1)

(a)'Bal Tachsom' does does apply to 'Paros ha'Meraksos bi'Tevu'ah'. This results in what is known as 'Chushla' - barley that is soaked in water and dried before being threshed by cows, in order to remove the shells ...

(b)... and the reason that 'Bal Tachsom' does not pertain to it is - because Miru'ach (flattening the pile of grain that constitutes the G'mar Melachah for produce [see Tosfos on the previous Amud, DH 'ha'Meraksos']) has already been performed before the cows began threshing (Shitah Mekubetzes).

2)

(a)The Tana also precludes animals that are threshing T'rumos and Ma'asros from 'Bal Tachsom' - because normally, the Ma'asering only takes place after the Miru'ach, which follows the threshing (in which case, the Torah is referring to un'Ma'asered crops. In our case however, the owner must have Ma'asered the crops 'be'Shibalin' (when they were still in their stalks [before the threshing began]).

(b)Nevertheless, 'Bal Tachsom' does not pertain to them - because under normal circumstances, Terumah and Ma'aser are separated only after the Miru'ach.

(c)To get round the problem of 'Mar'is ha'Ayin', the Tana Kama requires a Bul of whichever species the cow is threshing to be placed in a Traskal around its neck.

1. ... a 'Bul' is - a fistful.

2. ... a 'Traskal' - is a basket.

(d)According to Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai - he would place a fistful (not of the species the animal happened to be threshing, but) - of vetch (or horse-bean), which is healthier for the cows.

3)

(a)Another Beraisa states that in a case where ...

1. ... a Nochri is threshing with a cow belonging to a Yisrael - 'Bal Tachsom' does not apply.

2. ... a Yisrael is threshing with the cow belonging to a Nochri - 'Bal Tachsom' does apply.

3. ... one's cow is threshing Terumah or Ma'aser - 'Bal Tachsom' applies (creating a discrepancy between this Beraisa and the previous one).

(b)To answer the discrepancy regarding Terumah, we draw a distinction between Terumah and Gidulei Terumah. The first Beraisa (which permits Dishah with regard to Terumah) is speaking about the original Terumah (d'Oraysa), which does not fall under the category of "be'Disho" (as we explained above); whereas the second Beraisa is speaking about Gidulei Terumah (mi'de'Rabbanan) which does (seeing as min ha'Torah, it is Chulin).

(c)Chazal decreed 'Gidulei Terumah' - in the list of the eighteen cases where Beis Shamai outvoted Beis Hillel (in the first Perek of Shabbos).

(d)One of the reasons that they considered it Terumah, even though min ha'Torah, it has a Din of Chulin is because they were afraid either that the Yisrael might plant it in order to avoid having to give it to the Kohen. The other one was - that the Kohen might retain his Tamei Terumah for a long period of time, waiting for the ideal moment to plant it, in order to dispense with the Tum'ah (and in the course of time, forget that it was Tamei and eat it).

4)

(a)To explain why we do not answer the Kashya on Ma'aser in the same manner, we quote a Mishnah in Terumos. The Tana there rules that ...

1. ... 'Gidulei Tevel (which refers to Tevel which, after Miru'ach, the owner re-plants) and ...

2. ... 'Gidulei Ma'aser (Sheini) - are both Chulin'.

(b)Chazal did not extend the decree of Gidulin to Tevel and Ma'aser - because the reasons that we cited earlier regarding Gidulei Terumah do not apply to them.

(c)So we reconcile the discrepancy by Ma'aser by differentiating between Ma'aser Rishon and Ma'aser Sheini - inasmuch as Ma'aser Sheini is Mamon Gavohah (the property of Hash-m] and does not therefore fall under the category of "be'Disho"), whereas Ma'aser Rishon is Chulin.

(d)Alternatively, we establish even the Beraisa that includes it in Bal Tachsom by Ma'aser Sheini, but according to Rebbi Yehudah, who holds - that Ma'aser Sheini is Mamon Hedyot (the property of the owner).

5)

(a)According to the S'vara of Rebbi Yehudah (see Maharsha DH 'Rashi, Mamon'), Terumah does not fall under the category of "be'Disho" - because the Tana is speaking about the animal of a Yisrael, which may not be fed Terumah.

(b)Nor will the fact that the Kohen rented the cow from the Yisrael make any difference - since we learn in the Mishnah in Terumos that even though a Kohen who hires a cow from a Yisrael is obligated to feed it, he may not feed it Karshinei Terumah (because hiring does not acquire the object completely).

(c)We have already explained that the Ma'asros must have been separated be'Shibalin for the Ma'aser to have taken effect before the threshing, and that according to Rebbi Yehudah, Ma'aser Sheini is Mamon Hedyot (which is why it falls under the category of "be'Disho". It is true that Ma'aser Sheini outside the walls of Yerushalayim, where it cannot be eaten, are not considered "be'Disho" either. The Tana is speaking however - within the walls of Beis Pagi (further inside that point, where there was no location or them to have been threshed).

(d)Beis Pagi is the outer wall of Yerushalayim, which the Sanhedrin added later to the town.

6)

(a)Alternatively, we establish both the Mishnah and the Beraisa by Ma'aser Sheini according to Rebbi Meir, and it is possible for Ma'aser Sheini to fall under the category of "be'Disho", according to Rebbi Meir - by Ma'aser Sheini shel D'mai, which is only a Chumra de'Rabbanan.

(b)We cannot give the same answer to reconcile the discrepancy with regard to Terumah - because Terumah Gedolah is not subject to D'mai.

(c)Raban Yochanan ben Zakai ...

1. ... did not institute D'mai with regard to Terumah Gedolah - because, he saw that, due to the Chiyuv Misah (bi'Yedei Shamayim) to which eating Terumah Gedolah is subject, all the Amei ha'Aretz were particular to give it to the Kohen.

2. ... negated Viduy Ma'asros every fourth and seventh year - because since Ezra punished the Levi'im and instituted that Ma'aser Rishon should be given to the Kohen, how could one possibly say "ve'Gam Nesativ la'Levi".

(d)We nevertheless establish the Beraisa by Terumah, even according to Rebbi Meir, not by Terumah Gedolah, but - by Terumas Ma'aser (which the Levi gave to the Kohen from his Ma'aser, and which, in spite of the fact that it too, was subject to a Chiyuv Misah, the Amei ha'Aretz were lax).

7)

(a)They asked Rav Sheishes about a cow that contracted diarrhea from the food it was threshing - whether the reason for the Isur of Bal Tachsom is because it is healthy for the animal to eat (which does not apply here), or because the animal suffers when it works in food and cannot eat it (in which case it will apply here as well).

(b)Rav Sheishes resolved the She'eilah from Rebbi Shimon in our Mishnah - who, in the case involving Mar'is ha'Ayin, requires feeding the animal Karshinim, because they are healthy (see Tosfos DH 'Amar L'hu').

8)

(a)We ask whether one is permitted to stipulate to a Nochri that he should muzzle his (the Yisrael's) cow and thresh his corn (see Tosfos DH 'Chasom') with it. Despite the fact that the Chachamim forbade Amirah le'Nochri on Shabbos, that 'Sh'vus' might not apply here - because it is only an Isur La'av, unlike Shabbos which is an Isur Kareis (see Tosfos DH 'Aval').

(b)We try to resolve the She'eilah from the Beraisa cited above 'Nochri ha'Dash be'Paraso shel Yisrael, Eino Over' - implying that although the Nochri does not commit a sin, the Yisrael is nevertheless forbidden to ask him to do so.

(c)nevertheless, we cannot resolve our She'eilah from here - because it may well be that there is no Isur on the part of the Yisrael either, and the reason that the Tana uses this Lashon in the Reisha, is to balance the Seifa, where he says 'Yisrael ha'Dash be'Paraso shel Nochri, O'ver'.

9)

(a)The Nochrim who stole the oxen belonging to the Yisre'eilim - would castrate them (because this improves their plowing ability) and return them to their owners.

(b)The B'nei Ma'arva (the Chachamim of Eretz Yisrael) ruled - that, because they (the owners, who seem to have encouraged the Nochrim to do this [see Tosfos Amud Alef, DH 'de'Ganvin']) had used deceitful means to benefit from an Isur, they were forbidden to retain the animals involved, and were obligated to sell them.

(c)Rav Papa refuted the proof from here that the Chachamim extended the decree of 'Amirah le'Nochri' even to Isurei La'av, on the grounds that the B'nei Ma'arva hold like Rebbi Chidka - who forbids Nochrim too, to castrate animals, and it is because the Yisre'eilim transgressed the La'av of "Lifnei Iver Lo Siten Michshol" (causing others to sin) that the B'nei Ma'arva penalized them.

10)

(a)Rava thought that the animals in the previous case could only be sold for Shechitah (but not for plowing) - to prevent the owners from benefiting from the increase in value that resulted from the castration.

(b)But Abaye objected to this, on the grounds - that Chazal's penalty was restricted to forcing the owner to sell his animal, and no more.

(c)Everyone agrees that a grown-up son in this regard is considered like a stranger, and that the owner of the castrated animal may therefore sell the animal (or give it as a gift) to him. Rav Achi forbids however, selling it to his young son who is still a minor. According to Rav Ashi - this too, is permitted.

(d)When this (inadvertently, see Tosfos) happened to their animals, Mereimar and Mar Zutra (or those two Chasidim) - simply swapped animals.

11)

(a)We ask whether the owner is permitted to stick a thorn into the cow's mouth whilst it is threshing, or to place a lion outside the threshing-floor, both of which result in the animal not being able to eat whilst it is threshing. We object to the She'eilah however - because it is obvious that he will have transgressed 'Bal Tachsom'.

(b)What we really mean to ask is - whether, if a thorn got stuck in the animal's mouth or a lion came and stood outside the threshing-barn, the owner is obligated to remove it or not.

(c)We also ask whether the owner of the corn may place its son outside the threshing-barn (so that its lowing will prevent it from wanting to eat [see Tosfos DH 'Amad']), whether he is obligated to water a thirsty cow if its thirst is preventing it from eating - or whether he is permitted to place a leather mat on top of the corn, to prevent the animal from seeing the corn as it threshes.

12)

(a)In an attempt to resolve at least one of the She'eilos, we cite a Beraisa. The Tana there - permits ...

1. ... the owner of the cow to starve it prior to the threshing, so that it will eat more whilst it is threshing.

2. ... the owner of the corn to place some loose stalks in front of the cow so that it is does not notice the corn that it is threshing.

(b)We are trying to resolve the last She'eilah (from the latter case) - to permit the placing of a leather mat on top of the corn, thereby preventing the animal from seeing the corn as it threshes.

(c)We refute this proof however - by pointing out that in the case of the loose stalks, the animal is at least able to eat something (which is why it is permitted), whereas in the case of the mat it is not.

(d)Alternatively, we refute the proof from there by slightly amending the wording in this latter case - by adding the word 'Me'ikara', meaning that one is permitted to place the loose stalks prior to the threshing, so that the animal simply has no appetite whilst it is threshing (but it may well be forbidden to do so during the threshing).

13)

(a)Rebbi Yonasan asked Rebbi Sima'i whether the owner is permitted to muzzle his cow before he enters the threshing-barn (taking a lenient stance in the previous She'eilos of the thorn and the lion], which are clearly based on Rebbi Sima'i's answer). He wanted to know - whether "Lo Sachsom Shor be'Disho" is to be understood literally, in which case, muzzling the animal prior to the threshing will be permitted; or whether the Torah is prohibiting threshing with a muzzled ox (irrespective of when it was actually muzzled).

(b)Rebbi Sima'i resolved the She'eilah from the obvious interpretation of the Pasuk "Yayin ve'Sheichar Al Teisht ... be'Vo'achem" - where the Torah is clearly forbidding a Kohen to come and serve in a state of drunkenness (irrespective of when he actually drank).

(c)The Torah cannot mean literally that the Kohen may not drink wine once he enters the Azarah, but that he may do so before entering - because it writes there 'u'Lehavdil bein ha'Kodesh u'vein ha'Chol", insinuating that the reason for the prohibition is for the Kohen to distinguish between an Avodah that is sacrosanct and one that is profane, in which case, it will make no difference as to when he drank the wine.

(d)When Rebbi Sima'i introduced his proof with the words 'mi'Beis Avicha Atah Lameid', he was referring to Rebbi Yonasan, who was a Kohen (and the Pasuk is talking about Kohanim).

14)

(a)When the Beraisa exempts from Malkos someone who ...

1. ... muzzles a cow - it is referring to a case where Reuven muzzles the cow but Shimon threshes with it.

2. ... harnesses two different animals to a wagon - he is referring to a case where Reuven does the harnessing but Shimon, the driving.

(b)In both cases, Reuven would be Chayav.

(c)Rebbi Yochanan declares Chayav someone who muzzles an ox or who leads two animals harnessed to a wagon using verbal commands - because, he holds, the movement of the lips is considered an act.

(d)According to Resh Lakish - both are Patur, because neither the emission of the voice nor the movement of the lips is considered an act.