Moed Katan 8b

מועד קטן ח׳ ע״ב

Learn Moed Katan 8b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Mourning before a רגל, burial work on חול המועד, and why weddings are forbidden on חול המועד.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier discussion. It gives a second reason not to lament the dead within thirty days before a רגל: grief stays in the heart for thirty days. The two reasons give different results when a eulogizer works for free. A new משנה then forbids digging new כוכין and קברות on חול המועד, but allows adjusting existing כוכין, making a laundry pond, and making a coffin when the body is in the courtyard. The גמרא defines these terms and links the coffin rule to a ברייתא about the needs of the dead. A second משנה forbids weddings and יבום on חול המועד because of the joy, and also covers cosmetics, sewing, and bed cords. The גמרא asks why joy should be a problem on a festival. It gives four answers: not mixing joys, the wedding pushing aside the festival's joy (traced to רב and ושמחת בחגך), the effort involved, and the risk that people would delay פריה ורביה. A challenge from a ברייתא begins at the end and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ResponseThe second reason: the dead is remembered for thirty days
2. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two reasons?
3. ResponseA eulogizer who works for free
4. Statementמשנה: graves, crypts, a laundry pond, and a coffin on חול המועד
5. Statementרבי יהודה is stricter about the coffin
6. QuestionWhat are כוכין and what are קברות?
7. Responseרב יהודה: כוכין are dug, קברות are built
8. ProofA ברייתא supports רב יהודה
9. QuestionHow does one adjust a כוך?
10. Responseרב יהודה: if it is too long, he shortens it
11. ResponseA ברייתא: he lengthens it and widens it
12. QuestionWhat is a laundry pond?
13. Responseרב יהודה: it is a ditch
14. ChallengeA ברייתא lists them as two things
15. ResolutionA pond and a small pond
16. ProofThe coffin rule matches a ברייתא
17. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: even cutting boards privately
18. StatementNo weddings or levirate marriage on חול המועד
19. StatementWomen's cosmetics on the festival
20. StatementSewing: amateur versus professional
21. StatementBed cords: weaving or only tightening
22. QuestionWhat is wrong with joy on a festival?
23. ResponseFirst answer: do not mix one joy with another
24. ResponseSecond answer: he would leave the festival's joy for his wife's joy
25. Proofאביי shows this answer comes from רב and a פסוק
26. ResponseThird answer: too much work
27. ResponseFourth answer: people would delay having children
28. ChallengeA ברייתא is brought to challenge the reasons