Beitza 12a-b
1- We continued the sugya of Mitoch.
Spoke about the halacha follows Tosfos’ opinion that although one can perform ‘work’ not directly associated with the preparation of food (such as carrying a Lulav) nevertheless there needs to be a ‘bit of a need’ associated with Yom Tov.
Playing ball in a Reshus Horabim is thus permitted only because it is obviously enjoyed by the players.
Work that serves no purpose at all is Biblically prohibited.
2- We spoke about the prohibition of carrying keys. The Ramo in Shulchan Aruch states that carrying keys to alleviate the fear of loss is permitted. We discussed the Mogen Avrohom and the Taz who prohibit it, and the Alter Rebbe’s ruling that this applies only to items not used on Yom Tov. Such as keys to a safe.
House keys are not a problem.
3- Finishing the sugya of Mitoch we mentioned a story fascinating we once heard. Just found it on the web!
On today’s daf we find that Beis Hillel holds that since carrying is permitted for the purpose of אוכל נפש on Yom Tov, it is also permitted to carry for purposes that have nothing to do with אוכל נפש . This principle is abbreviated as מתוך as is quoted in full above, “Since = מתוך carrying has already been permitted for the purpose of אוכל נפש , it has been permitted for the purpose of non אוכל נפש “.
During the last year of the life of the Chasam Sofer, zt”l, his students asked that he learn Masseches Beitzah with them. The gadol said to his students, “You must know that it is to your disadvantage that you’ve chosen that particular masechta. But seeing as it is what you all prefer and you are determined that I learn it with you, I will do so.”
They began their study, and when they reached Beitzah 12, the daf that discusses the concept of מתוך ,the Chasam Sofer passed away and his holy soul ascended to the yeshivah shel ma’alah. His students all agreed that what had happened was alluded to in the words of Chazal in Berachos 31a: “A person should only depart from his friend while involved in “מתוך“of אל יפטור אדם מחבירו אלא :halachah הלכה דבר מתוך .Somehow, the Chasam Sofer had known that when he reached the principle of מתוך in Masseches Beitzah, he would take his leave of his students!
4- The next Mishna we began discusses the carrying on Yom Tov of the items we give to a Kohen such as Challa separated from a batter of dough and the ‘Matnot Kehuna‘ of a slaughtered animal. Namely the cheek & tongue, right front leg and the stomach.
5- Lengthy discussion as to a perplexing phenomenon as to why we rarely see the mitzvah of ‘Matnot Kehuna‘ performed nowadays despite it being plainly stated in the Shulchan Aruch that this Mitzva is mandatory Min Hatorah today! The problem is even greater in Israel since meat slaughtered there all are in agreement that it is mandatory to gift ‘Matnot Kehuna‘to a Kohen.
Additionally, unlike Challah that only a Kohen Tahor may eat, (which is the reason we burn it nowadays), the ‘Matnot Kehuna‘ – if these parts of the animal would indeed be gifted to the Kohen, he would actually have meat on his dinner table.
We mentioned the minhag in a few rare places where they would ‘gift it to the Koshen and then buy it back for a symbolic amount‘.
See here in Hebrew.