Shabbat 269:1

ולא ספק דוחה את השבת ערלתו ודאי דוחה את השבת ולא אנדרוגינוס דוחה את השבת

but [of] one in doubt does not supersede the Sabbath; 'his foreskin' [of] one who is certain supersedes the Sabbath, but an hermaphrodite does not supersede the Sabbath. R. Judah maintained: An hermaphrodite supersedes the Sabbath and there is the penalty of <i>kareth</i>. 'His foreskin': [of] one who is certain supersedes the Sabbath, but [of] one born at twilight<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On Friday, and it is not known whether it was then Friday or the Sabbath. ');">¹</span>

רבי יהודה אומר אנדרוגינוס דוחה את השבת וענוש כרת ערלתו ודאי דוחה את השבת ולא נולד בין השמשות דוחה את השבת ערלתו ודאי דוחה את השבת ולא נולד כשהוא מהול דוחה את השבת שב"ש אומרים צריך להטיף ממנו דם ברית וב"ה אומרים אינו צריך

does not supersede the Sabbath; his foreskin: one who is certain supersedes the Sabbath, but one who is born circumcised does not supersede the Sabbath, for Beth Shammai maintain: One must cause a few drops of the covenant blood to flow from him, while Beth Hillel rule: It is unnecessary. R. Simeon b. Eleazar said: Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel did not differ concerning him who is born circumcised that you must cause a few drops of the covenant blood to flow from him, because it is a suppressed foreskin:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the foreskin which seems absent is pressed to the membrum. ');">²</span>

א"ר שמעון בן אלעזר לא נחלקו ב"ש וב"ה על נולד כשהוא מהול שצריך להטיף ממנו דם ברית מפני שערלה כבושה היא על מה נחלקו על גר שנתגייר כשהוא מהול שבית שמאי אומרים צריך להטיף ממנו דם ברית ובה"א א"צ להטיף ממנו דם ברית:

about what do they differ? about a proselyte who was converted when [already] circumcised: there Beth Shammai maintain: One must cause a few drops of the covenant blood to flow from him; whereas Beth Hillel rule: One need not cause a few drops of the covenant blood to flow from him.

אמר מר ולא ספק דוחה את השבת לאתויי מאי לאתויי הא דתנו רבנן בן שבעה מחללין עליו את השבת ובן ח' אין מחללין עליו את השבת ספק בן ז' ספק בן ח' אין מחללין עליו את השבת

The Master said: 'But [of] one that is doubtful does not supersede the Sabbath.' What does this include?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the various cases of doubt are enumerated in detail. ');">³</span>

בן שמונה הרי הוא כאבן ואסור לטלטלו אבל אמו שוחה ומניקתו מפני הסכנה

— It includes the following which was taught by our Rabbis: For a seven-months' infant<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., one born after seven months of pregnancy. ');">⁴</span>

איתמר רב אמר הלכה כת"ק ושמואל אמר הלכה כר"ש בן אלעזר

one may desecrate the Sabbath, but for an eight-months' infant one may not desecrate the Sabbath.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Rabbis held that such could not possibly live; hence there is no point in desecrating the Sabbath by circumcising him. ');">⁵</span>

רב אדא בר אהבה אתיליד ליה ההוא ינוקא כשהוא מהול אהדריה אתליסר מהולאי עד דשוייה כרות שפכה אמר תיתי לי דעברי אדרב

For one in doubt whether the is a seven-months' or an eight-months' infant, one may not desecrate the Sabbath. An eight-months' infant is like a stone and may not be handled, but his mother bends [over] and suckles him because of the danger.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To herself, if she is not eased of her milk. ');">⁶</span>

אמר ליה רב נחמן ואדשמואל לא עבר אימר דאמר שמואל בחול בשבת מי אמר הוא סבר ודאי ערלה כבושה היא דאיתמר רבה אמר חיישינן שמא ערלה כבושה היא רב יוסף אמר ודאי ערלה כבושה היא

It was stated: Rab said: The <i>halachah</i> is as the first Tanna;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who taught that Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel disagree about a child who is born circumcised; the halachah then naturally being as Beth Hillel. ');">⁷</span>

אמר רב יוסף מנא אמינא לה דתניא רבי אליעזר הקפר אומר לא נחלקו ב"ש וב"ה על נולד כשהוא מהול שצריך להטיף ממנו דם ברית על מה נחלקו לחלל עליו את השבת ב"ש אומרים מחללין עליו את השבת וב"ה אומרים אין מחללין עליו את השבת לאו מכלל דת"ק סבר מחללין עליו את השבת

while Samuel said: The <i>halachah</i> is as R. Simeon b. Eleazar. A circumcised child was born to R. Adda b. Ahabah. He took him to thirteen circumcisers,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That they might cause a few drops of the covenant blood to flow. It was the Sabbath, and they all refused. ');">⁸</span>

ודילמא ת"ק דברי הכל אין מחללין קאמר אם כן רבי אליעזר הקפר טעמא דב"ש אתא לאשמעינן דילמא ה"ק לא נחלקו ב"ש וב"ה בדבר זה:

until he mutilated him privily.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eventually he performed the operation himself unskillfully, with that result. ');">⁹</span>

אמר ר' אסי כל שאמו טמאה לידה נימול לשמונה וכל שאין אמו טמאה לידה אין נימול לשמנה שנאמר (ויקרא יב, ב) אשה כי תזריע וילדה זכר וטמאה וגו' וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו

I deserve it for transgressing Rab's [ruling], said he. Said R. Nahman to him, And did you not violate Samuel's [ruling]? Samuel ruled this only of weekdays, but did he rule this of the Sabbath? — He [R. Adda b. Ahabah] held that it is definitely a suppressed foreskin.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There is no element of doubt at all, and therefore it must be done even on the Sabbath. ');">¹⁰</span>

א"ל אביי דורות הראשונים יוכיחו שאין אמו טמאה לידה ונימול לשמנה

For it was stated: Rabbah said: We suspect that it may be a suppressed foreskin;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is only because of this doubt that some drops of blood must be made to flow. ');">¹¹</span>

א"ל נתנה תורה

R. Joseph said: It is certainly a suppressed foreskin. R. Joseph said: Whence do I know it? Because it was taught, R. Eliezer ha-Kappar said: Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel do not disagree concerning him who is born circumcised, that one must cause a few drops of the covenant blood to flow from him. Concerning what do they differ? As to whether the Sabbath is desecrated on his account: Beth Shammai maintain, We desecrate the Sabbath on his account; while Beth Hillel rule: We must not desecrate the Sabbath on his account. Does it then not follow that the first Tanna holds, We desecrate the Sabbath for him?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even in Beth Hillel's opinion. Hence Beth Hillel must hold that it is certainly a suppressed foreskin. ');">¹²</span> But perhaps the first Tanna maintains that all agree that we may not desecrate the Sabbath for him? — If so, R. Eliezer ha-Kappar comes to teach us Beth Shammai's view!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely that is of no interest, since the halacha is as Beth Hillel. ');">¹³</span> But perhaps he means this: Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel did not disagree in this matter!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus: the first Tanna maintains that Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel agree that we may not desecrate the Sabbath; hence their controversy must refer to weekdays, Beth Hillel holding that no blood-flow at all is required, whereupon R. Eleazar ha-Kappar stated that this is incorrect, there being no dispute in respect to weekdays, for even Beth Hillel necessitate a blood-flow, and they differ only in respect of the Sabbath. On this interpretation he informs us of Beth Hillel's view in respect to weekdays. ');">¹⁴</span> R. Assi said: He whose mother is defiled through confinement must be circumcised at eight [days], but he whose mother is not defiled through confinement<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.g., if the child is not born in the usual manner but extracted through the cesarean section; or if a Gentile woman gives birth and becomes a proselyte the following day. ');">¹⁵</span> is not circumcised on the eighth day,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But immediately. ');">¹⁶</span> because it is said, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man child, then she shall be unclean, etc. … And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XII, 2f. Thus the two are interdependent. ');">¹⁷</span> Said Abaye to him, Let the early generations<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Viz., those preceding the giving of the Torah. ');">¹⁸</span> prove [the reverse], where the mother was not defiled through confinement,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The law of defilement being as yet non-existent. ');">¹⁹</span> yet circumcision was of the eighth day!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with God's command to Abraham; v. Gen. XVII, 12. ');">²⁰</span> — The Torah was given, replied he,