On Amud beis how can the Gemara say that Shabbis is not called a Moed (and m'meila not mchayev saying hallel) when the torah says "Eileh heim Moadai" and then begins speaking about shabbis in Parshas Emor?
Rabbi Ian Bailey, Sacramento, CA, USA
Dear Rabbi Bailey
Hello there and thanks for your excellent question. As is evident from this Gemora, Shabbos is not a Moed. (Also see Igros Moshe OC vol II:8.) The Ramban explains that although Shabbos appears at the beginning of the Moados, it is nonetheless not a Moed, but rather an introduction. It is similar to the M'leches haMishkan in va'Yakhel (Shemos 35:1-3) which also has an introduction of Shabbos. The Ramban (Vayikra 23:2) offers a few proofs that Shabbos is not included in the Moados. One proof is that after the mitzvah of Shabbos, the Torah says "Eilah Moadei Hash-m" (Vayikra 23:4), implying that we have not yet begun discussing the Moados. The Ramban also points out that the main purpose of listing the Moados is for the requirement to bring special Korbanos on those days. At the conclusion of the Moados, it states "Eileh Moadei Hash-m... L'Hakriv Isheh" ibid. 23:37. Yet when Shabbos was mentioned, it didn't say to bring Korbanos on Shabbos. Clearly Shabbos is not included in the Moados.
All the best.
Y. Landy