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Shabbos 129b

שבת קכ״ט ע״ב

Shabbat 129b

Learn Shabbos 129b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 129b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Health guidance for הקזת דם, and newborn care permitted on שבת (cutting the cord, יחזקאל 16:4)

Overview

This amud finishes the גמרא's series of health teachings about הקזת דם (bloodletting) and then returns to the משנה about a newborn on שבת. רב and שמואל teach that one should rest before standing up after bloodletting, and a teaching of מר lists five actions that are dangerous to follow by getting up right away. שמואל then sets the schedule: every thirty days, less often with age, only on certain days of the week, and never on certain dangerous dates such as ערב שבועות. Along the way the גמרא explains Monday and Thursday (days of heavenly judgment), Tuesday (מאדים), and why Friday is still allowed (שומר פתאים ה׳). Next come rules about eating wheat beforehand and about when to drink and eat afterward, including two questions that end in תיקו. A short story about רב's barber prices explains the saying 'a day of mustaches'. The גמרא then returns to the משנה: one may tie a newborn's umbilical cord, רבי יוסי permits cutting it, and the הלכה follows him. Finally, רב derives from יחזקאל 16:4 that delivering, cutting the cord, washing, salting, and swaddling a baby are all permitted on שבת, and פרק מפנין ends.

Opening lines

בְּדָבָר אַחֵר —

[If one eats] 'something else' (pig),

קָשֶׁה לְדָבָר אַחֵר.

it is harmful, [causing] 'something else' (leprosy).

רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל דְּאָמְרִי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ:

Rav and Shmuel, who both said:

הַאי מַאן דְּעָבֵיד מִילְּתָא —

One who does 'the thing' (bloodletting)

The steps (33)

  1. StatementEating pig after bloodletting causes leprosy
  2. StatementRest a little before standing after bloodletting
  3. ProofFive actions that bring one close to death if followed by standing up immediately
  4. StatementBloodletting every thirty days, less often with age
  5. StatementWhich days of the week are safe for bloodletting
  6. ProofMonday and Thursday are days of heavenly judgment
  7. QuestionWhy is Tuesday not a day for bloodletting?
  8. ResponseMars rules the even hours on Tuesday
  9. ChallengeBut Mars rules the even hours on Friday too
  10. ResolutionFriday is protected because so many people let blood then
  11. StatementFour Wednesdays that are dangerous for bloodletting
  12. StatementThe first three days of the month
  13. Statementערב יום טוב weakens, ערב שבועות endangers
  14. StatementThe decree on every ערב יום טוב because of the spirit טבוח
  15. StatementEating wheat before bloodletting cancels it
  16. StatementThe wheat rule applies only to healing, not to relief
  17. StatementWhen to drink and eat after bloodletting
  18. QuestionIs drinking later on harmful?
  19. QuestionIs eating before or after the half-מיל point harmful?
  20. Statementרב announces the bloodletter-barber's prices
  21. Statementרב יוסף understands the expression 'a day of mustaches'
  22. StatementQuoting the משנה: one may tie the umbilical cord
  23. StatementA ברייתא: tying is allowed, and רבי יוסי allows cutting too
  24. StatementWrapping the placenta to warm the baby
  25. Statementרב rules like רבי יוסי
  26. StatementEven the Sages allow cutting a cord that joins twins
  27. QuestionWhy do the Sages agree here?
  28. ResponseBecause the twins would pull apart from each other
  29. StatementEverything in the rebuke chapter may be done for a woman giving birth
  30. ProofThe verse: cutting, washing, salting, and swaddling
  31. ProofThe verse teaches delivering the baby and cutting the cord
  32. ProofThe verse teaches washing, salting, and swaddling the baby
  33. ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק מפנין