Shabbos 18b

שבת י״ח ע״ב

Shabbat 18b

Learn Shabbos 18b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 18b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

שביתת כלים, the decree of שמא יחתה for food left in an oven before שבת, and giving items to a non-Jew before שבת or פסח

Overview

Earlier on the דף, בית שמאי held that a Jew's utensils must 'rest' on שבת (שביתת כלים). The amud opens by explaining why they still permit incense, sulfur, a tub, a lamp, a pot and a spit: the incense sits on the ground, and the other utensils are declared הפקר. A ברייתא forbids putting raw food or a barrel of water into an oven right before שבת. The גמרא explains that even בית הלל agree, because of a rabbinic decree that a person might stoke the coals (שמא יחתה בגחלים). This decree is tested against incense, flax and wool in a dye kettle, and each is shown to be a case where stoking is unlikely or impossible. From this the גמרא draws practical rules: raw meat and fully cooked meat may be left in the oven, partly cooked meat is forbidden, and adding a raw bone makes it permitted. It then discusses kid meat versus ram meat in a sealed or unsealed oven. It records a dispute between רב אשי and רב ירמיה מדיפתי in two versions, and רבינא adds that a raw gourd is like kid meat. Finally, the גמרא returns to the משנה and brings ברייתות on giving items to a non-Jew before שבת and selling חמץ before פסח. רבי יהודה's view on the חמץ case continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ChallengeWhy do בית שמאי allow incense and sulfur?
2. ResolutionThe incense was placed on the ground
3. ChallengeWhy do בית שמאי allow a tub, lamp, pot and spit?
4. ResolutionThe owner declares the utensils ownerless
5. QuestionWho taught the ברייתא forbidding food and water left in the oven?
6. ResolutionEven בית הלל agree because of a decree about stoking coals
7. ChallengeThen decree against incense and sulfur too
8. ResolutionStoking would ruin the clothes and silver
9. ChallengeThen decree against bundles of flax
10. ResolutionAir harms the flax, so the oven stays closed
11. ChallengeThen decree against wool in the dye kettle
12. Resolutionשמואל: the kettle was taken off the fire
13. ChallengeHe might still stir the kettle
14. ResolutionThe kettle is removed and sealed with clay
15. StatementRaw meat may be left in the oven before שבת
16. StatementCooked meat is allowed, half-cooked is forbidden
17. ConclusionAdding a raw bone makes partly cooked meat permitted
18. StatementKid meat in a sealed oven is fine, ram meat in an unsealed oven is forbidden
19. StatementDispute over the mixed cases
20. ChallengeChallenge to רב אשי from the teaching on roasting
21. ResolutionThe teaching means ram meat in an unsealed oven
22. StatementSecond version: the dispute is only about ram meat in an unsealed oven
23. ChallengeSame challenge to רב אשי in the second version
24. ResolutionThe teaching means meat roasting directly on coals
25. Statementרבינא: a raw gourd counts like kid meat
26. StatementGiving things to a non-Jew before שבת: בית שמאי and בית הלל
27. Statementרבי עקיבא: enough that he leaves the house
28. Statementרבי עקיבא is only explaining בית הלל
29. StatementSelling חמץ to a non-Jew before פסח