Shabbos 98a

שבת צ״ח ע״א

Shabbat 98a

Learn Shabbos 98a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 98a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Throwing across a רשות היחיד between two רשויות הרבים, and רב's rule that carrying in a covered רשות הרבים is exempt, tested against the wagons of the משכן

Overview

This amud opens with the end of a ברייתא. Someone throws an object from one רשות הרבים to another, with a רשות היחיד in between. If the object travels less than four אמות, he is פטור. The גמרא explains that this teaches two things: the separated public domains combine, and an object flying through the air is not treated as if it landed (קלוטה כמה שהונחה). Next רב rules that carrying four אמות in a covered רשות הרבים is פטור, because it is not like דגלי מדבר, the open-air camp of Israel. The גמרא challenges him from the wagons of the משכן: the space under them counted as רשות הרבים even though the loaded קרשים covered them. It answers that the קרשים were stacked with gaps, then does the math of wagon length and beam size and finds the gaps would be under three טפחים, so they count as closed (לבוד). This defense works only if the קרשים narrowed toward the top. רב כהנא then suggests that the wagons in question carried only the frames (אטבעי), with no beams. The גמרא rejects this because the frames sat on top of beams already loaded, so the wagon was covered anyway. The question on רב is still open at the end of the amud, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (13)

1. StatementLess than four אמות means exempt
2. QuestionWhat is this ruling teaching us
3. ResponseDomains join and airborne is not resting
4. StatementCarrying in a covered public domain is exempt
5. ChallengeBut the space under the wagons was covered
6. ResolutionThe beams were stacked in rows with gaps
7. ChallengeThe gaps are too small and count as closed
8. ResolutionThe beams lay on their narrow side
9. ChallengeEven on their thickness the gaps are too small
10. ResolutionIt works if the beams narrowed toward the top
11. ChallengeBut if the beams were thick throughout
12. Resolutionרב כהנא: it refers to wagons carrying only the frames
13. ChallengeThe frames sat on the wagon, so it was covered anyway