Moed Katan 23

Chapter 23

א אמר שמואל מקבלי קיבולת בתוך התחום אסור חוץ לתחום מותר
1 Samuel said: '[If non-Jews] take work on contract they may not [work for a Jew]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' People might say that they were given the work on the Sabbath.');"><sup>1</sup></span> within the [limits of the Sabbath] boundary;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On a Sabbath or Festival (Rash) . V. however, Asheri.');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ב אמר רב פפא ואפי' חוץ לתחום לא אמרן אלא דליכא מתא דמקרבא להתם אבל איכא מתא דמקרבא להתם אסור
2 but outside the boundary they may'. Said R'Papa, Even outside the boundary we do not say [they may] save where there is no town in the Vicinity; but where there is a town near by, it is forbidden.
ג אמר רב משרשיא וכי ליכא מתא דמקרבא להתם נמי לא אמרן אלא בשבתות ובימים טובים דלא שכיחי אינשי דאזלי להתם אבל בחוש"מ דשכיחי אינשי דאזלי ואתו להתם אסור
3 Said R'Mesharshaya: And even if there be not a town close by we [still] do not say [they may carry on the work] save on Sabbaths and festivals when there are not frequent [Jewish] passers-by, but during the festival week when people are often passing to and from the place it is forbidden. Mar Zutra son of R'Nahman had a mansion erected for himself by [non Jewish] contractor [builders] outside the boundary.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On a Sabbath or a Festival.');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ד מר זוטרא בריה דרב נחמן בנו ליה אפדנא מקבלי קיבולת חוץ לתחום איקלע רב ספרא ורב הונא בר חיננא ולא עלו לגביה ואיכא דאמרי הוא נמי לא על בגוויה
4 R'Safra and R'Huna B'Hinena happened to come thither and did not enter his house; and some report that he [R'Nahman] himself did not enter the building. But did not Samuel say that con tractors may not carry on their work within the boundary, but outside the boundary they may? - [The case of] a prominent man is different.
ה והאמר שמואל מקבלי קיבולת בתוך התחום אסור חוץ לתחום מותר אדם חשוב שאני ואיכא דאמרי סיועי סייע בתיבנא בהדייהו
5 Some say [his servant]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Han. and other texts.');"><sup>4</sup></span> had assisted then with straw.
ו רב חמא שרא להו לאבונגרי דבי ריש גלותא למיעבד להו עבידתא בחולא דמועדא אמר כיון דאגר לא קא שקלי שרשויי הוא דקא משרשו ליה ולית לן בה
6 R'Hama allowed the Exilarch's table-stewards to do their work<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He allowed these non-Jewish servants to mend or improvise extra tables for the guests of the Exilarch. R. Hama is mentioned with Mar zutra in B.B. 7a.');"><sup>5</sup></span> during the festival week; he said that as they received no remuneration they only intend to benefit him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By working for the Exilarch during the festival week.');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ז תנו רבנן מקבלין קיבולת במועד לעשותה לאחר המועד ובמועד אסור כללו של דבר כל שהוא עושה אומר לנכרי ועושה וכל שאינו עושה אינו אומר לנכרי ועושה תניא אידך מקבלין קיבולת במועד לעשותה לאחר המועד ובלבד שלא ימדוד ושלא ישקול ושלא ימנה כדרך שהוא עושה בחול
7 which concerns us nought. Our Rabbis taught: Contracts may be made during the festival [week for work] to be executed after the festival [week]; but [to do it] during the festival [week] is forbidden.
ח ת"ר אין מרביעין בהמה בחולו של מועד כיוצא בו אין מרביעין בבכור ולא בפסולי המוקדשין
8 The general principle on this point is that whatever one may do himself he may tell a non-Jew to do; and what he himself may not do, he may not tell a non-Jew to do. Another [Baraitha] taught: Contracts may be made during the festival [week] to be executed after the festival [week], only that one should not measure, weigh or count [quantities] after the manner in which this is done on an ordinary day.
ט תניא אידך אין מרביעין בהמה בחולו של מועד ר' יהודה אומר חמורה שתבעה מרביעין עליה זכר בשביל שלא תצטנן ושאר כל הבהמות מכניסין אותן לבקרות
9 Our Rabbis taught: One may not bring a sire to mate during the festival week. Similarly, a 'first-born, sire should not<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At any time. Cf Tosef. M.K. II.');"><sup>7</sup></span>
י ת"ר אין מדיירין לא בשבתות ולא בימים טובים ולא בחולו של מועד ואם באו מאליהן מותר
10 be [used to] mate,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Firstborn' males of 'clean' animals are from birth dedicated to the altar and as such claimed by the priest (v. Num. XVIII, 15, 17) . These may not be worked, nor shorn for fleece, nor milked (v. Deut. XV, 19-20) . Cf. Mak. 22a, (Sonc. ed. p. 155) and Bek. 15a.');"><sup>8</sup></span> nor a votive beast that has become disqualified.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Having become blemished, it is unfit for the altar and may be redeemed for ordinary slaughter but not for any other use. V. Bek. 15b.');"><sup>9</sup></span>
יא ואין מסייעין אותן ואין מוסרין להם שומר לנער את צאנם היה שכיר שבת שכיר חדש שכיר שנה שכיר שבוע מסייעין אותן ומוסרין להם שומר לנער את צאנם ר' אומר בשבת בטובה ביו"ט במזונות במועד בשכר אמר רב יוסף הלכתא כרבי:
11 Another [Baraitha] taught: They may not bring a sire to mate during the festival week. R'Judah says, Where an ass is hankering [for the male] they may bring her the jackass to mate lest she become chilled.
יב <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> וכן מי שהיה יינו בתוך הבור ואירעו אבל או אונס או שהטעוהו זולף וגומר וגף כדרכו דברי ר' יוסי ר' יהודה אומר עושה לו לימודים בשביל שלא יחמיץ:
12 All other beasts are [merely] brought into the stalls.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To mate without assistance.');"><sup>10</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: Sheep may not be turned out to graze in a hurdled enclosure<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To manure the field.');"><sup>11</sup></span>
יג <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> וצריכא דאי אשמעינן קמייתא בההיא קאמר ר' יוסי משום דמישחא נפיש פסידיה אבל חמרא דלא נפיש פסידיה אימא מודי ליה לרבי יהודה ואי אשמעינן בתרייתא בההיא קאמר רבי יהודה אבל בהך אימא מודה לר' יוסי צריכא
13 on Sabbaths, festivals, or in the festival week, but if they come [and do it] of their own accord,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., if the non.jewish herdsmen drive the cattle into the field without any Instruction or request from the owner of the field. rgb');"><sup>12</sup></span> it is allowed; and they may not be assisted [to it].
יד אמר רב יצחק בר אבא מאן תנא שינוי במועד בדבר האבד דלא כר' יוסי אמר רב יוסף הלכה כר' יוסי
14 Nor may a watchman be assigned [to the shepherds] to move the sheep about.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., to use means whereby to expedite the discharge of excrements of the flock on the spot to be manured. V. Jast. s.v. , II.');"><sup>13</sup></span> If [the herdsman was] engaged by the week, month, year or septennate, assistance may be given to these<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As these non-jewish herdsmen carry out their own work according to undertaking.');"><sup>14</sup></span>
טו בעו מיניה מרב נחמן בר יצחק מהו למישע חביתא דשיכרא בחולא דמועדא אמר להו סיני אמר הלכה כר' יוסי אימור דאמר רבי יוסי בחמרא בשיכרא מי אמר
15 and a watch may be assigned to them to move the sheep about. Rabbi<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' J. Sheb. III, 3 reads here Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel, besides other variations. Also cf. Tosef. Sheb. end of Chapter li and Tosef. Shab. XVIII, 16.');"><sup>15</sup></span>
טז חמרא טעמא מאי משום דנפיש פסידיה שיכרא נמי אית בה פסידא דאמר אביי אמרה לי אם בר שית סאוי ושייע מבר תמני ולא שייע
16 says, [This may be done] on the Sabbath by way of favour, on the festival for meals and during thee festival [week] for payment. R'Joseph stated that the law is according to Rabbi.
יז אמר רב חמא בר גוריא אמר רב הלכות מועד כהלכות כותים בהלכה למאי הלכתא אמר רב דניאל בר קטינא (אמר רב) לומר שהן עקורות ואין למידות זו מזו
17 <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>LIKEWISE IF ONE HAD HIS WINE [ALREADY] RUN INTO THE CISTERN THEN MOURNING BEFELL HIM, OR [SOME OTHER] HINDRANCE, OR WORKMEN DISAPPOINTED HIM, HE MAY DRAW OFF [THE WINE], COMPLETE THE PROCESS AND BUNG [THE CASKS] IN HIS USUAL WAY: THESE ARE THE WORDS OF R'JOSE; R'JUDAH SAYS, HE [MERELY] COVERS [THE CISTERN] WITH SHINGLES TO PREVENT IT TURNING SOUR'<big><b>GEMARA:</b></big> [LIKEWISE IF ONE HAD etc.] And this [wine clause] is necessary.
יח דאמר שמואל זופתין כוזתא ואין זופתין חביתא רב דימי מנהרדעא אמר זופתין חביתא ואין זופתין כוזתא מר חייש לפסידא ומר חייש לטירחא
18 Because, if [the Tanna] had told us the first [clause alone], we might have argued that only in that case did R'Jose say [he may complete the process] as the loss on oil is considerable, whereas in the case of wine, where the loss is not much, one might presume that he concurred with the [stricter] view of R'Judah. And if [the Tanna] had told us the latter [clause alone], we might have argued that only in this case [of wine] did R'Judah say [he may not do more], whereas in that [former case of oil], one might presume that he concurred with thee more [lenient] view of R'Jose: [therefore] it was necessary [to enunciate both clauses].
יט אמר אביי נקטינן הלכות מועד כהלכות שבת
19 Said R'Isaac B'Abba,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is Isaac b. Abdimi on 11b.');"><sup>16</sup></span> Who is the Tanna who requires that work [if done] should be done with a difference during the festival [week] where loss is threatened? It is not R'Jose.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since R. Jose holds that he can complete the process in the usual way.');"><sup>17</sup></span> R'Joseph said, The halachah is according to R'Jose. Some [scholars] asked of R'Nahman B'Isaac: Is it permitted to coat a mead-cask [with resin]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or pitch, to make it air-tight. V. A.Z. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> in the festival week? - Said he to them: Sinai<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A complimentary appellation of R. Joseph as an eminent authority on the body of Baraitha-comments (on the Mishnah) , in contrast to Rabbah b. Nahmani, his great contemporary and predecessor as Principal of the Academy at Pumbeditha, who was called 'Uprooter of Mountains', a title descriptive of his method of acute analysis. V. Ber. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> stated that the halachah is according to R'Jose. Supposing that R'Jose said [one may] in the case of wine, [does it follow] that he said [that one may] also in the case of mead? - [Indeed,] for what is the reason [that he allows] in the case of wine? [It is] because the loss on it is considerable; it is also considerable In the case of mead, as Abaye said, Mater<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye was a posthumous child and his mother died in childbirth. He was brought up by a foster mother whose instructive sayings he frequently quotes as here. V. Kid. 31b.');"><sup>20</sup></span> told me: 'Better a coated cask of Six se'ahs than an uncoated cask of eight se'ahs'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A se'ah is about two and a third gallons.');"><sup>21</sup></span> R'Hama B'Guria citing Rab said: The halachoth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Traditional rules of practice.');"><sup>22</sup></span> appertaining to the festival [week] are like the halachoth regulating the dealings with Kuthites.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Samaritans who, when friendly, were treated as observant Jews, and when hostile and making common cause with the heathens in persecuting Jews and jeering at their religious practices, were treated as heathens. The attitude towards them, therefore, varied from time to time, according to circumstances. ,usueg');"><sup>23</sup></span> What is the legal import [of this dictum]? - Said R'Daniel son of R'Ketina, It is to say that they are 'sterile'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Some texts have 'tethered', i.e., inapplicable as 'rules in practice' owing to their frequent variability.');"><sup>24</sup></span> [regulations] and communicate nought<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Serving no purpose as definite instances from which to argue any definite principle.');"><sup>25</sup></span> to each other, as [for instance] Samuel said that they [may] coat a jug with pitch but may not coat a cask; while R'Dimi of Nehardea said that they [may] coat a cask with pitch but they may not coat a jug; one master being solicitous to avert loss,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There is more loss involved in neglecting a cask than a jug, which is much smaller.');"><sup>26</sup></span> the other master being solicitous to avoid exertion<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The exertion entailed in coating a cask is greater than with a jug.');"><sup>27</sup></span> [during the festival week]. Said Abaye, We have it as tradition<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye often uses that expression.');"><sup>28</sup></span> that the halachoth appertaining to the festival [week] are like the halachoth appertaining to the Sabbath:
Previous ChapterNext Chapter