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Shabbos 9b

שבת ט׳ ע״ב

Shabbat 9b

Learn Shabbos 9b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 9b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Activities not to begin close to מנחה, which מנחה is meant, and when an activity counts as begun

Overview

The משנה says a person should not start certain activities close to מנחה before he davens: a haircut, the bathhouse, the tannery, a meal, or judging a case. If he already started, he does not stop for תפלה, but he does stop for קריאת שמע. The גמרא first suggests the משנה means close to מנחה קטנה. That would clash with רבי יהושע בן לוי, who forbids even tasting food once מנחה time arrives. So the גמרא says the משנה means מנחה גדולה, and each activity is a long version, like בן אלעשה's elaborate haircut or a big meal. רב אחא בר יעקב offers another approach: even short versions are forbidden, because each one might unexpectedly drag on, for example if the scissors break or he faints in the bathhouse. The גמרא then defines when each activity counts as 'started.' For a meal, רב says it starts with washing hands and רבי חנינא says with loosening the belt, and the two fit different local customs. Finally, אביי applies the belt rule to ערבית, and the גמרא challenges the idea that a required ערבית would make him stop his meal.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳

MISHNA

לֹא יֵשֵׁב אָדָם לִפְנֵי הַסַּפָּר

A person may not sit before the barber

סָמוּךְ לַמִּנְחָה עַד שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל.

close to Mincha, until he prays.

לֹא יִכָּנֵס אָדָם לַמֶּרְחָץ,

A person may not enter the bathhouse,

The steps (17)

  1. StatementActivities you may not start close to מנחה
  2. StatementIf you already started, you do not stop
  3. QuestionWhich מנחה time does the משנה mean?
  4. ResponseIt means close to מנחה קטנה
  5. ChallengeDoes this contradict רבי יהושע בן לוי?
  6. ResolutionIt really means מנחה גדולה, with a very long haircut
  7. ResolutionThe long version of each activity
  8. ResolutionEven an ordinary haircut is forbidden, in case the scissors break
  9. ResolutionThe bathhouse and the tannery: even quick visits are forbidden
  10. ResolutionEating and judging: even a small meal or the end of a trial is forbidden
  11. QuestionWhen does a haircut count as begun?
  12. QuestionWhen does a bath count as begun?
  13. QuestionWhen does tannery work count as begun?
  14. StatementWhen does a meal count as begun? Two opinions
  15. ResolutionNo real disagreement: different customs in Babylonia and ארץ ישראל
  16. Statementאביי: Babylonian scholars who loosened their belts need not stop for an optional ערבית
  17. ChallengeChallenge: even for the required מנחה, a loosened belt means he does not stop