Beitza 32a.

1- We discussed the opinion of Reb Nechemia that one can use any כלי  on Shabbos and (perhaps) Yom Tov only for its original purpose.

Therefore, using a knife to cut a rope or a cord would be problematic, since a knife is presumably for eatingm though R”T in Tosafos found this problematic, as knives are used for cutting.

Ditto for using a piece of furniture, such as a chair for firewood. [Don’t try this at home unless it’s פיקוח נפש…]

2- We spent the rest of the Shiur discussing two interesting idea about פסח.

A– כלים נאים.

The Maharil. מהרי”ל. Many of the מנהגים that Ashkenazi Jews follow were penned by the Maharil.

In the Minhagim of Pesach he writes something quite interesting:

Although one should minimize having fancy dishes in one’s house, זכר לחורבן, nevertheless on Pesach one should flaunt!

 

 See here as quoted by the מגן אברהם .    

482 .2.  

We discussed this little known and adhered to מנהג not to spend fortunes on fancy dishes……

The Alter Rebbe adds that placing nice dishes on the Pesach should be done, “as long as one can afford it”.  482, 6.

Jewish Plate:

 

The Maharil then goes on to allow to adorn the Seder table using the כלים of a goy (obviously taking the Halachos of Kashrus into consideration) that a Yid has in his possession as collateral for a loan extended to this goy.

Goyish Plates:

We discussed on how this Halachah sheds some light on the life of Jews at that time. Barred from owning land etc., money lending would many time be the only option to survive. The guarantees one would receive would also need something tangible. 

B–  ליל שימורים.

Mentioned the story of the Israeli diamond factory that hired a Jewish security guard. On the night of Pesach he decided to go home for the Seder. Well… a robbery occurred. A lawsuit followed and made its way to a Din Torah.

The guard claimed that the diamonds were in a vault. He was hired just as ‘added protection’. Now since it was Pesach night…..and “one does not need to worry about ‘mazikim’… no need to lock the doors on Pesach night”  [Alter Rebbe 480, 5.  481.2] he had the right to abandon his post for the night.

[We also mentioned that ליל שימורים is  the reason we do not say ברכה מעין שבע Pesach occurs Friday night.]

If I recall correctly the guard lost the case and was forced to pay for the loss.