Shabbos 14b

שבת י״ד ע״ב

Shabbat 14b

Learn Shabbos 14b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The rabbinic decrees that disqualify תרומה: the order of the decrees on hands, testing טבול יום and the liquid decrees, and who first decreed impurity on hands (שמאי והלל, their students, or שלמה).

Overview

The גמרא goes through the list of things the רבנן decreed would make תרומה unfit, and it tests each item. First it settles the order of the decrees on hands: the decree on hands that touched a ספר תורה came first, and later it was extended to all hands. טבול יום is already impure מדאורייתא, so the גמרא deletes it from the list. Foods made impure by liquids means liquids made impure by hands, a decree made because of liquids made impure by a שרץ. Vessels made impure by liquids means liquids made impure by a שרץ, a decree made because of the liquids of a זב. Next the גמרא asks why the משנה credits the students of שמאי והלל with the decree on hands, when a ברייתא says שמאי והלל made it themselves. After rejecting two answers, it concludes that the masters decreed it but the people did not accept it, and the students decreed it again and the people accepted it. Finally it asks how this fits with a teaching that שלמה המלך already instituted washing hands. The answer begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ChallengeIf the general hands decree came first, why have a separate one for a ספר?
2. ResolutionThe ספר decree came first, then the decree on all hands
3. Challengeטבול יום is already Torah law, so why is it listed as a decree?
4. ResolutionRemove טבול יום from the list
5. QuestionFoods made impure by liquids: which liquids?
6. RejectionNot liquids made impure by a שרץ, since that is Torah law
7. ResponseIt means liquids made impure by hands, decreed because of שרץ-liquids
8. QuestionVessels made impure by liquids: which liquids?
9. RejectionNot liquids of a זב, since those make vessels impure by Torah law
10. ResponseIt means שרץ-liquids, decreed because of זב-liquids
11. ChallengeDid the students really make the decree on hands?
12. Proofברייתא listing early decrees, ending with שמאי והלל on hands
13. ResolutionProposal: the ברייתא means the groups of שמאי והלל
14. RejectionRejected: שמאי והלל personally argued only three times
15. ResolutionProposal: masters decreed suspension, students decreed burning
16. RejectionRejected: אילפא says the decree on hands was for burning from the start
17. ResolutionMasters decreed but it was not accepted; students decreed and it was
18. ChallengeChallenge: שלמה המלך already decreed washing hands
19. ResolutionThe answer to the Solomon challenge begins