Moed Katan 11b

מועד קטן י״א ע״ב

Learn Moed Katan 11b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

What work is allowed to an אבל and on חול המועד when there is a risk of loss

Overview

The משנה discusses a man whose olives were ready for pressing, but mourning, an accident, or workers who did not show up kept him from pressing them before the Festival. רבי יהודה lets him do only the first loading of the press on חול המועד, while רבי יוסי lets him finish the whole job. The גמרא asks why the משנה opens with mourning but rules about the Festival. רב שישא בריה דרב אידי says this shows a mourner may not do work that is allowed on חול המועד. רב אשי instead reads it as two rules: loss-preventing work is allowed during mourning, and even on the מועד. A ברייתא supports רב שישא. It lists urgent jobs that others do for an אבל, when the אבל may work himself, and how different kinds of workers are treated. The גמרא fixes one line of that ברייתא about contract work. The amud ends with a story: מר בריה דרב אחא pulled his ox out of a shared team while mourning. רב אשי objects, and the גמרא explains that an אדם חשוב is stricter with himself.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementOlives ready for pressing, but the work was delayed
2. Statementרבי יוסי lets him finish the whole job
3. QuestionWhy does the משנה start with mourning and end with the Festival?
4. Responseרב שישא: a mourner may not do what is allowed on the Festival
5. Responseרב אשי: two separate rules, from the easier case to the harder one
6. ProofA ברייתא supports רב שישא: others do urgent work for the mourner
7. Statementרבי יהודה adds sowing a field for the mourner
8. RejectionThe חכמים reject sowing because it is not a real loss
9. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: the mourner may work privately if he is the only expert
10. StatementA public craftsman may work before the רגל if no one else can
11. StatementFarm workers versus drivers and sailors
12. StatementDay laborer and a job held for others
13. ChallengeWhy would contract work be the bigger חידוש?
14. ResolutionFixing the wording: both kinds are forbidden
15. StatementOthers doing the אבל's work: his house or elsewhere
16. StatementThe shared ox team story
17. Challengeרב אשי: what about the partner's loss?
18. ResolutionAn important person is different