Shabbos 39b

שבת ל״ט ע״ב

Shabbat 39b

Learn Shabbos 39b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The טבריא hot-water incident, what kind of washing the משנה forbids, and the ruling like רבי יהודה

Overview

The people of טבריא ran a pipe of cold water through the hot springs so it would be hot on שבת. The רבנן forbade it, so the גמרא learns that הטמנה in something that adds heat is forbidden, even if it is set up before שבת. עולא wants to rule like the people of טבריא, but רב נחמן answers that they themselves broke their pipes. The גמרא then asks what kind of רחיצה the משנה forbids. Whole-body bathing clashes with a ברייתא, and face-hands-feet would make the סיפא follow בית שמאי. רב איקא בר חנניא answers that the משנה means rinsing the whole body, following רבי שמעון against רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה. רב חסדא's statement about water in a כלי versus water in the ground is corrected because of the טבריא incident. Finally, רבי יוחנן rules like רבי יהודה. רב יוסף asks whether this ruling was explicit or inferred from the rule that the הלכה follows the מכריע, a rule with an exception for מטלניות whose reasons continue on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ConclusionThe טבריא incident teaches that heat-adding insulation is forbidden
2. Statementעולא rules like the people of טבריא
3. Rejectionרב נחמן: the people of טבריא already broke their pipes
4. QuestionWhat kind of washing does the משנה forbid?
5. ChallengeWhole-body bathing does not fit the ברייתא
6. ResponseSo it means face, hands and feet
7. ChallengeQuoting the סיפא about יום טוב
8. ChallengeThe משנה would follow בית שמאי
9. Resolutionרב איקא בר חנניא: the משנה means rinsing the whole body
10. ProofThe משנה follows רבי שמעון on rinsing
11. Statementרב חסדא: The dispute is only about water in a vessel
12. ChallengeChallenge from the incident of the people of טבריא
13. Resolutionרב חסדא's statement is flipped
14. Statementרבי יוחנן rules like רבי יהודה
15. Questionרב יוסף: Did you hear this explicitly or by inference?
16. ResponseThe general rule: the הלכה follows the compromiser
17. StatementThe exception: insignificant strips of cloth
18. ProofWhy the exception: רבי עקיבא was a student