Yevamos 47b

יבמות מ״ז ע״ב

Yevamot 47b

Learn Yevamos 47b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The process of גירות (conversion) as taught in a ברייתא: the final words of warning, מילה, טבילה, the procedure for a woman, and how עבד משוחרר and נדה compare to a גר

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא about how בית דין accepts a גר. The convert is warned about מצוות, then has מילה right away, and after healing he goes to טבילה in front of תלמידי חכמים; after that he is fully Jewish. A woman immerses modestly, and an עבד משוחרר and a נדה share the same מקוה and חציצה rules. The גמרא then goes back over the ברייתא line by line. It explains that the warnings let an unserious candidate drop out, and that the gifts to the poor are stressed because a non-Jew is so strict about property. It also explains that we stop warning once he is determined, learned from נעמי and רות. Then it explains why the מילה is not delayed, which shreds invalidate it, why we wait for healing, and that the ברייתא should read three scholars, not two. It teaches that a convert who goes back to his old ways is still Jewish, so his קידושין work. Finally, רב ששת settles whether a freed slave must accept the מצוות by tying the two ברייתות to the רבנן and רבי שמעון בן אלעזר, in a ברייתא about the יפת תואר that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. StatementFinishing the warning: no huge reward or punishment in this world, and do not overwhelm him
2. StatementIf he accepts, he is circumcised right away, and again if pieces remain
3. StatementAfter healing, he immerses with two scholars teaching him מצוות
4. StatementAfter immersing, he is fully Jewish
5. StatementHow a woman immerses, with modesty kept
6. StatementThe same process applies to a freed slave
7. StatementSame מקוה and same חציצה rules for גר, freed slave and נדה
8. StatementBack to the ברייתא: the first conversation with a would-be גר
9. QuestionWhy tell him the מצוות?
10. ResponseSo that if he will drop out, he drops out now
11. Proofרבי חלבו: converts are hard on ישראל like a ספחת
12. StatementHe is warned about the gifts to the poor
13. QuestionWhy these מצוות in particular?
14. ResponseA בן נח is strict about even tiny amounts of property
15. StatementDon't overload him or be too exacting
16. Proofרבי אלעזר's source: נעמי stopped arguing with רות
17. StatementRebuilding the talk between נעמי and רות
18. Statementנעמי's last warnings and רות's answers
19. Conclusionנעמי stops trying to turn her away
20. StatementIf he accepts, he is circumcised right away
21. QuestionWhy the rush?
22. ResponseWe do not delay a מצוה
23. StatementLeftover shreds that block the מילה
24. StatementA משנה defines the shreds
25. Statementרב adds: covering most of the height
26. StatementOnce healed, he is immersed right away
27. QuestionOnly after healing: why?
28. ResponseWater irritates a wound
29. StatementTwo scholars stand over him
30. ChallengeBut a convert needs three
31. ResolutionFix the text: read three
32. StatementAfter immersing, he is fully Jewish
33. QuestionWhat practical law does this teach?
34. ResponseEven if he goes back, his קידושין work
35. StatementSame for a convert and a freed slave
36. ChallengeDoes a freed slave accept the מצוות?
37. Resolutionרב ששת: the two ברייתות follow different תנאים
38. ProofThe רבנן's view on the יפת תואר
39. Proofרבי שמעון בן אלעזר: immersion for slavery, then for freedom