Moed Katan

take it to a graveyard and hoot into it a thousand shipur [horn-blasts] on forty days’. He went and did so. The jar burst and the domineering bully died. What is the [significance of using a] shipur’? — That he'll pay, the penalty.1 What signifies the tabra2 [tooting]? — Said R. Isaac son of R. Judah: [It suggests] ‘the tumbling of high houses’: for it is taught: Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel said that wherever the Sages set their eye against one, [the result was] either death or poverty.3 AND THE NAZIRITE OR LEPER, EMERGING FROM HIS [STATE OF] IMPURITY TO [A STATE OF] PURITY. . . R. Jeremiah enquired of R. Zera whether this [concession]4 was allowed [only] when they had not an [earlier] opportunity.4 or, maybe, even if they had an [earlier] opportunity? — He replied, We learned it [in a Baraitha]:5 All those who were mentioned [in the Mishnah]6 as being allowed to crop their hair during the festival [week, are allowed] where they had no [earlier] opportunity, but if they had an [earlier] opportunity [and did not use it] are forbidden.7 The Nazirite and the leper [however] are allowed,7 even if they had an opportunity [and did not use it]; the reason being that they should not delay bringing their [prescribed] offerings8 [on their release from their respective restrictions]. A Tanna taught: A priest and a mourner also9 are allowed to crop themselves.7 Now, as to this mourner, under what conditions [may he do so]? Shall I assume that the eighth day of his [mourning] fell on the day before the festival? Then he ought to have trimmed himself then, on the day before10 the festival! Again, if the eighth day of his [mourning] came on a Sabbath which was the day before the festival; [if so] then he should have trimmed his hair on the Friday. as R. Hisda stated, citing Rabina b. Shila, that ‘the rule in practice’ followed Abba Saul's view and that the Sages concurred with Abba Saul,11 [namely] that where the eighth day of his [mourning’] came on a Sabbath which was the day before a festival, [in such a case] he was allowed to trim himself on the Friday!12 — No, this [statement in the Baraitha] is required for the case where the seventh day of his [mourning] came on a Sabbath which was also the day before the festival. [In that case] the external Tanna takes the view of Abba Saul who says that part of a day may be deemed as an entire day; and [accordingly] the seventh day of his [mourning] is counted both with the preceding and with the following period13 and as that happens to be a Sabbath day,14 the mourner was prevented [from trimming himself on the festival eve].15 [Whereas], our Tanna16 takes the view of the Sages who say that part of a day is not deemed as an entire day, and [accordingly] the mourner has not yet completed the seven days of his mourning [before the festival].17 Now as to the priest,18 under what conditions [may he]? Shall I assume that [the turn of] his Ward19 terminated on the day before the festival?20 He should have trimmed himself then on the day before the festival! No, it is necessary to assume that [the turn of] his Ward terminated on the festival [day].21 [In that case], our Tanna16 then holds in view of what we learned: At three periods of the year, all the Wards have an equal right to [assist in placing] the ‘ordained’ parts22 of the festival offerings [on the altar] and sharing the ‘shewbread’23 — that we consider him as one whose Ward had virtually not yet completed [its turn].24 Whereas the external Tanna holds that although [in a way] he belongs to the other Wards [also], his own Ward had nevertheless [actually] completed [its turn, and therefore he may trim himself].25 Our Rabbis taught: All those who were mentioned [in the Mishnah] as being allowed to crop their hair during the festival [week] are likewise allowed to crop their hair during the days of their mourning. But surely it is taught that they are forbidden? — Said R. Hisda as citing R. Shela: When it is taught here that they ‘are allowed [to crop their hair during the days of their mourning]’, it refers only to persons who suffered one bereavement immediately after another. If it refers only [as you say] to persons who suffered one bereavement immediately after another, what is the point in wording it ‘all those who were mentioned [in the Mishnah]’ whereas [under such unfortunate circumstances] it is even applicable to anybody, as it is taught: ‘If a person suffered one bereavement immediately after another and his hair has become oppressively [long], he may ease it with a razor and wash his raiment with water’? — But that has already been explained: R. Hisda said [it means], ease it with a razor but not with scissors: wash his raiment with water but not natron or lye.26 [Furthermore] said R. Hisda: This [Baraitha] indicates that [otherwise] a mourner is barred from washing [his clothes]. Our Rabbis taught: ‘Just as it was said that cropping the hair during the festival [week] is not allowed, so is paring the nails during the festival [week] not allowed. This is R. Judah's opinion; but R. Jose allows it. And just as it was said that a mourner is not allowed to crop his hair within [the period of] his mourning, so is paring the nails not allowed to him within [the period of] his mourning. This is R. Judah's opinion; but R. Jose allows it ‘Ulla stated that the halachah follows the view of R. Judah in the case of a mourner, and that of R. Jose in regard to the festival [week]. Samuel said hair cut in the festival week. in the festival week. week. save on the Friday in honour of the Sabbath. Cf. supra 14a. said restrictions do not apply].