mordechai asked:
May I please ask you a question ?
What is the meaning of the expression: "ma'afil be'taliso" ?
Does it mean covering themselves over their heads in order to be dark for them under the covers?
If it doesn't, then why doesn't the Gemarah use a more usual expression, like "me'chaseh tzman"?
Thank you.
mordechai, detroit, usa
The Kollel replies:
Yes, it does mean over their heads. This is explicitly stated by Rabeinu Yehonasan on the Rif in Eruvin (33b).
The Rabeinu Yehonasan I quoted is found in his commentary on 33b (in Rif pages), right before his comments on the new Mishna there (found in any standard Gemara with the commentary of the Rif. Can't miss it. [While his text is "Ma'afil b'Kesuso," he is clearly commenting on our Gemara.]
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose