Moed Katan

of another kind must be reduced.1 But it is taught: They [the authorities] introduced a rule that they should declare ownerless the [crop of the] entire field? — That is not difficult [to explain]. The former [Mishnah] states the practice before the [new] rule, while the latter [of the Baraitha] gives the practice after the [introduction] of the rule, as it is [distinctly] taught: Formerly they [the public commissioners] used to uproot [the diverse-crop], throwing it to the cattle, at which the owners were doubly pleased, for one thing that they weeded their fields for them, and again that they threw [the forbidden crop] to the cattle; thereupon they made a [new] regulation that they should pull up [the forbidden crop] and cast it on the road. And still the owners were greatly pleased, because they weeded their fields. Thereupon they instituted that they should declare ownerless the crop of the entire field.2 MISHNAH. R. ELIEZER B. JACOB SAYS: WATER MAY BE DRAWN FROM [ONE] TREE TO [ANOTHER] TREE,3 PROVIDED THE WHOLE FIELD IS NOT WATERED IN THIS WAY.4 SEEDS5 THAT HAVE NOT HAD [ANY] DRINK BEFORE THE FESTIVAL WEEK MAY NOT BE WATERED DURING THE FESTIVAL WEEK.6 THE SAGES HOWEVER ALLOW IT IN BOTH THE ONE CASE AND THE OTHER.7 GEMARA. [NOT...THE ENTIRE FIELD]. Said Rab Judah,8 If the field has a clayey9 soil he may [water it].10 It is likewise taught:11 When they said12 that it is forbidden to water them during the festival [week], they referred only to seeds that had not drunk before the festival; but seeds that had drunk before the festival may [again] be watered during the festival [week]; and if the field was a clayey soil, it is allowed [to water it]. And a bare13 field is not watered during the festival [week]; but the Sages allow it14 in the one case and in the other. Said Rabina: You may infer from here that a garden plot may be sprinkled15 in the festival week. For in the case of a bare field, why is it [permitted]?16 Because it just quickens a tardy soil; here too, it just quickens a tardy soil. Our Rabbis taught: ‘A white field may be sprinkled17 in the sabbatical year, but not during the festival [week]’. But it has been taught: It may be sprinkled either in the sabbatical year or during the festival [week]?18 — Said R. Huna, This [discrepancy] is not difficult [to explain]; the former [quotation] states the view of R. Eliezer b. Jacob19 and the latter that of the Rabbis.20 Another [Baraitha] taught: A white field may be21 sprinkled in the pre-sabbatical year so that the greens may sprout in the sabbatical year. Nay, more, a white field may be21 sprinkled in the sabbatical year, so that the greens may sprout [better] in the post-sabbatical year. MISHNAH. MOLES AND MICE MAY BE TRAPPED IN A TREE-FIELD OR WHITE FIELD IN THE USUAL WAY22 DURING THE FESTIVAL [WEEK] AND IN THE SABBATICAL YEAR: BUT THE SAGES23 SAY, IN THE TREE-FIELD IN THE USUAL WAY AND IN THE WHITE FIELD NOT IN THE USUAL WAY: AND A BREACH MAY BE BLOCKED UP DURING THE FESTIVAL [WEEK] AND IN THE SABBATICAL YEAR ONE MAY BUILD IN THE USUAL WAY. GEMARA. What is ESHUTH?24 — Said Rab Judah: [It is] a creature which has no eyes. Raba b. Ishmael, some say, R. Yemar b. Shelemia, said, What [may be the] text [for this]? — ‘Let them [the wicked] be as a snail which melteth and passeth away; like the young mole [esheth]25 which hath not seen the sun.26 Our Rabbis taught: Moles and mice may be trapped in a white field and in a tree-field in the usual way and ants’ holes may also be destroyed. How are they destroyed? Rabbah Simeon b. Gamaliel says: Earth is fetched from one hole and put into another and they27 strangle each other. R. Yemar b. Shelemia said in the name of Abaye, That is [effective] only if [the nests are] situate on two sides of the river; and that [again], if there is no bridge; and that [again], if there is not [even] a [crossing] plank; and that [again], if there is not even a rope [to cross by]. week of leisure. from tree to tree, and allow watering seeds even if they had not been watered before the festival. retentive of water and plant food’. H. J. Webb, Element, Agriculture, 1896, p. 20. chance supply of water occurs, thereby to fit the soil for its turn to be sown or planted. channels. sunshine. neither in the sabbatical year nor during the festival (week)’. V. Han. Alfasi. The reading is discussed by the Tosafist R. Shimshon (b. Abraham) of Sens in his commentary on Sheb. II, 10. earth’ even in the sabbatical year). Sheb. II, 10 q.v.