Gemara Clarity

Zevachim 94b

זבחים צ״ד ע״ב

Learn Zevachim 94b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Zevachim 94b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Washing leather and cloth on שבת, the sources for cleaning items touched by a חטאת, and items that left the courtyard

Overview

The amud opens with a question about which leather needs washing (כיבוס). A משנה in מסכת שבת allows pouring water on a soft leather cushion. רבא answers that washing without rubbing (כיסכוס) does not count as washing, though for cloth, soaking alone already counts. The גמרא ties this to רבא's ruling about throwing cloth and flax seed into water on שבת, and works out that flax seed is forbidden as לישה. Then it tells how רבא publicly retracted a ruling allowing a shoe to be washed on שבת. Next the גמרא brings the פסוקים for washing the garment, breaking the clay pot and scouring the copper pot in a holy place. It also shows that the משנה's 'stringency of a חטאת' is only one example out of several. A new משנה teaches that such items that left the courtyard are brought back in, and if they became טמא they are first torn or punctured. רבינא questions tearing the garment, and the challenge from רב הונא continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

כָּרִים וּכְסָתוֹת – דְּרַכִּין נִינְהוּ,

Cushions and blankets are of soft leather,

וּתְנַן:

and we learned in a משנה:

הָיְתָה שֶׁל עוֹר

If it was made of leather,

נוֹתֵן עָלֶיהָ מַיִם עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה!

he puts water on it until the dirt is gone!

The steps (33)

  1. ChallengeA soft leather cushion may have water poured on it
  2. ResolutionWashing without rubbing is not washing
  3. StatementPutting water on רב's shoes
  4. ChallengeThen cloth should be allowed too
  5. ResolutionFor cloth, soaking is washing
  6. Statementרבא's ruling about a cloth and flax thrown into water
  7. QuestionWhy is throwing flax seed into water forbidden?
  8. ChallengeIs flax forbidden because it sprouts?
  9. ResolutionFlax gives off slimy liquid
  10. ChallengeHides also give off slime
  11. ResolutionFlax seeds stick together, which is kneading
  12. Statementרבא rules that washing a shoe on שבת is allowed
  13. Challengeרב פפא challenges רבא from רב's shoes
  14. Conclusionרבא publicly admits his mistake
  15. QuestionWhere do we learn the משנה's rule of washing in a holy place?
  16. ResponseSource for washing the garment in a holy place
  17. ResponseSource for breaking the clay pot
  18. ResponseSource for scouring and rinsing the copper pot
  19. ChallengeAre there no other stringencies of a חטאת?
  20. ResolutionThe משנה speaks about outer חטאות
  21. ChallengeWhat about blood that enters inside?
  22. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי עקיבא
  23. ChallengeWhat about atoning for sins with כרת?
  24. ResolutionNot every חטאת atones for כרת
  25. ChallengeWhat about the four placements?
  26. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי ישמעאל
  27. RejectionThere are even more unique rules
  28. ConclusionThe משנה picked one of several stringencies
  29. Statementמשנה: garments and clay pots that left the courtyard
  30. Statementמשנה: copper pots that left the courtyard
  31. Challengeרבינא: a torn garment is no longer a garment
  32. ResolutionHe leaves a small cloth's worth untorn
  33. Challengeרב הונא: leaving a small cloth keeps it impure