Beitzah

MISHNAH. ONE MAY BRING IN FROM THE FIELD [FIRE-] WOOD THAT IS GATHERED TOGETHER,1 AND FROM A KARPIF [AN ENCLOSURE] EVEN THOUGH IT IS SCATTERED ABOUT.2 WHAT IS A KARPIF? ANY [ENCLOSURE] ADJOINING THE TOWN; THIS IS THE OPINION OF R. JUDAH. R. JOSE SAYS: ANY [ENCLOSURE] WHICH ONE ENTERS WITH A KEY,3 EVEN IF IT IS [ONLY JUST] WITHIN A SABBATH TEHUM. GEMARA. Rab Judah said in Samuel's name: You may take wood only from a collected pile in an enclosure. But we have learnt: FROM AN ENCLOSURE EVEN THOUGH IT IS SCATTERED ABOUT! — Our Mishnah represents the opinion of an individual; for it was taught: R. Simeon b. Eleazar said: Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel do not differ [both agreeing] that one may not take in [wood] that was scattered in the field, and that one may take in [wood] that was piled up in an enclosure; they differ only with respect to scattered [wood] in an enclosure and collected [wood] in a field, when Beth Shammai say: He may not take thereof, and Beth Hillel say: He may take thereof.4 Said Raba: Leaves of shrubs and leaves of the vine-shoots even though they lie in a heap are forbidden, for since if a wind rises it scatters them, they are regarded as if they are scattered. But if he laid a garment over them the previous day,5 it is well.6 WHAT IS A KARPIF etc.? The scholars asked: What does it mean? [Does it mean], ‘Any [enclosure] adjoining the town providing, however, it has a way of entering by a key; whereas R. Jose comes to teach: Since it has a way of entering by a key, even if [only just] within a Sabbath tehum, it is still [a karpif]; or this is perhaps what it means: ‘Any [enclosure] adjoining the town whether it has a way of entering by a key or not; and R. Jose comes to teach: Even if [only just] within a Sabbath tehum [it is a karpif] but only if it has a way of entering by a key; if, however, it has no way of entering by a key it is not [a karpif] even though [the enclosure] adjoins the town? — Come and hear: Since it [the Mishnah] teaches: ‘R. JOSE SAYS: ANY [ENCLOSURE] WHICH ONE ENTERS WITH A KEY, EVEN IF [ONLY JUST] WITHIN A SABBATH TEHUM’, understand therefrom that R. Jose teaches a twofold leniency.7 R. Salla said in the name of Jeremiah: The halachah is as R. Jose in the direction of leniency. MISHNAH. ONE MAY NOT CHOP UP FIREWOOD FROM BEAMS NOR FROM A BEAM WHICH WAS BROKEN ON A FESTIVAL;8 AND ONE MAY NOT CHOP EITHER WITH AN AXE OR WITH A SAW OR WITH A SICKLE BUT ONLY WITH A [BUTCHER'S] CHOPPER. GEMARA. so guarded. enclosure. of a key it is regarded as a karpif even though it is distant from the city to the extent of a tehum.