Beitzah

But you say [in] the first clause, ONE MAY NOT CHOP UP [WOOD] at all! — Answered Rab Judah in the name of Samuel: There is a lacuna and must be taught thus: ONE MAY NOT CHOP UP FIREWOOD FROM a layer of BEAMS1 NOR FROM A BEAM WHICH WAS BROKEN ON A FESTIVAL; but one may chop up [firewood] from a beam which was broken before the Festival; and when one chops up, ONE MAY NOT CHOP EITHER WITH AN AXE OR WITH A SAW OR WITH A SICKLE BUT ONLY WITH A [BUTCHER'S] CHOPPER. We have likewise learnt: One may not chop up firewood from a layer of beams nor from a beam which was broken on a Festival, because it was not mukan.. BUT NOT WITH AN AXE. R. Hinena b. Salmia said in Rab's name: They taught this only of its broad end; but with its narrow end2 it is permitted. This is obvious: we have learnt: [BUT ONLY] WITH A [BUTCHER'S] CHOPPER!3 — You might say: This applies to a chopper only, but as for a combined axe and chopper,4 I might say, Since this side is forbidden the other side too is forbidden, so he informs us [that it is not so]. Some teach this with respect to the latter clause: BUT ONLY WITH A [BUTCHER'S] CHOPPER. R. Hinena b. Salmia said in Rab's name: They taught this only of its narrow end, but with its broad end it is prohibited. This is obvious; we have learnt: ONE MAY NOT [CHOP] WITH AN AXE! — You might say: This applies only to an axe alone; but as for a combined chopper and axe, I might say: Since this end is permitted, the other end too is permitted,’ so he informs us [that it is not so]. MISHNAH. IF A [CLOSED] ROOM FULL OF PRODUCE WAS BURST OPEN5 [ON A FESTIVAL] HE MAY TAKE [THE PRODUCE] OUT THROUGH THE BREACH.6 R. MEIR SAYS: HE MAY MAKE A HOLE AT THE OUTSET AND BRING OUT [THE PRODUCE]. GEMARA. Why so? He is indeed pulling down a tent! — Said R. Nahumi b. Adda in the name of Samuel: It treats here of a layer of bricks.7 But it is not so, for R. Nahman said: Bricks left over from a building may be moved on Sabbath, because they are fit for sitting on;8 but if he put them in layers one upon the other, he has certainly determined them for something else! Said R. Zera: They said this9 with respect to a Festival but not with respect to Sabbath. We have likewise learnt: R. Meir says: He may make a hole at the outset and take out; they said this with respect to a Festival but not with respect to Sabbath. Samuel said: One may loosen the knots10 in the ground11 but one may not unravel nor cut12 [the rope]; [the knots in the doors] of utensils, one may loosen and unravel and cut,13 whether on a Sabbath or a Festival. They raised an objection: One may loosen the knots in the ground on the Sabbath but one may not unravel nor cut; but on a Festival one may loosen and unravel and cut! — This represents the view of R. Meir, who says: He may make a hole at the outset and bring out [the produce] but the Rabbis dispute with him, and I say this according to the Rabbis. Do then the Rabbis dispute with him with respect to knots in the ground? Surely it was taught: The Sages agree with R. Meir with respect to knots in the ground that on Sabbath one may loosen but one may not unravel nor cut, while on a Festival one may loosen and unravel and cut! were made thus, not like ours nowadays. open. in the floor.