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Shabbat 121b

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Shabbat 121b

Shabbat 121b. The full printed text of this folio side — 11 numbered segments, about 434 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

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.

Segment 2

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.

Segment 3

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.

Segment 4

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?

Segment 5

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.

Segment 6

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.

Segment 7

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.

Segment 8

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.

Segment 9

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.

Segment 10

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.

Segment 11

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?

Shabbat 121b

Shabbat 121b

Rashi

Tosafot

Rav Nissim Gaon

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Maharam

Gilyon HaShas

Ben Yehoyada

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