Shabbos 136a

שבת קל״ו ע״א

Shabbat 136a

Learn Shabbos 136a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 136a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The status of a newborn who might be a נפל: מילה on שבת, a בן שמונה animal, רבן שמעון בן גמליאל's waiting period, mourning, and יבום

Overview

The גמרא has learned that a newborn is not proven viable until it lives a set time, so it asks how we can do a ברית מילה on שבת. רב אדא בר אהבה answers with ממה נפשך: either the מילה is a מצוה, or the person is only cutting dead flesh. A ברייתא seems to forbid this for a baby who may be a בן שמונה. The גמרא answers that the ברייתא forbids only the preparations (מכשירי מילה), following רבי אליעזר. אביי links the question to a dispute among תנאים about slaughtering a בן שמונה animal. רבא rejects the link and explains that dispute as an argument over comparing the animal to a טרפה. The גמרא then proves from שמואל that the רבנן disagree with רבן שמעון בן גמליאל and that the הלכה follows him. After defining exactly which deaths are disputed, two stories show that a baby known to be full-term is mourned even if it died within thirty days. The amud ends with a new case of a widow who got engaged before the יבום question was settled, and the ruling continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ChallengeHow can we circumcise on שבת if the baby might be non-viable?
2. ResolutionEither way, circumcising is allowed
3. ChallengeA ברייתא forbids desecrating שבת for a doubtful eighth-month baby
4. ResolutionThe ברייתא refers only to preparations for circumcision, following רבי אליעזר
5. Statementאביי links the question to a dispute among the תנאים
6. ProofSuggesting the dispute is about alive versus dead
7. Rejectionרבא: then they should have argued about eating
8. ResolutionEveryone agrees it is dead; the argument is about comparing it to a טרפה
9. ChallengeWhat about an animal that was a טרפה from birth?
10. ResolutionA טרפה belongs to a type that can be slaughtered
11. QuestionDo the רבנן disagree with רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, and whose view is the הלכה?
12. ProofProof from a calf born on יום טוב
13. RejectionThe calf is known to be full-term
14. ProofProof from a בכור born with a blemish
15. RejectionThis too is a full-term animal
16. Proofשמואל rules like רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
17. ConclusionA ruling of הלכה proves there is an argument
18. Statementאביי defines exactly where they argue
19. QuestionWhat difference does it make?
20. ResponseThe difference is יבום
21. ChallengeA story about a calf slaughtered on its seventh day
22. Resolutionאביי's statement is reversed
23. Statementרב דימי's son mourns a baby who died within thirty days
24. Statementרב כהנא mourns, and רב אשי questions him
25. StatementNew case: the widow got engaged before the case was decided