Commentary for Shabbat 104:20

רבי יהודה אומר עזים יוצאות צרורות ליבש אבל לא לחלב:

— He too referred to [rings] wholly of metal. He asked him further: I have heard that we distinguish between one needle and another? Perhaps you heard it only in respect to the Sabbath,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For carrying a needle with an eye in it from public or private ground or vice versa one is liable to a sin-offering but not if it has no eye. ');">¹⁹</span> for if in the matter of uncleanness, they are all alike. Now, in the matter of uncleanness, are they all alike? Surely we learnt: If the eyehole or the point of a needle is removed, it is clean! — He referred to a whole [needle]. And are all whole [needles] alike? Surely we learnt: If a needle gathers rust and it hinders the sewing, it is clean; if not, it is unclean. And the School of R. Jannai said: Providing that its mark is perceptible.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., providing it is recognizable as a needle — only then is it unclean. Others: providing that the mark of the rust is perceptible when one sews with it — that is regarded as hindering the sewing and makes it clean. ');">²⁰</span> He referred to a bright [needle]. But are all bright [needles] alike? Surely it was taught; A needle, whether containing an eyehole or not, may be handled on the Sabbath;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Like any other utensil. ');">²¹</span> while a needle with an eyehole was specified only in respect to uncleanness.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This shows that there is a distinction in connection with defilement between needle and needle also. ');">²²</span> Surely Abaye interpreted it according to Raba as referring to unfinished utensils!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., if it is unfinished and a hole is still to be punched therein, it is not liable to defilement. But if it is thus finished off without an eye, e.g., as a kind of bodkin, it is a utensil and liable to uncleanness, no distinction being drawn in connection with defilement between needle and needle. In connection with Sabbath, however, even the former may be handled, for one may decide to use it in its unfinished state, e.g., as a toothpick or for removing splinters from the flesh, and so it ranks as a utensil. ');">²³</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. AN ASS MAY GO OUT WITH ITS CUSHION IF IT IS TIED TO IT.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The cushion is to protect it from the cold. ');">²⁴</span> RAMS MAY GO OUT COUPLED [LEBUBIN]. EWES MAY GO OUT [WITH THEIR POSTERIORS] EXPOSED [SHEHUZOTH], TIED [KEBULOTH], AND COVERED [KEBUNOTH]; GOATS MAY GO OUT [WITH THEIR UDDERS] TIED UP. R. JOSE FORBIDS IN ALL THESE CASES, SAVE EWES THAT ARE COVERED. R. JUDAH SAID: GOATS MAY GO OUT [WITH THEIR UDDERS] TIED IN ORDER TO DRY UP,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To cease giving milk. ');">²⁵</span> BUT NOT TO SAVE THEIR MILK.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A pouch is sometimes loosely tied round the udder to prevent the milk from dripping; hence it may fall off and therefore R. Judah forbids it (v. 53a). But in the second case it is tied very tightly. ');">²⁶</span>

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