Shabbat

R. Jose said: A horse defiles through its forefeet, an ass through its hindfeet, because a horse rests its weight  on its forefeet, while an ass rests its upon its hindfeet.  But why so, seeing that they [the feet] help each other [to bear the animal's weight]? Hence it must surely be because we say, helping is no concrete [act]. R. Ashi said, We too learnt this: R. Eliezer said: If one foot is on the utensil and the other on the pavement, one foot on the stone and the other on the pavement, we consider: wherever if the utensil or the stone be removed, he can stand on the other foot, his service is valid; if not, his service is invalid.  Yet why so, seeing that they [the feet] help each other? Hence it must surely be because we say, helping is no concrete [act]. Rabina said, We too learnt this: If he [the priest] catches [the blood] with his right hand, while his left helps him,  his service is valid. But why so, Seeing that they [the hands] help each other? But it must surely be because we say, helping is no concrete [act]. This proves it. The Master said: 'If each alone is able: R. Meir holds [them] culpable.' The scholars asked: Is the standard quantity required for each, or perhaps one standard [is sufficient] for all?  R. Hisda and R. Hamnuna [differ therein]: one maintains, The standard [is required] for each; while the other rules: One standard [is sufficient] for all. R. Papa observed in Raba's name, We too learnt thus: If he [a zab] is sitting on a bed and four cloths are under the feet of the bed, they are unclean, because it cannot stand on three.  But why so: let the standard of gonorrhoea be necessary for each?  Hence it must surely be because we say, One standard [suffices] for all. R. Nahman b. Isaac said, We too learnt thus: If a deer enters a house and one person locks [it] before him,  he is culpable; if two lock it, they are exempt.  If one could not lock it, and both lock it, they are culpable. But why so? let the standard of trapping be necessary for each?  Hence it must surely be because we say, One standard [suffices] for all. Rabina said, We too learnt thus: If partners steal [an ox or a sheep] and slaughter it, they are liable.  But why so? let the standard of slaughtering be necessary for each? Hence it must surely be because we say, One standard [suffices] for all. And R. Ashi [also] said, We too learnt thus: If two carry out a weaver's cane [quill], they are culpable. But why so? let the standard of carrying out be necessary for each? Hence it must surely be because we say, One standard [suffices] for all. Said R. Aha son of Raba to R. Ashi: Perhaps that is where it contains sufficient [fuel] to boil a light egg for each? — If so, he [the Tanna] should inform us about a cane in general?  why particularly a weaver's?  Yet perhaps it is large enough for each to weave a cloth therewith?  Hence nothing can be inferred from this. A tanna  recited before R. Nahman: If two carry out a weaver's cane, they are not culpable; but R. Simeon declares them culpable. Whither does this tend!  — Rather say, They are culpable, while R. Simeon exempts [them]. MISHNAH. IF ONE CARRIES OUT LESS THAN THE STANDARD QUANTITY OF FOOD IN A UTENSIL, HE IS NOT CULPABLE EVEN IN RESPECT OF THE UTENSIL, BECAUSE THE UTENSIL IS SUBSIDIARY THERETO. [IF ONE CARRIES OUT] A LIVING PERSON IN A BED, HE IS NOT CULPABLE EVEN IN RESPECT OF THE BED, BECAUSE THE BED IS SUBSIDIARY TO HIM;  A CORPSE IN A BED, HE IS CULPABLE. AND LIKEWISE [IF ONE CARRIES OUT] THE SIZE OF AN OLIVE OF A CORPSE, THE SIZE OF AN OLIVE OF A NEBELAH, OR THE SIZE OF A LENTIL OF A [DEAD] CREEPING THING [SHEREZ], HE IS CULPABLE.  BUT R. SIMEON DECLARES HIM EXEMPT. GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: If one carries out foodstuffs of the standard quantity, if in a utensil, he is liable in respect of the foodstuffs and exempt in respect of the utensil! but if he needs the utensil, he is liable in respect of the utensil too.  Then this proves that if one eats two olive-sized pieces of heleb in one state of unawareness, he is liable to two [sacrifices]?  Said R. Shesheth: What are we discussing here? E.g.,