Shabbos 52b

שבת נ״ב ע״ב

Shabbat 52b

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

Open Shabbos 52b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Animal chains and טומאה, immersing them in place, רבי אליעזר on rings and needles, and the new משנה on animal gear for שבת (שבת נב:)

Overview

This amud finishes the question of how animal chains can become טמא when a משנה in כלים says animal rings are טהורות. רבי יצחק נפחא answers that the chains were once a person's ornaments and kept their טומאה. רב יוסף answers that a person pulls the animal with them, so they count as a person's tool, just like a metal animal prod. Next the גמרא asks how the chains can be immersed while still on the animal, since that seems to create a חציצה. רבי אמי says the rings were hammered wide. The גמרא then discusses whether that hammering would itself remove the טומאה, and answers with רבי יהודה's view that an improving action does not count. A ברייתא gives a different answer: the rings were loose to begin with. Then a student asks רבי אליעזר about differences between rings and between needles, and the גמרא narrows his answer step by step after each challenge. Finally, a new משנה begins, listing gear that donkeys, rams, ewes and goats may wear when they go out on שבת.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ChallengeClosing word of the challenge: animal rings are pure
2. Resolutionרבי יצחק נפחא: the ornaments were once a person's
3. Resolutionרב יוסף: a person pulls the animal with them
4. ProofProof from the metal animal prod
5. ChallengeChallenge: immersing the chains in place creates a barrier
6. ResolutionThe rings were hammered wide
7. ChallengeDoes רבי אמי have to follow רב יוסף?
8. ProofSource: vessels leave טומאה only through a change by action
9. Rejectionרבי אמי can follow רבי יהודה: improving is not an action
10. ProofSource for רבי יהודה's view
11. ResolutionA ברייתא: the rings were loose to begin with
12. Statementרבי אליעזר says rings differ only for שבת
13. ChallengeA משנה shows rings do differ for טומאה
14. ResolutionHe meant only rings worn by a person
15. ChallengeEven a person's rings are not all the same
16. ResolutionHe meant only finger rings
17. ChallengeChallenge: Finger rings made of metal and coral are treated differently
18. ResolutionAnswer: He meant rings made entirely of metal
19. StatementStudent's second question: Needles are treated differently
20. ChallengeChallenge: A broken needle is טהור
21. ResolutionAnswer: He meant whole needles
22. ChallengeChallenge: A rusty whole needle can be טהור
23. ResolutionAnswer: He meant smoothed, finished needles
24. ChallengeAre all smoothed needles really the same?
25. ResolutionThat ברייתא is about unfinished needles
26. StatementNew משנה: animal gear that may go out on שבת
27. Statementרבי יהודה: bound udders depend on the purpose