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.
No comments:
Post a Comment