Shabbos 83b

שבת פ״ג ע״ב

Shabbat 83b

Learn Shabbos 83b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The טומאה of עבודה זרה (היסט, broken pieces, minimum size, rabbinic leniency), and why a ship cannot become טמא, with lessons on devotion to Torah study

Overview

This amud first finishes the discussion of how עבודה זרה makes things טמא. The גמרא shows that a ברייתא about the היסט of a זב can still fit רבי עקיבא, because 'זב' includes everything like it. רב חמא בר גוריא asks whether broken pieces of an idol carry טומאה, and the question stays unresolved (תיקו). רב אחדבוי בר אמי asks about an idol smaller than a כזית. After רב יוסף shows that tiny idols are clearly forbidden, the question is narrowed to טומאה, and a ברייתא rules that less than a כזית has no טומאה, like a מת. According to רבנן, the טומאה of idols is only דרבנן, so its comparisons to שרץ, נדה, and מת teach only leniencies. Next comes a new משנה: a ship cannot become טמא, learned from 'דרך אניה בלב ים'. חנניה learns the same law from a שק instead, and the גמרא shows the two sources differ about an earthenware ship and a Jordan River boat. The amud ends with lessons about never leaving the בית המדרש and devoting oneself fully to Torah, and רבא's statement begins at the very end and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. StatementEnd of the scale case: the food stays pure
2. QuestionWhose view is the ברייתא that only a זב makes things impure by moving them?
3. ResolutionThe ברייתא means a זב and anything like it
4. QuestionDo broken pieces of an idol still carry impurity?
5. QuestionFirst version: the doubt is only when an ordinary person cannot reassemble it
6. QuestionSecond version: the doubt is only when an ordinary person can reassemble it
7. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
8. QuestionWhat is the law for an idol smaller than an olive?
9. ChallengeA tiny idol is obviously still forbidden
10. ProofProof: people kept tiny idols in their pockets
11. ResolutionThe real question is about impurity: lentil-size or olive-size?
12. ResponseA ברייתא resolves it: less than a כזית has no impurity
13. QuestionWhat does each comparison teach according to רבנן?
14. ResponseEach comparison teaches a leniency
15. ChallengeWhy not use the comparisons to be strict?
16. ResolutionThe impurity of idols is rabbinic, so we compare only to be lenient
17. Statementמשנה: a ship cannot become impure
18. ChallengeIsn't it obvious that a ship is in the sea?
19. ResolutionA ship is like the sea
20. Statementחנניה learns it from a sack
21. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two sources?
22. ResponseThe difference: an earthenware ship
23. ResponseA second difference: the Jordan River boat
24. ProofWhy the Jordan boat can become טמא
25. StatementNever miss even one moment of the study hall
26. StatementLearn Torah even at the moment of death
27. StatementTorah lasts only in someone who gives himself over to it