the רבנן's view continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. ResolutionThe lenient ruling follows רבי שמעון בן ננס
2. ChallengeDid רבי שמעון בן ננס really allow indirect extinguishing?
3. ResolutionProof from רבי יוסי's dissent
4. StatementA candle on a board: shake it off
5. StatementOnly if the candle was forgotten there
6. StatementA candle behind a door
7. Statementרב cursed this teaching
8. QuestionWhy did רב curse it?
9. ResponseFirst suggestion: רב follows רבי יהודה
10. RejectionYou don't curse a legitimate opinion
11. ResponseWhy רב cursed: even רבי שמעון agrees when the result is certain
12. Statementרב יהודה permits opening a door opposite a fire
13. Statementאביי curses this ruling
14. QuestionWhat kind of wind are we talking about?
15. ResponseA normal wind: they argue about making a גזירה
16. ChallengeContradiction: who forbids indirect extinguishing?
17. ResolutionSuggestion: reverse the names in the משנה
18. RejectionYou cannot reverse it: רב says רבי יוסי forbids
19. ResolutionFinal answer: the whole ברייתא is רבי יוסי, with missing words
20. ChallengeA new contradiction from the case of ה׳'s name written on the skin
21. ResolutionA פסוק permits indirect erasure of ה׳'s name
22. ChallengeThe same wording appears for מלאכה on שבת
23. ResolutionA person panics over his money
24. ChallengeThe contradiction in the רבנן becomes even stronger
25. RejectionThe reed cannot be there to prevent erasure
26. ChallengeThe ink itself should already be a barrier
27. ResolutionThe ink is still wet, and wet ink does not block
28. ChallengeEither way, why do the רבנן need a reed?
29. ResolutionThe reed is there so one does not stand undressed before ה׳'s name
30. ChallengeDoes רבי יוסי allow standing undressed before ה׳'s name?
31. Resolutionרבי יוסי: a hand over the name is enough
32. ChallengeThen the רבנן should also accept a hand
33. ResolutionThe רבנן fear he will forget and move his hand
34. Challengeרבי יוסי should share the same worry
35. ResolutionThey disagree only when a reed must be searched for