Beitza 22b-23a
1- We learned the Mishnah that cites three lenient ruling of R’ Gamliel.
The Gemara begins with the second one concerning the permissibility, according to R’ Gamliel, of burning incense on Yom Tov.
2- Generally, there are three purposes when one burns incense:
)
- To produce a pleasant aroma in a particular area.
- To perfume a garment.
- To infuse edibles with the scent of the incense. (Like smoking fruits).
3- Our Gemara clarifies the leniency of R’ Gamliel stating that it pertains to creating a pleasant aroma only. (A above).
The Rabbanan argue and prohibit it since burning incense is not something universally enjoyed.
The permissibility to do a Melacha of אוכל נפש is only when a majority of people actually enjoy it. The burning of incense is limited to ‘fein-shmekers’. Quite literally.
Perfuming a garment (B above) is prohibited by all.
4- The Gemara now discusses the smoking of fruits. (C above): Rav prohibits it because not everybody likes incense-infused fruits.
Shmuel permits it since the reason people don’t smoke fruits is because it is rather expensive. If they would have the means, they would surely do it. (Just like shechting deer is permitted on Yom Tov although it is very uncommon).
5- In general, there are 3 issues with the placing the incense upon coal or fire.
- כיבוי – Extinguishing the coal. This occurs right at the start.
- מבעיר – The actual burning of the incense.
- מוליד ריחא – ‘Creating a new scent’. . We learned the Rashi that explains this concept as being ‘close to a מלאכה‘.
BL”N, we will continue next week trying to understand the Alter Rebbe here.
6 We diverged to the issue of smoking cigarettes on Yom Tov. The Magen Avraham (514.4) prohibits it. Either because of מכבה or because not everyone enjoys smoking.
The Penei Yohushua and Reb Yonoson Eibeshyts permit it because it has ‘medical benefits’!
The PRI MEGADIM (OC 511) points out that an additional problem is involved when there is printing or letters on the outside of the cigarette wrapper, and by smoking one destroys those letters and transgresses the Melochah of מוחק (erasing). Because of this concern, some people who smoke on Yom Tov do not finish the cigarette when it burns down to the letters, but they let it burn by itself so that they should not transgress the Melachah of מוחק.
We discussed an interesting questions: Someone that throws a book into a fire on Shabbos, is he performing (in addition to מבעיר , also) מוחק?
7- We continued to discuss the פרק שירה.
Mentioned the ‘Rebbe of Shatz’ that lived in London. His grave in Enfield UK is frequented by many on Fridays. See here. And here.
He published a book דעת שלום explaining the פרק שירה. Page 109.
Discussing the spider he brings the ‘tale of old Jewish women’ that the spider contributed to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh!
He proposes a Midrash that uses the spider as a symbol of מלכות אדום – the Romans.
He also write that ‘I heard that spiders have a cross on their back’!
See http://beta.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=42494&st=&pgnum=144.
8- Speaking of crosses……We mentioned a letter from the Rebbe to a scion of the Sassoon family. See here. We discussed their famed library in Bombay etc.
The letter. AG 10, page 199.
Salamon David Sassoon, an author, [See here] sent the Rebbe a pamphlet concerning Shechita. The Rebbe thanked him for the gift.
At the end of the letter the Rebbe writes “please note that one of the symbols you used in the pamphlet are avoided by others”!
The Rebbe was referring to an Obelisk/Dagger that looks like a cross. See here.
The copy sent by the author is currently in the Agudas Chasidei Chabad Library.
Here is a reference to the book.
https://search.cjh.org/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,194921&sortby=date&vid=beta&facet=frbrgroupid,include,50658070&offset=0
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-critical-study-of-electrical-stunning-and-the-jewish-method-of-slaughter-solomon-david-sassoon/1029404329
