Shabbos 41a

שבת מ״א ע״א

Shabbat 41a

Learn Shabbos 41a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Conduct while bathing, רב יהודה's bathhouse lessons, and heating water in hot vessels on שבת

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an answer about רבי אבהו swimming: the ban applies to a pool without raised banks, and רבי אבהו swam in one that had banks. רבי זירא then reports that רבי אבהו covered himself with his hands while bathing. אביי explains that the fear of the river keeps a bather from improper thoughts, just as fear of war keeps soldiers from pouring wine for idols. The גמרא resolves רב's warning that covering oneself looks like denying ברית אברהם: covering is forbidden going into the river and allowed coming out, in front of people. Next comes the story of רבי זירא, who wanted to move to ארץ ישראל and first heard רב יהודה give his servant instructions in the bathhouse. The גמרא explains each instruction, and a ברייתא of health advice explains why one should drink the bathhouse water. A new משנה then permits drinking on שבת from a swept מוליאר but not from an אנטיכי, and a ברייתא supports רב נחמן בר יצחק that an אנטיכי is a copper cauldron. Finally, a משנה about an emptied hot urn is explained by רב אדא בר מתנא: a small amount of water is forbidden because it would get hot, and a large amount is permitted because it would only get lukewarm.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ResolutionFinishing the answer: a pool without embankments versus a pool with embankments
2. Statementרבי זירא's report: רבי אבהו covered himself while bathing
3. ChallengeWhy the doubt? Touching is obviously forbidden
4. Resolutionאביי: the rabbis treated it like a military troop
5. ProofThe משנה of the troop: frightened people do not sin
6. QuestionWhat is there to be afraid of here?
7. ResponseFear of the river
8. ChallengeCovering oneself looks like denying ברית אברהם
9. ResolutionGoing in versus coming out of the river
10. ProofHow the sages actually behaved
11. Statementרבי זירא avoids his teacher because he wants to move to ארץ ישראל
12. Statementרבי זירא hears רב יהודה's bathhouse instructions
13. QuestionWhat is the benefit of drinking the bathhouse water?
14. ResponseA ברייתא of health advice explains why to drink the bathhouse water
15. Statementמשנה: drinking from a swept מוליאר versus an אנטיכי on שבת
16. QuestionWhat exactly is a swept מוליאר?
17. ResponseA מוליאר has water inside and coals outside
18. Statementרבה and רב נחמן בר יצחק disagree about what an אנטיכי is
19. StatementThe practical difference between the two views
20. ProofA ברייתא supports רב נחמן
21. StatementThe משנה on refilling an emptied hot urn
22. QuestionWhat is the משנה really saying?
23. ResponseThe difference is the amount of water