Siman - Shabbos Daf 111
- Using vinegar for tooth pain
The Mishnah states that one who has tooth pain may not sip vinegar through them, because one may not heal oneself on Shabbos, but he may dip food into vinegar in his usual manner, even though he may become cured as a result .
Rav Acha bar Pappa asks a contradiction, that the Mishnah implies that vinegar is good for the teeth, whereas the passuk states, כחמץ לשנים וכעשן לעינים – Like vinegar is to the teeth and like smoke is to the eyes. This implies that vinegar is not good for the teeth.
The Gemara gives two answers. Either the passuk is referring to juice of unripe grapes , which is unhealthy, whereas the Mishnah is referring to vinegar. Or both the passuk and the Mishnah are referring to vinegar, and the Mishnah is referring to where there is a wound, and the passuk is referring to where there is no wound.
- Rose oil
The Mishnah states that one feeling pain in his loins may smear it with oil, because people often do so even not for healing purposes. However, one may not use rose oil. Princes though may smear with rose oil since they use it during the week. Rebbe Shimon argues and says כל ישראל בני מלכים הם – All Yisroel are princes. Meaning, that it is mutar for anyone to smear rose oil.
Rashi explains that according to the Tanna Kamma, rose oil is too expensive for most people to be used merely for anointing, therefore when they do use it, it is clear that they are doing so for the purpose of healing. Rebbe Shimon, however, permits its use because halacha does not distinguish between people based on economic status, permitting something to some and forbidding it to others .
- Tying knots - bows
The first Mishnah of the fifteenth perek states that the knots which one is liable for tying on Shabbos, are the camel drivers’ knot (קשר הגמלין) and the sailors’ knot (קשר הספנין). The Gemara clarifies that these are permanent knots. Rebbe Meir disagrees and says that one is not liable for any knot that one can untie with one hand.
Rav Achadvoi, the brother of Mar Acha, asked what Rebbe Meir holds in terms of a bow which is tightly made . Is Rebbe Meir’s reason to allow a knot which one can untie with one hand, only require that one can untie the knot with one hand, in which case, one is permitted to tie a tightly made bow? Or is his reason because a knot that can be untied with one hand is clearly not tight, but one would be chayav for tying a bow tightly? The Gemara leaves it as a teiku.
