Shabbos 33b

שבת ל״ג ע״ב

Shabbat 33b

Learn Shabbos 33b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Why אסכרה comes into the world, and the story of רבי שמעון בר יוחאי's years in the cave and what followed.

Overview

The amud opens with reasons why the deadly throat disease אסכרה comes into the world. רבי אלעזר ברבי יוסי says it comes because of לשון הרע, and the גמרא asks whether that is the only cause or one cause among others. A ברייתא from the vineyard of יבנה shows that he also blamed eating untithed food, so the גמרא concludes that לשון הרע is an additional cause. In that ברייתא, רבי שמעון blames ביטול תורה and defends his view against several challenges. The last challenge is answered with the idea that innocent school children can suffer for the sins of their generation. The גמרא then explains why רבי יהודה was called ״ראש המדברים״: he praised the Roman government, while רבי שמעון בן יוחאי criticized it and was sentenced to death. This opens the famous story of רבי שמעון and his son hiding in a cave for twelve years. When they come out, they are too harsh on the world, until an old man honoring שבת shows them how much ordinary Jews love מצוות. After being reunited with his son-in-law רבי פנחס בן יאיר, רבי שמעון decides to fix something for the public, as יעקב did. He is told about a place of ספק טומאה, and the story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (36)

1. StatementAnother opinion: the disease comes because of slander
2. ProofA verse hinting that liars' mouths will be stopped
3. QuestionDid he mean only slander, or slander as well?
4. ProofSetting up the story in the vineyard of Yavne
5. Responseרבי יהודה: the mouth completes the speech
6. Responseרבי אלעזר: because people eat impure things
7. ChallengeCan it really mean non-kosher food?
8. ResolutionIt means untithed food
9. Responseרבי שמעון: because of neglecting Torah study
10. ChallengeChallenge: women get the disease too
11. ResolutionAnswer: they keep their husbands from learning
12. ChallengeChallenge: non-Jews get the disease too
13. ResolutionAnswer: they keep Jews from learning
14. ChallengeChallenge: young children get the disease too
15. ResolutionAnswer: they keep their fathers from learning
16. ChallengeChallenge: school children who learn get it too
17. ResolutionInnocent children may suffer for the generation
18. ProofA verse: young goats taken as a pledge for the shepherds
19. ConclusionConclusion: slander is also a cause
20. QuestionWhy was רבי יהודה called the head of the speakers?
21. ResponseThe scene: רבי יהודה praises the Romans
22. Statementרבי יוסי is silent and רבי שמעון criticizes Rome
23. ResponseThe government rewards and punishes each sage
24. StatementHiding in the בית מדרש, then moving to a cave
25. StatementTwelve years of miracles and learning in the cave
26. StatementToo harsh on the world: sent back to the cave
27. StatementTwelve more months, and רבי שמעון heals what his son harms
28. StatementThe old man with two bundles of myrtle for שבת
29. ConclusionSee how beloved the מצוות are: their minds are put at ease
30. Statementרבי פנחס בן יאיר sees the damage on רבי שמעון's body
31. StatementWoe is me versus happy are you
32. ProofFrom twelve answers to twenty-four answers
33. Statementרבי שמעון decides to repair something, like יעקב
34. ProofWhat יעקב fixed for the city: three opinions
35. Questionרבי שמעון asks what needs fixing
36. ResponseThe people point to a place of doubtful impurity