Shabbos 138b

שבת קל״ח ע״ב

Shabbat 138b

Learn Shabbos 138b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Canopies and hats as אהל on שבת; רב's three teachings; will the תורה be forgotten?

Overview

The גמרא opens by allowing a sloped bridegroom's canopy (כילת חתנים) to be set up and taken down on שבת. רב ששת בריה דרב אידי limits this with four conditions: nothing about the canopy may form a 'roof' of a טפח, since that would make it an אהל. He also permits wearing a brimmed felt hat (סיאנא). The גמרא first resolves a conflicting report by brim width, then rejects that answer and concludes that the hat is allowed only when it fits firmly, so it won't blow off and be carried. Next, רב הונא sends רמי בר יחזקאל three teachings of רב. Two are about שבת: spreading a wineskin is allowed only with two people (אביי adds that a canopy is forbidden even with ten), and a stove missing even one leg may not be moved. The third is that the תורה will one day be forgotten, which the Sages of יבנה also learn from עמוס. They picture a woman whose question about her תרומה loaf no one can answer, which the גמרא sharpens into a question of ראשון or שני לטומאה. Finally, רבי שמעון בן יוחי insists the תורה will never be forgotten and begins to reinterpret the פסוק in עמוס; his explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementA bridegroom's canopy may be set up and taken down on שבת
2. StatementFirst limit: the canopy's top must be less than a handbreadth wide
3. StatementSecond limit: no handbreadth width within three handbreadths of the top
4. StatementThird limit: the slope itself must not have a handbreadth
5. StatementFourth limit: the canopy must not hang a handbreadth below the bed
6. Statementרב ששת permits wearing a brimmed felt hat
7. ChallengeContradiction: another statement forbids the felt hat
8. ResolutionFirst answer: it depends on whether the brim is a handbreadth wide
9. ChallengeChallenge: a cloak sticking out a handbreadth is not an אהל
10. ResolutionFinal answer: it depends on whether the hat sits firmly
11. Questionרמי בר יחזקאל asks רב הונא for רב's three teachings
12. ResponseFirst שבת teaching: a large wineskin may be spread only by two people
13. Statementאביי: a canopy is forbidden even with ten people
14. ResponseSecond שבת teaching: a stove whose leg fell off
15. Responseרב's teaching that the תורה will be forgotten
16. StatementThe חכמים in יבנה teach the same idea from עמוס
17. StatementThree meanings of 'the word of ה׳'
18. QuestionWhat does 'roaming to seek the word of ה׳' look like
19. ResponseThe woman with the תרומה loaf whom no one can answer
20. ChallengeHow can no one know if the loaf is pure or impure?
21. ResolutionThe real question is the level of impurity
22. ChallengeThe level of impurity is also stated in a משנה
23. ResolutionPeople will be confused by רב אדא בר אהבה's suggestion
24. Rejectionרבא rejects the idea that the oven is full of impurity
25. ProofProof: vessels inside an earthenware vessel are not made impure by its airspace
26. Statementרבי שמעון בן יוחי: the תורה will never be forgotten
27. QuestionHow then do we explain the verse about searching and not finding?
28. ResponseBeginning of the answer: what they will not find