Study Zevachim folio 94B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
כרים וכסתות – דרכין נינהו, ותנן: היתה של עור נותן עליה מים עד שתכלה! אלא אמר רבא: כל כיבוס דלית ליה כיסכוס, לא שמיה כיבוס.
Cushions and blankets that are of soft leather, and for which the halakha with regard to laundering should be relevant, and yet we learned about them in the Mishnah (Shabbat 142b): If the filth was on a cushion of leather, he applies water to it until the filth dissolves, which indicates that the halakha with regard to laundering is not applicable even to soft leather. Rather, Rava said: With regard to any laundering that does not include rubbing, it is not considered laundering. Consequently, one may apply water to a soft leather cushion, but soft leather remains subject to laundering, so long as there is rubbing.
והא דאמר רב חייא בר אשי: זימנין סגיאין הוה קאימנא קמיה דרב, ושכשיכי ליה מסאניה במיא; שכשוך אין, אבל כבוס לא – אי ברכין וכדברי הכל, אי בקשין וכאחרים.
And that statement that Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said: Many times I would stand before Rav on Shabbat and place water on his leather shoes, may be explained accordingly. With regard to placing water on leather, yes, that is permitted, but with regard to laundering, which includes rubbing, it is not permitted. This may be explained as follows: If Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi spoke of soft leather shoes, then all agree that only placing water is permitted. And if Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi spoke of hard leather shoes, the distinction between placing and rubbing accords with the opinion of the others, who hold that the requirement of laundering sprayed blood applies even to hard leather.
אי הכי, בגד נמי! בגד – שרייתו זהו כיבוסו.
The Talmud asks: If that is so, that placing water upon something is not considered laundering so long as one does not also rub the item, then with regard to a non-leather garment as well, one should be allowed to place water upon it on Shabbat. Why does the cited Mishnah state that one may wipe it only with a dry rag? The Talmud answers: With regard to a garment, its soaking is its laundering, and merely placing water on it is forbidden.