Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Quotation for Pesachim 51:2

אמר אביי מנא אמינא לה דתניא אמרו עליו על רבן יוחנן בן זכאי שהיה יושב בצילו של היכל ודורש כל היום כולו והא הכא דלא אפשר ומיכוין ושרי

Because it was taught: It was related of R'Johanan B'Zakkai that he was sitting in the shadow of the Temple and teaching all day.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He was lecturing on the laws of Festivals to the masses, this being within thirty days before a Festival; v. supra ');"><sup>1</sup></span> Now here it was impossible [not to lecture], and he intended [to benefit from the shade], and it is permitted?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though one must not derive any benefit from the Temple.');"><sup>2</sup></span>

Contemporary Halakhic Problems, Vol VI

The remaining factor to be considered is whether mere visual examination undertaken solely for aesthetic or recreational purposes constitutes a forbidden form of benefit. "Benefit," in the fundamental halakhic meaning of the term, connotes tangible physical benefit such as eating, drinking, anointing the skin or financial enrichment. Thus, the Gemara, Pesaḥim 26a, declares, "Sound, sight and smell do not constitute me'ilah (kol, mareh vareaḥ ein ba-hen mishum me'ilah)." "Me'ilah" refers to prohibited use of consecrated property for mundane benefit. In context, the Gemara is defining and limiting the concept of hana'ah, or benefit. Although other forms of sensual pleasure do constitute hana'ah, benefit derived by means of "sight" does not rise to the level of a prohibited "benefit." The principle is made explicit with regard to the prohibitions concerning me'ilah but, logically, it is equally applicable to all categories of issurei hana'ah.
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