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Week 8 - Wednesday - 19 Jan. 2000

SHABBAT: CHAPTER 16: MISHNA 2

One may save food for three meals, that which is fit for man for man, that which is fit for cattle for cattle. How? If a fire broke out on the night of Shabbat, one may save food for three meals; in the morning, one may save food for two meals; in the afternoon, food for one meal. Rabbi Yose says: One may always save food for three meals.

Kehati

After the preceding mishnah taught that the Holy Scriptures may be taken out from the private domain to save them from a fire that broke out on Shabbat, this mishnah continues by teaching that food, too, may be saved, but only in the amount required for the meals of that same Shab-

bat. The Holy Scriptures and food are treated differently in this respect. The Sages treated Holy Scriptures leniently, due to their sanctity, and permitted taking them even into a courtyard for which an eruv had not been prepared, or into an alley that is not shared. In the matter of food,

however, the Sages permitted removal from a private domain only into a shared courtyard for which an eruv had been prepared (see the following mishnah). In the introduction to the preceding mishnah we explained that the Sages prohibited the saving of a large quantity of food, lest in the excitement over saving his property he forgets that the day is Shabbat, and extinguishes the fire. These restrictions apply only to the house in which the fire broke out. In other houses which are close to the fire, whose owners fear that the fire will spread and reach their houses, the owners may save whatever they want into a courtyard for which an eruv has been prepared, for we do not anticipate that they will extinguish the fire (Tosafot, Shab. 115a).

One may save - from a fire that broke out on Shabbat, food for three meals - I.e., one is permitted to save only what he requires for this same Shabbat, which is not more than the food for three meals, for one is obliged to eat three meals on Shabbat (Shab. 117b), that food which is fit for man - is saved - for man - humans, that - food - which is fit - and required - for cattle - for consumption on Shabbat, is saved - for cattle. How - much food is saved? If a fire broke out on the night of Shabbat - Friday night prior to the meal, one may save food for three meals - I.e., what is required for all the Shabbat meals. If the fire broke out on Shabbat - in the morning - before the meal, one may save - only - food for two meals; and if the fire broke out on Shabbat in the afternoon - prior to the third meal, one may save only - food for one meal.

Rabbi Yose says: One may always save food for three meals - Since one is obliged to eat three meals on Shabbat, he always is permitted to save this amount from the fire, whether it be on Friday night, in the morning, or in the afternoon. The halakhah does not follow Rabbi Yose (see Rambarn, Hil. Shabbat 23:21).

SHABBAT: CHAPTER 16: MISHNA 3

One may save a basket full of loaves, and even though there are in it one hundred meals, or a cake of pressed figs, or a jug of wine. And he may say to others, "Come and save for yourselves." And if they were prudent, they make an accounting with him after Shabbat. Whither do they save them? To a courtyard for which an eruv has

been prepared. Ben Beteira says. Even to one for which an eruvhas not been prepared.

Kehati

After the preceding mishnah taught that one may save from a fire only the food required for the meals on that Shabbat, this mishnah teaches that in some cases a large quantity of food may be saved. The halakhah that only the food for three meals may be saved is restricted to cases where one saves in many vessels, the collection of which entails much trouble, or where one fills a vessel, takes it outside, pours out the contents, and returns and refills. If, however, one saves one vessel, taking it out once, he may take it out when it is full, even if it contains food for many meals.

One may save - from a fire on Shabbat, a basket full of loaves - since he takes it in one go, and even though there are in it one hundred meals - See the introduction to this mishnah, or a cake of pressed figs - figs pressed into the shape of a circle, or a jug of wine - Even though the cake of pressed figs and the jug of wine are more than is needed for that Shabbat. And he - the householder, may say to others, "Come and save for yourselves" - I.e., he declares the food ownerless so that they will save it, and everyone may save the amount of food which he requires for that Shabbat, or whatever can be saved in one removal, even if this is sufficient for many meals. These people acquire the food because it is ownerless. According to one opinion, other people may save even in many vessels, and may return and save a number of times, for they do not become confused and there is no fear lest they extinguish the fire (Maharit, see Tosefot Yom Tov). And if they were prudent - The Gemara explains that this refers to God-fearing savers who do not want to derive benefit from the property of others. Since they know that the householder did not willingly declare ownerless that which they saved, they return everything to him. They do not, however, want their labor to be unrewarded. The mishnah therefore teaches that if they were well-versed in the law, they would know that in this case they may take payment for their trouble (for this is not Shabbat hire because they did not initially come to save on this basis). So they take their payment because they acquired everything due to its ownerless status, and now they return everything to him, they make an accounting with him after Shabbat - They take an amount according to their trouble. Whither do they save them the foods and the drinks? To a courtyard for which an eruv has been prepared - For the Sages were more stringent regarding food than regarding the Holy Scriptures (see the introduction to the preceding mishnah).

Ben Beteira says: One may save food Even to one - a courtyard - for which an eruv has not been prepared - The halakhah follows the First Tanna.

There is also an entirely different interpretation of the clause "And if they were prudent...": Viz., if the savers are sensible and realize that he does not want to give them the food as a gift but intends them to save it for him, "they make an accounting with him" of the value of the benefit they derived from it, and they pay him (Albek; see also the addenda to his commentary on this mishnah).

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