Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 1, scan section 61

ting." Daubing a plaster on a piece of cloth makes one liable the same as " scraping hair off." Smoothing a stone makes one culpable of " hammering." R. Simeon b. Kisma in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish, said: Painting pictures on ves- sels or blowing out glassware makes one culpable the same as hammering. R. Jehudah said: Removing a border from cloth also makes one as culpable as hammering; but only in case one is particular about having the border remain on his cloth. " Writing two letters.'' The rabbis taught: "If one wrote one large letter instead of two small ones, he is not guilty of any transgression ; but to erase a large letter, in the place of which two small letters can be written, makes one liable for a sin-offering (for the erasing is done with the intent to write, and two small letters are evidently needed). Said R. Mena'hem b. Jossi: " This is the only case where the law is more rigorous with erasing than with writing." " Buildijig, demolishing,'' etc. Both Rabba and R. Zera said: All work which is done in the last stages is considered the same as hammering (which is generally the finishing work). " These are the principal acts of labor." " These," to ex- clude a derivation of the same kind as the principal when it is done with the principal together, and as to which R. Eliezer makes one liable for the derivation also. "Less one," to exclude the extension of the warp or the woof, which R. Jehudah added to the principal acts ; but the rabbis said : Extending the warp is included in warping and extending the woof is included in weaving. MISHNA ///. : And there is also another rule which was laid down : Whosoever carries out on the Sabbath such things as are fit and proper to be stored and in such a quantity as is usually stored, is liable ; but whatever is not fit and proper to be stored, nor in such a quantity as is generally stored, only he who would store this is liable (because the storing shows that for him it is valuable). GEMARA: ''Whatever is not fit and proper." Said R. Elazar : The latter part of the Mishna is not in accordance with R. Simeon b. Elazar, who said in the following Boraitha : " There is a rule that all which is 7iot fit and proper to be stored nor in TRACT SABBATH. 141 such a quantity as is generally stored, if held by one man fit and another man has carried it out, the latter becomes Hable for the intention of the owner." MISHNA IV. : It is forbidden to carry about chopped straw in quantities of a cow's mouthful, stalks in quantities of a camel's mouthful, stubble in quantities of a lamb's mouthful, herbs in quantities of a kid's mouthful, leek and onion leaves, if fresh, equal in size to a dried fig, and if dry in quantities of a kid's mouthful. The different kinds of fodder are, however, not to be counted together, as the prescribed quantities are not equal for all. GEMARA: ''Chopped straw r What kind? Said R. Jehudah: " Pease stalks." When Rabhin came to Babylon he said thus: There is no diversity of opinion concerning the carrying out of straw in quantities of a cow's mouthful for a camel, as all agree that in such a case one is liable ; the point of their differing is concerning the carrying out of stalks (which is not fit food for a cow) in quantities of a cow's mouthful for a cow. R. Johanan frees him, as he holds that unfit food cannot be regarded as nu- trition ; and Resh Lakish makes him liable, as he holds that even such is considered nutrition. ''Stubble in quantities of a lamb's mouthful. ' ' But does not a Boraitha state " the size of a dried fig"? Both quantities are equal. "Leek and onion leaves, if fresh,'' etc. Said R. Jossi b. Hanina: Inferior food is not to be counted in with superior (in order to make out the prescribed quantity). Superior food, however, may be counted with the inferior (in order to complete the prescribed quantity). MISHNA V. : The carrying out of an article of food the size of a dried fig makes one liable. And the different kinds of them are to be counted together, for the prescribed quantity is the same for all kinds, with the exception of husks, kernels, and stalks ; likewise bran, both coarse and fine. R. Jehudah says that the husks of lentils are not excepted, because they are boiled with the lentils and are counted in the same (as food). GEMARA : "Except bran," etc. Is not fine as well as coarse bran to be counted in (the same as food)? Is there not a Mishna concerning the separation of the first dough, that one is bound to separate the first dough made of flour mixed with its fine or coarse bran ? Answered Abayi : " This is no contradiction. Poor people only generally use such mixed flour (when Sabbath is con- rerned something possessing real value is always spoken of)." 142 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. " The husks of lentils are not excepted," etc. Husks of len- tils only, and not of beans ? Did not a Boraitha state that R. Jehudah said, " husks of beans and lentils " ? This presents no difficulty. The Mishna refers to husks of new lentils and the Boraitha refers to old lentils and beans. And why not old ones ? Said R. Abuhu : Because they (the husks of lentils and beans) are black and when dished up look like flies in a bowl (they are not eaten with the food and therefore are not counted in). CHAPTER VIII. REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE PRESCRIBED QUANTITIES OF VICT- UALS AND BEVERAGES WHICH MUST NOT BE CARRIED ABOUT ON THE SABBATH. MISHNA /, : The prescribed quantities (of victuals and bever- ages) prohibited to be carried about on the Sabbath (are as fol- lows) : Sufficient wine in a goblet, which with the addition of a certain quantity of water would make a full goblet of wine (fit to drink) ; * milk to the quantity of a mouthful, honey sufficient to cover a wound with, oil sufficient to anoint a small limb with, and water in quantities sufficient for a medical bath for the eyes. For all other liquids and also of whatever can be poured out, the pre- scribed quantity is a quarter of a lug (about a quart). R. Simeon says : The prescribed quantities for the liquids enumerated in this Mishna are also a quarter of a lug, and the various prescribed quantities specified apply only to those who store such liquids. GEMARA: A Boraitha, in addition to this Mishna, states: " The quantity which suffices for a good goblet of wine." What is to be understood by a good goblet ? The goblet used in bene- diction f after meals. R. Na'hman in the name of R. Abuhu said : " A goblet used at benediction after meals must contain no less than a fourth of a quarter lug (of pure wine), so that when mixed with water the prescribed quantity (a quarter lug) will be made." Said Rabha : We have learned this in our Mishna : " Sufficient wine in a gob- let, which with addition of water would make a full goblet " —