Shabbos 46b

שבת מ״ו ע״ב

Shabbat 46b

Learn Shabbos 46b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

רבי שמעון's view of מוקצה and of unintended acts (דבר שאין מתכוין), shown through the lamp, the בכור, and vows

Overview

This amud opens at the end of a story. רב אויא gives his last answer to רבא: a ברייתא says jewelry may be moved in a courtyard on שבת, and עולא explains that this is because it has the status of a כלי. The same reason works for רב אויא's case, and רב נחמן בר יצחק thanks God that רבא did not embarrass him. Then אביי raises a contradiction before רבה. רבי שמעון allows leftover lamp oil, which suggests he does not hold of מוקצה. Yet he forbids a בכור whose blemish was not noticeable before יום טוב. רבה answers that a person expects his lamp to go out, but nobody counts on a blemish, a permanent one, and a חכם willing to examine it. Two challenges from vows are answered: a wife's vow always depends on her husband, and three ordinary people can release a vow if no חכם will. Next, אביי asks רב יוסף why רבי שמעון forbids moving a burning lamp, since he permits unintended acts like dragging furniture. The first answer splits Torah-level and rabbinic results. רבא knocks that answer down with the case of clothing merchants, and the amud ends just as רבא begins a new explanation, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ProofThe ברייתא about bracelets, nose-rings and rings
2. Statementעולא explains why the jewelry may be moved
3. ResolutionThe same reason works for our case
4. Conclusionרב נחמן בר יצחק is glad רב אויא was not embarrassed
5. Statementאביי's first source: רבי שמעון allows leftover lamp oil
6. StatementConclusion from the first source: רבי שמעון does not hold of מוקצה
7. ChallengeThe second source: רבי שמעון forbids what was not ready before יום טוב
8. ResolutionA lamp is expected to go out, a blemish is not
9. ResolutionThree doubts about the firstborn animal
10. ChallengeA source about vows on שבת
11. ChallengeWhy not say the husband may refuse?
12. ResolutionA woman's vow depends on her husband from the start
13. ChallengeBut who says a חכם will agree to release the vow?
14. ResolutionVows have a backup, the בכור does not
15. ChallengeWhy does רבי שמעון forbid moving a burning lamp?
16. Challengeרבי שמעון permits unintended acts, like dragging furniture
17. ResolutionA Torah-level result is treated differently from a rabbinic one
18. Challengeרבא challenges with the clothing merchants
19. Resolutionרבא introduces a new explanation