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Shabbos 93a

שבת צ״ג ע״א

Shabbat 93a

Learn Shabbos 93a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 93a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Two people doing one מלאכה together: the מיעוטים of בַּעֲשֹׂתָהּ, and the rule מסייע אין בו ממש

Overview

This עמוד finishes a ברייתא about two people carrying a heavy object out to רשות הרבים. רבי יהודה says they are liable if neither could carry it alone. רבי שמעון says they are always exempt, based on the word בַּעֲשֹׂתָהּ. The גמרא explains that the dispute depends on how many מיעוטים (exclusions) each one finds in the פסוק of the קרבן חטאת, and what each exclusion is used for. רבי יהודה uses one exclusion for a person who sinned by following a mistaken הוראת בית דין, while רבי מאיר counts only two exclusions. Next the גמרא asks who is liable when one person could do the act alone and the other could not. רב חסדא says it is the capable one, because מסייע אין בו ממש: help given to someone who could do it alone does not count. רב זביד proves this from a משנה about garments under an animal's legs. A rejection of that proof fails, so the proof stands. רב פפי then begins a second proof, which continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

בְּעִיגּוּל שֶׁל דְּבֵילָה וְהוֹצִיאוּהוּ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים,

With a round cake of figs, and they carried it out to the public domain,

בְּקוֹרָה וְהוֹצִיאוּהָ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים,

with a beam, and they carried it out to the public domain,

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Yehuda says:

אִם לֹא יָכוֹל אֶחָד לְהוֹצִיאוֹ

If one person could not carry it out alone

The steps (17)

  1. StatementTwo people carry a heavy object: רבי יהודה's view
  2. Statementרבי שמעון: two people are always exempt, from בַּעֲשֹׂתָהּ
  3. QuestionWhat is the root of their disagreement?
  4. Responseרבי שמעון finds three exclusions in the verse
  5. Responseרבי יהודה uses the third exclusion differently
  6. Responseרבי שמעון holds that one who follows the בית דין is liable
  7. QuestionHow does רבי מאיר read the verse?
  8. Responseרבי מאיר counts only two exclusions
  9. QuestionWhich person is liable when only one could do it alone?
  10. Responseרב חסדא: the capable one is liable
  11. Challengeרב המנונא: but the weak one is helping
  12. ResolutionHelping does not count
  13. ProofProof from garments under an animal's legs
  14. RejectionMaybe the animal fully lifted a leg
  15. ChallengeSwitching legs is like a זב who rolls over
  16. ConclusionThe proof stands: help does not count
  17. Proofרב פפי begins a second proof