Shabbos 57b

שבת נ״ז ע״ב

Shabbat 57b

Learn Shabbos 57b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 57b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Hair strings and חציצה, and the head ornaments a woman may not wear out on שבת (טוטפת, כבול, איסטמא)

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a discussion of חציצה in טבילה. A wide neck-strap (קטלא) blocks the water because a woman wears it tight on purpose. רבי יהודה says strings of wool and of hair do not block. שמואל first seems to rule like him only on hair, and אביי asks who disagrees about hair at all. A corrected version of שמואל, a ברייתא, and our own משנה all show that the חכמים agree hair strings are not a חציצה. The גמרא then returns to items a woman may not wear out on שבת. The טוטפת is not a protective spice packet, which would be allowed like a proven קמיע. It is a forehead ornament, and רבי אבהו explains how it differs from the סרביטין. The כבול is most likely a woolen cap, and רבי שמעון בן אלעזר teaches that what is worn under the hairnet may be worn outside. Finally the גמרא defines the איסטמא as a small band holding in stray hairs and lists three rules about it. A further statement in רבי שמעון's name begins and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ResolutionThe case is a wide neck-strap that a woman wears tightly on purpose
2. Statementרבי יהודה says wool and hair strings do not block water
3. Statementשמואל rules like רבי יהודה only for hair strings
4. Challengeאביי asks: a הלכה ruling implies a dispute, but who disagrees about hair?
5. RejectionBlocking a possible defense of שמואל's wording
6. ResolutionThe corrected version of שמואל's ruling
7. ProofA ברייתא supports the corrected version
8. ProofOur משנה also fits this view
9. ConclusionThe proof is accepted
10. QuestionWhat is the טוטפת in the משנה?
11. Responseרב יוסף says it is a spice packet
12. Challengeאביי objects: it should be allowed like a proven amulet
13. Resolutionרב יהודה in the name of אביי: it is a forehead ornament
14. ProofA ברייתא lists the טוטפת among ornaments
15. QuestionWhich one is the טוטפת and which are the סרביטין?
16. Responseרבי אבהו defines the two ornaments
17. StatementPoor women and rich women make these ornaments differently
18. Questionרבי ינאי is unsure what a כבול is
19. Responseרבי אבהו says כבול most likely means a wool cap
20. ProofA ברייתא shows the כבול is a cap worn under the hairnet
21. QuestionWhat is an איסטמא?
22. Responseרבי אבהו explains איסטמא as ביזיוני
23. QuestionWhat is ביזיוני?
24. ResponseIt is a band that gathers in loose hairs
25. StatementThree rules about the felt hair-covering
26. Statementרבי שמעון begins to add another rule