Shabbos 50a

שבת נ׳ ע״א

Shabbat 50a

Learn Shabbos 50a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 50a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Preparing מוקצה items for שבת use (fleece, palm branches, earth): designation, intention, action, or prior use, and the related dispute about דבר שאין מתכוין.

Overview

This amud is about how an item that would normally be מוקצה can be made usable on שבת. It opens by finishing a challenge to רבא from the משנה about wool fleece used to insulate food. The גמרא gives two answers to that challenge. The first rewrites רבא's statement so that only fleece designated for insulating may be moved. The second is רבינא's: the משנה is talking about a merchant's fleece. A ברייתא about palm branches cut for firewood follows, where the תנא קמא requires tying them and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל does not. On that ברייתא, רב requires tying, שמואל says intention is enough, and רב אסי says sitting on them before שבת is enough, and sources from the תנאים are found to back רב אסי. The unnamed תנא is identified as רבי חנינא בן עקיבא. Then רב יהודה permits earth brought into a set corner of the house, and רב פפא explains that even the רבנן do not require an action where none is possible. Finally, the גמרא compares two ברייתות about polishing with sand, explains them through the dispute about דבר שאין מתכוין, and begins a challenge that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ChallengeEnd of the challenge: the fleece must fall by itself
2. Resolutionרבא's statement restated: only fleece designated for insulating may be moved
3. ProofSupport from רבין's tradition in the name of רבי
4. Resolutionרבינא: the משנה speaks of a merchant's fleece
5. ProofA ברייתא supports רבינא
6. StatementPalm branches cut for firewood, then set aside for sitting
7. StatementThree אמוראים: tie, intend, or sit
8. ChallengeWhose view does רב אסי follow?
9. Resolutionרב אסי follows the תנא of the bandages
10. ProofA משנה about straw on a bed supports רב אסי
11. QuestionWho is the תנא who argues with רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
12. ResponseIt is רבי חנינא בן עקיבא, with the story of the palm branches
13. ResolutionThought was enough only because a busy household could not tie
14. StatementBringing a basket of earth into the house for שבת use
15. StatementThe earth must have a set corner
16. ChallengeDoes the earth ruling only follow רבן שמעון בן גמליאל?
17. Resolutionרב פפא: An action is only required when one is possible
18. QuestionSuggesting a tannaitic parallel: polishing utensils
19. ProofContradicting source: sand is forbidden
20. RejectionNo, the two sources argue about something else
21. ResolutionThe argument is about unintended results
22. ChallengeBut the permitting source forbids washing hair