KETER: YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p87

It was taught: (In relation to sitting on palm branches cut
off for use as fuel) Rabh said (it must be) tied. Samuel said: The intention on the eve of Sabbath
suffices; and R. Assi said: Sitting (on them before the Sabbath), even if not tied nor previously
intended for sitting purposes on the Sabbath, is sufficient. It is clear that Rabh holds with the
first teacher and Samuel holds with R. Simeon b. Gamaliel, but whom does R. Assi’s opinion
agree with? He is in accordance with the Tana of the following Boraitha: It is permitted to go
out (on Sabbath) with a flax or wool plaster (on a wound) when dipped in oil and tied with a
string, but it is not permitted when the plaster is not dipped in oil or tied with a string; but if one
went out with it only a little before the Sabbath, even if not dipped in oil and tied, it is
permissible. Said R. Ashi: “We were also taught in a Mishna in support of this; but who is the
teacher that does not agree with R. Simeon, b. Gamaliel?” It is R. Hanina b. Aqiba, for when R.
Dimi came from Palestine he said in the name of Zera, quoting R. Hanina: R. Hanina b. Aqiba
once went with his disciples to a place and found some palm branches tied together to be used as
fuel; he said to his disciples: “Make up your minds to sit on them tomorrow.” I do not know
whether there was to be a wedding or a funeral that following day, but the inference from this
narration is: Only in the case of a wedding or funeral, when people are busy (and could not tie
them up), the intention is sufficient, but otherwise tying together is necessary.
R. Jehudah said: “One is permitted to carry in a box of sand on the Sabbath for the purpose (of
covering up an unclean place) and use the remainder for any purpose whatever. Mar Zutra, in
the name of Mar Zutra the Great, interpreted this–providing he singled out a corner for it. Said
the rabbis before R. Papa: “Is this teaching (of the great Mar Zutra) in accord only with the
opinion of R. Simeon b. Gamaliel, but not with that of the rabbis who require action rather than
intention?” R. Papa answered: It may even be in accord with the rabbis, who require action only
where it is possible, and this action (tying together or sitting on sand) is impossible (as reserving
a corner for them is not considered an act, but an intention only).
R. Jehudah permits the use of the dust of incense on the Sabbath. R. Joseph permits poppy-seed
waste. Rabha permits pepper dust and R. Shesheth Barda, to wash the face with. What is Barda?
Said R. Joseph: A powder of one-third
aloe, one-third myrrh, and one-third violet. R. Nehemiah b. Joseph also permits Barda, provided
it does not contain more than a third part of aloe.