Beitzah

BUT [ONE MAY] NOT [START USING WOOD] FROM A PENT-HOUSE.1 GEMARA. A Tanna taught: If it is impossible [to carry it] in an unusual way,2 it is permitted [to carry in a basket or hamper]. Raba enacted in Mehuza: Whatever [load] one [usually] carries with a great effort,3 must be carried [on a Festival] on a carrying pole;4 whatever is [usually] carried on a carrying-pole is to be carried [on a Festival] by a yoke;4 whatever is [usually] carried by a yoke, is to be carried [on a Festival] by a hand-barrow;4 whatever is [usually] carried by a hand-barrow [on a Festival] a cloth is to be spread over it;5 but if it is impossible [to vary the usual procedure] it is permitted, for a Master said: If it is impossible [to carry it] in an unusual way it is permitted. R. Hanan b. Raba6 said to R. Ashi: Did the Rabbis say that on a Festival [every work] as far as possible should be done in an unusual way? But these [our] women fill their pitchers with water on a Festival without any alteration and we do not say anything to them! He replied to him: Because it is impossible [in any other way]. [For] how should it be done? If [a woman], who usually draws water in a large pitcher, should have to draw in a small pitcher, then she would have to do more walking!7 If [a woman], who [usually] draws in a small pitcher, should have to draw in a large pitcher, then you would increase her burden! Should she cover the vessel with a [wooden] lid, it might fall off and she will have to carry it!8 Should she bind it fast, it might become unfastened and she would be caused to tie it up again!9 Should she spread a cloth over it,10 it might become soaked in water and she be led to wring it out!11 Therefore, it is impossible [otherwise]. Raba son of R. Hanin said to Abaye: We have learnt: You may not clap the hands or slap the thighs or dance;12 and yet we indeed see that [people] do this and we do not take them to task! — He replied to him: And according to your opinion, that which Rabbah said: A man may not sit down at the entrance of the lehi13 lest an object should roll away and he come to carry it [four cubits in a public thoroughfare];14 yet there are these women who take their waterugs and go and sit at the entrance of an alley and we do not say anything to them! But let Israel [go their way]: it is better that they should err in ignorance than presumptuously;15 here also [I say], Let Israel go their way: it is better that they should err in ignorance than presumptuously. This, however, applies only to a Rabbinical [prohibition] but not to a Biblical [prohibition]. But it is not so; whether it [the prohibition] is Biblical or Rabbinical we do not tell them anything; for the additional time to the Day of Atonement is a Biblical injunction,16 yet people eat and drink until dusk and we do not say anything to them. AND ONE MAY START [USING] A HEAP OF STRAW. Said R. Kahana: This proves that one may start using [wood] for the first time from a store [on a Festival]. With whom does that agree? With R. Simeon who does not hold [the law of] mukzeh. Then consider the last clause: BUT [ONE MAY] NOT [START USING STORED] WOOD FROM A PENT-HOUSE; this is in accordance with R. Judah who holds [the prohibition of] mukzeh. — We treat here of cedar and cypress wood which are mukzeh on account of monetary loss,17 where even R. Simeon agrees. Some recite this in reference to the last clause [thus]: BUT NOT FROM WOOD FROM A PENT-HOUSE. Said R. Kahana: This proves that one may not start using [wood] for the first time from a store [on a Festival]. With whom does that agree? With R. Judah who holds the prohibition of mukzeh. Then consider the first clause: ONE MAY START [USING] A HEAP OF STRAW; this is in in accordance with R. Simeon who does not hold mukzeh! — There it speaks of rotted straw.18 Rotted straw is indeed capable of being used for clay!19 — When there are thorns in it.20 hence it is mukzeh. the public thoroughfare is of course forbidden. addition is required by Scriptural law.