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Shabbos 47b

שבת מ״ז ע״ב

Shabbat 47b

Learn Shabbos 47b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 47b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Reassembling a collapsible bed, catching lamp sparks on שבת, and the opening of במה טומנין (materials for wrapping food)

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא about putting together a bed made of separate parts. The תנא קמא forbids it, and fastening the parts tightly counts as Torah-level בונה. רבן שמעון בן גמליאל permits it if the parts fit loosely, and in a story about a bed in רב חמא's house, רבא says he follows that view. A new משנה then permits placing a vessel under a lamp to catch sparks, but forbids putting water in it, because the water puts the sparks out. The גמרא explains that the vessel does not become unusable, because sparks have no real substance. It also asks whether the ban on water follows רבי יוסי's view on indirect extinguishing. It rejects that idea, and רב אשי explains that even the רבנן forbid it, because the water speeds up the extinguishing. After the הדרן for פרק כירה, the new chapter במה טומנין lists materials one may not wrap food in, some forbidden always and some only when moist. The גמרא asks whether the forbidden גפת means olive or sesame residue, tries a proof from רבי זירא, and begins rejecting it. That rejection continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֲבָל אָסוּר.

But it is forbidden.

וְלֹא יִתְקַע,

And he may not fasten it tightly,

וְאִם תָּקַע — חַיָּיב חַטָּאת.

and if he fastened it, he is liable to a sin-offering.

רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר:

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says:

The steps (18)

  1. StatementReassembling the bed is forbidden, and fastening it tightly is a Torah violation
  2. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל permits reassembly if the parts are loose
  3. StatementA collapsible bed was reassembled on יום טוב in רב חמא's house
  4. ChallengeA scholar challenges רבא: even if it is atypical building, it is still rabbinically forbidden
  5. Resolutionרבא answers that he follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
  6. Statementמשנה: a vessel may be placed under a lamp to catch sparks, but no water may be put in it
  7. ChallengeThe vessel seems to become unusable
  8. ResolutionSparks have no substance
  9. QuestionDoes the anonymous משנה follow רבי יוסי?
  10. Rejectionרבי יוסי only forbade it on שבת itself
  11. ProofA ברייתא shows the water is forbidden even before שבת
  12. Resolutionרב אשי: even the רבנן agree, because the water speeds up the extinguishing
  13. ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק כירה
  14. StatementNew משנה: materials you may not wrap food in, wet or dry
  15. StatementMaterials forbidden only when moist
  16. QuestionOlive residue or sesame residue?
  17. ProofProof from placing a basket on olive residue
  18. RejectionWrapping in it differs from placing on it