Study Keritot folio 20A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
מתיב רב אושעיא: רבי שמעון שזורי ורבי שמעון אומרים: לא נחלקו על דבר שהוא משם אחד שהוא חייב, אלא על דבר שהוא משום שני שמות, שרבי אליעזר מחייב חטאת, ורבי יהושע פוטר.
Rav Oshaya raises an objection from the Mishnah to Shmuel’s opinion that all agree that one who acts unawares on Shabbat is exempt: R' Shimon Shezuri and R' Shimon say: R' Eliezer and R' Yehoshua did not disagree with regard to a case involving a matter where his lack of knowledge involves items from one category, as in that case they both agree he is liable. Rather, they disagree with regard to a case involving a matter where his lack of knowledge involves items from two categories, as in that case R' Eliezer deems him liable to bring a sin offering, and R' Yehoshua deems him exempt.
ורבי יהודה מאי קאמר דפליגי? בנתכוין ללקט ענבים ולקט תאנים, שחורות ולקט לבנות – ענבים ותאנים, שחורות ולבנות, מאי ניהו? שני שמות? היינו רבי שמעון ורבי שמעון שזורי! רבי יהודה מאי אתא לאשמועינן?
Rav Oshaya continues: And with regard to R' Yehuda, about what matter is he saying that they disagree? If you say he maintains that they disagree in a case where one intended to pick grapes and he picked figs, or to pick black ones and he picked white ones, that is problematic. Rav Oshaya explains: Grapes and figs, black ones and white ones, what are they? Aren’t they two categories? If so, this is identical to the opinion of R' Shimon and R' Shimon Shezuri, who say that R' Eliezer and R' Yehoshua disagree specifically with regard to a mistake involving two categories. If so, what is R' Yehuda coming to teach us?
אלא לאו מתעסק איכא בינייהו, דרבי יהודה סבר: מתעסק חייב, ורבי שמעון שזורי סברי: מתעסק פטור?
Rav Oshaya concludes: Rather, is it not correct to say that that the difference between them is the halakha concerning one who performs a transgression while acting unawares? As R' Yehuda holds that one who acts unawares when committing a transgression is liable, and R' Shimon and R' Shimon Shezuri hold that one who acts unawares when committing a transgression is exempt. If so, the opinion of R' Yehuda refutes Shmuel’s statement that all agree that one who acts unawares while performing a prohibited labor on Shabbat is exempt.