Gemara Clarity

Shabbos 12b

שבת י״ב ע״ב

Shabbat 12b

Learn Shabbos 12b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 12b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Visiting the sick on שבת, and the ban on reading or checking things by lamplight on שבת

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא about what to say when visiting a sick person on שבת. The גמרא rules that רבי חנינא's practice, including the patient 'among the sick of ישראל,' follows רבי יוסי. It then explains why רבי אלעזר could bless the sick in Aramaic: the שכינה is with the sick person, as the verse 'ה׳ יסעדנו על ערש דוי' shows. Next, the גמרא returns to the משנה's ban on reading by lamplight on שבת. The ban applies no matter how high the lamp is. Two people may read together only if they study the same subject, and around a bonfire even ten people may not. רבא allows an אדם חשוב to read, and the story of רבי ישמעאל בן אלישע is shown to be a special case. The גמרא then settles two ברייתות about a שמש checking dishes by lamplight, and records רב and רבי ירמיה בר אבא on the mixed case. Finally, it explains that the משנה's חזן may only glance to arrange the beginnings of his sections, and the question about reading the whole section continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Yehuda says:

״הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עָלֶיךָ

'May the Omnipresent have compassion upon you

וְעַל חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

and upon the sick of Israel.'

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Yosei says:

The steps (32)

  1. Statementרבי יהודה's wording for blessing a sick person
  2. Statementרבי יוסי's wording: the patient among all the sick
  3. Statementשבנא איש ירושלים's custom when visiting the sick
  4. QuestionWhose view does רבי חנינא follow?
  5. ResponseIt follows רבי יוסי
  6. StatementVisiting the sick and comforting mourners on שבת was permitted reluctantly
  7. Statementרבי אלעזר blessed the sick sometimes in Hebrew, sometimes in Aramaic
  8. ChallengeChallenge: one may not pray for one's needs in Aramaic
  9. ResolutionA sick person is different: the שכינה is with him
  10. ProofSource: God supports the sick person
  11. Proofברייתא: how to sit when visiting the sick
  12. StatementGod feeds the sick person
  13. StatementNo reading by lamplight, however high the lamp
  14. StatementInference: one person may not read, but two may
  15. ChallengeChallenge: a ברייתא forbids even two
  16. ResolutionSame subject versus two different subjects
  17. StatementA bonfire is forbidden even for ten people
  18. StatementAn important person may read by lamplight
  19. ChallengeChallenge from the story of רבי ישמעאל בן אלישע
  20. Resolutionרבי ישמעאל was unusually humble
  21. ChallengeTwo ברייתות clash about a servant checking cups
  22. ResolutionPermanent servant versus temporary servant
  23. ResolutionSecond answer: oil lamp versus naphtha lamp
  24. QuestionWhat about a temporary servant with an oil lamp?
  25. Responseרב: permitted, but not taught publicly
  26. Responseרבי ירמיה בר אבא: permitted and taught publicly
  27. ProofStory: רבי ירמיה's servant at רב אסי's house
  28. StatementBack to the משנה about the attendant
  29. ChallengeDoesn't 'sees' mean reading?
  30. ResolutionHe only arranges the section openings
  31. Proofרבה בר שמואל agrees
  32. ChallengeAnd not the whole section?