Gemara Clarity

Shabbos 123b

שבת קכ״ג ע״ב

Shabbat 123b

Learn Shabbos 123b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 123b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Healing on שבת, the olive reed, and the gradual permission to move כלים on שבת (מוקצה)

Overview

This amud opens at the end of a מחלוקת between רב נחמן and רב ששת about aligning a newborn's limbs on שבת. Each one's proof is pushed away by the other. A new משנה then teaches that an olive-turning reed with a knot can become טמא, because the hollow by the knot is a small receptacle. Either way, the reed may be moved on שבת. Next, רבי יוסי rules that all כלים may be moved on שבת except a large saw and a plow blade, and רב נחמן and אביי add similar guarded tools to that list. A ברייתא shows that this rule started very strict, with only three eating tools allowed, and was relaxed in stages. אביי and רבא disagree about what those stages were, and אביי challenges רבא from the case of a mortar. רבי חנינא says the strict stage dates from the days of נחמיה, when people were careless about שבת. רבי אלעזר then lists early משניות from before כלים were permitted, and the quote about the poles continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אַפִּיקְטְוִיזִין בַּשַּׁבָּת.

[one may not drink] an emetic on Shabbat.

וְרַב שֵׁשֶׁת:

And Rav Sheshet [answers]:

הָתָם — לָאו אוֹרְחֵיהּ,

There, it is not the normal way;

הָכָא — אוֹרְחֵיהּ.

here, it is the normal way.

The steps (23)

  1. Rejectionרב ששת rejects the emetic proof
  2. Proofרב ששת's proof from removing a thorn
  3. Rejectionרב נחמן rejects the thorn proof
  4. Statementמשנה: the olive-turning reed
  5. ChallengeWhy should a flat stick become impure?
  6. ResolutionThe knot forms a tiny receptacle
  7. Statementרבי יוסי: All tools may be moved except two
  8. Statementרב נחמן: The launderer's tool is like a plow blade
  9. Statementאביי: Three professional knives are like a plow blade
  10. StatementAt first, only three eating tools could be moved
  11. StatementThe rule was relaxed step by step until the final ruling
  12. QuestionWhat were the stages of permission?
  13. Responseאביי's explanation of the stages
  14. Challengeרבא objects to אביי's distinction
  15. Responseרבא's own explanation of the stages
  16. Challengeאביי challenges רבא from the mortar
  17. ResolutionThe mortar case means sun to shade
  18. ChallengeSecond challenge: the item used to cut meat
  19. ResolutionThis case also means sun to shade
  20. StatementThe strict משנה was taught in the days of נחמיה
  21. StatementFour topics taught before utensils were permitted
  22. ProofThe source for the rods
  23. ProofThe source for the poles