Shabbos 142b

שבת קמ״ב ע״ב

Shabbat 142b

Learn Shabbos 142b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 142b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Moving מוקצה that rests on permitted objects on שבת: the stone on the barrel, coins on the cushion, and the loaf-or-baby method

Overview

The amud opens by settling an apparent dispute between רבי יהודה and רבי שמעון בן אלעזר about a מדומע mixture: both agree a mental choice is enough, and רבי יהודה simply goes further. Then a new משנה teaches how to deal with מוקצה resting on permitted things on שבת. A stone on a barrel is tipped off, coins on a cushion are shaken off, and bird droppings are wiped with a rag, or washed with water if the cushion is leather. רב limits these leniencies to an item that was forgotten there; if it was placed on purpose, the base becomes a בסיס לדבר האסור. The גמרא shows that the barrel rule follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, comparing the stone to waste that blocks the food. It also teaches that if one needs only the cushion's place, he may move it with the coins still on it. Several אמוראים allow moving a forgotten purse, brick or saddlebag by placing a loaf or a baby on it. מר זוטרא limits this to forgotten items, and רב אשי limits it to a dead body. רב יוסף mocks אביי and רבא for using the method on purpose, and each answers that the item was usable for ordinary people and he needed the utensil only because of his status. The amud ends by asking whether רבא follows רבי יהודה, citing his instruction to throw a duck's intestines to the cat.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ChallengeDon't these two תנאים disagree about the mixture?
2. Resolutionרבי יהודה just goes further
3. StatementA stone resting on a barrel
4. StatementCoins lying on a cushion
5. StatementCleaning bird droppings off a cushion
6. Statementרב limits the stone rule to a forgotten stone
7. QuestionWhich תנא holds we exert effort with the permitted item?
8. Responseרבי יוחנן: it is רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
9. ProofBackground משנה: sorting legumes on יום טוב
10. Proofרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: when waste is the majority, take the food
11. ChallengeIsn't the barrel case like food being the majority?
12. ResolutionThe stone blocks the wine, so it counts as waste being the majority
13. StatementHow to handle a barrel that cannot be tilted where it stands
14. StatementCoins on a cushion: the leniency applies only when they were forgotten
15. StatementShaking is only for when you need the cushion itself
16. ProofA ברייתא teaches the same rule
17. StatementA forgotten purse may be moved by placing bread or a baby on it
18. StatementThe same applies to a forgotten brick
19. ProofA story: רבי יוחנן allowed moving a forgotten saddlebag of coins
20. ConclusionThe הלכה follows these rulings only when the item was forgotten
21. Statementרב אשי: the method works only for a dead body
22. Statementאביי and רבא used the method in practice
23. Challengeרב יוסף objects to using the method on purpose
24. Resolutionאביי explains why he put a spoon on the bundles
25. Resolutionרבא explains why he put a knife on the young dove
26. QuestionInference that רבא agrees with רבי יהודה
27. ChallengeChallenge from רבא's instruction about the duck