Shabbos 8a

שבת ח׳ ע״א

Shabbat 8a

Learn Shabbos 8a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Domains of שבת for unusual objects: leaning tree branches, a thrown reed barrel, and a pillar or hole that the public uses

Overview

This amud discusses how the domains of שבת apply to unusual objects and spots. First, אביי says everyone agrees with רב חסדא that רשות היחיד goes all the way up. The מחלוקת between רבי and רבנן is only about a tree in רשות היחיד whose branches lean over רשות הרבים: do the branches follow the trunk? Next, the גמרא discusses throwing a reed barrel into רשות הרבים. אביי says liability depends on the barrel's width, while רבא exempts even a narrow barrel because the reed tips always stick up above ten. For a barrel thrown upside-down, one view uses לבוד to exempt it at seven and a half טפחים. רב אשי disagrees, because walls are made only for their inside. Then עולא teaches that a nine-טפח pillar used by the public for resting loads counts as רשות הרבים. רב יוסף says a hole works the same way, but רבא says it does not, because awkward use is not use. רב אדא בר מתנא challenges רבא from a ברייתא about a basket, which is deflected, and then begins a second challenge that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. Resolutionאביי: Everyone agrees with רב חסדא; the case is a tree with leaning branches
2. Statementרבי vs. רבנן: Do branches follow the trunk?
3. Statementאביי: Throwing a reed barrel depends on its width
4. Statementרבא: Even a narrow barrel brings no liability
5. QuestionWhat is רבא's reason?
6. ResponseThe reed ends always stick up above ten
7. StatementA barrel thrown upside-down: seven and a bit vs. seven and a half
8. Statementרב אשי: even seven and a half brings liability
9. QuestionAsking for רב אשי's reason
10. ResponseWalls are made for their inside
11. Statementעולא: a nine-טפח pillar in רשות הרבים
12. QuestionAsking for עולא's reason
13. ResponseThree height zones: stepped on, unused, used for loads
14. Questionאביי asks: what about a hole?
15. Responseרב יוסף: the same applies to a hole
16. Statementרבא: not in a hole
17. QuestionAsking for רבא's reason
18. ResponseAwkward use is not real use
19. Challengeרב אדא בר מתנא challenges רבא from a ברייתא
20. ResolutionThe hole line refers to the first clause
21. ChallengeA new challenge against רבא begins