Moed Katan 2a

מועד קטן ב׳ ע״א

Learn Moed Katan 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Watering fields and public work on חול המועד, and who wrote the משנה

Overview

The משנה opens מסכת מועד קטן by allowing a person to water a thirsty field (בית השלחין) during חול המועד and שביעית, from a new spring or an old one. It forbids watering methods that take heavy effort, and it brings a מחלוקת about digging water channels. It ends with a list of public needs that may be taken care of on חול המועד. The גמרא asks why the משנה mentions the old spring at all. It answers that the type of spring does not matter: only a בית השלחין may be watered, and a rain-fed field (בית הבעל) may not. The גמרא then uses verses and their תרגום to show what the two field names mean. Next it asks which תנא wrote the משנה. רב הונא's answer, רבי אליעזר בן יעקב, is rejected. רב פפא then names רבי יהודה, based on a ברייתא, which the גמרא explains. The amud ends as the גמרא begins to challenge רב פפא's proof, and the challenge continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. StatementWatering a thirsty field from any spring
2. StatementWatering methods that are too much work
3. StatementDisagreement about digging a new water channel
4. StatementPublic works allowed on חול המועד
5. ChallengeWhy mention the old spring at all?
6. ResolutionBoth cases were needed: what we would have wrongly thought
7. ConclusionThe kind of spring does not matter; only the kind of field does
8. QuestionHow do we know the name means a 'thirsty' field?
9. ResponseProof from the תרגום of 'faint and weary'
10. QuestionHow do we know the name means a 'settled' field?
11. ResponseProof from the תרגום of 'as a young man marries a maiden'
12. QuestionWho is the author of our משנה's rules?
13. Responseרב הונא says it is רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
14. ChallengeThat only covers profit, not effort where there is a loss
15. Resolutionרב פפא says it is רבי יהודה
16. Proofרבי יהודה also forbids redirecting a water channel
17. QuestionWhat does 'dried up' mean?
18. Responseאביי: the old spring dried up and a new one appeared
19. Statementרבי אלעזר בן עזריה forbids a new spring in every case
20. ChallengeMaybe רבי יהודה's limits apply only to a new spring