hatam_soferet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hatam_soferet) wrote2007-10-30 10:10 am
hatam_soferet) wrote2007-10-30 10:10 am
gemara treasures
Talmud Yerushalmi, Beitzah 2:6
There is a discussion as to whether one may re-erect a lampstand on Yom Tov, if it fell over. Essentially, does putting a lamp back together constitute the forbidden act of building, or not?
Well.
כהדא תלמידוי דר' יוסי הוון יתיבין נפלת מנרתא קומיהון והוה כל חד וחד שמיט גרמיה וערק
That is, Rabbi Yosi's students were sitting around on Yom Tov, and a lampstand fell over. So of course, then they were faced with the question: can we put this back up? One by one, they got up and ran away.
Oblige me by picturing this. They're all sitting around in the dark, carefully not mentioning the lamp. They all know that Putting A Lamp Back Up is a Difficult Question. None of them wants to hazard an opinion - their teacher Rabbi Yosi isn't there, note - so they keep chatting, desperately keeping the conversation OFF the subject of putting up lamps on yom tov - and one by one they coincidentally remember that they'd actually promised to meet someone round about now, or they'd better get home because the dog needs to be let out, or their wife will be waiting for them - gosh we're a forgetful lot this evening, aren't we! haha! and scuttle off down dark alleys, wrapped in cloaks, sandals flapping, terrified lest someone ask them to decide the question...
There is a discussion as to whether one may re-erect a lampstand on Yom Tov, if it fell over. Essentially, does putting a lamp back together constitute the forbidden act of building, or not?
Well.
כהדא תלמידוי דר' יוסי הוון יתיבין נפלת מנרתא קומיהון והוה כל חד וחד שמיט גרמיה וערק
That is, Rabbi Yosi's students were sitting around on Yom Tov, and a lampstand fell over. So of course, then they were faced with the question: can we put this back up? One by one, they got up and ran away.
Oblige me by picturing this. They're all sitting around in the dark, carefully not mentioning the lamp. They all know that Putting A Lamp Back Up is a Difficult Question. None of them wants to hazard an opinion - their teacher Rabbi Yosi isn't there, note - so they keep chatting, desperately keeping the conversation OFF the subject of putting up lamps on yom tov - and one by one they coincidentally remember that they'd actually promised to meet someone round about now, or they'd better get home because the dog needs to be let out, or their wife will be waiting for them - gosh we're a forgetful lot this evening, aren't we! haha! and scuttle off down dark alleys, wrapped in cloaks, sandals flapping, terrified lest someone ask them to decide the question...