ANSWERS TO REVIEW QUESTIONS
prepared by Rabbi Eliezer Chrysler
Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Jerusalem
Previous daf
Beitzah 18
Questions
1)
(a) According to the Gemara's first contention (Rabah), Chazal forbade
Toveling utensils ...
1. ... on Shabbos - because one may come to carry the utensils into the
street (on one's way to the Mikvah).
2. ... on Yom-Tov - because otherwise, one may come to Tovel them on
Shabbos, too.
(b) They forbade even someone who *has* a Mikvah on his property (and does
not need to carry his utensils) to Tovel them - because of someone who
*hasn't*.
(c) Even though Chazal decreed one case because of the other (as we have
just seen), they did not forbid Hashakah because of Tevilah - because it is
only someone who does not have drinking water who makes Hashakah, and such a
person is usually very careful not to allow his water to become Tamei.
Consequently, Hashakah is rare, and Chazal tend not to issue decrees in
cases that are rare.
2)
(a) The Beraisa permits Toveling a Tamei bucket by using it to draw water
from a well. This differs radically from Toveling Tamei water in a Tamei
vessel, which our Mishnah forbids - inasmuch as *there*, the purpose of the
Tevilah is clearly in order to Tovel the water or the vessel; whereas here,
by the bucket, who is to know that he is not lowering the bucket into the
well in order to draw water?
(b) Nor do we decree Tevilah using this method, for fear that one may come
to Tovel the bucket directly - because, now that Chazal required him to use
this method, he will certainly remember that Toveling directly on Yom-Tov is
prohibited.
(c) Despite the fact that one is not permitted to Tovel a vessel that
became Tamei *before* Yom-Tov, they allowed one to Tovel one that became
Tamei *on* Yom-Tov - because Tum'ah on Yom-Tov is unusual, and we have
already learned above, that Chazal do not generally decree an Isur on
something which is unusual.
(d) True, a Toveled vessel requires Ha'arev Shemesh before it becomes
permitted - but that is only as regards Terumah; as far as Chulin is
concerned, one may use the vessel immediately, so he can always use the
Toveled vessel for Chulin.
3)
(a) A vessel that became Tamei through a 'V'lad ha'Tum'ah' (i.e. a Rishon) -
may be Toveled on Yom-Tov.
(b) Chazal did not decree a vessel that became Tamei through a *V'lad*
ha'Tum'ah because of one that became Tamei through an *Av* - because its
Tum'ah (which is only mi'de'Rabbanan - since, min ha'Torah, a vessel can
only become Tamei through contact with an Av ha'Tum'ah) affects only Kohanim
(seeing as a Sheini le'Tum'ah can render *Terumah* a Shelishi, but not
*Chulin*), and 'Kohanim Zerizin Heim'.
(c) 'Kohanim Zerizin Heim' (in this context) means either that - the Kohanim
will take care not to permit Toveling vessels that received Tum'ah from an
Av ha'Tum'ah; or that they are careful to keep their vessels away from
Tum'ah, in which case it is unusual for this to happen, and Chazal did not
decree.
(d) They also permitted a Nidah who has no spare clothes, to 'cheat' and
Tovel on Yom-Tov in her clothes, even if, at the same time, she Tovels her
clothes. They did not decree a Nidah when she has *no spare clothes* for
fear that when she *has*, she may Tovel them outright - because, since they
only permitted her to Tovel in her clothes, she will certainly remember that
Toveling clothes on Yom-Tov in a conventional manner is forbidden.
4)
(a) Rav Yosef explains the reason for the prohibition of Toveling vessels
(which means 'clothes' in his opinion) on Shabbos, because one may come to
squeeze out one's clothes. According to Rav Bibi - it is because we are
afraid that if Toveling vessels on Yom-Tov were to be permitted, one may
take advantage of this, and postpone the Tevilah of vessels that need
Tevilah, for Yom-Tov. Meanwhile, he may forget and use them for Terumah.
(b) According to Rava, the reason for the prohibition of Toveling vessels is
because it resembles making a vessel (since effectively, one is making the
vessel fit for use). Nevertheless, Beis Hillel permit the Tevilah of a
person - because to the onlooker, the person may well have entered the water
to cool down (and we have already learned that, any prohibition that is
based on Mar'is ha'Ayin, is only prohibited if it is clear that what the
person is doing is Asur, but not if it can be translated as something that
is permitted).
(c) This does not mean that he is forbidden to Tovel in dirty water, in
which one does not usually bathe - because even there, one might come home
on a hot day and enter the water to cool down.
18b---------------------------------------18b
Questions
5)
(a) It is not even forbidden to Tovel in dirty water during the *winter*
months - because sometimes one comes home from the fields dirty (from the
mud), and enters the water, even if it is dirty, in order to clean it off.
(b) The reason that Tevilah is permitted even on Yom Kipur (when it is
forbidden to enter the water to cool oneself, and it is evident that he is
only doing so in order to Tovel) is because of 'Ho'il' - whatever is
permitted (Melachah-wise) on Shabbos, is certainly permitted on Yom-Kipur.
6)
(a) The Mishnah in Shabbos permits a man with tooth-ache to dip his food in
vinegar on Shabbos and eat it, but not to sip it directly - the Beraisa
writes that one may not sip it and spit it out (because then it was obvious
taken as a cure), but that one may sip it and swallow it (when it looks as
if he is just drinking it).
(b) Abaye establishes our Mishnah when he sips it and spits it out (which
conforms with the Beraisa). Rava reconciles the Mishnah with the Beraisa,
even if the Mishnah is speaking about *swallowing* the vinegar - which is
also forbidden *after* the meal (when it is obvious that he is doing it
purely as a cure); whereas the Beraisa, which *permits* swallowing it,
speaks *before* the meal (when it is feasible to drink vinegar, because it
might help develop one's appetite.)
(c) But this appears to contradict what Rava said earlier (in 5d.) - where
he applied the principle of 'Ho'il' (from Shabbos to Yom Kipur). Why do we
not say here too, that whatever is permitted before the meal, will also be
permitted afterwards - because of 'Ho'il'?
(d) We answer that Rava retracted from one of his statements. This can only
be from the latter one (regarding the distinction between drinking vinegar
before the meal and after it) - because otherwise, he will clash with a
Beraisa, which explicitly writes that, whoever is Chayav Tevilah may Tovel
normally, both on Tish'ah be'Av and on Yom-Kipur.
7)
(a) In a Beraisa, Rebbi says that one may not Tovel a vessel together with
the water that it contains, and one may not make Hashakah, either. The
Rabbanan hold that - both are permitted.
(b) In that case, we ask - who is the author of our Mishnah, which permits
Hashakah, but forbids Tevilah?
(c) We establish our Mishnah like Rebbi - in which case, it speaks about
Yom-Tov, when Hashakah is permitted. Rebbi's first statement too, forbidding
Tevilah (but *permitting* Hashakah) - speaks on *Yom-Tov* (conforming with
the Mishnah). His second statement however, *forbidding* Hashakah, speaks on
*Shabbos*, when Rebbi agrees that Hashakah is forbidden, too.
(d) Alternatively, we establish our Mishnah like the Rabbanan, in which
case, our Mishnah speaks about Shabbos - when according to the Rabbanan,
Hashakah is permitted, but Tevilah is forbidden. Their opening statement
(like Rebbi's) refers to *Yom-Tov*, when they *permit* even *Tevilah*; And
it is their *second* statement which (like Rebbi's) speaks by Shabbos, where
they permit Hashakah, but *forbid* Tevilah, that coincides with our Mishnah.
Next daf
|