שבת 76:1 — Soncino English Talmud

R. Eleazar said: This does not agree with R. Simeon b. Eleazar. For it was taught: R. Simeon b. Eleazar stated a general rule: That which is not fit to put away, and such is not [generally] put away, yet it did become fit to a certain person and he did put it away; then another came and carried it out, the latter is rendered liable through the former's intention. MISHNAH. HE WHO CARRIES OUT A COW'S MOUTHFUL OF STRAW, A CAMEL'S MOUTHFUL OF PEA-STALKS ['EZAH], A LAMB'S MOUTHFUL OF EARS OF CORN, A GOAT'S MOUTHFUL OF HERBS, MOIST GARLIC OR ONION LEAVES TO THE SIZE OF A DRIED FIG, [OR] A GOAT'S MOUTHFUL OF DRY [LEAVES], [IS CULPABLE]. AND THEY DO NOT COMBINE WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ALIKE IN THEIR STANDARDS. GEMARA. What is 'EZAH? — Said Rab Judah: The stalks of certain kinds of peas. When R. Dimi came, he stated: If one carries out a cow's mouthful of straw for a camel, — R. Johanan maintained: He is culpable: R. Simeon b. Lakish said: He is not culpable. In the evening R. Johanan ruled thus, [but] in the morning he retracted. R. Joseph observed: He did well to retract, since it is not sufficient for a camel. Said Abaye to him: On the contrary, logic supports his original view, since it is sufficient for a cow. But when Rabin came, he said: If one carries out a cow's mouthful of straw for a camel, all agree that he is culpable. Where do they differ: if one carries out a cow's mouthful of pea-stalks for a cow, and the reverse was stated: R. Johanan maintained: He is not culpable; Resh Lakish maintained: He is culpable. R. Johanan maintained; He is not culpable: eating through pressing need is not designated eating. Resh Lakish maintained, He is culpable: eating through pressing need is designated eating. A LAMB'S MOUTHFUL OF EARS OF CORN. But it was taught: As much as a dried fig? — Both standards are identical. MOIST GARLIC OR ONION LEAVES TO THE SIZE OF A DRIED FIG, [OR] A GOAT'S MOUTHFUL OF DRY LEAVES. AND THEY DO NOT COMBINE WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ALIKE IN THEIR STANDARDS. R. Jose b. Hanina said: They do not combine for the more stringent, but they do combine for the more lenient [standard]. Yet can anything combine when their standards are not alike? But surely we learnt: A garment three [handbreadths] square, a sack four square, a hide five square, and [reed] matting six square [are susceptible to uncleanness as midras]. Now it was taught thereon: A garment, sacking, a hide, and matting combine with each other. And R. Simeon observed: What is the reason? Because they are liable to the uncleanness of sitting. Thus the reason is that they are liable to the uncleanness of sitting; but whatever is not liable to the uncleanness of sitting is not so? — Said Raba:^ᵃ^ᵇ^ᶜ^ᵈ^ᵉ^ᶠ^ᵍ^ʰ^ⁱ^ʲ^ᵏ^ˡ^ᵐ^ⁿ^ᵒ^ᵖ

^ᵃnote:He found a use for it.
^ᵇnote:These are the respective minima to which value is assigned, and for which a penalty is incurred. Each is the minimum which will satisfy the animal whose food it is. Moist garlic or onion leaves are fit for human consumption, hence the standard of a dried fig, which is the minimum for all human food.
^ᶜnote:To make up the minimum.
^ᵈnote:V. p. 12, n. 9.
^ᵉnote:Lit., 'fit'.
^ᶠnote:And since it is cow's fodder, that is the determining factor, notwithstanding that he carries it out for a camel.
^ᵍnote:V. p. 12, n. 9.
^ʰnote:This is not a cow's usual food, and it eats it only when nothing else is obtainable.
^ⁱnote:The commodity whose standard is greater does not combine with that whose standard is lesser to make up that lesser quantity, but the latter does combine with the former to make up the greater quantity. That which requires a lesser quantity is naturally more stringent.
^ʲnote:Even for the more lenient?
^ᵏnote:I.e., a piece of cloth.
^ˡnote:A rough material, as of goats hair.
^ᵐnote:v. p. 312, n. 9.
^ⁿnote:When joined to make up the requisite minimum, they are susceptible to midras.
^ᵒnote:I.e., the uncleanness caused by a zab's (q.v. Glos.) sitting upon them when pieced together. That is because one may employ them thus for patching up a saddle.
^ᵖnote:And having that in common, they can naturally combine.