Shabbos 19a

שבת י״ט ע״א

Shabbat 19a

Learn Shabbos 19a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Starting things before שבת (or פסח) that continue on their own: dealings with a גוי, travel, sieges, laundry, presses, and processes that run by themselves

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a ברייתא about selling חמץ to a גוי: רבי יהודה forbids selling כותח during the thirty days before פסח, because it lasts a long time. A new ברייתא allows putting food before a dog or a גוי in the courtyard on שבת, even if they carry it out. The גמרא explains why the גוי case is taught separately. Further ברייתות forbid renting utensils to a גוי or sending letters with him on ערב שבת, and the גמרא clarifies when a letter may still be sent: with a fixed price, or where the town has a set mail house. Other ברייתות forbid setting sail or starting a siege fewer than three days before שבת, with some exceptions. The גמרא then turns to the משנה: white clothes went to the launderer earlier than colored ones, and אביי puts this to practical use. It explains why בית שמאי did not forbid loading the presses: that work would not bring a חטאת even on שבת. Finally, it traces the rule that a process running by itself on שבת is permitted to רבי ישמעאל, quoting a משנה whose second opinion, from רבי עקיבא, continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. Statementכותח may not be sold thirty days before פסח
2. StatementFood may be put before a dog on שבת
3. StatementThe same rule applies to a gentile
4. ChallengeWhy repeat the same rule for the gentile
5. ResolutionResponsibility for feeding makes the difference
6. StatementNo renting utensils to a gentile on Friday
7. StatementNo sending letters with a gentile on Friday
8. Statementרבי יוסי never had a letter in a gentile's hand
9. StatementA letter may be sent with a gentile on Friday only for a set price
10. ChallengeIf a price was fixed, why does timing matter?
11. Resolutionרב ששת: the dispute is about a case with no fixed price
12. ChallengeBut the first part forbids sending without a price
13. ResolutionIt depends on whether the town has a set mail house
14. StatementNo setting sail within three days of Shabbat
15. StatementThe ban applies only to optional trips, not מצוה trips
16. StatementMust he stipulate that the ship stop for שבת?
17. StatementA short trip from צור to צידון is allowed even on Friday
18. StatementNo siege fewer than three days before שבת
19. Proofשמאי's verse: the siege continues even on שבת
20. Statementרבן גמליאל's household and laundry before שבת
21. ConclusionWhite clothes are harder to wash than colored ones
22. Statementאביי argues with the launderer about the price
23. Statementאביי's advice: measure the garment before and after
24. QuestionWhy did בית שמאי allow loading the presses?
25. Responseבית שמאי only decreed where שבת work would bring a חטאת
26. QuestionWho is the source for allowing processes that run on their own?
27. ResponseIt is רבי ישמעאל
28. ProofProof from the משנה of crushed garlic, grapes, and stalks