What is Talmud Tweets?

What is Talmud Tweets? A short, personal take on a page of Talmud - every day!

For several years now, I have been following the tradition of "Daf Yomi" - reading a set page of Talmud daily. With the start of a new 7 1/2 year cycle, I thought I would share a taste of what the Talmud offers, with a bit of personal commentary included. The idea is not to give a scholarly explanation. Rather, it is for those new to Talmud to give a little taste - a tweet, as it were - of the richness of this text and dialogue it contains. The Talmud is a window into a style of thinking as well as the world as it changed over the centuries of its compilation.

These are not literal "tweets" - I don't limit myself to 140 characters. Rather, these are intended to be short, quick takes - focusing in on one part of a much richer discussion. Hopefully, I will pique your interest. As Hillel says: "Go and study it!" (Shabbat 31a)

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Eruvin 104 – Salt on the Road

Continuing a discussion of things which may be done on Shabbat in the Jerusalem Temple but not “in the country” (that is, anywhere else) – because the Levites are performing a sacred religious function. The Mishnah says:

SALT MAY BE SCATTERED ON THE ALTAR'S ASCENT THAT THE PRIESTS SHALL NOT SLIP.

The alter’s steps were smooth and could be slippery after the rain. But there are difficulties with scattering items on Shabbat.

But is not this inconsistent with the following: If a courtyard floor was damaged by rainwater one may bring straw and level it?

Isn’t spreading straw to allow safe passage on a slippery floor the same as spreading salt? Apparently not because “the owner does not renounce it.” That is the straw would subsequently be picked up to be used for animal feed.

The problem with “scattering” is not the action itself, but it might be considered “building” by leveling the floor – and action which is one of the 39 forbidden categories of “work” on Shabbat. This makes it forbidden by Torah law. Scattering salt is not “building” or leveling, it is only forbidden in the country according to Rabbinic law.

R. SIMEON SAID: WHEREVER THE SAGES HAVE PERMITTED YOU ANYTHING THEY HAVE ONLY GIVEN YOU WHAT IS REALLY YOURS, SINCE THEY HAVE ONLY PERMITTED YOU THAT WHICH IS FORBIDDEN AS SHEBUTH (Rabbinic enactment).


That is, the rabbis relax only restrictions which they have enacted as preventative measures. But not Torah law.

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