Beitzah

in Sura they say,1 ‘[Give me] a tirta2 or half a tirta’; in Naresh3 they say, ‘[Give me] a helka2 or half a helka; in Pumbeditha they say, ‘[Give me] an uzya2 or half an uzya’; in Nehar Pekod4 and in Matha Mehasia5 they say, [‘Give me] a rib'a2 or half a rib'a. MISHNAH. A MAN MAY SAY [ON A FESTIVAL] TO HIS NEIGHBOUR, ‘FILL ME THIS VESSEL’, BUT NOT IN A MEASURE. R. JUDAH SAYS: IF IT WAS A MEASURING-VESSEL HE MAY NOT FILL IT. IT IS RELATED OF ABBA SAUL B. BATNITH THAT HE USED TO FILL UP HIS MEASURES ON THE EVE OF A FESTIVAL AND GIVE THEM TO HIS CUSTOMERS ON THE FESTIVAL. ABBA SAUL SAYS: HE USED TO DO SO DURING THE INTERMEDIARY DAYS OF A FESTIVAL6 TOO, ON ACCOUNT OF THE CLEARNESS OF MEASURE;7 BUT THE SAGES SAY: HE USED ALSO TO DO SO8 ON AN ORDINARY DAY FOR THE SAKE OF THE DRAINING OF THE MEASURES.9 GEMARA. What means BUT NOT IN A MEASURE? — Said Rab Judah in Samuel's name, But not in a vessel set aside as a measure; but one may fill a vessel held in reserve10 for measuring.11 Whereupon R. Judah said: One may not fill even a vessel held in reserve as a measure. This proves that where the joy of the Festival is concerned R. Judah is stringent and the Rabbis are lenient; but we know of them to the contrary! For we have learnt: R. Judah says: A man may weigh meat [on a Festival] against a utensil or a butcher's chopper, but the Sages say: One may not look on the pair of scales at all;12 which proves [that] R. Judah is lenient and the Rabbis are stringent! [Hence] there is a contradiction [in the rulings] of R. Judah and a contradiction [in the rulings] of the Rabbis! — R. Judah is not self-contradictory, [for] there13 [it treats of a vessel] not held in reserve as a measure,14 whereas here [it treats of a vessel] which is held in reserve as a measure. The Rabbis too are not self-contradictory, [for] there13 he acts as one acts on an ordinary day,15 [but] here he does not act as one acts on an ordinary day.16 Raba says: What means BUT NOT IN A MEASURE? [It is] that he may not mention to him the name of the measure;17 but one may fill a vessel appointed as a measure. Whereupon R. Judah said: One may not fill a vessel appointed as a measure. This proves that where the joy of the Festival is concerned R. Judah is stringent and the Rabbis are lenient, but we know of them to the contrary! For we have learnt: R. Judah says: A man may weigh meat [on a Festival] against a utensil or a butcher's chopper, but the Sages say: You may not look on the pair of scales at all, which [proves that] R. Judah is lenient and the Rabbis are stringent! [Hence] there is a contradiction [in the rulings] of R. Judah and a contradiction [in the rulings] of the Rabbis! — R. Judah is not self-contradictory, [for] there it is not appointed as a measure, [but] here it is appointed as a measure. The Rabbis too are not self-contradictory, [for] there he acts as one acts on an ordinary day, [but] here he does not act as one acts on an ordinary day; for People are accustomed to pass wine in a measuring-vessel and drink [therefrom].18 IT IS RELATED OF ABBA SAUL B. BATNITH. A Tanna taught: He also used to act thus during [the Intermediary Days of] a Festival on account of disturbing [study] in the Academy.19 Our Rabbis taught: He collected three hundred jugs of wine from the foam of the measures,20 and his associates collected three hundred jugs of oil from the drops of the measures,21 and they brought them to the treasurers [of the Temple] in Jerusalem,22 who said to them: There is no need for you to [do] this.23 They replied to them: We too will have none of it. They said to them: Since you act so stringently with yourselves then apply it to public purposes; for it was taught: If one robbed and he does not know whom he robbed,24 he must apply it to public purposes. What are such? — Said R. Hisda: Wells, ditches and grottos.25 R. Hisda took Rabana Ukba about and lectured:26 A man may not measure barley on a Festival and give it to his animal, but he may scoop up [with his hand] a kab-full or two kabs-full and give it to his animal without fear.27 And the baker may measure spices and put them in his pot so as not to spoil the dish.28 R. Jeremiah b. Abba said in Rab's name: A woman may measure flour on a Festival and make it up into dough in order that she may separate hallah29 generously, but Samuel says: It is forbidden. But the School of Samuel taught:30 It is permitted! — Said Abaye: Now that Samuel says: It is forbidden, and the School of Samuel taught: It is permitted, different names in different places. 307. Obermeyer, pp. 273, 275. vessel. [Var. lec. omit: ON ACCOUNT...MEASURE, v. Rashi.] drop should be left behind in the measuring-vessel. capacity of a certain measure but not intended to be used for measuring, v. D.S.] 1): For the vessel is not intended for measuring.] might be taken as supplementing the reason stated in the Mishnah: He filled them during the night so that he should not have to wait for the froth to settle and be free to lecture, v. Rashi and supra p. 148, n. 10.] jugs full.