Shabbat

Rather said R. Ashi: Three walls and one stake, that is a closed alley; three walls without a stake, that is an open alley. And even according to R. Eliezer who maintains [that] we require two stakes, that is only in respect of foodstuffs and liquids, but for a Scroll of the Law one stake is sufficient. MISHNAH. FOOD FOR THREE MEALS MAY BE SAVED, THAT WHICH IS FIT FOR MAN, FOR MAN, THAT WHICH IS FIT FOR ANIMALS, FOR ANIMALS.  HOW SO? IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT SABBATH NIGHT,  FOOD FOR THREE MEALS MAY BE SAVED; [IF] IN THE MORNING, FOOD FOR TWO MEALS MAY BE SAVED; AT [THE TIME OF] MINHAH, FOOD FOR ONE MEAL.  R. JOSE SAID: AT ALL TIMES WE MAY SAVE FOOD FOR THREE MEALS. GEMARA. Consider: He labours  in that which is permissible;  then let us save more? — Said Raba: Since a man is excited over his property, if you permit him [to save more], he may come to extinguish [the fire]. Said Abaye to him, Then as to what was taught: If one's barrel [of wine] is broken on the top of his roof he may bring a vessel and place (it] underneath, provided that he does not bring another vessel and catch (the dripping liquid]  or another vessel and join it (to the roof]  what preventive measure is required there? — Here too it is a preventive measure lest he bring a utensil through the street. [To turn to] the main text: If one's barrel is broken on the top of his roof, he may bring a vessel and place it underneath, provided that he does not bring another vessel and catch (the dripping liquid] or another vessel and join it [to the roof]. If guests happen to visit him, he may bring another vessel and catch [the dripping liquid], or another vessel and join it [to the roof]. He must not catch [the liquid] and then invite [the guests], but must first invite [them] and then catch [the liquid]; and one must not evade the law in this matter.  In R. Jose son of R. Judah's name it was said: We may evade [the law]. Shall we say that they disagree in the [same] controversy [as that] of R. Eliezer and R. Joshua? For it was taught: If an animal  and its young  fall into a pit,  R. Eliezer said: One may haul up the first in order to slaughter it, and for the second he makes provision where it lies, so that it should not die. R. Joshua said: One may haul up the first in order to kill it, but he does not kill it, then he practises an evasion and hauls up the second, and kills whichever he desires!  — How so? perhaps R. Eliezer rules thus only there, because provisions can be made, but not here, seeing that that is impossible. And perhaps R. Joshua rules thus only there because suffering of dumb animals is involved; but not here that there is no suffering of dumb animals? Our Rabbis taught: If he saved bread [made] of fine flour, he must not save coarse bread; (if he saved] coarse bread, he may [still] save a fine [flour] bread.  And one may save on the Day of Atonement for the Sabbath,  but not on the Sabbath for the Day of Atonement,  and it goes without saying (that one must not rescue food] on the Sabbath for a Festival, or on a Sabbath for the following Sabbath. Our Rabbis taught: If one forgets a loaf in an oven, and the day becomes holy upon him,  food for three meals may be saved,  and he may say to others, 'Come and save for yourselves.' And when he removes [the bread], he must not remove it with a mardeh  but with a knife.  But that is not so, for the School of R. Ishmael taught: Thou shalt not do any work:  the blowing of the shofar and the removal of bread (from the oven] are excluded as being an art, not work? — As much as is possible to vary (it]  we do so. R. Hisda said: One should always make early [preparations]  against the termination of the Sabbath, for it is said, And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare that which they bring in  — [i.e.,] immediately. R. Abba said: On the Sabbath it is one's duty to break bread  over two loaves, for it is written, twice as much bread.  R. Ashi said: I saw that R. Kahana held two [loaves] but broke bread over one, observing, 'they gathered' is written,  R. Zera broke enough bread for the whole meal.  Said Rabina to R. Ashi: But that looks like greed? — Since he does not do this every day, he replied, but only now [the Sabbath], it does not look like greed, he replied.  R. Ammi and R. Assi, when they came across the bread of an 'erub, would commence (their meal] therewith,  observing, 'Since one precept has been performed with it,  let another precept be performed with it.' HOW SO? IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT, etc. Our Rabbis taught: How many meals must one eat on the Sabbath? Three. R. Hidka said: Four. R. Johanan observed, Both expound the same verse: And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day is a Sabbath unto the Lord: to-day ye shall not find it in the field.  R. Hidka holds: These three 'to-days' are [reckoned] apart from the evening;  whereas the Rabbis hold, They include [that of] the evening. We learnt, IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT SABBATH NIGHT,