Beitzah

The entire sustenance of man [for the year] is fixed for him from New Year's [Festival] to the Day of Atonement,1 except the expenditure for Sabbaths and the expenditure for Festivals and the expenditure for the instruction of his children in the Law; if he [spent] less [for any of these] he is given less and if he [spent] more he is given more. Said R. Abbahu:2 What verse of Scripture [supports this]? ‘Blow the horn at the new moon at the full moon for our feast-day’.3 Which is the Festival on which the moon is concealed? Say, it is New Year;4 and it is written [with respect to this Festival]: ‘For it is a statute [hok] for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob’.5 How is it implied that [the word] hok connotes sustenance? For it is written: ‘And did eat their portion [hukkam] which Pharaoh gave them’.6 Mar Zutra says, [It is inferred] from here: ‘Feed me with mine allotted [hukki]7 bread’. It was taught: They related concerning Shammai, the Elder [that] all his life he ate in honour of the Sabbath. [Thus] if he found a well-favoured animal he said, Let this be for the Sabbath. [If afterwards] he found one better favoured he put aside the second [for the Sabbath] and ate the first.8 But Hillel the Elder had a different trait, for all his works were for the sake of heaven,9 for it is said: Blessed be the Lord, day by day.10 It was likewise taught: Beth Shammai say: From the first day of the week [prepare] for the Sabbath;11 but Beth Hillel say: Blessed be the Lord, day by day.10 R. Hama b. Hanina said: He who makes a gift to his neighbour need not inform him, for it says, ‘And Moses knew not that the skin of his face sent forth beams’.12 An objection was raised: ‘That ye may know I am the Lord who sanctify you’,13 The Holy One, blessed be He, said unto Moses: Moses, I have a precious gift in my treasury and its name is Sabbath and I wish to give it to Israel; go and tell them. Hence R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: He who gives a child [a piece of] bread must inform its mother! — There is no difficulty. The one treats of a gift which will naturally become known, and the other treats of a gift which does not naturally become known. But the Sabbath too is a gift which would have naturally become known! — Its reward14 would not naturally be known.15 The Master said: ‘Hence R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: He who gives a child [a piece of] bread must inform its mother’. What should he do to it [the child]?16 — He smears it with oil or puts rouge on it. But now that we are afraid of witchcraft, what [is to be done]?17 — R. Papa said: He must smear it [the child] with some of that very substance [he put on the bread].18 R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Yohai: Every commandment which the Holy One, blessed be He, gave unto Israel, He gave to them publicly, except the Sabbath which He bestowed upon them in secret, for it is said: ‘It is a sign between Me and the children, of Israel for ever’.19 If so, idolators should not be punished on its account!20 — The Sabbath He indeed made known to them [the idolator] but its reward He did not make known to them. Or you can say: Its reward too He made known to them [but] the enlarged soul,21 He did not make known to them; for R. Simeon b. Lakish said: On the eve of the Sabbath the Holy One, blessed be He, gives to man an enlarged soul and at the close of the Sabbath He withdraws it from him, for it says: He ceased from work and rested:22 once it [the Sabbath] has ceased23 woe that the [additional] soul is lost!24 A MAN MAY PREPARE A DISH ON THE EYE OF THE FESTIVAL. Abaye said: They taught this only of a dish25 but not of bread.26 Why is bread different that it is not [fit for an ‘erub]? If I were to say something used as a relish is required then what of pearl-barley which is also not a relish — for R. Zera said: These Babylonians are fools for they eat bread with bread27 — and [yet] R. Nahumi b. Zecharaiah said in the name of Abaye: One may set an ‘erub of pearl-barley broth! — Rather, we require [for an ‘erub dish] something which is not common, and bread is common, whereas pearl-barley broth is not common.28 Others teach: Abaye said: They taught this only of a dish but not of bread. What is the reason? If I were to say something which is not common is required whereas bread is common, then what of pearl-barley broth, which is also not common and [yet] R. Nahumi b. Zecharaiah said in the name of Abaye: One may not set an ‘erub with pearl-barley broth! — Rather, something used as a relish is required and bread is not used as a relish and pearl-barley broth too is not used as a relish for R. Zera said: These Babylonians are fools for they eat bread with bread. R. Hiyya taught: The lentils at the bottom of the pot29 can be relied upon as an ‘erub tabshilin, providing that they amount to as much as an olive. R. Isaac son of Rab Judah said: One may scrape off the fat which is upon the knife and rely upon it as an ‘erub tabshilin, providing that it amounts to as much as an olive. R. Assi said in the name of Rab: Small salted fish are not subject to [the interdict against] the cooking of a heathen.30 R. Joseph said: And if a heathen grilled them one may rely upon them as [or for] an ‘erub tabshilin,31 but if a heathen made them into a pie of fish-hash it is prohibited.32 This is obvious! You might think concealed (moon)’. But in respect of the Sabbath, at least, there should he no punishment, seeing that it was offered even to Israel in secret only. Malter, Ta'anit, 27a. reading apb vsct hu ‘the soul is no longer (here)’, which is nearer the Hebrew word apbhu .) can be eaten raw do not come under this prohibition even if they are cooked, been use the cooking of such things could hardly be considered a favour. These salted small fish can be eaten raw.