SATURDAY PRAYER: HOCHMA-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p127

READING: BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN OF SATURDAY

CHAPTER VII.

THE GENERAL RULE CONCERNING THE PRINCIPAL ACTS OF LABOR ON SABBATH.

MISHNA I.: A general rule was laid down respecting the Sabbath. One who has entirely
forgotten the principle of (keeping) the Sabbath and performed many kinds of work on many
Sabbath days, is liable to bring but one sin-offering. He, however, who was aware of the
principle of Sabbath, but (forgetting the day) committed many acts of labor on Sabbath days, is
liable to bring a separate sin-offering for each and every Sabbath day (which he has violated).
One who knew that it was Sabbath and performed many kinds of work on different Sabbath
days (not knowing that such work was prohibited), is liable to bring a separate sin-offering for
every principal act of labor committed. One who committed many acts all emanating from one
principal act is liable for but one sin-offering.
GEMARA: What is the reason that the Mishna uses the expression “a general rule”? Shall we
assume that it means to teach us a subordinate rule in the succeeding Mishna, and the same is
the case with the Mishna concerning the Sabbatical year, where at first a general rule is taught
and the subsequent Mishnas teach a subordinate rule? Why does the Mishna relating to tithes
teach one rule and the succeeding Mishna another, but does not call the first rule a “general
rule”? Said R. Jose b. Abbin: Sabbath and the Sabbatical years, in both of which there are
principals and derivatives, he expresses a general rule; tithes, however, in which there are no
principals and derivatives, no general rule was laid down. But did not Bar Kapara teach us a
general rule also in tithes? It must be therefore explained thus: The subject of Sabbath is greater
than Sabbatical, as the first applies to attached and detached things, while the Sabbatical applies
only to attached ones. The subject of the latter, however, is greater than tithes, as it applies to
human and cattle food; while tithes applies only to human food. And Bar Kapara teaches a
general rule in tithes also, because it is greater than peah (corner tithe), as the former applies also to figs and herbs, which is not the case with peah.