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Yoma 84b

יומא פ״ד ע״ב

Learn Yoma 84b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Saving life on שבת: medicine, a later שבת, acting quickly, and not following the רוב in פיקוח נפש

Overview

First, the גמרא proves from a ברייתא of רבה בר שמואל, and from the wording of the משנה (רב אשי), that the חכמים agree with רבי מתיא בן חרש: medicine may be put in a sick mouth on שבת. Next, רב teaches that the משנה's line 'וכל ספק נפשות דוחה את השבת' covers danger on a later שבת too. So an eight-day treatment that starts on שבת begins right away, even though a second שבת will be broken. A ברייתא about heating water for the sick supports this. It also teaches that leading Jews should do the work, and explains whose opinion counts in deciding it is needed. Another ברייתא teaches that the one who is quick to save a life on שבת is praised and needs no permission from בית דין. It gives four examples: a child in the sea, a child in a pit, a child behind a locked door, and a fire. The גמרא explains why each case is needed. Then שמואל rules that in פיקוח נפש we do not follow the רוב. The גמרא works out his case, a person who left the group for another courtyard, and squares it with רבי יוחנן. Finally, it challenges שמואל from the משנה about an abandoned baby, and that challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּתָנֵי רַבָּה בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל:

Come and hear, for Rabba bar Shmuel taught:

עוּבָּרָה שֶׁהֵרִיחָה —

A pregnant woman who smelled food —

מַאֲכִילִין אוֹתָהּ עַד שֶׁתָּשׁוּב נַפְשָׁהּ,

we feed her until her spirit is restored,

וּמִי שֶׁנְּשָׁכוֹ כֶּלֶב שׁוֹטֶה —

and one whom a mad dog bit —

The steps (32)

  1. ProofA ברייתא with three cases and a short reply from the חכמים
  2. QuestionWhich case does 'this one' mean?
  3. RejectionIt cannot mean the pregnant woman
  4. ConclusionSo it means the medicine, and the חכמים agree
  5. Proofרב אשי: the משנה's wording points the same way
  6. ConclusionIf they argued, the משנה would have grouped the rulings together
  7. QuestionWhy does the משנה need the extra line about ספק נפשות?
  8. Responseרב: the rule also covers danger on a later שבת
  9. QuestionWhat would such a case look like?
  10. ResponseAn eight-day treatment that starts on שבת
  11. ConclusionDo not wait until after שבת to save a second שבת
  12. ProofA ברייתא supports רב: heat water right away, even for a future שבת
  13. StatementWho should do the life-saving work
  14. StatementWhose opinion can decide that the work is needed
  15. StatementGeneral rule: save lives on שבת quickly, without asking בית דין
  16. ResponseExample one: a child in the sea, even though fish are caught too
  17. StatementExample two: a child in a pit, even though a step is made
  18. StatementExample three: a child behind a locked door, even if he wants the boards
  19. StatementExample four: putting out a fire, even though coals are produced
  20. StatementWhy both the sea case and the pit case are needed
  21. StatementWhy both the pit case and the locked door case are needed
  22. QuestionWhy is the fire case listed?
  23. ResponseEven to protect another courtyard
  24. Statementשמואל: in saving a life we do not follow the majority
  25. QuestionWhat case does שמואל mean? Not nine Jews and one גוי
  26. RejectionNot half and half either: that is a plain doubt
  27. ResponseSuggesting a case of nine gentiles and one Jew
  28. RejectionThat case is also obvious, because a fixed group counts as half and half
  29. ResolutionThe case is one person who left for another courtyard
  30. Challengeרבי יוחנן says we do not dig in another courtyard
  31. ResolutionIt depends on whether all of them left or only some
  32. ChallengeChallenge from the abandoned baby משנה