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Shabbos 25b

שבת כ״ה ע״ב

Shabbat 25b

Learn Shabbos 25b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 25b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Benefiting from burning impure תרומה; forbidden lamp fuels (tar, צרי) on שבת; נר שבת as a חובה and washing as a מצוה; aggadot on lost comforts in exile and on who is wealthy

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier question: why may one benefit from burning impure תרומה but not from burning impure קדשים? The גמרא answers that קדשים has more strict rules, or that eating it while impure carries כרת. רב נחמן בר יצחק adds a פסוק, "תתן לו", which implies that impure תרומה is fit for the כהן's fire. Next the גמרא explains רבי ישמעאל's ban on lighting with tar. רבא says the bad smell might make a person leave the light, and that matters because נר שבת is a חובה. רב rules that washing in hot water before שבת is optional, and another אמורא calls it a מצוה. He proves this from the custom of רבי יהודה בר אלעאי, which leads to a side story about his students and ציצית on linen. The גמרא then brings a פסוק from איכה about the comforts an exile loses, such as the נר שבת, bathing and a good bed. A ברייתא follows with four views on who is truly wealthy. The amud ends with רבי שמעון בן אלעזר's ban on lighting with balsam sap (צרי), רבה's reason for it, and the start of אביי's reply, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאֵין לָהּ פִּדְיוֹן,

And it [תרומה] has no redemption,

וַאֲסוּרָה לְזָרִים.

and it is forbidden to non-priests.

הָנָךְ נְפִישָׁן.

Those are more numerous.

וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא:

And if you want, say:

The steps (29)

  1. ChallengeMore strict rules of תרומה: no redemption, forbidden to non-כהנים
  2. Resolutionקדשים has more strict rules
  3. ResolutionAnother answer: קדשים carries כרת
  4. ProofA פסוק shows impure תרומה is for the כהן's fire
  5. QuestionWhy does רבי ישמעאל forbid lighting with tar?
  6. Responseרבא: bad smell, so one may leave the light
  7. Challengeאביי: so let him leave
  8. Resolutionרבא: נר שבת is an obligation
  9. Proofרב: lighting is a חובה, washing is optional
  10. StatementBut washing is a מצוה
  11. QuestionWhat kind of מצוה is washing?
  12. ResponseThe custom of רבי יהודה בר אלעאי
  13. ChallengeThe students hide their corners and are rebuked
  14. ResolutionThe students' reason: a decree because of night garments
  15. StatementA verse about exile is quoted
  16. QuestionWhat is the lost 'peace'?
  17. ResponseThe lost peace is lighting the שבת lamp
  18. ResponseThe lost goodness is the bathhouse
  19. ResponseGoodness is washing hands and feet in hot water
  20. ResponseGoodness is a nice bed with nice bedding
  21. ResponseGoodness is a made bed and an adorned wife
  22. StatementWho is wealthy? One who enjoys his wealth
  23. Statementרבי טרפון: a hundred vineyards, fields, and servants
  24. Statementרבי עקיבא: a wife with fine deeds
  25. Statementרבי יוסי: a bathroom near his table
  26. StatementOne may not light with balsam sap
  27. QuestionWhy is balsam sap forbidden?
  28. ResponseIts nice smell might tempt someone to take some
  29. Challengeאביי begins to respond to רבה