Moed Katan 19a

מועד קטן י״ט ע״א

Learn Moed Katan 19a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Moed Katan 19a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Writing תפילין and spinning תכלת on חול המועד; how festivals affect mourning

Overview

The amud opens with the last line of a משנה: on חול המועד a person may spin תכלת for his ציצית on his thigh. A ברייתא gives three views on writing תפילין and מזוזות on חול המועד. רבי מאיר allows it for yourself, or for others as a free favor. רבי יהודה allows a trick: sell your own and write new ones. רבי יוסי allows normal writing and selling, enough to make a living, and the הלכה follows him. A second ברייתא argues over whether תכלת may be spun with a stone or a spindle, and the הלכה allows both. A new משנה then teaches that a רגל cancels mourning that began before it: שבעה if the burial was three days before, שלשים if it was eight days before. It explains that שבת counts as a mourning day but does not interrupt mourning, while רגלים interrupt mourning but do not count. It then records a מחלוקת about whether עצרת, ראש השנה and יום הכיפורים act like שבת or like the רגלים. The גמרא ends with רב and רב ששת arguing whether the רגל cancels only the mourning restrictions or the days too, and shows one practical result: a mourner who did not cut his hair before the רגל may not cut it after.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementThe משנה allows spinning תכלת on the thigh
2. Statementרבי מאיר: write for yourself, or for others as a favor
3. Statementרבי יהודה: sell your own and write new ones
4. Statementרבי יוסי: write and sell normally, enough for a living
5. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רבי יוסי
6. Statementרבי אליעזר and the חכמים on spinning with a stone
7. Statementרבי יהודה's version: a stone yes, a spindle no
8. ConclusionThe הלכה: spinning is allowed with a stone or a spindle
9. ConclusionThe הלכה: write normally and sell for a living
10. StatementNew משנה: a רגל cancels mourning that began before it
11. StatementThe principle: שבת counts, רגלים interrupt
12. Statementרבי אליעזר: after the Temple, עצרת is like שבת
13. Statementרבן גמליאל: ראש השנה and יום הכיפורים are like the רגלים
14. StatementThe Sages reject both views
15. Statementרב and רב הונא: the restrictions are cancelled, not the days
16. Statementרב ששת: even the days are cancelled
17. QuestionWhy aren't the days cancelled?
18. ResponseIf he didn't cut his hair before the festival, he may not after