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Shabbos 61b

שבת ס״א ע״ב

Shabbat 61b

Learn Shabbos 61b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How a קמיע becomes proven (writer versus amulet), and whether amulets have קדושה that would forbid bringing them into a בית הכסא.

Overview

This עמוד opens at the end of a ברייתא: even a proven amulet may not be fastened to a bracelet or ring on שבת, because of מראית העין. The גמרא then notes a contradiction about how an amulet becomes proven. It answers that one source proves the writer is an expert, and the other proves the amulet itself works. רב פפא lays out which cases prove the writer, which prove the amulet, and which prove both. He also asks about three amulets that healed one person, and that question ends in תיקו. Next the גמרא asks whether amulets have קדושה. After ruling out saving them from a fire and גניזה, it finds the real practical question: may one enter a בית הכסא with an amulet? It tries to prove from our משנה that amulets are not holy, and pushes the proof away several times. In the end, a healing amulet may even be held in the hand, so the proof fails, and the discussion continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

בְּשֵׁיר וּבְטַבַּעַת

to a bracelet or a ring

וְיֵצֵא בּוֹ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים.

and go out with it into the public domain.

מִשּׁוּם מַרְאִית הָעַיִן.

Because of the appearance (of wrongdoing).

וְהָתַנְיָא:

But wasn't it taught in a baraita:

The steps (18)

  1. StatementDo not attach the amulet to a bracelet or ring
  2. ChallengeAnother source requires healing three different people
  3. ResolutionProving the writer versus proving the amulet
  4. Statementרב פפא's three cases
  5. QuestionThree amulets for one person: is the writer proven?
  6. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
  7. QuestionDo amulets have holiness?
  8. QuestionWhat practical law depends on this?
  9. RejectionIt cannot be about saving amulets from a fire
  10. RejectionIt cannot be about burying amulets
  11. ResponseThe real question: bringing amulets into a bathroom
  12. ProofA proof begins from our משנה
  13. ProofFinishing the proof: a holy amulet would lead to carrying on שבת
  14. RejectionThe משנה may be talking about a root amulet
  15. ChallengeA ברייתא treats written and root amulets the same
  16. RejectionMaybe the משנה is about a dangerously ill person
  17. ChallengeThe ברייתא includes the non-dangerously ill too
  18. RejectionSince the amulet heals, holding it in the hand is also fine