Shabbos 27b

שבת כ״ז ע״ב

Shabbat 27b

Learn Shabbos 27b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 27b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Wool and linen in ציצית; סכך that can become טמא; and the new משנה on flax for שבת lights and טומאת אהלים

Overview

The amud continues the teaching of the תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל that an unspecified 'garment' in the תורה means wool or linen. The גמרא explains that this teaching limits ציצית to wool and linen. Without it, we might have followed רבא, who lets other materials be obligated too. רב אחא בריה דרבא then asks why the words 'אשר תכסה בה' should not add other materials, as 'או בגד' does for טומאה. רב אשי answers that those words include a blind person's garment, and a ברייתא explains why the blind person is included while a night garment is excluded. The גמרא adds that a verse about wool and linen can only add more wool and linen. Next, אביי shows that רבי שמעון בן אלעזר and סומכוס share the same idea about סכך that can become טמא. סומכוס's view follows his teacher רבי מאיר about when threads can become impure from נגעים. A new משנה teaches that among tree products only flax may be lit for שבת, and only flax becomes impure through טומאת אהלים. The גמרא proves from ספר יהושע that flax is called עץ. רבי אלעזר begins a גזירה שוה on the word אהל, which is finished on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ResponseThe teaching comes to include ציצית
2. ChallengeWhy is this needed if the verses already show it
3. ResolutionWe might have followed רבא
4. Challengeרבא points out two verses that seem to clash
5. Resolutionרבא's resolution: wool and linen work for everything
6. ConclusionSo the rule is needed to reject רבא's reading
7. ChallengeWhy not include other garments as with impurity
8. ResolutionThat phrase includes a blind person's garment
9. ProofA ברייתא shows the phrase includes a blind person
10. QuestionWhy include the blind and exclude the night garment
11. ResponseOthers can see the blind person's fringes
12. ChallengeMaybe the phrase includes other materials instead
13. ResolutionA wool-and-linen verse adds only wool and linen
14. Statementאביי: Two Sages Said the Same Idea
15. Proofסומכוס Disqualifies Spun Thread as סוכה Roofing
16. QuestionWhose View Does סומכוס Follow?
17. Responseרבי מאיר: Warp and Woof Become Impure Right Away
18. Statementרבי יהודה: Each Thread Becomes Impure at a Different Stage
19. Statementמשנה: Flax Is the Exception Among Tree Products
20. QuestionHow Do We Know Flax Is Called a Tree?
21. Responseמר זוטרא: The Verse Says 'Flax of the Tree'
22. QuestionAsking for the source of the flax tent rule
23. Responseרבי אלעזר links the word 'tent' in two places