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Shabbos 50b

שבת נ׳ ע״ב

Shabbat 50b

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

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Topic

Shabbat 50b: Washing substances on שבת and beautifying oneself, then the pot in the basket and pulling objects out of earth or bricks on שבת.

Overview

The גמרא first finishes explaining two conflicting ברייתות about cleaning with sand and נתר. It concludes that both follow רבי יהודה and that they only disagree about whether these substances scrape. The permission to wash the face is explained as referring to someone with no beard. Next, several אמוראים list substances that anyone may use to wash on שבת, including ברדא, which is defined as a herbal mixture without a majority of אהלא. רב ששת forbids splitting olives for their oil even on a weekday, because it makes food disgusting, and the גמרא shows this does not contradict שמואל's ruling about bread. A story about אמימר, רב אשי and מר זוטרא shows two views on beautifying oneself, each based on a ברייתא. The גמרא then returns to the משנה of the pot in the basket and explains that everyone forbids returning the pot once the hole collapsed. The argument is only about worrying that it might collapse. Related rules follow about pulling a branch or knife out of earth, bricks or reeds on שבת. A strong challenge to these rules from a משנה about a buried turnip begins at the end and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

נָזִיר חוֹפֵף וּמְפַסְפֵּס,

A nazirite may wash and separate [his hair],

אֲבָל לֹא סוֹרֵק!

but he may not comb it!

אֶלָּא הָא וְהָא רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא,

Rather, both this and that are Rabbi Yehuda,

וּתְרֵי תַנָּאֵי אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה.

and there are two tanna'im according to Rabbi Yehuda.

The steps (26)

  1. Challengeרבי שמעון allows a נזיר to wash his hair
  2. ResolutionBoth ברייתות follow רבי יהודה, with two views of his position
  3. ChallengeChallenge: the end of the ברייתא permits washing the face
  4. ResolutionThe face case is someone without facial hair
  5. StatementFour substances permitted for washing
  6. QuestionWhat is ברדא?
  7. Responseברדא is three equal parts
  8. StatementAny mix without a majority of aloe is fine
  9. QuestionMay one split olives on שבת?
  10. ResponseForbidden even on a weekday because it ruins food
  11. ChallengeDoes this contradict שמואל on using bread?
  12. ResolutionBread stays edible, split olives become disgusting
  13. StatementThree sages are offered a washing mixture
  14. ChallengeWhy didn't מר זוטרא follow רב ששת?
  15. Resolutionמר זוטרא avoids it even on weekdays
  16. ProofThe source for Mar Zutra's view
  17. QuestionWhat is the source for the other two sages?
  18. ResponseWashing every day in honor of the Creator
  19. StatementBack to the משנה: tilting the basket
  20. StatementEveryone agrees: a collapsed hole means no returning
  21. ChallengeChallenge to רב from the Sages' ruling in the משנה
  22. ResolutionThe dispute is only about worrying that the hole may be ruined
  23. Statementרב הונא on a daffodil branch stuck in earth
  24. Statementשמואל on a knife stuck between bricks
  25. StatementA knife stuck among reeds is fine
  26. ChallengeA strong challenge from the turnip under the vine