Shabbos 127b

שבת קכ״ז ע״ב

Shabbat 127b

Learn Shabbos 127b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Judging others favorably (דן לכף זכות) through three stories, then the משנה's list of foods that may be moved on שבת

Overview

This amud opens by finishing an earlier question. A ברייתא listed more rewarding good deeds than the משנה did, and the גמרא explains that the extra items already fit inside the משנה's shorter list. Next, a ברייתא teaches that one who judges others favorably (לכף זכות) is judged favorably by Heaven. Three stories show this in action: a worker who trusts his employer even though he is refused his wages, students who trust a חסיד who kept a ransomed girl near him, and students who trust רבי יהושע after his private meeting with a Roman matron. Each story ends with the same oath and the blessing 'just as you judged me favorably, may ה׳ judge you favorably.' The גמרא then returns to the משנה's list of foods that may be moved on שבת. It explains why each item had to be mentioned: תרומה held by a ישראל, דמאי, מעשר ראשון taken early on the stalks, and מעשר שני redeemed without the חומש. Finally it notes that only dry lupine may be moved, because moist lupine is too bitter even for animals.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. ResolutionThe extra items are part of acts of kindness
2. ResolutionA second version: the long-list items connect to the short-list items
3. StatementOne who judges others favorably is judged favorably
4. ProofThe worker asks for wages and is told 'I have nothing'
5. ProofThe employer arrives with wages and gifts
6. ProofWhat did you suspect about the money and the animals?
7. ProofWhat did you suspect about the land, produce, and bedding?
8. ProofThe employer confirms the worker's guess was true
9. ConclusionThe employer's blessing: as you judged me, so may ה׳ judge you
10. ProofA second story: the חסיד who redeemed a captive girl
11. ProofFirst question: why did he keep the girl at his feet?
12. ProofSecond question: why did he go to the מקוה?
13. ConclusionThe חסיד confirms and blesses his students
14. ProofA new story: the חכמים need help from a Roman matron
15. Proofרבי יהושע's actions that could look suspicious
16. ProofThe students explain why he removed his tefillin
17. ProofThe students explain why he locked the door
18. ProofThe students explain why he immersed
19. Conclusionרבי יהושע swears they were right and blesses them
20. ChallengeMoving pure terumah seems obvious
21. ResolutionTerumah held by a non-kohen may still be moved
22. ChallengeHow can demai be moved if he cannot eat it?
23. ResolutionHe could make himself poor, so demai counts as fit
24. ProofProof: the poor may be fed demai
25. Proofרב הונא: this ruling follows בית הלל
26. ChallengeMoving first tithe seems obvious
27. ResolutionThe case where the Levite took the tithe while still on the stalks
28. Proofריש לקיש: tithe taken on the stalks is exempt from the big teruma
29. Challengeרב פפא: then tithe taken early from the pile should also be exempt
30. Resolutionאביי: a different verse obligates the pile case
31. ChallengeWhy apply each verse to that particular case?
32. ResolutionPiled grain is already 'grain'; grain on the stalks is not yet
33. ChallengeMoving redeemed second tithe seems obvious
34. ResolutionPaid the principal but not the fifth: the fifth does not hold up redemption
35. StatementOnly dry lupine may be moved, not moist lupine
36. QuestionWhy is moist lupine excluded?
37. ResponseMoist lupine is too bitter for animals to eat