Shabbos 42b

שבת מ״ב ע״ב

Shabbat 42b

Learn Shabbos 42b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 42b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Spices and salt in hot food on שבת, and placing vessels to catch or protect things on שבת (common versus uncommon protection).

Overview

The משנה lets a person put spices into a bowl or tureen on שבת, because these are secondary vessels. רבי יהודה says spices may go into anything except food that contains vinegar or fish brine. A ברייתא shows that רבי יהודה is being lenient: even boiling pots are fine, as long as there is no vinegar or brine. The גמרא then discusses salt and gives two versions of a debate between רב יוסף and אביי. In one version, salt cooks even in a כלי שני, and this disagrees with רב נחמן. In the other version, salt does not cook even in a כלי ראשון, and this matches רב נחמן. A new משנה forbids placing a vessel under a lamp on שבת to catch dripping oil. רב חסדא rules that one may not place a vessel under a hen to catch its egg, but may cover the egg to protect it. רבה explains that the Sages permitted protection only in common situations, and he defends this rule against אביי's two challenges: new barrels and falling sparks are both common.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementSpices may be placed into a bowl or tureen
2. Statementרבי יהודה: spices go into anything except vinegar or brine
3. QuestionIs רבי יהודה being lenient or strict?
4. ResponseA ברייתא shows רבי יהודה is lenient
5. Statementרב יוסף thinks salt is like spices
6. Challengeאביי cites רבי חייא: salt cooks even in a secondary vessel
7. StatementThis disagrees with רב נחמן, who says salt needs long cooking
8. StatementSecond version: רב יוסף compares salt to spices
9. Challengeאביי: salt is harder to cook than spices
10. ProofThis version fits רב נחמן
11. Statementמשנה: a vessel under a lamp to catch oil
12. Statementרב חסדא: catching an egg is forbidden, covering it is allowed
13. Questionרבה asks for רב חסדא's reason
14. ResponseCommon protection is allowed, rare protection is not
15. Challengeאביי: a broken barrel of טבל is rare, yet allowed
16. ResolutionNew barrels crack often
17. ChallengeA second challenge: a vessel placed under a lamp to catch sparks
18. ResolutionAnswer: sparks are also common