Shabbat 162

Is it permissible to carry them up [the stones] after one to the roof?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since he could have carried them up there on the eve of Sabbath, Tosaf. ');">¹</span> Human dignity is very important, he replied, and it supersedes a negative injunction of the Torah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., it is permitted. v. infra 94b. ');">²</span> Now, Meremar sat and reported this discussion, [whereupon] Rabina raised an objection to Meremar: R. Eliezer said: One may take a chip [lying] before him to pick his teeth therewith;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though not designated for this purpose beforehand, it is not regarded as mukzeh (q.v. Glos.). ');">³</span> but the Sages maintain: He may take only from an animal's trough?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' There it is regarded as standing ready for use, but otherwise it is mukzeh, and human dignity, viz., the necessity to clean one's teeth, does not negative this prohibition. ');">⁴</span>

How compare! There, one appoints a place for his meal;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Beforehand, and at the same time he could have prepared his toothpicks too. Hence the prohibition retains its force. ');">⁵</span> but here, does one appoint a place for a privy?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely not! (Cf. p. 386. n. 7). ');">⁶</span> R. Huna said: One may not obey the call of nature on a ploughed field on the Sabbath. What is the reason? Shall we say, because of treading down?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The loose ploughed soil, thus spoiling it, the reference being to a neighbour's field. ');">⁷</span> Then the same holds good even on weekdays? Again, if it is on account of the grasses,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which sprout on the loose, moist earth, and in picking up a clod for cleansing one may involuntarily detach the grass. ');">⁸</span>

— surely Resh Lakish said: One may cleanse himself with a pebble whereon grass has sprouted, but if one detaches [the grass] thereof on the Sabbath, he incurs a sin-offering? Rather [the reason is] lest he take [a clod] from an upper level<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.g.. a mound or any other protuberance. ');">⁹</span> and throw it below,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Into a depression; he thus levels them. ');">¹⁰</span> and he is then liable on account of Rabbah's [dictum], for Rabbah said: If one has a depression and fills it up, — if in the house, he is culpable on account of building; if in the field, he is culpable on account of ploughing. [To revert to] the main text: Resh Lakish said: One may cleanse himself with a pebble whereon 'grass has sprouted; but if one detaches [the grass] thereof on the Sabbath, he incurs a sin-offering. R. Pappi said: From Resh Lakish you may infer that one may take up a parpisa.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: a perforated pot. Though the earth in it might be regarded as attached to the ground in virtue of the perforation which permits the sap or moisture to mount from the one to the other, yet just as Resh Lakish rules that the pebble is treated as detached in spite of the grass which has grown on it, which is only possible through its lying on the soil, so is this pot too regarded thus. Jast.: a lump of earth in a bag of palm-leaves (v. Rashi in name of [H]). ');">¹¹</span>

R. Kahana demurred: If they said [that it is permitted] in case of need,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. for cleansing, which is necessary. ');">¹²</span> shall they say [thus] where there is no need!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely not! ');">¹³</span> Abaye said: As for parpisa, since it has come to hand, we will state something about it. If it is lying on the ground and one places it upon pegs, he is culpable on the score of detaching; if it is lying on pegs and one places it on the ground, he is liable on the score of planting.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. n. 3. 'Culpable' here merely denotes that the action is forbidden, but does not imply liability to a sin-offering, as usual (Rashi and Tosaf.). ');">¹⁴</span> R. Johanan said: One must not cleanse oneself with a shard on the Sabbath. What is the reason? Shall we say on account of danger?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He may cut himself. ');">¹⁵</span>

Then on weekdays too [let it be forbidden]? Again if it is on account of witchcraft:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As below. ');">¹⁶</span> it may not [be done] even on weekdays too? Again, if it is on account of the tearing out of hair, — but surely that is unintentional? — Said R. Nathan b. Oshaia to them: [Since] a great man has stated this dictum, let us give a reason for it. [Thus:] it is unnecessary [to state] that it is forbidden on weekdays;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since one can just as easily take a chip or a pebble, to which no suspicion of danger or witchcraft attaches. ');">¹⁷</span> but on the Sabbath, since it bears the rank of a utensil, [I might think that] it is permitted:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being preferable to a chip or a pebble, which are not utensils, and in general it is permitted to handle a utensil sooner than that which is not a utensil. ');">¹⁸</span> therefore he informs us [otherwise].

Raba recited it on account of the tearing out of hair, and found R. Johanan to be self-contradictory. [Thus:] did then R. Johanan say, One must not cleanse oneself with a shard on the Sabbath, which shows that what is unintentional is forbidden? Surely R. Johanan said: The <i>halachah</i> is as [every] anonymous Mishnah, and we learnt: A nazirite may cleanse [his hair] and part it, but he must not comb it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' v. supra 50b for notes. ');">¹⁹</span> But it is clear that it is as R. Nathan b. Oshaia. What is [the reference to] witchcraft? — R. Hisda and Rabbah son of R. Huna were travelling in a boat, when a certain [non-Jewish] matron said to them, 'Seat me near you,' but they did not seat her. Thereupon she uttered something [a charm] and bound the boat;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that it could not proceed further. ');">²⁰</span> they uttered something, and freed it. Said she to them, 'What shall I do to you,