Shabbos 34a

שבת ל״ד ע״א

Shabbat 34a

Learn Shabbos 34a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The end of the story of רבי שמעון בן יוחאי, and the משנה about the reminders before שבת and the laws of ספק חשכה: עירוב and טמינה

Overview

The amud opens with the end of the story of רבי שמעון בן יוחאי in טבריה. He checks the ground, declares hard ground טהור, and marks soft ground, so that כהנים can walk through the marketplace. An elder mocks him, and רבי שמעון rebukes him for undermining a decision he took part in. The story ends with the elder and יהודה בן גרים punished. Then a new משנה teaches that just before שבת a person asks his household about מעשר and עירוב and tells them to light the candle, and it lists what may and may not be done during ספק חשכה. The גמרא brings a פסוק as the source, and adds that these reminders must be said gently. Next, the גמרא resolves a contradiction in the משנה by separating עירובי תחומין from the more lenient עירובי חצרות. רבא's ruling on two עירובין at twilight is defended with the rule סְפֵקָא דְרַבָּנַן לְקוּלָּא. Finally, רבא explains why insulating food is forbidden only after dark, answers אביי's challenge, and begins another teaching that continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. QuestionThe priests' problem and רבי שמעון's question
2. ResponseAn elder remembers רבן יוחנן בן זכאי planting there
3. Statementרבי שמעון checks the ground and purifies it
4. ChallengeAn elder mocks רבי שמעון
5. Rejectionרבי שמעון rebukes the elder for breaking ranks
6. ConclusionThe elder and יהודה בן גרים are punished
7. StatementThe three questions before שבת
8. StatementWhat may and may not be done at twilight
9. QuestionWhat is the source?
10. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי brings a פסוק from איוב
11. StatementSay the reminders gently
12. Statementרב אשי reached the same idea by reasoning
13. ChallengeThe משנה seems to contradict itself about making an עירוב at dusk
14. StatementA memory aid listing רב's teachings in this chain
15. ResolutionTwo different kinds of עירוב: boundaries versus courtyards
16. Statementרבא's case: two עירובי חצרות, both valid
17. ChallengeTwilight cannot be both day and night
18. ResolutionTwilight is a doubt, so we are lenient
19. StatementWhy insulating is forbidden after dark
20. Challengeאביי asks why the decree does not apply at twilight
21. ResolutionPots are usually still boiling at twilight
22. StatementAnother teaching of רבא begins