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Week 47 - Friday - 20 October 2000

MOED KATAN: CHAPTER 1: MISHNAH 8

An ordinary person may sew in the normal manner, and the skilled may stitch. And they may interlace the beds. Rabbi Yose says, One may even tighten.

Kehati

An ordinary person - who is not expert in the art of sewing, may sew - during Hol Hamoed, in the normal weekday - manner. This is explained in the Gemara, "Whoever is incapable of extracting the entire needle in one stroke" is called an "ordinary person," for the skilled sewer inserts the needle into the fabric many times along the entire length of the needle and draws it out from the final exit point of the needle, thereby making several stitches at one time; whoever does not know how to sew in this fashion is called "an ordinary person." According to another opinion, an ordinary person is "whoever is not capable of directing a border on the hem of his garment," i.e., he is not capable of making a straight hem of equal width a the edges of the garment, but one which is wide here and narrow there and the skilled - who is expert in the work of sewing, may stitch - according to one opinion in the Gemara, this means "may make cross-stitches," i.e., he skips while sewing: he does not make one stitch follow the next, but leaves spaces between them. According to another interpretation in the Gemara, he makes the stitches as "dog's teeth," i.e., one above the other, and not all in one row; since skilled workers do now sew thus, even an expert may do it during Hol Hamoed. And - during Hol Hamoed -

They may interlace the beds - weave the warp and woof cords underneath the beds. Some authorities prove from the discussion in the Gemara that this is permitted only for the needs of Hol Hamoed (see the Gemara and Tosafot, M.K. 10a). But according to some authorities, the reason why this is permitted is because it is work designed to prevent loss, and therefore is permitted in any event.

Rabbi Yose says, One may even tighten - the cords if they became slack, even though it is still possible to use the cords as they are, without tightening them (e.g., by inserting mattresses and cushions). Nevertheless, one is permitted to tighten them during Hol Hamoed (Tiferet Yisrael). Most commentators, however, do not include the word "even" in their version of the mishnah. They explain that Rabbi Yose disagrees with the First Tanna, and he holds that one may tighten the cords that have become entangled, but one may not weave. The halakhah does not follow Rabbi Yose.

MOED KATAN: CHAPTER 1: MISHNAH 9

One may stand an oven, a stove, or a millstone on the Moed. Rabbi Yehudah says, One may not chisel the millstone from the beginning.

Kehati

One may stand an oven, a stove or a millstone on the Moed - during Hol Hamoed. According to one opinion, this means that one may build, set in place, and repair an oven or a stove, since they are needed for baking and cooking during Hol Hamoed. The "millstone" is a manual one, with which to grind for the needs of the Festival (Rashi, Bartenura). Some explain, however, that in the time of the Mishnah ovens were portable and were carried from place to place, and when people wanted to bake or cook with them, they would set them down in one place, covering them in plaster, and embed them in plaster below the ground in order to conserve their heat. The mishnah therefore teaches that it is permissible to set them down and establish them in one place during Hol Hamoed; and even if they were made of tiles, it is permitted to assemble them, or to join them with plaster in order to bake and cook during the Festival. It is prohibited, however, to start their manufacture from the beginning, even for the needs of the Festival (Tosafot). The "oven" was as wide at the top as at the bottom, and it was large enough to place two dishes on the fire. The "stove" was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, and was larger than an oven; it was used for baking (see Shab. 3:2).

Rabbi Yehudah says, One may not chisel - the stones of - the millstone - in order to sharpen them, during Hol Hamoed - from the beginning - when the millstone is new (for they do not grind well when they are smooth), because this work entails excessive trouble. Old millstones, however, since only a small amount of chiseling is required, may be done during Hol Hamoed. The halakhah does not follow Rabbi Yehudah.

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