Friday, September 16, 2005

Rif Shabbat 57a {Shabbat 138b continues ... 139b}



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57a

{Shabbat 138b continues}
for Rav said: The Torah is destined to be forgotten in Israel, because it is said {Devarim 28:59}:

נט וְהִפְלָא ה אֶת-מַכֹּתְךָ, וְאֵת מַכּוֹת זַרְעֶךָ: מַכּוֹת גְּדֹלֹת וְנֶאֱמָנוֹת, וָחֳלָיִם רָעִים וְנֶאֱמָנִים. 59 then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
This wonder, I do not know what it is. Once he says {in Yeshaya 29:14}:

יד לָכֵן, הִנְנִי יוֹסִף לְהַפְלִיא אֶת-הָעָם-הַזֶּה--הַפְלֵא וָפֶלֶא; וְאָבְדָה חָכְמַת חֲכָמָיו, וּבִינַת נְבֹנָיו תִּסְתַּתָּר.
14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid.
This states that "wonder" = Torah.

{Shabbat 139a}
The citizens of Bashkar sent [a question] to Levi: What about [setting up] a canopy [on Shabbat]; what about cuscuta in a vineyard? what about a dead man on a Yom Tov?
By the time he [the messenger] arrived [at Levi's home] Levi had died.
Shmuel said to Rav Menashia: If you are wise {alternatively, if you recognize the answer}, send them [an answer].
[So] he sent [word] to them: 'As for a canopy, we have examined it from all aspects and do not find any aspect by which it can be permitted'.

But let him send them [a permissive ruling] in accordance with Rami bar Yechezkel?
[He did not do this] because they were not learned in the law {and they would go still further}.

'Cuscuta in a vineyard is a [forbidden] mixture.'
But let him send them [a reply] in accordance with Rabbi Tarfon. For they learnt {tnan}: As for cuscuta, Rabbi Tarfon maintains: It is not kil'ayim in a vineyard; while the Sages rule: It is kil'ayim in a vineyard.
And it is an established principle for us: The view of him who is lenient in respect to Eretz Yisrael is halacha outside of Eretz Yisrael.

[Likewise] because they were not learnt in the law.

As for a corpse {he sent word to them}: Neither Jews nor non-Jews may occupy themselves with a corpse, neither on the first day of a Yom Tov nor on the second.

{Shabbat 139b}
But Rava said: A corpse on the first day of Yom Tov, gentiles should occupy themselves with it. A corpse on the second day of Yom Tov, Israelites should should occupy themselves with it. And so too on the two days of Rosh HaShana, which is not so in the case of an egg.

[Here too] because they were not learned in the law.

Rav Huna cited Rav Chama bar Guria who cited Rav {our gemara does not cite Rav}: A man may wrap himself in a canopy sheet and [tie it] with its cords to go out into the public domain on Shabbat and not worry.

How does this differ from Rav Huna's [dictum]? For Rav Huna said {our gemara: in the name of Rav}: If one goes out on Shabbat wearing a garment not provided with [proper] fringes as required by law, he is liable to a sin-offering.

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