Shabbos 20a

שבת כ׳ ע״א

Shabbat 20a

Learn Shabbos 20a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 20a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Food and fires before שבת: מאכל בן דרוסאי, bread, the קרבן פסח, the בית המוקד fire, and how much of a fire must catch

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה about fires before שבת and then explains it clause by clause. First, the גמרא sets the minimum cooking needed before שבת as מאכל בן דרוסאי, and shows the same measure used for בישולי גוים and for leaving food on an uncovered כירה. It then settles that the 'bottom' of the bread that must form a crust is the side stuck to the oven wall. The קרבן פסח may be lowered into the oven at nightfall because the חבורה is careful, since a whole פסח roasts slowly, unlike cut-up goat meat. The fire of the בית המוקד may be lit before שבת, and רב חסדא shows that this is because the כהנים are careful, not because of the פסוק 'בכל מושבותיכם'. Outside the מקדש, רב and שמואל argue over what 'most' of a bonfire means. For a single log, רב פפא requires most of both its thickness and its circumference. After a short side discussion of the word אח in ירמיהו, רב הונא and רב חסדא argue over whether bundled reeds and seeds need more burning or less, and a supporting statement begins that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementBonfires outside the מקדש need most of the wood burning
2. QuestionHow much roasting is needed before שבת?
3. ResponseThe measure is מאכל בן דרוסאי
4. StatementThe same measure removes the problem of food cooked by non-Jews
5. Statementמאכל בן דרוסאי may stay on an unprepared כירה
6. QuestionWhich bottom of the bread must form a crust?
7. ResponseA ברייתא: the side stuck to the oven
8. QuestionWhy may the קרבן פסח be lowered into the oven?
9. ResponseThe group is careful
10. ChallengeBut goat meat is allowed anyway
11. ResolutionThere it was cut up; the פסח is whole
12. QuestionWhere do we learn that the fire of the בית המוקד may be lit right before שבת?
13. Responseרב הונא: 'in your dwellings' excludes the מקדש
14. Challengeרב חסדא: then it should be allowed even on שבת itself
15. Resolutionרב חסדא: the פסוק is about אברים and פדרים, and the כהנים are careful
16. QuestionWhat does 'most of it' mean outside the מקדש?
17. Responseרב: most of every single log
18. Responseשמואל: enough that no one needs to add kindling
19. Proofרב חייא's teaching supports שמואל
20. StatementA single log: thickness or circumference?
21. Conclusionרב פפא: we need both
22. StatementThe same dispute among תנאים
23. ProofA hint from יחזקאל
24. QuestionWhat is the אח in ירמיהו?
25. Responseרב: willow; שמואל: wood lit 'in brotherhood'
26. ProofA seller reveals that אחוונא means willow
27. StatementLoose reeds and seeds need less burning than bundled ones
28. ChallengeBundled fuel should burn better, not worse
29. ProofIntroducing a supporting statement