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Shabbos 43a

שבת מ״ג ע״א

Shabbat 43a

Learn Shabbos 43a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 43a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Using a vessel for an egg laid on שבת: רבה's common-case rule, רב יוסף's מבטל כלי מהיכנו, and רבי יצחק's rule that a vessel may only be moved for something movable.

Overview

On the previous amud, רב חסדא ruled that on שבת you may cover an egg to protect it, but you may not place a vessel under a hen to catch its egg. רבה explained that חכמים allowed moving a vessel to prevent a loss only in common situations. אביי challenged him three times (a lamp, a broken beam, a leak), and each time רבה showed that the case really was common. רב יוסף then gave a different reason: catching the egg traps the vessel holding something מוקצה, which is מבטל כלי מהיכנו. אביי challenged this with several cases: טבל, sparks, a beam, a leak, and a basket for chicks. Each is answered by showing the vessel never really becomes unusable. The basket discussion also teaches that anything מוקצה during בין השמשות stays מוקצה all day. רבי יצחק is stricter: you may not even cover the egg, because a vessel may only be moved for something that may itself be moved. The challenges to him are answered with צריך למקומו, or by showing the item is not מוקצה (stones, bricks, a hive with honey). רב עוקבא ממישן's question on the honey answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: כּוֹפִין קְעָרָה עַל הַנֵּר

He challenged him: one may turn a bowl over the lamp

שֶׁלֹּא יֵאָחֵז בַּקּוֹרָה?

so that the fire will not catch the beam?

— בְּבָתֵּי גְּחִינִי

It is talking about low houses

דִּשְׁכִיחַ בְּהוּ דְּלֵיקָה.

where fire is common.

The steps (34)

  1. ChallengeChallenge from covering a lamp
  2. ResolutionLow houses often catch fire
  3. ChallengeChallenge from propping up a broken beam
  4. ResolutionNew beams often crack
  5. ChallengeChallenge from placing a vessel under a leak
  6. ResolutionNew houses often leak
  7. StatementA different reason: the vessel becomes unusable
  8. ChallengeA broken barrel of untithed produce
  9. ResolutionUntithed produce counts as ready for שבת
  10. ChallengeA vessel under a lamp to catch sparks
  11. ResolutionSparks have no real substance
  12. ChallengePropping up a broken beam with a bench
  13. ResolutionThe bench only supports the beam loosely
  14. ChallengeA vessel under a dripping leak
  15. ResolutionThe leak water is usable
  16. ChallengeChallenge from turning a basket over for chicks
  17. ResolutionThe basket stays movable
  18. ChallengeA ברייתא says the basket may not be moved
  19. ResolutionForbidden only while the chicks are on it
  20. ChallengeForbidden even after the chicks leave
  21. Resolutionרבי אבהו: the chicks were on it all of בין השמשות
  22. Statementרבי יצחק: no covering a fresh egg with a vessel
  23. Statementרבי יצחק's reason: a vessel only for something movable
  24. ChallengeAll the earlier sources are thrown at רבי יצחק
  25. ResolutionAnswer: he needed the vessel's spot
  26. ChallengeA ברייתא allows covering a fresh egg
  27. ResolutionHere too, he needed the vessel's spot
  28. ChallengeChallenge from spreading mats over stones
  29. ResolutionThese stones are usable for the bathroom
  30. ChallengeChallenge from spreading mats over bricks
  31. ResolutionThe bricks are leftovers fit for leaning on
  32. ChallengeChallenge from covering a beehive with a mat
  33. ResolutionThe beehive has honey in it
  34. Challengeרב עוקבא ממישן questions the honey answer