Moed Katan

. What about those ‘separated’ [under a ban], and [segregated] lepers in regard to cutting [their hair] during the festival week? — Come and hear. ‘Those "separated" [under a ban] and [segregated] lepers are forbidden to cut [their hair] and wash [their garments]. If one "separated" [under a ban] died,1 the Beth din stone his coffin; R. Judah says, not that they set up a heap of stones over him like the heap of Achan,2 but the Beth din send [commissioners]3 and have a large stone4 placed on his coffin, which teaches you that if anyone is placed under a ban and dies in his "separation", the Beth din stone his coffin’.5 A mourner is obliged to muffle his head. Since the All Merciful enjoined Ezekiel: And cover not thine upper lip,6 we infer that everybody else is obliged [to do so].7 What about one ‘separated’ [under a ban] in regard to muffling the head? — Said R. Joseph, Come and hear: ‘And they8 muffle themselves and sit as men "separated" [under a ban] and like mourners until Heaven grants them mercy’. Said Abaye: Perhaps it is different with one who is ‘separated’ [under a ban] by displeasure of Heaven9 [as it were]; for that is [more] serious [than being in disfavour with man]! What about a leper, in regard to muffling the head? — Come and hear: And he shall cover his upper lip;10 we infer from this that he is obliged to muffle his head. — Infer that. A mourner is forbidden to put on tefillin.11 Since the All Merciful ordained Ezekiel: Bind thy headtire upon thee,12 this implies that everybody else is forbidden [to do so in deep mourning]. What about one ‘separated’ [under a ban], in regard to tefillin? — It stands [adjourned]. What about a leper, in regard to [putting on] tefillin? — Come and hear: [Holy Writ prescribes], ‘And the leper’;13 this [ampli fication] is to include [even] a High Priest [in this law];14 ‘his clothes shall be perumim’,15 that is, they shall be torn. ‘And [the hair of] his head shall be parua’’.16 ‘Parua’’ means only letting the hair grow long;17 these are the words of R. Eliezer. R. Akiba explains [otherwise]: ‘Shall be’ is stated in connection with the leper's head;18 and ‘shall be’ is stated in connection with the leper's garment.19 [Therefore] just as ‘shall be’ stated in connection with the garment refers to something external to the body [clothes],20 so also ‘shall be’ stated in connection with the head refers to something external to the body.21 What then [is to be discarded]? Is it not the reference to tefillin? — Said R. Papa, [Not necessarily these], it may refer to [not putting on] a cap or sudarium.22 A mourner is forbidden to give the usual greeting [of wellbeing],23 because the All Merciful said to Ezekiel: Sigh in silence.24 What about one ‘separated’ [under a ban] in regard to [abstaining from] the usual greeting?23 — R. Joseph said, Come and hear: And in regard to greeting one another ‘with peace’, as man to man, they [that are fasting]25 behave like persons who are ‘separated’ [under a ban] by the Omnipresent.26 Said Abaye to him, Perhaps [the case of] the ‘separated’ [as under a ban] by displeasure of Heaven is different because it is [more] serious. What about a leper in regard to [abstaining from] greeting one ‘with peace’? — Come and hear: [It is written]: And he shall cover his upper lip,27 that is, his lips shall be compressed together, that he should behave like one ‘separated’ [under a ban] and like a mourner, and he is forbidden to greet one ‘with peace Infer that. Then why not solve now28 [the above question] about one ‘separated’ [under a ban]?29 — Said R. Aha b. Phineas in the name of R. Joseph: Does it [actually] state that he [the leper] is forbidden [to greet one ‘with peace’ like one ‘separated’]? It only states that he behaves like one ‘separated’ or like a mourner with reference to other things and at the same time that he is also forbidden to greet one ‘with peace’. A mourner is forbidden [to engage] in the words of the Torah, because the All Merciful said to Ezekiel: ‘Sigh in silence’.30 What about one ‘separated’ [under a ban engaging in] the words of the Torah? — Said R. Joseph, Come and hear: One ‘separated’ [under a ban] may teach [others] and others may teach him; he may be hired [for work] and others may be hired by him. One under anathema31 neither teaches others, nor do others recite it to him; he is not hired [for work] nor are others [to be] hired by him; but he recites to himself in order that he does not interrupt his study;32 and he makes a small stall for himself [as a means] for ‘his livelihood’.33 Whereat Rab34 remarked, [As for instance] selling water at the pass of Araboth.35 Infer from that.36 What about a leper [engaging] in the words of the Torah? — Come and hear: [It is written], And make them known37 unto thy children and thy children's children; the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb. [that they may learn to fear Me all the days . . . and that they may teach their children],38 that is, just as [they heard God's word] then [at Sinai] with awe, fear, trepidation and perspiration;39 [so be it now studied with awe, fear, trepidation and perspiration]. Hence sad they [the Sages], that men who are [affected] with flux,40 lepers, or such as [in error] consorted with their wife while in separation41 are allowed to read [Scripture] out of the Torah [Pentateuch], the Prophets or the Hagiographa42 or to recite [orally] Mishnah,43 Midrash,44 Gemara,45 Halachah or Aggadah;46 while those who have night pollutions are forbidden.47 You may infer it from that. A mourner is forbidden to wash his clothes, for it is written, And Joab sent to Tekoa and fetched thence a wise woman and said unto her: ‘I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner and put mourner apparel, I Pray thee and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead’.48 What about the ‘separated’ [under a ban] and the lepers washing their clothes? — Come and hear: Persons ‘separated’ [under a ban] and lepers are forbidden to cut [their hair] or wash [their clothes]. You may infer it from here. A mourner is in duty bound to rend [his garments], because the All Merciful enjoined the sons of Aaron, ‘Neither rend [your clothes]’.49 From here you infer that everyone else is bound to do it. What about one ‘separated’ [under a ban] rending his garments? It stands [adjourned]. What about the leper rending his garments? — Come and hear: ‘His clothes shall be perumim’50 which means they shall be rent. [Yes], infer it. A mourner is bound to overturn his couch, because Bar Kappara taught: ordinance of a stoning. (Lev. X, 6; and XXI, 10) and Lily in connection with Aaron and his sons; (not) to rend their garments for the dead. loose; (b) to grow freely (of hair, foliage or branches), Num. VI, 5; (c) to let go free, without restraint (Ex. XXXII, 25); (d) to uncover, loosen, disarrange (hair etc.), Num. V, 18. Cf. Onkelos on Lev. XIII, 45. question would be invidious and a happy reply even painful to the mourner who is in deep sorrow. mourners may not greet, Han. calamity such as drought, Hood, or epidemic disease etc. seems a more serious indication of divine displeasure than the sorrow of an individual. discussion on the words of the Torah is deemed as a joy. V. Ps. XIX, 9-11; CXIX, 15-16 etc. his defiance of the first reprimand’ (for seven days); the ‘separation’ (or exclusion) for another seven days (in Babylon and thirty days in Palestine), refusing to submit. The matter is dealt with fully infra 16a. best place where a man like him would find ready customers. These constitute the study of the Talmud. inclined to recognize human weakness along with the value of the study of Torah as a moral aid. Cf. Mak. 10a and 23b (Sonc. ed. pp. 62, 169ff).