Commentary for Shabbat 292:15

אמר רב הונא

They differ in respect of medium ones: he who forbids [holds that] they look like a burden; while he who permits [holds that] they do not look like a burden. Now, this [view] of Rab was stated not explicitly but by inference. For Rab visited a certain place where he had no room.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: for his disciples. ');">²⁵</span> So he went out and sat in a <i>karmelith</i>. Linen sheets were brought him,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Tosaf: of medium quality, neither hard nor soft. ');">²⁶</span> [but] he did not sit [upon them]. He who saw this thought that it was because linen sheets are forbidden. Yet that is not so, for Rab had indeed announced [that] linen sheets are permitted, but he did not sit on them out of respect for our masters: and who are they? R. Kahana and R. Assi.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They were his disciple-colleagues (v. Sanh. 36b), and it was not fitting that he should enjoy a comfort which had not been provided for them. ');">²⁷</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. A DISH MAY BE PLACED IN A PIT FOR IT TO BE GUARDED, AND WHOLESOME WATER INTO NOISOME WATER FOR IT TO BE COOLED, OR COLD WATER IN THE SUN FOR IT TO BE HEATED. IF ONE'S GARMENTS FALL INTO WATER ON THE ROAD, HE MAY WALK IN THEM WITHOUT FEAR. WHEN HE REACHES THE OUTERMOST COURTYARD<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Within the town. ');">²⁸</span> HE MAY SPREAD THEM OUT IN THE SUN, BUT NOT IN SIGHT OF THE PEOPLE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lest they suspect him of having washed them on the Sabbath. ');">²⁹</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. [But] it is obvious?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That a dish may be placed in a pit. ');">³⁰</span> — You might say, Let us preventively forbid it on account of the levelling of depressions;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He may find depressions in the floor of the pit and level them. ');">³¹</span> hence he [the Tanna] informs us [otherwise]. AND WHOLESOME WATER, [etc.] It is obvious? — The second clause is required: OR COLD WATER IN THE SUN, [etc.]. That too is obvious? — You, might say, Let us preventively forbid it, lest he come to put it away in [hot] ashes;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which is forbidden. ');">³²</span> therefore he teaches us [otherwise]. IF ONE'S GARMENTS DROP, [etc.] Rab Judah said in Rab's name: Wherever the Sages forbade [aught] for appearance's sake, it is forbidden even in the innermost chambers.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Bez. 9a. ');">³³</span> We learnt: HE MAY SPREAD THEM OUT IN THE SUN, BUT NOT IN SIGHT OF THE PEOPLE? — it is [a controversy of] Tannaim. For it was taught: He may spread them out in the sun, but not in sight of the people; R. Eleazar and R. Simeon forbid it. R. Huna said:

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