📖 SATURDAY PRAYER: HOD-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p152

READING: BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN OF SATURDAY

Said R. Johanan: It is forbidden to use fragments of earthenware for toilet purposes (after doing
one’s necessities) on the Sabbath. What is the reason? Is it to say because it is dangerous, then it
should be forbidden also on week days; or is it to say because of witchcraft, it would also be
prohibited on week days? What then is the reason? Is it because it may remove the hair (from
the posterior)? Would this not be an act performed without intention (and work done
unintentionally, he is of the opinion is permissible)? R. Nathan b. Ashia answered: A great man
made the assertion; we have to find, therefore, a reason for it. There is no doubt whatever that
fragments of earthenware are prohibited to be used on week days, when some other things can
easily be obtained; but on Sabbath, if nothing else happens to be on hand, nor may be bought,
the fragments might be considered as utensils; and, lest one might be inclined to think that for
this reason they would be permitted to be used, he informs us that they are not. Can witchcraft
be exercised through the agency of fragments? Aye; for the following proves it:
R. Hisda and Rabba b. R. Hana once travelled in a ship, and a matron who wanted to go on the
same ship asked their permission to sit down near them, which they refused. She pronounced a
certain word and the ship stood still, but they in turn pronounced a certain word and the ship
moved on. She then said: “It grieves me sorely that I cannot inflict some punishment on you,
seeing that you use no fragments for toilet purposes, nor do you kill the vermin in garments, nor
do you pull out vegetables from a bundle (but cut the bundle first).” (Hence it may be seen that
fragments can be used as a means for the exercise of witchcraft.)
R. Huna said to his son Rabba: Why do you not go more frequently to R. Hisda, who expounds
the law so pointedly? Answered the son: “Of what use would it be? He never taught me but
mere worldly knowledge, such as, for instance: Not to sit down to excrementize with a jerk nor
to force myself too much, lest the intestines come out and endanger life.” R. Huna then rejoined:
“Thou sayest ‘mere worldly knowledge.’ He is interested in the life of the people, and you call it
mere worldly knowledge. So much the more should you go to him.”