Shabbos 53b

שבת נ״ג ע״ב

Shabbat 53b

Learn Shabbos 53b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 53b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Animals' items on שבת (amulets, healing, udder-pouches, לבובין), with stories in between

Overview

The amud continues explaining a ברייתא about what animals may wear on שבת. The ברייתא forbids an animal's קמיע even when it is proven, so the גמרא explains that it was proven for people only, since a person's מזל helps the amulet work. The 'stricture for animals' in the ברייתא refers to the סנדל (shoe), not the amulet. The גמרא then asks whether an animal's pain counts on שבת. עולא explains that cooling a sick animal in water is forbidden because of the decree against grinding medicinal herbs. רבינא and רב נחמן בר יצחק answer a challenge to that decree, and רבא rules like רבי אושעיא, who allows healing an animal by running it. Next, two ברייתות contradict each other about a pouch on goats' udders, and the גמרא gives three ways to resolve this. Two stories follow: a father who miraculously nursed his son, and a man who never noticed that his wife was missing an arm. Finally, the גמרא returns to the משנה and gives three explanations of the word לבובין, then starts proving the meaning of שחוזות from a verse that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (52)

1. ConclusionThe earlier item is like an amulet
2. StatementThe ברייתא bans an animal's amulet even if proven
3. ChallengeOur משנה implies a proven amulet is allowed
4. ResolutionThe ברייתא also means an unproven amulet
5. ChallengeBut the ברייתא says 'even if proven'
6. ResolutionProven for people but not for animals
7. ChallengeCan an amulet work for people but not animals?
8. ResolutionA person's מזל helps the amulet work
9. ChallengeThen why is this a stricture for animals?
10. ResolutionThe stricture refers to the shoe
11. ProofProof from oiling and scraping a scab
12. RejectionThe scab case is about pleasure, not pain
13. ProofProof from cooling an overheated animal in water
14. Resolutionעולא: a decree because of grinding herbs
15. ChallengeThen the decree should apply to a person too
16. ResolutionA person looks like he is just cooling off
17. ChallengeThen an animal should also look like it is cooling off
18. ResolutionAnimals are not put in water just to cool off
19. ChallengeDo the Sages really make decrees for animals?
20. Resolutionרבינא: the animal's limit was inside the owner's limit
21. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק: this is a dispute between תנאים
22. Conclusionרבא rules like רבי אושעיא
23. StatementQuoting a ברייתא: no pouch for a זב or for goats
24. ChallengeAnother ברייתא says goats may go out with the udder-pouch
25. ResolutionTight pouch versus loose pouch
26. ResolutionIt is a dispute between the תנאים
27. ResolutionBoth follow רבי יהודה: drying versus saving milk
28. StatementThe goats of אנטוכיא with large udders
29. StatementA father miraculously nurses his son
30. StatementThe man must have been very great
31. RejectionOn the contrary, the man was lowly
32. StatementHow hard it is to provide a person's food
33. ProofProof: miracles happen, but food is never created
34. StatementA man never noticed his wife was missing an arm
35. StatementThe wife must have been very modest
36. RejectionNo, the husband was the modest one
37. QuestionWhat does 'לבובין' mean?
38. Responseרב הונא: rams tied in pairs
39. QuestionWhere do we see that 'לבובין' means closeness?
40. ResponseProof from Song of Songs
41. Statementעולא: a hide over the heart against wolves
42. ChallengeDo wolves attack only rams?
43. ResolutionRams walk at the front of the flock
44. ChallengeDon't wolves attack the rear too?
45. ResolutionBecause rams are fat
46. ChallengeAren't some ewes fat too?
47. ChallengeCan wolves even tell them apart?
48. ResolutionRams raise their noses and look around
49. Statementרב נחמן בר יצחק: a hide to prevent mating
50. ProofProof from the next clause about ewes
51. QuestionWhere do we see that 'שחוזות' means exposure?
52. ResponseThe verse begins: 'Behold a woman came toward him'