Shabbos 91b
שבת צ״א ע״ב
Shabbat 91b
Learn Shabbos 91b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
Open Shabbos 91b in Gemara Clarity
Topic
Carrying in stages through an אסקופה (threshold) and the dispute over אגד כלי, whether a container joins its contents
Overview
This amud opens at the end of a proof that the measure for שבת is a כזית, based on the law of יוצא. The גמרא rejects the proof because the timing of the two cases is different. Next, אביי explains why the משנה needs to say that bringing an item back inside cancels its special status: the owner threw it into a storehouse, even though he still knows where it lies. A new משנה then teaches that someone who rests food on the אסקופה partway through carrying it out is פטור. It also teaches that a basket only partly carried out makes no one liable. The גמרא shows that the אסקופה must be a כרמלית, so the משנה disagrees with בן עזאי. חזקיה and רבי יוחנן then argue about אגד כלי, whether a container joins its contents into one unit. רבי זירא finds the משנה's wording hard for both views, and each אמורא resolves it his own way. Finally, חזקיה is defended against a ברייתא about a peddler's basket. רבי יוחנן is challenged from a case of stealing a purse on שבת, and that challenge continues on the next amud.
Opening lines
יוֹצֵא — בִּכְזַיִת,
For 'leaving' (consecrated meat taken out), the measure is an olive-bulk,
לְעִנְיַן שַׁבָּת נָמֵי — בִּכְזַיִת!
so with regard to Shabbat too, it should be an olive-bulk!
הָכִי הַשְׁתָּא?!
How can you compare?!
הָתָם — מִדְּאַפְּקֵיהּ חוּץ לְחוֹמַת הָעֲזָרָה
There, from the moment he took it outside the courtyard wall
The steps (29)
- ProofProving the measure from consecrated meat that left the courtyard
- RejectionThe comparison fails because the timing is different
- StatementQuoting the משנה about bringing the item back in
- ChallengeIsn't this rule obvious?
- Resolutionאביי: he threw it into a storehouse, and he knows where it landed
- ResolutionWhy the rule is needed: throwing it in cancels its status
- StatementNew משנה: carrying food out in two stages via the threshold
- StatementA basket that is only partly outside
- QuestionWhat kind of domain is this threshold?
- ChallengeIf the threshold is a public domain, why is he exempt?
- ResponseSuggesting the threshold is a private domain
- ChallengeIf it is private, the second stage should make him liable
- ResolutionThe threshold is a כרמלית
- ConclusionThe משנה does not follow בן עזאי
- Statementחזקיה limits the basket rule to long produce
- Statementרבי יוחנן exempts even mustard seeds
- Challengeרבי זירא: the משנה's wording fits neither view
- ChallengeThe end of the משנה goes against חזקיה
- ChallengeThe middle of the משנה goes against רבי יוחנן
- ChallengeThe two inferences contradict each other
- ResolutionEach אמורא resolves the משנה his own way
- Resolutionחזקיה's reading: the whole-basket rule is only for long produce
- Resolutionרבי יוחנן's reading: even all the fruit outside is exempt
- ChallengeThe peddler's basket challenges חזקיה
- Resolutionחזקיה answers: the basket holds long stalks
- Challengeרב ביבי brings the case of stealing a purse on שבת
- ChallengeIf a container binds its contents, the theft should come first
- ResolutionThe purse was dragged out bottom-first
- ChallengeBut the seam could still give access