📖 SATURDAY PRAYER: HOD-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p136

READING: BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN OF SATURDAY

GEMARA: For what purpose is the number (so distinctly) given? (They are enumerated.) Said
R. Johanan: If one labored through total ignorance of the (laws governing the) Sabbath, he must
bring a sin-offering for every act of labor performed.
“Sowing, ploughing.” Let us see: Ploughing being always done before sowing, let it be taught
first, The Tana (who taught as in the Mishna) is a Palestinian, and in his country they sow first
and then plough. Some one taught that sowing, pruning, planting, transplanting, and grafting are
all one and the same kind of labor. What would he inform us thereby? That if one performs
many acts of labor, all of the same class, he is liable for but one sin-offering.
Said R. Aha in the name of R. Hyya b. Ashi, quoting R. Ami: “One who prunes is guilty of
planting, and one who plants, transplants, or grafts is guilty of sowing.” Of sowing and not of
planting? I mean to say of sowing also.
Said R. Kahana: One who prunes and uses the branches for fuel is liable for two sin-offerings,
one for reaping and one for planting. Said R. Joseph: One who mows alfalfa (hay) is guilty of
mowing and planting both. Said Abayi: One who mows clover hay (which sheds its seed when
mowed) is liable (for a sin-offering) for mowing and sowing.
“Ploughing.” There is a Boraitha: Ploughing, digging, furrowing, are one and the same kind of
labor. R. Shesheth said: One who removes a knoll of earth in a house becomes liable for
building, and if in a field he is liable for ploughing. Rabha said: Filling up a hole in the house
makes one liable for building, and in the field for ploughing. R. Aba said: Digging (the same
hole) on Sabbath for the purpose of making use of the earth alone is free even according to R.
Jehudah, who said that the performance of an unnecessary act of labor makes one culpable. He
refers to labor that improves an object and not to that which spoils it.
“Mowing.” There is a Boraitha: Reaping, vintaging, selecting dates, olives, and figs are all one
and the same kind of labor.