SATURDAY PRAYER: HESED-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p107

READING: BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN OF SATURDAY

CHAPTER VI

REGULATIONS CONCERNING WHAT GARMENTS (SERVING AS ORNAMENTS) WOMEN
MAY GO OUT WITH ON THE SABBATH.
MISHNA I.: In what (ornamental) apparel may a woman go out, and in what may she not go
out? A woman is not allowed to go out (even in private ground) either with woollen or linen
bands or with straps on her head to keep her hair in tresses (as a precaution lest she enter public
ground and take off the bands to show to her friends, thereby becoming guilty of carrying
movable property for a distance of four ells or more). Nor is she to bathe herself with the bands
on unless loosened. Nor is she to go out with either Totaphoth or Sarbitin on, unless they are
fastened; 1 nor with a hood in public ground, nor with gold ornaments, nor with nose-rings, nor
with finger-rings that have no seal, nor with pins. But if she did go out with these things, she is
not bound to bring a sin-offering (as they are ornaments and not burdens).
GEMARA: “Bathing.” Where is bathing referred to (and what has it to do with the Sabbath)?
Said R. Na’hman b. Itz’hak in the name of Rabba b. Abuhu: The Mishna means to say: What is
the reason that a woman is not allowed to go out with either woollen or linen bands? Because
the sages have decided that she is not to bathe herself with them on, even on week days, unless
loosened; therefore she shall not (go out with them on) on the Sabbath at all, lest it happen that
she become in duty bound to bathe herself, 2 and, while untying her hair, be forced to carry the
bands in public ground for a distance of four ells or more.