Commentary for Yevamot 26:22

— If so, Scripture should have said, Lo thagodu;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which would have been understood to refer to the undesirable formation of sects. ');">⁶³</span> why did it say 'Lo tithgodedu'? Hence the two deductions.)<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It has thus been shewn that the formation of sects is undesirable; why then was it allowed to form separate groups to read the Scroll of Esther on different dates? ');">⁶⁴</span> — The former answered: Have you not yet learned,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or 'You should have replied' (Rashi). ');">⁶⁵</span> 'Wherever it is customary to do manual labour on the Passover Eve until midday it may be done; wherever it is customary not to do any work it may not be done'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shews that, despite the undesirability of forming separate groups, different customs are allowed. ');">⁶⁶</span> The first said to him: I am speaking to you of a prohibition, for R. Shaman b. Abba said in the name of R. Johanan: 'Scripture having said, To confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Esth. IX, 31, emphasis on 'appointed times', [H]. ');">⁶⁷</span> the Sages have ordained for them different times,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., a group who were ordained to read the Scroll on a particular date must not read it on any other date. ');">⁶⁸</span> and you speak to me of a custom!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Manual labour on the Passover Eve is universally permitted, and its prohibition in certain places is not a matter of law but merely a question of custom. ');">⁶⁹</span> But is there no prohibition there?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of work on the Passover Eve. (Both the day and the night preceding the Passover are designated [H] Passover Eve). ');">⁷⁰</span> Surely we learned, 'Beth Shammai prohibit work during the night<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Preceding the first Passover night. ');">⁷¹</span> and Beth Hillel permit it'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shews, since some would be acting in accordance with the ruling of Beth Shammai while others would follow Beth Hillel, that even in the case of a prohibition the formation of sects is allowed. ');">⁷²</span> — The other said to him: In that case,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'there', where some people do no work though permitted. ');">⁷³</span> anyone seeing [a man abstaining from work] would suppose him to be out of work.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The question of sects does not arise in such a case. ');">⁷⁴</span> But do not BETH SHAMMAI PERMIT THE RIVALS TO THE OTHER BROTHERS AND BETH HILLEL FORBID THEM!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A dispute which creates faction, some following the ruling of the one authority and others that of the other. ');">⁷⁵</span>

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