Beitzah

[We are dealing with a case] where the soil is loose.1 But does he not make a hole?2 — This is according to R. Abba; for R. Abba said: if one digs a hole on the Sabbath and only requires its soil, he is guiltless in regard to it.3 BECAUSE THE ASHES OF THE HEARTH ARE MUKAN [CONSIDERED AS HAVING BEEN PREPARED]. Who is speaking here of the ashes of the hearth?4 Answered Rabbah: Read thus: ‘AND5 THE ASHES OF THE HEARTH ARE MUKAN’. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: They only taught this6 when it [the fire] had been kindled on the day of the Festival; but if it had been kindled on the Festival [itself] it is forbidden;7 but if [the ashes] are suitable8 to roast an egg therein, it is permitted.9 Likewise It was also taught: When they said [that] the ashes of the hearth are mukan, they only said so when it [the fire] had been kindled before the Festival; but if it had been kindled on the Festival it is forbidden; but if they are suitable to roast an egg therein it is permitted. If one had brought earth into his garden or into his waste land [before the Festival] one may cover the blood therewith.10 Rab Judah further said in the name of Rab: A man may bring a basket-full of earth [into his house] and may use it for whatever is necessary.11 Mar Zutra pointed out in the name of Mar Zutra the Great: This only holds good if he had appointed a special corner for it. 12 An objection was raised: One may not slaughter a koy13 on a Festival, and if he did slaughter it, he may not cover its blood.14 Now if this were so15 , let him cover it [the blood] in accordance with the opinion of Rab Judah?16 — But even according to your point of view, let him cover the blood with ashes of the hearth, or with earth in which a shovel was stuck?17 Therefore you must needs say that we are dealing here with a case where he has not [any of these];18 so also explain that we are dealing with a case where he has not [a basket-full of earth in the house]. If so19 then why particularly with respect to [an animal about which there is] a doubt [whether its blood requires covering]; even with respect to an animal about which there is no doubt one also may not [cover the blood by digging]?20 — He uses the expression ‘not only but also’: not only may he not slaughter [in the case of an animal about which there is no doubt],21 but even in the case of an animal about which there is a doubt, where I might have said that because of the joy of the Festival he should be allowed to slaughter without covering the blood, he informs us [that he may not slaughter]. impairing or disfiguring one is not considered guilty of a breach of the Sabbath law; and although such an act is forbidden ab initio, yet for the sake of the joy of the Festival it has been permitted. ashes may be used for baking they cannot be regarded as mukzeh and may therefore be used, when in such a state, for any other purpose. gazelle. V. also B.K., Sonc. ed. p. 443 n. 6. A doubt prevails regarding this animal whether it is in the category of cattle the blood of which need not be covered, or in the category of game the blood of which is to be covered. Cf. Lev. XVII, 13. the law not to do any work on a Festival. blood.