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Shabbos 52a

שבת נ״ב ע״א

Shabbat 52a

Learn Shabbos 52a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 52a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Animal gear on שבת: extra security as a burden, wrapped versus led chains, and whether animal chains can become טמא

Overview

This amud opens at the end of a story. A rider asks whether a wild donkey may go out on שבת in a פרומביא, and the answer is that the הלכה follows חנניה: extra security gear is not a burden. A ברייתא then permits a goat with a hole carved between its horns to go out with an אפסר. רב יוסף asks what happens if the אפסר is tied through the goat's beard, and the question ends in תיקו. Next, רב and שמואל argue about a strap between a cow's horns. After proofs, counter-proofs and a 'remove one tradition' debate, the גמרא concludes that שמואל permits a strap used for guarding and רב forbids it. A challenge from a פרה אדומה tied with reins is answered three ways. The גמרא then explains the משנה's words 'go out' and 'be led'. רב הונא allows a wrapped chain and שמואל does not, and reports from רב הונא's household and רבי's household support wrapped halters, with רב אסי showing why each report is needed. Finally, the גמרא asks whether animal chains can become טמא at all and begins quoting a משנה about rings that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּתִיתּוֹתַב דַּעְתֵּיהּ.

so that he will be appeased.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ:

He said to him:

חֲמוֹר שֶׁעֲסָקָיו רָעִים כְּגוֹן זֶה,

A donkey whose conduct is bad, like this one,

מַהוּ לָצֵאת בִּפְרוּמְבְּיָא בְּשַׁבָּת?

what is the law about going out with a halter on Shabbat?

The steps (31)

  1. QuestionAsking about a wild donkey wearing a halter
  2. ResponseThe answer: the law follows חנניה
  3. StatementA goat with a hole carved between its horns
  4. QuestionWhat if the bit is tied through the goat's beard?
  5. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
  6. StatementThe משנה about a strap between a cow's horns
  7. Statementרב and שמואל argue about the strap
  8. Proofרב יוסף proves שמואל is the lenient view
  9. Proofאביי argues the opposite: שמואל forbids even a guarding strap
  10. ResolutionRemove this statement in favor of that one
  11. ChallengeWhy remove this one and not the other?
  12. ResolutionA direct report shows שמואל permits a guarding strap
  13. ChallengeObjection from the red heifer tied with reins
  14. Resolutionאביי: the heifer was being led from city to city
  15. Resolutionרבא: a red heifer is valuable, so it needs more guarding
  16. Resolutionרבינא: the heifer was rebellious
  17. QuestionWhat do 'go out' and 'be led' mean?
  18. Responseרב הונא: either wrapped or led is allowed
  19. Responseשמואל: led is allowed, wrapped is not
  20. ProofA ברייתא allows a loosely wrapped chain
  21. Proofרב יוסף saw רב הונא's calves with wrapped halters
  22. StatementReport: the mules of רבי's household went out with halters
  23. QuestionWere the mules' halters wrapped or held?
  24. ResponseA fuller report: the halters were wrapped
  25. ChallengeThe Sages argue that רב שמואל בר יהודה's report is unnecessary
  26. ProofThe teaching of רב יהודה in the name of שמואל about four animals and the halter
  27. Resolutionרב אסי explains why רב דימי's report is needed
  28. Resolutionרב אסי explains why the report about wrapped halters is needed
  29. StatementThe משנה: animal chains may be purified on the animal
  30. ChallengeCan animal chains really become impure?
  31. ProofThe ring משנה: a person's ring versus an animal's ring