Shabbos 128b

שבת קכ״ח ע״ב

Shabbat 128b

Learn Shabbos 128b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Helping animals and people on שבת and יום טוב: moving animals without carrying, צער בעלי חיים, assisting births, and breaking שבת for a יולדת

Overview

This amud opens with the end of a ברייתא: spoiled meat and exposed water may be moved on שבת because animals can use them, though רבן שמעון בן גמליאל says exposed water should not be kept at all because of danger. A new משנה then teaches how to help chicks, a runaway hen, calves, foals and a child move on שבת without carrying them. The גמרא brings רב's ruling that one may put cushions under an animal stuck in a water channel when it cannot be fed in place, because צער בעלי חיים is a Torah law that overrides the rabbinic rule of מבטל כלי מהיכנו. Next it explains that a hen may only be pushed, not helped to walk, because it lifts itself off the ground, and it uses this to settle an apparent contradiction in a ברייתא. A second משנה permits only assisting an animal giving birth on יום טוב, while for a woman in labor one may break שבת fully. The גמרא defines this 'assisting' and explains how to help a kosher mother animal accept her newborn. It then lists what may be done for a יולדת: lighting a lamp, even for a blind woman, and bringing oil in the least usual way possible. The amud ends with שמואל's rule that while the womb is open, שבת is broken for her whether or not she asks. His rule for after the womb closes continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. StatementSwollen meat and exposed water may be moved because animals can use them
2. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: exposed water should not be kept at all
3. StatementThe משנה: helping chicks and a runaway hen without carrying them
4. StatementThe משנה: helping calves, foals and a child walk
5. Statementרבי יהודה: only if the child really takes steps
6. Statementרב: cushions may be placed under an animal that fell into a water channel
7. ChallengeA ברייתא seems to allow only feeding, not cushions
8. ResolutionFood when possible, cushions when not
9. ChallengeDoesn't using the cushions take them out of use?
10. ResolutionThe Torah law of animal suffering overrides a rabbinic rule
11. StatementFrom the משנה: push a hen, but don't help it walk
12. ProofA ברייתא already teaches this
13. QuestionWhy may one not help a hen walk?
14. ResponseA hen lifts itself off the ground
15. StatementTwo ברייתות about moving animals in a courtyard
16. ChallengeThe second ברייתא seems to contradict itself
17. ResolutionThe last clause is about a hen
18. StatementHow to hold a hen during slaughter
19. StatementThe משנה: Birthing an Animal versus a Woman
20. QuestionWhat Does 'Assisting' an Animal Mean?
21. Responseרב יהודה: Catching the Newborn
22. Responseרב נחמן: Pressing to Help It Come Out
23. ProofA ברייתא Supports רב יהודה
24. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: Helping a Kosher Mother Pity Its Young
25. QuestionHow Was This Mercy Shown?
26. Responseאביי: Salt and Afterbirth Fluid
27. ConclusionOnly for a Kosher Animal
28. QuestionWhy not for a non-kosher animal?
29. ResponseA non-kosher animal's nature makes the methods useless
30. QuestionWhat does the extra phrase about a woman giving birth add?
31. ResponseIt adds lighting a lamp and bringing oil
32. ChallengeIsn't lighting a lamp obvious?
33. ResolutionThe rule is needed for a blind woman
34. ChallengeCarrying oil in hair should still be forbidden because of wringing
35. ResolutionHair cannot be wrung
36. ResolutionThe oil is carried in a vessel tied in the hair
37. StatementWhile the womb is open, שבת is desecrated for her no matter what she says
38. StatementStarting the rule for after the womb has closed