Responsa for Shabbat 97:14

אמר להו ר' יונתן בן אלעזר מסתברא של בעה"ב תנן אבל של אומן קפיד עלייהו אמר להו ר' חנינא בר חמא כך אמר ר' ישמעאל בר' יוסי

And why is he called the man of wings'? Because the wicked Roman government once proclaimed a decree against Israel that whoever donned tefillin should have his brains pierced through;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. infra 130a. ');">¹¹</span> yet Elisha put them on and went out into the streets. [When] a quaestor saw him, he fled before him, whereupon he gave pursuit. As he overtook him he [Elisha] removed them from his head and held them in his hand. 'What is that in your hand?' he demanded. 'The wings of a dove,' was his reply. He stretched out his hand and lo! they were the wings of a dove. Therefore he is called 'Elisha the man of the wings'. And why the wings of a dove rather than that of other birds? Because the Congregation of Israel is likened to a dove, as it is said, as the wings of a dove covered with silver:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LXVIII, 14. ');">¹²</span> just as a dove is protected by its wings, so is Israel protected by the precepts.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In Gen. R. XXXIX, 8 the point of comparison is stated thus: all birds fly with both wings, and when exhausted they rest on a crag or rock; but the dove, when tired, rests on one wing and flies with the other. So Israel, when driven from one country, finds refuge and rest in another; v. also note a.l. in Sonc. ed. ');">¹³</span> IN CARPENTERS' SAWDUST, etc. The scholars propounded: Does R. Judah refer to carpenters' sawdust or to hatchelled flax? Come and hear: R. Judah said: Fine hatchelled flax is like foliage.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which may not be used; supra 47b. ');">¹⁴</span> This proves that he refers to hatchelled flax. This proves it. <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. WE MAY STORE [FOOD] IN FRESH HIDES, AND THEY MAY BE HANDLED;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whether food was put away in them or not. They are fit for reclining upon, and therefore rank as utensils, which may be handled. ');">¹⁵</span> IN WOOL SHEARINGS, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE HANDLED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because they are mukzeh, being set aside to be woven and spun. ');">¹⁶</span> WHAT THEN IS DONE? THE LID [OF THE POT] IS LIFTED, AND THEY [THE SHEARINGS] FALL OFF OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. R. ELEAZAR B. AZARIAH SAID: THE BASKET<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Containing the pot and the shearings, ');">¹⁷</span> IS LIFTED ON ONE SIDE AND [THE FOOD] IS REMOVED, LEST ONE LIFT [THE LID OF THE POT] AND BE UNABLE TO REPLACE IT.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the pot is bodily lifted out, the shearings may all collapse, and since they must not be handled, they cannot be parted in order to replace the pot. ');">¹⁸</span> BUT THE SAGES SAY: ONE MAY TAKE AND REPLACE [IT].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is discussed in the Gemara. ');">¹⁹</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. R. Jonathan b. Akinai and R. Jonathan b. Eleazar were sitting, and R. Hanina b. Hama sat with them and it was asked: Did we learn, FRESH HIDES belonging to a private individual, but those of an artisan, since he is particular about them<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He has to sell, and is therefore particular not to spoil them. This may render them mukzeh. ');">²⁰</span> may not be handled; or perhaps, we learnt about those of an artisan, and all the more so those of a private individual? — Said R. Jonathan b. Eleazar to them: It stands to reason that we learnt about those belonging to a private individual, but as for those of an artisan, he is particular about them. Thereupon R. Hanina b. Hama observed to them: Thus did R. Ishmael b. R. Jose say:

Shut min haShamayim

Teshuvot Maharam