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Week 9 - Friday - 28 Jan. 2000

SHABBAT: CHAPTER 19: MISHNA 1

Rabbi Eliezer says. If he did not bring an instrument on Friday, he may bring it on Shabbat uncovered; and in danger, he may cover it by the mouth of witnesses. And Rabbi Eliezer further said. One may cut wood to make charcoal and to make an iron utensil. Rabbi Akiva stated a general rule: No activity that can be done on Friday

overrides Shabbat, but that which cannot be done on Friday overrides Shabbat.

This chapter deals with the laws of utensils needed for performing a circumcision on Shabbat. The mishnah discusses whether the preparations for circumcision override Shabbat, as does the circumcision itself; Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva disagree about this.

Rabbi Eliezer says, If - the time of the circumcision falls on Shabbat, and he - the mohel did not bring an instrument - the circumcision knife on Friday, he may bring it on Shabbat uncovered - so that everyone will see that he is bringing the circumcision knife. The Gemara explains the reason for this: It is to show that the obligation of circumcision is cherished and overrides Shabbat;

and in - a time of danger - when the Gentile authorities prohibited Jews from performing circumcision, he may cover it by the mouth of witnesses - who will testify that he brought the knife of circumcision, and people will not suspect that he brought some other object on Shabbat.

And Rabbi Eliezer further said: If there is no knife with which to perform the circumcision, one may - even - cut wood - on Shabbat, from which - to make charcoal and to make an iron utensil - to forge the knife for circumcision, for according to Rabbi Eliezer, even preparation of the instruments required for circumcision override Shabbat, as does the circumcision itself.

Rabbi Akiva stated a general rule: No activity that can be done on Friday - such as the instruments required for the circumcision, overrides Shabbat - since they could have been made before Shabbat, but that which cannot be done on Friday - such as the circumcision itself, whose time is fixed for the eighth day, overrides Shabbat - See the end of the preceding mishnah.

The halakhah follows Rabbi Akiva. This general rule is also taught in connection with the Pesah sacrifice (Pes. 6:2), and the meal-offering of the High Priest (Men. 11:3).

SHABBAT: CHAPTER 19: MISHNA 2

One may do all the needs of circumcision on Shabbat: one may circumcise, and tear, and suck, and put on it a bandage and cumin. If he did not grind before Shabbat, he may chew with his teeth and he may put. If he did not mix wine and oil before Shabbat, he may put this by itself and this by itself. And ab initio one may not make

for it a shirt but he may wrap around it a rag. If he did not prepare before Shabbat, he may wrap around his finger and he may bring, and even from another courtyard.

Kehati

This mishnah lists the needs of circumcision which may be performed on Shabbat.

One may do all the needs of circumcision on Shabbat: one may circumcise -

circumcising and cutting the foreskin, and tear - the thin membrane under the foreskin, which the mohel tears to reveal the corona, and suck - out a small quantity of blood to cleanse the wound and put on it a bandage and cumin - a type of plant, used for medicinal purposes. He must, however, grind the cumin before Shabbat. If he did not grind - the cumin - before Shabbat, he may chew with his teeth and he may put - it on the place of the circumcision, because everything that can be done in an unusual way may be done. If he did not mix wine and oil before Shabbat - It was the practice to mix wine and oil, as a medicine and put it on the place of the circumcision. This as

well had to be prepared before Shabbat, and if he had not mixed them before Shabbat, he may put this by itself and this by itself - i.e., he puts one into the bowl by itself, and he puts the other one by itself, and he does not beat them, and if they become mixed it may be used (Hameiri, Tosefot Rabbi Akiva Eiger), and afterwards he puts some of the mixture on the place of the circumcision. And, ab initio, one may not make for it - the circumcision, a shirt - It was the practice to make a sort of small "shirt," into which the corona would be put, so that the skin would not return and cover it. It is

prohibited to make this, ab initio, on Shabbat, because this is considered as the preparation of a vessel, but he may wrap around it a rag - if the shirt had not been prepared before Shabbat. If he did not prepare - a rag, either, before Shabbat - -and there is none present in the place where he performs the circumcision, he may wrap around his finger and he may bring - I.e., he may go

and bring a rag from another house, and he wraps it around his finger, as if it were an item of clothing, employing a change from the normal method of carrying on a weekday, and - it is permitted to bring, not only from another house in the same courtyard (even though an eruv has not been prepared in the courtyard), but it is permitted even from another courtyard - in which an eruv of (partnership) has

not been made with this courtyard. Nonetheless, it is prohibited to bring it through the public domain {Magen Avraham 331:1; see also Tosefot Rabbi Akiva Eiger). According to another opinion, it is even permitted to bring it through the public domain (Ran, in the name of Ramban), because he brings it as an item of clothing (Hameiri).

According to the Gemara, the general statement that begins this mishnah, "one may do all the needs of circumcision on Shabbat," is stated to teach what is taught in a baraita: "The person who circumcises, as long as he is engaged in the circumcision, may return and repair, whether for the shreds (of skin remaining from the foreskin) which invalidate the circumcision, or for the shreds which do not invalidate the circurncision (see 19:6, below). If he withdrew (i.e., after the mohel has taken his

hand from the circumcision), he may return for the shreds which invalidate the circumcision, and he may not return for the shreds which do not invalidate the circumcision" (Shah. 133b).

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