Shabbat 102 - Throw and Catch; It's a Dog's Life

This page begins a new section dealing with laws of "building." But before we get there, one last thing having to do with "carrying" - throwing:

IF ONE THROWS [AN ARTICLE] AND RECALLS [THAT IT IS THE SABBATH] AFTER IT LEAVES HIS HAND, AND ANOTHER CATCHES IT, OR A DOG CATCHES IT, OR IT IS BURNT (by falling into a furnace), HE IS NOT LIABLE.

Now this is pretty interesting. An action (throwing) is begun and remembering occurs after the object is no longer under the person's control: he is free of culpability (for Sabbath violations - he would still have to pay for any damages!) this would not be the case if, for example, the object was tied to his hand with a chord and he could pull it back before it landed!

"Remembering" by the way, could be either that the day is Shabbat, or that throwing is not permitted on Shabbat.

And here, the Mishnah gives a general principle:

ALL WHO ARE LIABLE TO SIN-OFFERINGS ARE LIABLE ONLY IF THE BEGINNING AND THE END [OF THE FORBIDDEN ACTION] ARE UNWITTING.

The Talmud then discusses an absurd circumstance to help understand the general principle:

"[What if the object travels] two cubits unwittingly, two cubits deliberately, and two cubits unwittingly"

That is: he throws, remembers, and then forgets again, all before the object lands. Wow, forgetful tosser! Actually there is disagreement about his liability. Also if a dog catches it. It depends: was that his intention? Or is this a last minute excuse to get around the law?

Don't use this as an way to play catch with Rover! At least not on Shabbat.