Moed Katan 24

Chapter 24

א יש מהן פטור אבל אסור ויש מהן מותר לכתחלה
1 some acts involve no penalty, though forbidden,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. rules of Ulpian: 'An in imperfect law is one which forbids something to be done, and yet if it be done, neither rescinds it nor imposes a penalty on him who has acted contrary to the Law'. I, l.');"><sup>1</sup></span> while other acts are allowed ab initio. R'Huna had his harvest reaped during the festival [week], whereupon Rabbah put an objection to R'Huna [from the following]: They may mill flour during the festival [week] for the requirements of the festival; what is not required for the festival is forbidden.
ב רב הונא חצדו ליה חצדא במועדא איתיביה רבה בר רב הונא לרב הונא טוחנין קמח במועד לצורך המועד ושלא לצורך המועד אסור דבר שאבוד במועד מותר לעשותו במועד דבר שאינו אבוד במועד אסור
2 A thing that is perishable in the festival [week] permitted to be done; a thing that is not perishable in the festival [week] is forbidden. When does this [rule] obtain?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That which is perishable may be attended to in the festival week.');"><sup>2</sup></span> In the case of something that is [already] severed from the soil, but where [the crop is still] attach to the soil, even if all of it perish it is forbidden; but if he have not food to eat, he may reap, gather into sheaves, thresh, winnow, clean and mill,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., one may do anything and everything that is necessary.');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ג במה דברים אמורים בתלושין מן הקרקע אבל מחובר לקרקע אפי' כולו אבוד אסור ואם אין לו מה יאכל קוצר ומעמר ודש וזורה ובורר וטוחן ובלבד שלא ידוש בפרות
3 only that he shall not thresh with cows?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he must introduce some variation. This Baraitha forbidding to reap except in the case where he has no food to eat, refutes R. Huna who, it is assumed, was not short of ready food.');"><sup>4</sup></span> - He replied: That [Baraitha] is but an individual<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Jose's view which is given in the citation that follows and which is, however, not generally accepted.');"><sup>5</sup></span> opinion, and is not generally accepted by us, as it has been taught: Rabban Simeon B'Gamaliel stated a general rule in the name of R'Jose, Whatever is [already] severed from the soil, even though only part of it might perish, yet may it be worked; while that which is [still] attached to the soil even though it might all perish, is forbidden.
ד אמר ליה יחידאה היא ולא סבירא לן כוותיה דתניא כלל אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל משום ר' יוסי דבר התלוש מן הקרקע אפילו מקצתו אבוד מותר והמחובר לקרקע אפי' כולו אבוד אסור
4 But if [as you say] that [anonymous] Baraitha be R'Jose's opinion, then he should also be allowed to thresh with cows!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which, however, is distinctly debarred in the anonymous Baraitha, above.');"><sup>6</sup></span> For Surely R'Isaac B'Abba said: 'Who is the Tanna that demands some variation In the working during the festival [week] where loss is involved? It is not R'Jose!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As may be seen from his attitude in the first and second Mishnah ( ');"><sup>7</sup></span>
ה ואי ר' יוסי ידוש נמי בפרות הא אמר רב יצחק בר אבא מאן תנא שינוי במועד בדבר האבד דלא כר' יוסי
5 - [Said R'Huna],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To explain that there is really no contradiction in the discrepancy.');"><sup>8</sup></span> He [R'Jose] might reply:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' SBH reads better: 'Said he, R. Huna, to him (to Raba) '.');"><sup>9</sup></span> 'Yea indeed, so; yet as one does not usually<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'every day'.');"><sup>10</sup></span>
ו אמר לך ה"נ כיון דכל יומא לאו בפרות דיישי האידנא נמי לאו שינוי הוא
6 thresh with cows, threshing without them [during the festival week] would be no variation now.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the contrary to use cows would be in this case an undesirable offensive display of his work (Rashi) .');"><sup>11</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: Flour may be ground during the festival [week] for the needs of the festival; but if not for the requirements of the festival [week], it is forbidden. If, however, one ground<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' During the festival week for the needs of the festival.');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ז ת"ר טוחנין במועד לצורך המועד ושלא לצורך המועד אסור ואם טחן והותיר הרי זה מותר קוצצין עצים במועד לצורך המועד ושלא לצורך המועד אסור ואם קצץ והותיר הרי זה מותר
7 and had some flour over, he is allowed to use it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the festival.');"><sup>13</sup></span> Trees may be cut down during the festival [week] for the needs of the festival, but if it is not for the needs of the festival it is forbidden; if one, however, had cut down<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' During the festival week for the needs of the festival.');"><sup>12</sup></span> and had some over, it is permitted.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the festival.');"><sup>13</sup></span>
ח מטילין שכר במועד לצורך המועד ושלא לצורך המועד אסור ואם הטיל והותיר הרי זה מותר ובלבד שלא יערים
8 [The ingredients] for brewing mead<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or beer.');"><sup>14</sup></span> may be put in during the festival [week] for the needs of the festival; but if it is not needed for the festival it is forbidden; and if one put in [the ingredients]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' During the festival week for the needs of the festival.');"><sup>12</sup></span> and had some [brew] left over, it is permitted,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the festival.');"><sup>13</sup></span>
ט ורמינהו מטילין שכר במועד לצורך המועד ושלא לצורך המועד אסור אחד שכר תמרים ואחד שכר שעורים ואע"פ שיש לו ישן מערים ושותה מן החדש תנאי היא דתניא אין מערימין בכך ר' יוסי בר יהודה אומר מערימין
9 provided only that there is no guile.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To prepare which under the guise of forgetfulness or mistake for the needs of the festival with the intention of having some left over after the festival.');"><sup>15</sup></span> A contradiction was raised [from the following]: 'They may put in [ingredients for brewing] mead during the festival [week] for the needs of the festival, but what is not for the needs of the festival is forbidden, be it brew of dates or a brew of barley, and even though one have some old [brew] he may act with guile and drink of the new'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Indicating thereby that he made the brew for the festival week.');"><sup>16</sup></span> - There is a difference among Tannaim as was taught: There should be no resort to guile in such matters; R'Jose son of R'Judah says, One may act with guile [sometimes].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the principle, v. Bez. 17b, especially Rashi's observation s.v.');"><sup>17</sup></span>
י רב חצדו ליה חצדא בחולא דמועדא שמע שמואל איקפד לימא שמואל כיחידאה סבירא ליה לא חצדא דחיטי הוה דלא הוה פסיד
10 Rab [once] had his harvest gathered for him in the festival week. Samuel heard [of it] and was annoyed. Might one suggest that Samuel concurred with the view of the individual authority?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra R. Huna's reply to Rabbah's question.');"><sup>18</sup></span>
יא ורב מאי טעמא עביד הכי אין לו מה יאכל הוה ושמואל לא סיימוה קמיה אי נמי אדם חשוב שאני
11 - No, it was a crop of wheat which [if left a while] would not have deteriorated. What is the reason that Rab acted thus? - He had not then [enough] to eat; and as for Samuel, he had not been fully informed [of the circumstances]. Or, [maybe he thought that the case of] a prominent person is different.
יב ר' יהודה נשיאה נפק בחומרתא דמדושא ואשתי מיא דאחים קפילא ארמאה שמע ר' אמי איקפד אמר רב יוסף מאי טעמא איקפד אי משום חומרתא דמדושא הא תניא השירין הנזמים והטבעות הרי הן ככל הכלים הניטלין בחצר
12 R'Judah the Prince<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Judah III, Rabbi's grandson. tausn = tausnt');"><sup>19</sup></span> [once] went out [on the Sabbath] wearing an amethyst<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' representing the Greek form **. The amethyst was often worn (as its name implies) as a talisman against drunkenness. Or the phrase may possibly be a talisman ring having a setting of a Medusa head, a popular charm against spells and against the power of enemies; and, although this could not have been the case in our instance, it is not unlikely in the instance cited in 'Er. 69a, where the wearer on sighting R. Judah the Prince, quickly covered it; he is considered there as a semi-heathen or renegade.');"><sup>20</sup></span> signet and [once] drank water which an Aramean [non-Jewish] cook<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or tavern keeper. iuhf');"><sup>21</sup></span>
יג אי משום דאישתי מיא דאחים קפילא ארמאה הא אמר שמואל בר יצחק אמר רב כל שנאכל כמות שהוא חי אין בו משום בישולי נכרים אדם חשוב שאני
13 had heated. R'Ammi hearing of it was annoyed. Said R'Joseph: What is the reason he was annoyed?
יד אמר רב חננאל אמר רב קוצץ אדם דקל במועד אע"פ שאינו צריך אלא לנסורת שלו לייט עלה אביי
14 Was it on account of the amethyst signet? Why, it is taught: Chains, earrings and rings are like all articles of dress that may be worn in the courtyard!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. 'Er. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> [Again], if because he drank water which an Aramean had made hot?
טו רב אשי הוה ליה אבא בשלנייא אזל למיקצייה בחולא דמועדא אמר ליה רב שילא משלנייא לרב אשי מאי דעתיך דקאמר רב חננאל אמר רב קוצץ אדם דקל במועד אע"פ שאינו צריך אלא לנסורת שלו הא לייט עלה אביי אמר ליה לא שמיע לי כלומר לא סבירא לי אישתמיט נרגא בעי למיפסקיה לשקיה שבקיה והדר אתא
15 Why, Samuel B'Isaac, citing Rab, stated that whatever can be eaten raw is not [debarred] as in the category of heathen-cooked food! - [The case of] a prominent person is different.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Shab. 51a.');"><sup>23</sup></span> R'Hananel, citing Rab, said that one may lop off branches from a palm tree during the festival [week] even though he needs only the chips.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or sawdust.');"><sup>24</sup></span> Abaye denounced<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'cursed'.');"><sup>25</sup></span>
טז רב יהודה שרא למיעקר כיתנא ולמיקטל כשותא ולמיעקר שומשמי אמר ליה אביי לרב יוסף בשלמא כיתנא חזי לחפיפה כשותא חזי לשיכרא אלא שומשמי למאי חזי חזי לנזיי דאית בהו
16 this [dictum] vehemently. R'Ashi had a wood in Shelania. He went to cut it down during the festival week.
יז רבי ינאי הוה ליה ההוא פרדיסא דמטא זמניה בחולא דמועדא קטפיה לשנה שהיוה כולי עלמא לפרדיסייהו לחולא דמועדא אפקריה רבי ינאי לפרדיסיה ההוא שתא:
17 Said R'Shela of Shelania to R'Ashi, What is your ground [for acting thus]? Is it because of what R'Hananel, citing Rab, said, that one may lop branches from a palm during the festival [week] even though he needs only thee chips?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or sawdust.');"><sup>24</sup></span> But surely Abaye denounced it vehemently! - Said he [R'Ashi] to him: 'I heard it not', as much as to Say, 'I do not concur [with Abaye's view]'.
יח <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> מכניס אדם פירותיו מפני הגנבים ושולה פשתנו מן המשרה בשביל שלא תאבד ובלבד שלא יכוין את מלאכתו במועד וכולן אם כוונו מלאכתן במועד יאבדו:
18 The hatchet then slipped threatening to cut off his leg. He then abandoned his task and came again.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Another time.');"><sup>26</sup></span> Rab Judah permitted pulling up flax, picking hops and pulling up sesame crops.
יט <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> תנא ובלבד שיכניסם בצנעא לתוך ביתו
19 Said Abaye to R'Joseph: It is quite correct to do this in the case of flax, as if may be used for covering [fruits]; in the case of hops they may be used for [brewing] beer; but sesame - to what [immediate] use can it be put? - [It may be picked] on account of the seeds<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For sesame oil.');"><sup>27</sup></span> it contains. R'Jannai had an orchard<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' J.M.K. II, 2 (81a) reads: R. Simeon, R. Jannai's son.');"><sup>28</sup></span>
כ רב יוסף הוה ליה כשורי עיילינהו ביממא
20 that had become ripe for picking during the festival week [and] he picked it. The year [after] all the people kept their orchards waiting for the festival week. R'Jannai [thereupon] renounced his [proprietory rights in the] orchard that year.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As a self-imposed penalty for having led others to do wrong.');"><sup>29</sup></span>
כא אמר ליה אביי והתניא ובלבד שיכניסם בצנעא בתוך ביתו אמר ליה צנעא דהני יממא הוא כיון דבליליא בעו גברא יתירי ובעו מדוכרי דנורא אוושא מילתא:
21 <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>A MAN MAY BRING HIS FRUITS INDOORS FOR FEAR OF THIEVES AND PULL HIS FLAX OUT OF RETTING TO PREVENT IT SPOILING, PROVIDED HE DOES NOT PURPOSELY HOLD THE WORK OVER TILL THE FESTIVAL [WEEK]; AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DELIBERATELY HAD THEIR WORK HELD OVER FOR THE FESTIVAL [WEEK] SHALL HAVE IT DESTROYED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., they must be deprived of any advantage gained.');"><sup>30</sup></span> <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>BRING INDOORS. A Tanna taught: Provided only that he bring them into his house privily.
כב ושולה פשתנו מן המשרה כו': בעי מיניה רבי ירמיה מרבי זירא כוון מלאכתו במועד ומת מהו שיקנסו בניו אחריו
22 R'Joseph had some beams of timber which he brought in during daylight. Said Abaye, But it is taught: 'Provided only that he bring them into his house privily'! - He replied, The [requisite] privacy for these is [attained best] during daylight, since at night more men would be needed and torchbearers too would be required, making much ado.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'a noisy affair'.');"><sup>31</sup></span> AND PULLS HIS FLAX OUT OF RETTING.
כג אם תימצי לומר
23 R'Jeremiah asked of R'Zera: If a man keeps work over for the festival [week] and dies, should his children be penalized after him? Should you cite<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'Find a case to explain (my question) by saying. .'; or, 'Extract an answer from the case of. .'');"><sup>32</sup></span> [the case of],