Beitzah

but say rather, provided that he does not make it [the beehive] a trap.1 [But] this is obvious! — You might say [that] catching is forbidden only in respect of a kind of creature which one usually catches, but with respect to the sort which one does not usually catch,2 it is permitted; so he informs us [that it is not so]. R. Ashi says:3 Does he then teach ‘in summer and in winter’? He teaches ‘in sunny weather on account of the sun and in rainy weather on account of the rain’, [i.e.,] in the days of Nisan and in the days of Tishri4 when there is both sun and rain as well as honey present. ON SABBATH ONE MAY PLACE A VESSEL BENEATH THE DROPS OF RAIN. It was taught: If the vessel became full, he may keep on pouring it out as it fills and put it back again without restraint. In the mill-room of Abaye rain trickled through.5 He came before Rabbah who said to him: Go, bring in your bed there, so that it [the mill] may be regarded by you like a commode6 and [so] take it out. Abaye sat and put himself the question: May then one make of anything a commode at the outset?7 In the meantime Abaye's mill fell to pieces. He said: I well deserve it, for I have transgressed the words of my Master.8 Samuel said. The commode and the chamber-pot may be taken out to the dung-heap [for emptying], and when he brings them back, he is to pour water therein and [then] take them back.9 From this they [the disciples] concluded that one may carry out [the contents of] the commode by means of the vessel but not the ordure itself;10 [but] come and hear [to the contrary]: Once a mouse was found in a scent-box belonging to R. Ashi. R. Ashi said to them: Take it by the tail and bring it out.11 MISHNAH. EVERY [ACT] THAT IS CULPABLE12 ON A SABBATH AS A SHEBUTH,13 [OR] AN OPTIONAL ACT [RESHUTH], [OR] A RELIGIOUS ACT,14 IS ALSO CULPABLE ON A FESTIVAL. THE FOLLOWING ACTS ARE CULPABLE AS A SHEBUTH: ONE MAY NOT CLIMB A TREE, NOR RIDE A BEAST, NOR SWIM IN WATER, NOR CLAP THE HANDS, NOR SLAP [THE THIGHS], NOR DANCE. THE FOLLOWING ARE CULPABLE AS OPTIONAL SECULAR ACTS: ONE MAY NOT JUDGE,15 NOR BETROTH A WIFE, NOR PERFORM HALIZAH,16 NOR PERFORM YIBBUM [CONSUMATE A LEVIRATE MARRIAGE].17 THE FOLLOWING ARE CULPABLE AS RELIGIOUS ACTS: ONE MAY NOT DEDICATE [ANYTHING TO THE TEMPLE], NOR VOW A PERSONAL VALUATION,18 NOR MAKE A VOW OF HEREM,19 NOR SET ASIDE TERUMAH OR TITHES. ALL THESE THINGS THEY [THE RABBIS] PRESCRIBED [AS CULPABLE] ON A FESTIVAL, HOW MUCH MORE [ARE THEY CULPABLE] ON SABBATH. THE FESTIVAl, DIFFERS FROM THE SABBATH ONLY IN RESPECT OF THE PREPARATION OF FOOD ALONE. GEMARA. ONE MAY NOT CLIMB A TREE; it is a preventive measure lest he pluck [fruit]. NOR RIDE A BEAST; it is a Preventive measure lest he might go without the tehum.20 Then this proves that the law of tehum is Biblical?21 — Rather say, it is a preventive measure lest he cut off a switch.22 NOR SWIM IN WATER; it is a preventive measure lest he might make a swimming bladder. NOR CLAP THE HANDS, NOR SLAP THE THIGHS, NOR DANCE; it is a preventive measure lest he might repair musical instruments. THE FOLLOWING ARE CULPABLE AS OPTIONAL SECULAR ACTS: ONE MAY NOT JUDGE: But is he not discharging a religious act?23 — This holds good only where a more capable person is available.24 NOR BETROTH A WIFE. Is he not discharging a religious obligation?25 — It treats of one there is no honey! September respectively. were itself removed. (V. Shab. 73a) or their derivatives, was nevertheless forbidden either because it might lead to one of these or because it did not harmonize with the general spirit of the Sabbath. nevertheless forbidden on the Sabbath. one. But actually there is a controversy whether the law of tehum is Biblical or only Rabbinical, v. ‘Er. 35. obligation.