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Shabbat 121

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Summary

Today’s daf is sponsored by Dr. Robin Zeiger and Professor Jonathan Ben-Ezra in memory of Robin’s mother Helen (Chana) Zeiger z”l, whose Yarzheit is today.

Does Rabbi Yosi really hold that it is a mitzva to go to the mikveh exactly at the time that one is able to go? If there is a fire in your house and a non-Jew comes to put out the fire, are you allowed to say anything to the non-Jew – to put it out, to stop putting it out? Can you hint to the fact that if the non-Jew puts it out, you will compensate him/her for their work? What about a child who goes to put out the fire? Does one have to prevent an child from sinning in general? Is the court commanded to do that? For what purposes can one carry a utensil in order to cover something? To cover a candle so it doesn’t light the rafters on fire, to cover feces so a child doesn’t touch them, to cover a scorpion so it doesn’t bite. Why do we need to learn that we can cover the feces, can’t we move it because a dog can eat it? Or because it is disgusting and one can move something that is disgusting, even if it’s muktze. Can one kill bugs or creatures that can bite or endanger people? If so, according to Rabbi Shimon only or also according to Rabbi Yehuda? Does everyone agree? Is it only if it’s done by way of walking and one steps on it?

Shabbat 121

טְבִילָה בִּזְמַנָּהּ לָאו מִצְוָה וּמַהְדְּרִינַן, וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי סָבַר טְבִילָה בִּזְמַנָּהּ מִצְוָה וְלָא מַהְדְּרִינַן.

that performing immersion at its designated time is not a mitzva, and we seek a reed to wrap around God’s name even if it means postponing immersion to the next day, and Rabbi Yosei holds that immersion at its designated time is a mitzva, and therefore we do not seek a reed, since immersion cannot be postponed.

וְסָבַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי טְבִילָה בִּזְמַנָּהּ מִצְוָה? וְהָתַנְיָא: הַזָּב וְהַזָּבָה, הַמְצוֹרָע וְהַמְצוֹרֶעֶת, בּוֹעֵל נִדָּה וּטְמֵא מֵת, טְבִילָתָן בַּיּוֹם. נִדָּה וְיוֹלֶדֶת — טְבִילָתָן בַּלַּיְלָה. בַּעַל קֶרִי — טוֹבֵל וְהוֹלֵךְ כׇּל הַיּוֹם כּוּלּוֹ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: מִן הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִטְבּוֹל! הַהִיא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דַּיָּיהּ טְבִילָה בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה.

The Gemara asks: And does Rabbi Yosei hold that immersion at its designated time is a mitzva? Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to a zav and a zava, a male and female leper, one who has relations with a menstruating woman, and a person impure with impurity imparted by a corpse, their immersion is during the day. They immerse at the designated time even on Yom Kippur, when bathing is prohibited. A menstruating woman and a woman after childbirth immerse at night. A man who has had a seminal emission immerses at any point during the entire day after the emission. Rabbi Yosei says: From the time that he recited the afternoon prayer and on he does not immerse. Since he already recited the afternoon prayer, he waits until after Yom Kippur to immerse, and then recites the evening prayer in a state of purity. Apparently, Rabbi Yosei holds that immersion at the designated time is not a mitzva. The Gemara rejects this: In that baraita the reference is not to the Rabbi Yosei most commonly cited in tannaitic literature without a patronymic, Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥalafta, but it is to Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: Her latest immersion is sufficient. A woman who is uncertain with regard to the correct time for her immersion need not immerse multiple times. She may postpone her immersion until a time when she will be certain to fulfill her obligation, even though it might not be immersion at the designated time.

מַתְנִי׳ גּוֹי שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״כַּבֵּה״ וְ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין שְׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן. אֲבָל קָטָן שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשְּׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן.

MISHNA: If a gentile comes to extinguish a Jew’s fire on Shabbat, one may not say to him: Extinguish, and: Do not extinguish, because responsibility for his rest is not incumbent upon the Jew. However, if a Jewish child comes to extinguish a fire on Shabbat, they do not listen to him and allow him to extinguish it, even though he is not yet obligated in mitzva observance, because responsibility for his rest is incumbent upon the Jew.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: בִּדְלֵיקָה הִתִּירוּ לוֹמַר ״כׇּל הַמְכַבֶּה אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיד״. נֵימָא מְסַיַּיע לֵיהּ: גּוֹי שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״כַּבֵּה״ וְ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין שְׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן. ״כַּבֵּה״ הוּא דְּלָא אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ, הָא ״כׇּל הַמְכַבֶּה אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיד״ — אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ. אֵימָא סֵיפָא, ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״ לָא אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ, וְ״כׇל הַמְכַבֶּה אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיד״ נָמֵי לָא אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא מֵהָא לֵיכָּא לְמִשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.

GEMARA: Rabbi Ami said: During a fire, the Sages permitted to say in the presence of gentiles: Anyone who extinguishes the fire will not lose, so that the gentiles will come and extinguish the fire; it is only prohibited to tell gentiles to do so explicitly. The Gemara suggests: Let us say that the mishna supports his statement: If a gentile comes to extinguish a Jew’s fire on Shabbat, one may not say to him: Extinguish, and: Do not extinguish, because responsibility for his rest is not incumbent upon the Jew. It can be inferred from the language of the mishna: It is a direct command, e.g., extinguish, that we may not say to him; however, anyone who extinguishes will not lose, we may tell him, which supports Rabbi Ami’s statement. The Gemara rejects this. Say the latter clause of the mishna: Do not extinguish, we do not tell him. It can be inferred that neither do we say to him: Anyone who extinguishes will not lose. Rather, nothing can be inferred from this mishna.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מַעֲשֶׂה וְנָפְלָה דְּלֵיקָה בַּחֲצֵירוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף בֶּן סִימַאי בְּשִׁיחִין, וּבָאוּ אַנְשֵׁי גִּיסְטְרָא שֶׁל צִיפּוֹרִי לְכַבּוֹת, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאַפִּטְרוֹפּוֹס שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ הָיָה, וְלֹא הִנִּיחָן מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת, וְנַעֲשָׂה לוֹ נֵס וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים וְכִיבּוּ. לָעֶרֶב שִׁיגֵּר לְכׇל אֶחָד מֵהֶן שְׁתֵּי סְלָעִין, וְלָאִפַּרְכוֹס שֶׁבָּהֶן — חֲמִשִּׁים. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ חֲכָמִים בְּדָבָר, אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְכָךְ, שֶׁהֲרֵי שָׁנִינוּ: גּוֹי שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״כַּבֵּה״ וְ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״.

The Sages taught in a baraita: There was an incident that a fire ignited on Shabbat in the courtyard of Yosef ben Simai in a place called Shiḥin. And men came from the fortress [gistera] of Tzippori to extinguish the fire, because he was a steward [apotropos] of the king and they wanted to help him. However, Yosef ben Simai would not allow them to extinguish the fire in deference to Shabbat; and a miracle transpired for him and rain fell and extinguished the fire. That evening after Shabbat he sent two sela to each one of the soldiers who came to his aid, and fifty to their commander [iparkhos]. And when the Sages heard about this, they said: He need not have prevented them from extinguishing the fire, as we learned in the mishna: If a gentile comes to extinguish a Jew’s fire on Shabbat, one may not say to him: Extinguish, and: Do not extinguish, because responsibility for his rest is not incumbent upon the Jew; rather, the gentile may do as he pleases.

אֲבָל קָטָן שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשְּׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן. שָׁמְעַתְּ מִינַּהּ קָטָן אוֹכֵל נְבֵלוֹת, בֵּית דִּין מְצֻוִּוין עָלָיו לְהַפְרִישׁוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בְּקָטָן הָעוֹשֶׂה לְדַעַת אָבִיו. דִּכְווֹתַהּ גַּבֵּי גּוֹי, דְּקָא עָבֵיד לְדַעְתֵּיהּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל — מִי שְׁרֵי?! גּוֹי לְדַעְתֵּיהּ דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ עָבֵיד.

We learned in the mishna: However, if a Jewish child comes to extinguish a fire on Shabbat, they do not listen to him and allow him to extinguish it, even though he is not yet obligated in mitzva observance, because responsibility for his rest is incumbent upon the Jew. The Gemara seeks to conclude: Learn from this that a child who eats meat from unslaughtered animals or violates other prohibitions, the court is commanded to prevent him from eating it. This mishna would resolve a dilemma that arose regarding that issue. The Gemara rejects this suggestion: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This mishna is referring to a child who is acting with the intention of fulfilling his father’s will, and therefore one is obligated to prevent him from doing so. However, if a child sins of his own volition, one is not obligated to prevent him from doing so. The Gemara asks: If so, the case with regard to a gentile in the mishna must be interpreted in a similar manner as referring to a case where he is acting with the intention to fulfill the will of a Jew. Is that permitted? It is prohibited to derive benefit from an action performed by a gentile for a Jew on Shabbat. The Gemara responds: This is not the case; the gentile is acting of his own volition. Because he is paid for extinguishing the fire he is not doing so in order to help the Jew.

מַתְנִי׳ כּוֹפִין קְעָרָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַנֵּר בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא תֶּאֱחוֹז בַּקּוֹרָה, וְעַל צוֹאָה שֶׁל קָטָן, וְעַל עַקְרָב שֶׁלֹּא תִּישָּׁךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: מַעֲשֶׂה בָּא לִפְנֵי רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי בַּעֲרָב, וְאָמַר: חוֹשְׁשַׁנִי לוֹ מֵחַטָּאת.

MISHNA: One may overturn a bowl on top of a lamp so that fire will not take hold in the ceiling beam on Shabbat. And similarly, one may overturn a bowl on top of a child’s feces inside the house so he will not touch it and dirty himself, and on top of a scorpion so that it will not bite. Rabbi Yehuda said: An incident came before Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai in his village of Arav, where a person covered a scorpion on Shabbat, and Rabban Yoḥanan said: I am concerned that he is liable to bring a sin-offering because he might have violated a Torah prohibition.

גְּמָ׳ רַב יְהוּדָה וְרַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא וְרַב חָנָן בַּר רָבָא אִיקְּלַעוּ לְבֵי אָבִין דְּמִן נְשִׁיקְיָא. לְרַב יְהוּדָה וְרַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא

GEMARA: The Gemara relates: Rav Yehuda and Rav Yirmeya bar Abba and Rav Ḥanan bar Rava happened to come to the house of Avin from a place called Nashikiya. For Rav Yehuda and Rav Yirmeya bar Abba,

אַיְיתוֹ לְהוּ פּוּרְיָיתָא, לְרַב חָנָן בַּר רָבָא לָא אַיְיתוֹ לֵיהּ. אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ מַתְנֵי לֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ: וְעַל צוֹאָה שֶׁל קָטָן מִפְּנֵי קָטָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אָבִין שָׁטְיָא מַתְנֵי שְׁטוּתָא לִבְנֵיהּ, וַהֲלֹא הִיא עַצְמָהּ מוּכֶנֶת לִכְלָבִים! וְכִי תֵּימָא דְּלָא חַזְיָא לֵיהּ מֵאֶתְמוֹל — וְהָתַנְיָא: נְהָרוֹת הַמּוֹשְׁכִין וּמַעֲיָינוֹת הַנּוֹבְעִין — הֲרֵי הֵן כְּרַגְלֵי כׇּל אָדָם.

they brought beds for them to sit on, whereas for Rav Ḥanan bar Rava, they did not bring one for him. Rav Ḥanan was insulted and got angry at his host. He found Rabbi Avin teaching his son the mishna and saying: And one may place a bowl on top of the feces of a child due to the child so that he will not touch it and dirty himself. Rav Ḥanan said to him: Avin the fool is teaching his son folly; aren’t the feces themselves prepared as food for dogs? An object that is fit for consumption by a dog may be carried, so why need one cover the feces if he can remove them? And if you say these feces were not prepared for that use from yesterday, that would not prohibit moving them. Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to rivers that flow and springs that gush, they do not have specific Shabbat boundaries, but they may be used anywhere and their boundaries are like the feet of all people who draw from them. Even though the water was not within the boundaries when Shabbat began, since the nature of flowing water is to move from place to place, it is as if they were prepared for this purpose. So too, here, since a child will relieve himself in any place, it is as if it was prepared from before Shabbat.

וְאֶלָּא הֵיכִי אַתְנְיֵיהּ? אֵימָא: עַל צוֹאָה שֶׁל תַּרְנְגוֹלִים מִפְּנֵי קָטָן.

Rabbi Avin asked: And how, then, should I teach it to him? Rav Ḥanan answered: Say, one may place a bowl on top of chicken feces due to a child.

וְתִיפּוֹק לֵיהּ דְּהָוֵי גְּרָף שֶׁל רְעִי! וְכִי תֵּימָא: גְּרָף שֶׁל רְעִי אַגַּב מָנָא — אִין, אִיהוּ גּוּפֵיהּ — לָא, וְהָא הָהוּא עַכְבָּר דְּאִישְׁתְּכַח בְּאִיסְפַּרְמָקֵי דְּרַב אָשֵׁי, וַאֲמַר לְהוּ: נִקְטוּהּ בְּצוּצִיתֵיהּ וְאַפְּקוּהּ! בְּאַשְׁפָּה. וְקָטָן בְּאַשְׁפָּה מַאי בָּעֵי לֵיהּ? בְּחָצֵר. חָצֵר נָמֵי, גְּרָף שֶׁל רְעִי הוּא! בְּאַשְׁפָּה שֶׁבְּחָצֵר.

The Gemara asks: And derive that it is permitted to remove the feces because it is like a chamber pot of feces, which may be moved out of the room because it is disgusting. And if you say that a chamber pot of feces together with the vessel, yes, it may be moved; but feces itself, no, it may not be moved. What about that mouse that was found among the spices [isperamaki] of Rav Ashi, and he said to his servants: Take it by its tail and remove it? Apparently, a disgusting object may be moved even without a vessel. Rather, we must say that the feces were in the garbage dump, and since the feces were not before the household members it was only permitted to conceal them, not to move them. The Gemara asks: And what is a child doing in the garbage dump in the public domain? It is not adjacent to the house; how would the child get there? The Gemara answers that the feces were not in the garbage dump but were in the courtyard. The Gemara rejects this: In the courtyard, it is also considered a chamber pot of feces and may be moved. Rather, it is referring to a garbage dump that is in the courtyard, to which the child sometimes has access. Feces in a place designated for garbage are no more disgusting than their surroundings, and therefore it is prohibited to move the feces.

וְעַל עַקְרָב שֶׁלֹּא תִּישָּׁךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל הַמַּזִּיקִין נֶהֱרָגִין בְּשַׁבָּת. מֵתִיב רַב יוֹסֵף: חֲמִשָּׁה נֶהֱרָגִין בְּשַׁבָּת, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: זְבוּב שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, וְצִירְעָה שֶׁבְּנִינְוֵה, וְעַקְרָב שֶׁבְּחַדְיָיב, וְנָחָשׁ שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכֶלֶב שׁוֹטֶה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. מַנִּי? אִילֵימָא רַבִּי יְהוּדָה — הָא אָמַר: מְלָאכָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה לְגוּפָהּ חַיָּיב עָלֶיהָ. אֶלָּא לָאו רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְהָנֵי הוּא דְּשָׁרֵי, אַחֲרִינֵי — לָא!

And we also learned in the mishna that one may cover a scorpion with a bowl on Shabbat so that it will not bite. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: All harmful creatures are killed on Shabbat. Rav Yosef raised an objection to this from the following baraita: Five creatures may be killed even on Shabbat, and they are: The poisonous fly that is in the land of Egypt, and the hornet that is in Ninveh, and the scorpion that is in Ḥadyab, and the snake that is in Eretz Yisrael, and a mad dog in any place. The Gemara clarifies this: In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? If you say it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, didn’t he say that one is liable for a prohibited labor that is not needed for its own sake, and it is therefore prohibited to kill even these creatures? Rather, is it not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, and these are those creatures that it is permitted to kill; others, no, it is not permitted to kill?

אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: וּמַאן נֵימָא לַן דְּהָא מְתָרַצְתָּא הִיא? דִּילְמָא מְשַׁבַּשְׁתָּא הִיא? אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: אֲנָא מַתְנֵינָא לַהּ, וְאוֹתֵיבְנָא לַהּ, וַאֲנָא מְתָרֵיצְנָא לַהּ: בְּרָצִין אַחֲרָיו, וְדִבְרֵי הַכֹּל.

Rabbi Yirmeya said: And who will say to us that this baraita is accurate? Perhaps it is corrupted, and an objection cannot be raised from it. Rav Yosef said: I taught the baraita and raised an objection from it, and I will answer it as follows: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi permitted killing all harmful creatures on Shabbat when they are running after him; as in that case the danger is real, and therefore it is permitted to kill them according to all opinions.

תָּנֵי תַּנָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא בַּר רַב הוּנָא: הַהוֹרֵג נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בְּשַׁבָּת — אֵין רוּחַ חֲסִידִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְאוֹתָן חֲסִידִים אֵין רוּחַ חֲכָמִים נוֹחָה מֵהֶם. וּפְלִיגָא דְּרַב הוּנָא. דְּרַב הוּנָא חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּקָא קָטֵיל זִיבּוּרָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁלֵּימְתִּינְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ?

The tanna who recited tannaitic literature before Rava bar Rav Huna taught a baraita: One who kills snakes and scorpions on Shabbat, the spirit of the pious is not pleased with him. Rava bar Rav Huna said to him: And with regard to those pious, the spirit of the Sages is not pleased with them, as snakes and scorpions harm people. The Gemara comments: And this statement disagrees with the opinion of Rav Huna, for Rav Huna saw a person killing a hornet on Shabbat and said to him: Have you finished killing all the hornets? This indicates that he was not pleased with him.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נִזְדַּמְּנוּ לוֹ נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים, הֲרָגָן — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁנִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לוֹ לְהוֹרְגָן. לֹא הֲרָגָן — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁנִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לְהוֹרְגוֹ וְנַעֲשָׂה לוֹ נֵס מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. אָמַר עוּלָּא וְאִיתֵּימָא רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בְּנִישּׁוֹפִין בּוֹ.

The Sages taught in a baraita: One who snakes and scorpions happened before him, if he killed them, it is clear that they happened before him in order for him to kill them. If he did not kill them it is clear that they happened before him in order for them to kill him, but a miracle from heaven transpired for him and he was saved. Ulla said, and some say it was Rabba bar bar Ḥana who said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is referring to when they were touching and brushing up against him (Rabbeinu Ḥananel), as in that case if they cause him no harm, it is surely a miracle that saved him.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כָּהֲנָא: פַּעַם אַחַת נָפַל אֶחָד בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, וְעָמַד נִיוְתִּי אֶחָד וַהֲרָגוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי: פָּגַע בּוֹ כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ!

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: One time, a snake fell into the study hall on Shabbat, and a Nabatean [Nivati] stood and killed it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: One of its type killed it.

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: ״פָּגַע בּוֹ כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ״ דְּשַׁפִּיר עֲבַד, אוֹ לָא? תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּרַבִּי אַבָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא וְרַבִּי זֵירָא הֲווֹ יָתְבִי אַקִּילְעָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יַנַּאי. נְפַק מִילְּתָא מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, בְּעוֹ מִינֵּיהּ מֵרַבִּי יַנַּאי: מַהוּ לַהֲרוֹג נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בְּשַׁבָּת? אֲמַר לְהוּ: צִירְעָה אֲנִי הוֹרֵג, נָחָשׁ וְעַקְרָב — לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?! דִילְמָא לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. דַּאֲמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: רוֹק דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. וְאָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: נָחָשׁ דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. וְאָמַר רַב קַטִּינָא: עַקְרָב דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ.

A dilemma was raised before the Sages: When Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: One of its type killed it, did he mean that he acted properly or not? Come and hear a resolution to this dilemma from that which was related about Rabbi Abba, son of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, and Rabbi Zeira, who were sitting in the courtyard of Rabbi Yannai’s house. A matter emerged from among them, and they raised a dilemma before Rabbi Yannai: What is the ruling with regard to killing snakes and scorpions on Shabbat? He said to them: I would kill a hornet, all the more so would I kill a snake or a scorpion, as they are more dangerous and it is permitted to kill them. The Gemara rejects this: There is no conclusive proof from this, as perhaps it is only permitted when one steps on it innocently as he is walking, so that it does not appear to others that he intended to step on it. As Rav Yehuda said: With regard to spittle on Shabbat, one may trample it innocently and need not be concerned about the prohibitions of smoothing or leveling holes. And Rav Sheshet said: With regard to a snake, one may trample it innocently. And Rav Ketina said: With regard to a scorpion, one may trample it innocently.

אַבָּא בַּר מָרְתָא דְּהוּא אַבָּא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי הֲווֹ מַסְּקִי בֵּיהּ דְּבֵי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא זוּזֵי. אַיְיתְיוּהּ, קָא מְצַעֲרִי לֵיהּ. הֲוָה שְׁדֵי רוּקָּא. אֲמַר לְהוּ רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא: אַיְיתוֹ מָאנָא סְחִיפוּ עִלָּוֵיהּ, אֲמַר לְהוּ: לָא צְרִיכִיתוּ, הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: רוֹק דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. אֲמַר לְהוּ: צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן הוּא, שִׁבְקוּהּ.

The Gemara relates: Abba bar Marta, who is Abba bar Manyomi, owed money to members of the Exilarch’s household. They brought him to the house of the Exilarch on Shabbat and they tormented him to force him to pay. There was spittle there. The Exilarch said to the members of his household: Bring me a vessel and place it over the spittle so that people will not step on it. Abba bar Manyomi said to them: You need not do so, as Rav Yehuda said as follows: With regard to spittle, one may trample it innocently. The Exilarch said to the members of his household: He is a Torah scholar, leave him alone.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כָּהֲנָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: פָּמוֹטוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבִּי מוּתָּר לְטַלְטְלָן בְּשַׁבָּת, אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא: בְּנִיטָּלִין בְּיָדוֹ אַחַת, אוֹ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם?

Apropos Rabbi Abba bar Kahana, the Gemara cites additional statements of his. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: With regard to the candlesticks of the house of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, it is permitted to move them on Shabbat. It was not clear what the nature of these candlesticks was, and Rabbi Zeira said to him: Is this referring to candlesticks that are small, which are moved with one hand, or even to those that are moved with two hands?

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The Hadran Women’s Tapestry

Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories. 

I have joined the community of daf yomi learners at the start of this cycle. I have studied in different ways – by reading the page, translating the page, attending a local shiur and listening to Rabbanit Farber’s podcasts, depending on circumstances and where I was at the time. The reactions have been positive throughout – with no exception!

Silke Goldberg
Silke Goldberg

Guildford, United Kingdom

A few years back, after reading Ilana Kurshan’s book, “If All The Seas Were Ink,” I began pondering the crazy, outlandish idea of beginning the Daf Yomi cycle. Beginning in December, 2019, a month before the previous cycle ended, I “auditioned” 30 different podcasts in 30 days, and ultimately chose to take the plunge with Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle. Such joy!

Cindy Dolgin
Cindy Dolgin

HUNTINGTON, United States

I started learning Daf Yomi to fill what I saw as a large gap in my Jewish education. I also hope to inspire my three daughters to ensure that they do not allow the same Talmud-sized gap to form in their own educations. I am so proud to be a part of the Hadran community, and I have loved learning so many of the stories and halachot that we have seen so far. I look forward to continuing!
Dora Chana Haar
Dora Chana Haar

Oceanside NY, United States

I learned Talmud as a student in Yeshivat Ramaz and felt at the time that Talmud wasn’t for me. After reading Ilana Kurshan’s book I was intrigued and after watching the great siyum in Yerushalayim it ignited the spark to begin this journey. It has been a transformative life experience for me as a wife, mother, Savta and member of Klal Yisrael.
Elana Storch
Elana Storch

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

I tried Daf Yomi in the middle of the last cycle after realizing I could listen to Michelle’s shiurim online. It lasted all of 2 days! Then the new cycle started just days before my father’s first yahrzeit and my youngest daughter’s bat mitzvah. It seemed the right time for a new beginning. My family, friends, colleagues are immensely supportive!

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Catriella Freedman

Zichron Yaakov, Israel

I started at the beginning of this cycle. No 1 reason, but here’s 5.
In 2019 I read about the upcoming siyum hashas.
There was a sermon at shul about how anyone can learn Talmud.
Talmud references come up when I am studying. I wanted to know more.
Yentl was on telly. Not a great movie but it’s about studying Talmud.
I went to the Hadran website: A new cycle is starting. I’m gonna do this

Denise Neapolitan
Denise Neapolitan

Cambridge, United Kingdom

My Daf journey began in August 2012 after participating in the Siyum Hashas where I was blessed as an “enabler” of others.  Galvanized into my own learning I recited the Hadran on Shas in January 2020 with Rabbanit Michelle. That Siyum was a highlight in my life.  Now, on round two, Daf has become my spiritual anchor to which I attribute manifold blessings.

Rina Goldberg
Rina Goldberg

Englewood NJ, United States

I started with Ze Kollel in Berlin, directed by Jeremy Borowitz for Hillel Deutschland. We read Masechet Megillah chapter 4 and each participant wrote his commentary on a Sugia that particularly impressed him. I wrote six poems about different Sugiot! Fascinated by the discussions on Talmud I continued to learn with Rabanit Michelle Farber and am currently taking part in the Tikun Olam course.
Yael Merlini
Yael Merlini

Berlin, Germany

My first Talmud class experience was a weekly group in 1971 studying Taanit. In 2007 I resumed Talmud study with a weekly group I continue learning with. January 2020, I was inspired to try learning Daf Yomi. A friend introduced me to Daf Yomi for Women and Rabbanit Michelle Farber, I have kept with this program and look forward, G- willing, to complete the entire Shas with Hadran.
Lorri Lewis
Lorri Lewis

Palo Alto, CA, United States

Years ago, I attended the local Siyum HaShas with my high school class. It was inspiring! Through that cycle and the next one, I studied masekhtot on my own and then did “daf yomi practice.” The amazing Hadran Siyum HaShas event firmed my resolve to “really do” Daf Yomi this time. It has become a family goal. We’ve supported each other through challenges, and now we’re at the Siyum of Seder Moed!

Elisheva Brauner
Elisheva Brauner

Jerusalem, Israel

After reading the book, “ If All The Seas Were Ink “ by Ileana Kurshan I started studying Talmud. I searched and studied with several teachers until I found Michelle Farber. I have been studying with her for two years. I look forward every day to learn from her.

Janine Rubens
Janine Rubens

Virginia, United States

I started learning Daf Yomi inspired by תָּפַסְתָּ מְרוּבֶּה לֹא תָּפַסְתָּ, תָּפַסְתָּ מוּעָט תָּפַסְתָּ. I thought I’d start the first page, and then see. I was swept up into the enthusiasm of the Hadran Siyum, and from there the momentum kept building. Rabbanit Michelle’s shiur gives me an anchor, a connection to an incredible virtual community, and an energy to face whatever the day brings.

Medinah Korn
Medinah Korn

בית שמש, Israel

I heard the new Daf Yomi cycle was starting and I was curious, so I searched online for a women’s class and was pleasently surprised to find Rabanit Michelle’s great class reviews in many online articles. It has been a splendid journey. It is a way to fill my days with Torah, learning so many amazing things I have never heard before during my Tanach learning at High School. Thanks so much .

Martha Tarazi
Martha Tarazi

Panama, Panama

I started at the beginning of this cycle. No 1 reason, but here’s 5.
In 2019 I read about the upcoming siyum hashas.
There was a sermon at shul about how anyone can learn Talmud.
Talmud references come up when I am studying. I wanted to know more.
Yentl was on telly. Not a great movie but it’s about studying Talmud.
I went to the Hadran website: A new cycle is starting. I’m gonna do this

Denise Neapolitan
Denise Neapolitan

Cambridge, United Kingdom

In early 2020, I began the process of a stem cell transplant. The required extreme isolation forced me to leave work and normal life but gave me time to delve into Jewish text study. I did not feel isolated. I began Daf Yomi at the start of this cycle, with family members joining me online from my hospital room. I’ve used my newly granted time to to engage, grow and connect through this learning.

Reena Slovin
Reena Slovin

Worcester, United States

I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.

Leah Goldford
Leah Goldford

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

My family recently made Aliyah, because we believe the next chapter in the story of the Jewish people is being written here, and we want to be a part of it. Daf Yomi, on the other hand, connects me BACK, to those who wrote earlier chapters thousands of years ago. So, I feel like I’m living in the middle of this epic story. I’m learning how it all began, and looking ahead to see where it goes!
Tina Lamm
Tina Lamm

Jerusalem, Israel

Hearing and reading about the siyumim at the completion of the 13 th cycle Daf Yomi asked our shul rabbi about starting the Daf – he directed me to another shiur in town he thought would allow a woman to join, and so I did! Love seeing the sources for the Divrei Torah I’ve been hearing for the past decades of living an observant life and raising 5 children .

Jill Felder
Jill Felder

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Having never learned Talmud before, I started Daf Yomi in hopes of connecting to the Rabbinic tradition, sharing a daily idea on Instagram (@dafyomiadventures). With Hadran and Sefaria, I slowly gained confidence in my skills and understanding. Now, part of the Pardes Jewish Educators Program, I can’t wait to bring this love of learning with me as I continue to pass it on to my future students.

Hannah-G-pic
Hannah Greenberg

Pennsylvania, United States

Michelle has been an inspiration for years, but I only really started this cycle after the moving and uplifting siyum in Jerusalem. It’s been an wonderful to learn and relearn the tenets of our religion and to understand how the extraordinary efforts of a band of people to preserve Judaism after the fall of the beit hamikdash is still bearing fruits today. I’m proud to be part of the chain!

Judith Weil
Judith Weil

Raanana, Israel

Shabbat 121

טְבִילָה בִּזְמַנָּהּ לָאו מִצְוָה וּמַהְדְּרִינַן, וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי סָבַר טְבִילָה בִּזְמַנָּהּ מִצְוָה וְלָא מַהְדְּרִינַן.

that performing immersion at its designated time is not a mitzva, and we seek a reed to wrap around God’s name even if it means postponing immersion to the next day, and Rabbi Yosei holds that immersion at its designated time is a mitzva, and therefore we do not seek a reed, since immersion cannot be postponed.

וְסָבַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי טְבִילָה בִּזְמַנָּהּ מִצְוָה? וְהָתַנְיָא: הַזָּב וְהַזָּבָה, הַמְצוֹרָע וְהַמְצוֹרֶעֶת, בּוֹעֵל נִדָּה וּטְמֵא מֵת, טְבִילָתָן בַּיּוֹם. נִדָּה וְיוֹלֶדֶת — טְבִילָתָן בַּלַּיְלָה. בַּעַל קֶרִי — טוֹבֵל וְהוֹלֵךְ כׇּל הַיּוֹם כּוּלּוֹ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: מִן הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִטְבּוֹל! הַהִיא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דַּיָּיהּ טְבִילָה בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה.

The Gemara asks: And does Rabbi Yosei hold that immersion at its designated time is a mitzva? Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to a zav and a zava, a male and female leper, one who has relations with a menstruating woman, and a person impure with impurity imparted by a corpse, their immersion is during the day. They immerse at the designated time even on Yom Kippur, when bathing is prohibited. A menstruating woman and a woman after childbirth immerse at night. A man who has had a seminal emission immerses at any point during the entire day after the emission. Rabbi Yosei says: From the time that he recited the afternoon prayer and on he does not immerse. Since he already recited the afternoon prayer, he waits until after Yom Kippur to immerse, and then recites the evening prayer in a state of purity. Apparently, Rabbi Yosei holds that immersion at the designated time is not a mitzva. The Gemara rejects this: In that baraita the reference is not to the Rabbi Yosei most commonly cited in tannaitic literature without a patronymic, Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥalafta, but it is to Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: Her latest immersion is sufficient. A woman who is uncertain with regard to the correct time for her immersion need not immerse multiple times. She may postpone her immersion until a time when she will be certain to fulfill her obligation, even though it might not be immersion at the designated time.

מַתְנִי׳ גּוֹי שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״כַּבֵּה״ וְ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין שְׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן. אֲבָל קָטָן שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשְּׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן.

MISHNA: If a gentile comes to extinguish a Jew’s fire on Shabbat, one may not say to him: Extinguish, and: Do not extinguish, because responsibility for his rest is not incumbent upon the Jew. However, if a Jewish child comes to extinguish a fire on Shabbat, they do not listen to him and allow him to extinguish it, even though he is not yet obligated in mitzva observance, because responsibility for his rest is incumbent upon the Jew.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: בִּדְלֵיקָה הִתִּירוּ לוֹמַר ״כׇּל הַמְכַבֶּה אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיד״. נֵימָא מְסַיַּיע לֵיהּ: גּוֹי שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״כַּבֵּה״ וְ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין שְׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן. ״כַּבֵּה״ הוּא דְּלָא אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ, הָא ״כׇּל הַמְכַבֶּה אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיד״ — אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ. אֵימָא סֵיפָא, ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״ לָא אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ, וְ״כׇל הַמְכַבֶּה אֵינוֹ מַפְסִיד״ נָמֵי לָא אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא מֵהָא לֵיכָּא לְמִשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.

GEMARA: Rabbi Ami said: During a fire, the Sages permitted to say in the presence of gentiles: Anyone who extinguishes the fire will not lose, so that the gentiles will come and extinguish the fire; it is only prohibited to tell gentiles to do so explicitly. The Gemara suggests: Let us say that the mishna supports his statement: If a gentile comes to extinguish a Jew’s fire on Shabbat, one may not say to him: Extinguish, and: Do not extinguish, because responsibility for his rest is not incumbent upon the Jew. It can be inferred from the language of the mishna: It is a direct command, e.g., extinguish, that we may not say to him; however, anyone who extinguishes will not lose, we may tell him, which supports Rabbi Ami’s statement. The Gemara rejects this. Say the latter clause of the mishna: Do not extinguish, we do not tell him. It can be inferred that neither do we say to him: Anyone who extinguishes will not lose. Rather, nothing can be inferred from this mishna.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מַעֲשֶׂה וְנָפְלָה דְּלֵיקָה בַּחֲצֵירוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף בֶּן סִימַאי בְּשִׁיחִין, וּבָאוּ אַנְשֵׁי גִּיסְטְרָא שֶׁל צִיפּוֹרִי לְכַבּוֹת, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאַפִּטְרוֹפּוֹס שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ הָיָה, וְלֹא הִנִּיחָן מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת, וְנַעֲשָׂה לוֹ נֵס וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים וְכִיבּוּ. לָעֶרֶב שִׁיגֵּר לְכׇל אֶחָד מֵהֶן שְׁתֵּי סְלָעִין, וְלָאִפַּרְכוֹס שֶׁבָּהֶן — חֲמִשִּׁים. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ חֲכָמִים בְּדָבָר, אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְכָךְ, שֶׁהֲרֵי שָׁנִינוּ: גּוֹי שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת — אֵין אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״כַּבֵּה״ וְ״אַל תְּכַבֶּה״.

The Sages taught in a baraita: There was an incident that a fire ignited on Shabbat in the courtyard of Yosef ben Simai in a place called Shiḥin. And men came from the fortress [gistera] of Tzippori to extinguish the fire, because he was a steward [apotropos] of the king and they wanted to help him. However, Yosef ben Simai would not allow them to extinguish the fire in deference to Shabbat; and a miracle transpired for him and rain fell and extinguished the fire. That evening after Shabbat he sent two sela to each one of the soldiers who came to his aid, and fifty to their commander [iparkhos]. And when the Sages heard about this, they said: He need not have prevented them from extinguishing the fire, as we learned in the mishna: If a gentile comes to extinguish a Jew’s fire on Shabbat, one may not say to him: Extinguish, and: Do not extinguish, because responsibility for his rest is not incumbent upon the Jew; rather, the gentile may do as he pleases.

אֲבָל קָטָן שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשְּׁבִיתָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן. שָׁמְעַתְּ מִינַּהּ קָטָן אוֹכֵל נְבֵלוֹת, בֵּית דִּין מְצֻוִּוין עָלָיו לְהַפְרִישׁוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בְּקָטָן הָעוֹשֶׂה לְדַעַת אָבִיו. דִּכְווֹתַהּ גַּבֵּי גּוֹי, דְּקָא עָבֵיד לְדַעְתֵּיהּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל — מִי שְׁרֵי?! גּוֹי לְדַעְתֵּיהּ דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ עָבֵיד.

We learned in the mishna: However, if a Jewish child comes to extinguish a fire on Shabbat, they do not listen to him and allow him to extinguish it, even though he is not yet obligated in mitzva observance, because responsibility for his rest is incumbent upon the Jew. The Gemara seeks to conclude: Learn from this that a child who eats meat from unslaughtered animals or violates other prohibitions, the court is commanded to prevent him from eating it. This mishna would resolve a dilemma that arose regarding that issue. The Gemara rejects this suggestion: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This mishna is referring to a child who is acting with the intention of fulfilling his father’s will, and therefore one is obligated to prevent him from doing so. However, if a child sins of his own volition, one is not obligated to prevent him from doing so. The Gemara asks: If so, the case with regard to a gentile in the mishna must be interpreted in a similar manner as referring to a case where he is acting with the intention to fulfill the will of a Jew. Is that permitted? It is prohibited to derive benefit from an action performed by a gentile for a Jew on Shabbat. The Gemara responds: This is not the case; the gentile is acting of his own volition. Because he is paid for extinguishing the fire he is not doing so in order to help the Jew.

מַתְנִי׳ כּוֹפִין קְעָרָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַנֵּר בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא תֶּאֱחוֹז בַּקּוֹרָה, וְעַל צוֹאָה שֶׁל קָטָן, וְעַל עַקְרָב שֶׁלֹּא תִּישָּׁךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: מַעֲשֶׂה בָּא לִפְנֵי רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי בַּעֲרָב, וְאָמַר: חוֹשְׁשַׁנִי לוֹ מֵחַטָּאת.

MISHNA: One may overturn a bowl on top of a lamp so that fire will not take hold in the ceiling beam on Shabbat. And similarly, one may overturn a bowl on top of a child’s feces inside the house so he will not touch it and dirty himself, and on top of a scorpion so that it will not bite. Rabbi Yehuda said: An incident came before Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai in his village of Arav, where a person covered a scorpion on Shabbat, and Rabban Yoḥanan said: I am concerned that he is liable to bring a sin-offering because he might have violated a Torah prohibition.

גְּמָ׳ רַב יְהוּדָה וְרַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא וְרַב חָנָן בַּר רָבָא אִיקְּלַעוּ לְבֵי אָבִין דְּמִן נְשִׁיקְיָא. לְרַב יְהוּדָה וְרַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא

GEMARA: The Gemara relates: Rav Yehuda and Rav Yirmeya bar Abba and Rav Ḥanan bar Rava happened to come to the house of Avin from a place called Nashikiya. For Rav Yehuda and Rav Yirmeya bar Abba,

אַיְיתוֹ לְהוּ פּוּרְיָיתָא, לְרַב חָנָן בַּר רָבָא לָא אַיְיתוֹ לֵיהּ. אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ מַתְנֵי לֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ: וְעַל צוֹאָה שֶׁל קָטָן מִפְּנֵי קָטָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אָבִין שָׁטְיָא מַתְנֵי שְׁטוּתָא לִבְנֵיהּ, וַהֲלֹא הִיא עַצְמָהּ מוּכֶנֶת לִכְלָבִים! וְכִי תֵּימָא דְּלָא חַזְיָא לֵיהּ מֵאֶתְמוֹל — וְהָתַנְיָא: נְהָרוֹת הַמּוֹשְׁכִין וּמַעֲיָינוֹת הַנּוֹבְעִין — הֲרֵי הֵן כְּרַגְלֵי כׇּל אָדָם.

they brought beds for them to sit on, whereas for Rav Ḥanan bar Rava, they did not bring one for him. Rav Ḥanan was insulted and got angry at his host. He found Rabbi Avin teaching his son the mishna and saying: And one may place a bowl on top of the feces of a child due to the child so that he will not touch it and dirty himself. Rav Ḥanan said to him: Avin the fool is teaching his son folly; aren’t the feces themselves prepared as food for dogs? An object that is fit for consumption by a dog may be carried, so why need one cover the feces if he can remove them? And if you say these feces were not prepared for that use from yesterday, that would not prohibit moving them. Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to rivers that flow and springs that gush, they do not have specific Shabbat boundaries, but they may be used anywhere and their boundaries are like the feet of all people who draw from them. Even though the water was not within the boundaries when Shabbat began, since the nature of flowing water is to move from place to place, it is as if they were prepared for this purpose. So too, here, since a child will relieve himself in any place, it is as if it was prepared from before Shabbat.

וְאֶלָּא הֵיכִי אַתְנְיֵיהּ? אֵימָא: עַל צוֹאָה שֶׁל תַּרְנְגוֹלִים מִפְּנֵי קָטָן.

Rabbi Avin asked: And how, then, should I teach it to him? Rav Ḥanan answered: Say, one may place a bowl on top of chicken feces due to a child.

וְתִיפּוֹק לֵיהּ דְּהָוֵי גְּרָף שֶׁל רְעִי! וְכִי תֵּימָא: גְּרָף שֶׁל רְעִי אַגַּב מָנָא — אִין, אִיהוּ גּוּפֵיהּ — לָא, וְהָא הָהוּא עַכְבָּר דְּאִישְׁתְּכַח בְּאִיסְפַּרְמָקֵי דְּרַב אָשֵׁי, וַאֲמַר לְהוּ: נִקְטוּהּ בְּצוּצִיתֵיהּ וְאַפְּקוּהּ! בְּאַשְׁפָּה. וְקָטָן בְּאַשְׁפָּה מַאי בָּעֵי לֵיהּ? בְּחָצֵר. חָצֵר נָמֵי, גְּרָף שֶׁל רְעִי הוּא! בְּאַשְׁפָּה שֶׁבְּחָצֵר.

The Gemara asks: And derive that it is permitted to remove the feces because it is like a chamber pot of feces, which may be moved out of the room because it is disgusting. And if you say that a chamber pot of feces together with the vessel, yes, it may be moved; but feces itself, no, it may not be moved. What about that mouse that was found among the spices [isperamaki] of Rav Ashi, and he said to his servants: Take it by its tail and remove it? Apparently, a disgusting object may be moved even without a vessel. Rather, we must say that the feces were in the garbage dump, and since the feces were not before the household members it was only permitted to conceal them, not to move them. The Gemara asks: And what is a child doing in the garbage dump in the public domain? It is not adjacent to the house; how would the child get there? The Gemara answers that the feces were not in the garbage dump but were in the courtyard. The Gemara rejects this: In the courtyard, it is also considered a chamber pot of feces and may be moved. Rather, it is referring to a garbage dump that is in the courtyard, to which the child sometimes has access. Feces in a place designated for garbage are no more disgusting than their surroundings, and therefore it is prohibited to move the feces.

וְעַל עַקְרָב שֶׁלֹּא תִּישָּׁךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל הַמַּזִּיקִין נֶהֱרָגִין בְּשַׁבָּת. מֵתִיב רַב יוֹסֵף: חֲמִשָּׁה נֶהֱרָגִין בְּשַׁבָּת, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: זְבוּב שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, וְצִירְעָה שֶׁבְּנִינְוֵה, וְעַקְרָב שֶׁבְּחַדְיָיב, וְנָחָשׁ שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכֶלֶב שׁוֹטֶה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. מַנִּי? אִילֵימָא רַבִּי יְהוּדָה — הָא אָמַר: מְלָאכָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה לְגוּפָהּ חַיָּיב עָלֶיהָ. אֶלָּא לָאו רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְהָנֵי הוּא דְּשָׁרֵי, אַחֲרִינֵי — לָא!

And we also learned in the mishna that one may cover a scorpion with a bowl on Shabbat so that it will not bite. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: All harmful creatures are killed on Shabbat. Rav Yosef raised an objection to this from the following baraita: Five creatures may be killed even on Shabbat, and they are: The poisonous fly that is in the land of Egypt, and the hornet that is in Ninveh, and the scorpion that is in Ḥadyab, and the snake that is in Eretz Yisrael, and a mad dog in any place. The Gemara clarifies this: In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? If you say it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, didn’t he say that one is liable for a prohibited labor that is not needed for its own sake, and it is therefore prohibited to kill even these creatures? Rather, is it not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, and these are those creatures that it is permitted to kill; others, no, it is not permitted to kill?

אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: וּמַאן נֵימָא לַן דְּהָא מְתָרַצְתָּא הִיא? דִּילְמָא מְשַׁבַּשְׁתָּא הִיא? אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: אֲנָא מַתְנֵינָא לַהּ, וְאוֹתֵיבְנָא לַהּ, וַאֲנָא מְתָרֵיצְנָא לַהּ: בְּרָצִין אַחֲרָיו, וְדִבְרֵי הַכֹּל.

Rabbi Yirmeya said: And who will say to us that this baraita is accurate? Perhaps it is corrupted, and an objection cannot be raised from it. Rav Yosef said: I taught the baraita and raised an objection from it, and I will answer it as follows: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi permitted killing all harmful creatures on Shabbat when they are running after him; as in that case the danger is real, and therefore it is permitted to kill them according to all opinions.

תָּנֵי תַּנָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא בַּר רַב הוּנָא: הַהוֹרֵג נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בְּשַׁבָּת — אֵין רוּחַ חֲסִידִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְאוֹתָן חֲסִידִים אֵין רוּחַ חֲכָמִים נוֹחָה מֵהֶם. וּפְלִיגָא דְּרַב הוּנָא. דְּרַב הוּנָא חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּקָא קָטֵיל זִיבּוּרָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁלֵּימְתִּינְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ?

The tanna who recited tannaitic literature before Rava bar Rav Huna taught a baraita: One who kills snakes and scorpions on Shabbat, the spirit of the pious is not pleased with him. Rava bar Rav Huna said to him: And with regard to those pious, the spirit of the Sages is not pleased with them, as snakes and scorpions harm people. The Gemara comments: And this statement disagrees with the opinion of Rav Huna, for Rav Huna saw a person killing a hornet on Shabbat and said to him: Have you finished killing all the hornets? This indicates that he was not pleased with him.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נִזְדַּמְּנוּ לוֹ נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים, הֲרָגָן — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁנִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לוֹ לְהוֹרְגָן. לֹא הֲרָגָן — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁנִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לְהוֹרְגוֹ וְנַעֲשָׂה לוֹ נֵס מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. אָמַר עוּלָּא וְאִיתֵּימָא רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בְּנִישּׁוֹפִין בּוֹ.

The Sages taught in a baraita: One who snakes and scorpions happened before him, if he killed them, it is clear that they happened before him in order for him to kill them. If he did not kill them it is clear that they happened before him in order for them to kill him, but a miracle from heaven transpired for him and he was saved. Ulla said, and some say it was Rabba bar bar Ḥana who said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is referring to when they were touching and brushing up against him (Rabbeinu Ḥananel), as in that case if they cause him no harm, it is surely a miracle that saved him.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כָּהֲנָא: פַּעַם אַחַת נָפַל אֶחָד בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, וְעָמַד נִיוְתִּי אֶחָד וַהֲרָגוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי: פָּגַע בּוֹ כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ!

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: One time, a snake fell into the study hall on Shabbat, and a Nabatean [Nivati] stood and killed it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: One of its type killed it.

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: ״פָּגַע בּוֹ כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ״ דְּשַׁפִּיר עֲבַד, אוֹ לָא? תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּרַבִּי אַבָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא וְרַבִּי זֵירָא הֲווֹ יָתְבִי אַקִּילְעָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יַנַּאי. נְפַק מִילְּתָא מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, בְּעוֹ מִינֵּיהּ מֵרַבִּי יַנַּאי: מַהוּ לַהֲרוֹג נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בְּשַׁבָּת? אֲמַר לְהוּ: צִירְעָה אֲנִי הוֹרֵג, נָחָשׁ וְעַקְרָב — לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?! דִילְמָא לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. דַּאֲמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: רוֹק דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. וְאָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: נָחָשׁ דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. וְאָמַר רַב קַטִּינָא: עַקְרָב דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ.

A dilemma was raised before the Sages: When Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: One of its type killed it, did he mean that he acted properly or not? Come and hear a resolution to this dilemma from that which was related about Rabbi Abba, son of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, and Rabbi Zeira, who were sitting in the courtyard of Rabbi Yannai’s house. A matter emerged from among them, and they raised a dilemma before Rabbi Yannai: What is the ruling with regard to killing snakes and scorpions on Shabbat? He said to them: I would kill a hornet, all the more so would I kill a snake or a scorpion, as they are more dangerous and it is permitted to kill them. The Gemara rejects this: There is no conclusive proof from this, as perhaps it is only permitted when one steps on it innocently as he is walking, so that it does not appear to others that he intended to step on it. As Rav Yehuda said: With regard to spittle on Shabbat, one may trample it innocently and need not be concerned about the prohibitions of smoothing or leveling holes. And Rav Sheshet said: With regard to a snake, one may trample it innocently. And Rav Ketina said: With regard to a scorpion, one may trample it innocently.

אַבָּא בַּר מָרְתָא דְּהוּא אַבָּא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי הֲווֹ מַסְּקִי בֵּיהּ דְּבֵי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא זוּזֵי. אַיְיתְיוּהּ, קָא מְצַעֲרִי לֵיהּ. הֲוָה שְׁדֵי רוּקָּא. אֲמַר לְהוּ רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא: אַיְיתוֹ מָאנָא סְחִיפוּ עִלָּוֵיהּ, אֲמַר לְהוּ: לָא צְרִיכִיתוּ, הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: רוֹק דּוֹרְסוֹ לְפִי תּוּמּוֹ. אֲמַר לְהוּ: צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן הוּא, שִׁבְקוּהּ.

The Gemara relates: Abba bar Marta, who is Abba bar Manyomi, owed money to members of the Exilarch’s household. They brought him to the house of the Exilarch on Shabbat and they tormented him to force him to pay. There was spittle there. The Exilarch said to the members of his household: Bring me a vessel and place it over the spittle so that people will not step on it. Abba bar Manyomi said to them: You need not do so, as Rav Yehuda said as follows: With regard to spittle, one may trample it innocently. The Exilarch said to the members of his household: He is a Torah scholar, leave him alone.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כָּהֲנָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: פָּמוֹטוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבִּי מוּתָּר לְטַלְטְלָן בְּשַׁבָּת, אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא: בְּנִיטָּלִין בְּיָדוֹ אַחַת, אוֹ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם?

Apropos Rabbi Abba bar Kahana, the Gemara cites additional statements of his. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: With regard to the candlesticks of the house of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, it is permitted to move them on Shabbat. It was not clear what the nature of these candlesticks was, and Rabbi Zeira said to him: Is this referring to candlesticks that are small, which are moved with one hand, or even to those that are moved with two hands?

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