Beita 23a

1- We continued to learn about using incense (and perfumes) on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

Rabbah and R’ Yosef jointly rule that it is prohibited on Yom Tov to put a cup onto a garment to impart the smell of the cup into the garment.

Rava rules that it is permitted to place incense on coals in order to smoke fruits just as it is permitted to place meat on coals.

2- Lehalacha – There is an argument if Kohanim are permitted to insert their hand into a bowl of water which has been perfumed. Even if the perfume was placed into the water before Shabbos and Yom Tov.

The Mogen Avrohom (11) , Taz (8) as well as the Alter Rebbe (511, 7) all prohibit it.

The Chacham Tzvi and Mishna Brura permit it.

We discussed if there is any difference between the above and applying or spraying perfume on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

It seems that according to the Alter Rebbe, the only way to permit it is if the perfume was already on before Shabbos and yom Tov then one would be allowed to add some more. See Alter Rebbe above (top of the page).

3- We moved on to the Baraisa that records the Rabbis opposition to Todos of Rome’s Minhag  to eat roasted goat with its intestines on the first night of Pesach. The Chachamim disagreed with this custom least someone actually sanctify a lamb and run into problems of Kodshim.

[in passing we spoke about this “Rome”. Is that in Italy or a city in Israel called Rome?]

4- We discussed the Gemara in Pesachim 53b.:

Todos of Rome instituted a custom among the Jews of Rome to eat roasted goats on the night of Pesach.

They sent to him: Were you not Todos, we would decree ostracism upon you, as you are feeding Israel sacred meat – קדשים- outside the Temple.

Actual sacred meat?! Rather, say “close to feeding Israel sacred meat outside the Temple.”

They asked:

Todos of Rome – why did they not place him in Cherem? Was is because he was a great scholar, or was he a powerful man  – גברא רבא?

The following text is evidence that he was a respected scholar:

And this was expounded by Todos of Rome:

What did Chananiah Misha’el and Azaryah see, that they jumped into the fiery furnace Al kidush Hashem?

They applied an argument (kal vo’chomer)  from the frogs to themselves –

If frogs, who are not commanded regarding sanctification of the Name,

[ as it says “and they (the frogs) will come and go up into your houses . . . and into your ovens and into your doughs of bread”] –

We, who are commanded regarding sanctification of the Name, how much more so!

This kal vo’chomer persuaded Chananiah Misha’el and Azaryah to jump into the fire.

(As to why it was not a standard Mitzva of Kiddush Hashem? see Tosfos there).

We mentioned the oft-quoted vort – What is the meaning that the frogs were not commanded to die Al Kiddush Hashem?  They were indeed! As it says – 

וְשָׁרַ֣ץ הַיְאֹר֘ צְפַרְדְּעִים֒ וְעָלוּ֙ וּבָ֣אוּ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבַֽחֲדַ֥ר מִשְׁכָּֽבְךָ֖ וְעַל-מִטָּתֶ֑ךָ וּבְבֵ֤ית עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ֙ וּבְעַמֶּ֔ךָ וּבְתַנּוּרֶ֖יךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ:

 ‘they will enter your home, bedrooms, beds, …..and ovens.’

The answer is that the frogs as a whole were commanded to invade Egypt and even to enter the fire burning ovens and die. But now, every individual frog had a way out of perishing by saying that ‘let another frog go into the oven’. I will just roam around Egypt…….

And that is what Chananiah Misha’el and Azaryah learned from the frogs!

5- Next Mishna and Gemara:

The Gemara questions the language of the Mishnah that indicates that R’ Elazar ben Azariah owned only one cow –

  when in fact he owned many.

As a matter of fact his yearly ‘Ma’ser Be’haima’ was 13,000 cows meaning he owned 130,000 heads of cattle!

We leaned the Tosfos that question the timing of this  ‘Ma’ser Be’haima’ by  R’ Elazar ben Azariah since he lived (as an adult) after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh.

6- A Baraisa teaches that the Mishnah [where Reb Eliezer did not protest his neighbors animal going out to the street while carrying] refers to his neighbor’s cow, but since he did not protest, her practice it is attributed to him.

We spoke about if the prohibition of one’s animals to perform work on Shabbos applies to Tom Tov as well.

See here from the Alter Rebbe.  And here.

We discussed the Reb Akiva Eiger’s query if women are obligated to keep their animals from doing a melacha  on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

It would seem from our Gemara that they are indeed prohibited from the fact the Reb Elazar regretted not rebuking his neighbor’s wife!

See Yochin uBoaz (2)  there.

Genug.

Soufi.