No community start suggestion yet.
Why does the Gemara (גמרא) need a pasuk to permit maaseh Shabbos (שבת) after Shabbos, if there's no Torah (תורה) prohibition to begin with? The shiur distinguishes between the issur of using maaseh Shabbos on Shabbos itself (shmiras Shabbos) and the separate din of kosef toftilo (punitive loss after an aveira). The Rambam (רמב"ם) holds kosef toftilo only applies b'meizid, not b'shogeg, explaining why Rav Yochanan Sandler's position doesn't apply to inadvertent violations.
This shiur analyzes Bava Kama 71a and its discussion of maaseh Shabbos (שבת)—whether a Jew may benefit from work done on Shabbos. The Gemara (גמרא) presents a fundamental dispute: Rav Yehuda permits benefit to others after Shabbos but prohibits it forever to the one who did the melacha; Rav Yochanan Sandler prohibits it to everyone forever. The shiur focuses on resolving major difficulties in understanding this sugya, particularly addressing Tosafos (תוספות)'s questions and the Rif's cryptic language. The central problem begins with Tosafos's famous question: Why does the Gemara need a pasuk (kodesh hi, he) to teach that maaseh Shabbos is permitted after Shabbos? If there's no Torah (תורה) prohibition of maaseh Shabbos, the word "kodesh" in the verse seems superfluous—only the word "he" (excluding it from perpetual kedusha) would be necessary. Tosafos suggests the answer lies in kosef toftilo (punishment through loss), but this creates its own difficulties.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Bava Kama 71a
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Gemara
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
When an animal damages crops, the Torah prescribes a unique payment formula based on multiplying the damaged area by sixty. Does this formula redefine the actual loss, or does it merely create a payment mechanism that still acknowledges the full damage sustained? The Gemara explores whether someone who ate in doubt should pay the higher-quality amount, examining how the principle of motzi me-chaveiro alav haraya applies when payments fall within the range of actual loss.
What makes testimony valid when different witnesses testify to different parts of the same event? The Gemara debates whether the principle of "davar v'lo chatzi davar" (complete testimony, not partial) disqualifies witnesses who testify separately to theft and slaughter. Rashi's approach reveals that the issue is not merely combining elements, but whether each witness's statement is independently meaningful.
Why is a ganav who sells a stolen animal on Shabbos exempt from the fourfold/fivefold payment? The shiur analyzes whether this exemption stems from kam lei b'derabbah or from the absence of a valid mechira. The Rashba's principle that matana resembles mechira when it is "nishtarish b'chet" is explored, along with the Rambam's position on hekdesh and the distinction between giving to bedek habayis versus mizbe'ach.
When a ganav shechts a stolen animal l'avodah zarah, why isn't he patur from payment since it's already isur hana'ah? The shiur explores the fundamental machloket Rashi-Tosafot on whether the isur derives from the act of shechita or from the din shechita itself. The Gemara's application of davar garem be'mamon ke'mamon domi extends the analysis to when borrowed animals become niskal.