1)

(a)Rebbi Yirmeyahu asked Rebbi Zeira - whether the fine for deliberately postponing for Chol-ha'Mo'ed, a job that he could have accomplished before Yom Tov, extends to the sinner's children, in the event that the sinner himself dies before the fine having paid it.

(b)It might not extend to them, despite the fact that the fine that Chazal imposed on ...

1. ... a Kohen for chipping off part of the ear of his animal Bechor does - because the Isur there is d'Oraisa, whereas postponing work for Chol ha'Mo'ed is only Asur mid'Rabanan.

2. ... someone who sold his slave to a Nochri does - because the reason for the fine there is due the fact that, every day that the slave (who must observe all the Dinim of a Jewish woman) remains with the Nochri, he will not be observing Torah and Mitzvos; whereas the sin in our case, is far less severe.

(c)Independent of the two above cases, the two sides to our She'eilah are - whether the fine pertains to the sinner (in which case it will not pertain to his sons) or to the money (in which case it will).

(d)We resolve our She'eilah from a statement made by Rebbi Yosi b'Rebbi Chanina - who says that, if someone fertilized his field in the Shemitah-year and died, his son may sow after he dies (from which we see that, by an Isur d'Rabanan, Chazal did not fine the perpetrator's son).

2)

(a)The prohibition of fertilizing one's field in the Shemitah is clearly an Isur d'Rabanan - otherwise the penalty would have extended to the sinner's sons, as we explained earlier.

(b)If someone rendered his fellow-Jew's food Tamei, Chazal obligated him to pay. His son is Patur from paying if the father died before he had a chance to do so - because, there too, the father's transgression is only d'Rabanan.

3)

(a)Our Mishnah permits purchasing a house, a slave or an animal on Chol ha'Mo'ed - either for the needs of Yom Tov or for the benefit of the seller, who does not have what to eat.

(b)Rava asked Rav Nachman whether one may also hire a worker on the sole basis of his having nothing to eat for Yom Tov. We try to prove that one may, from the Lashon of our Mishnah 'O l'Tzorech ha'Mocher she'Ein Lo Mah Yochal' - which is surely synonymous with 'Tzorech ha'Mo'ed' (which the Tana has already stated). So we assume that the Tana means to include hiring a worker who has nothing to eat for Yom Tov.

(c)We reject this proof however - by countering that perhaps the Tana is merely explaining that by 'Tzorech ha'Mo'ed', he means 'le'Tzorech ha'Mocher she'Ein Lo Mah Yochal' (though it is not then clear why the Tana mentions the word 'O l'Tzorech ha'Mocher ... ').

(d)Abaye resolves the She'eilah from the Beraisa concerning writing documents of debt on Chol ha'Mo'ed, which is basically forbidden, yet which the Tana permits, either because the creditor does not trust the debtor or - because he does not have what to eat for Yom Tov (and 'he' in this case can only pertain to the Sofer).

4)

(a)The Beraisa in Pesachim permits working on Erev Pesach until mid-day ...

1. ... tailors - because an amateur is permitted to sow inexpertly on Chol ha'Mo'ed (and any Melachah which has the slightest Heter on Chol ha'Mo'ed, is entirely permitted on Erev Pesach).

2. ... barbers and laundry-men - because people who came from overseas or who were set free from jail may shave and wash their clothes on Chol ha'Mo'ed.

(b)Based on the obvious inference regarding other Melachos, Rav Sheshes asks from here on Abaye, who permitted earlier writing documents on Chol ha'Mo'ed if the Sofer has nothing to eat for Yom Tov - that, if that is the case, then every Melachah will be permitted under these circumstances. If that is so, then why is not every Melachah permitted on Erev Pesach?

(c)Rav Papa and Ravina respectively ask on Rav Sheshes, who holds that any Melachah that has the slightest Heter on Chol ha'Mo'ed, is entirely permitted on Erev Pesach (irrespective of whether, or not, it is needed for Yom Tov). According to that ...

1. ... the Melachah of building should be permitted indiscriminately on Erev Pesach - because, as we learned above (7a.), a wall that is leaning over into a public street, should be demolished and re-built.

2. ... a Sofer on Erev Pesach should be permitted to work indiscriminately on Erev Pesach - because, as we will learn later, a Sofer is permitted to write Kidushei Nashim, Gitin and receipts.

(d)Rav Ashi therefore teaches us that the comparison the Beraisa in Pesachim makes between Chol ha'Mo'ed and Erev Pesach is not absolute (as Rav Sheshes believed). The reason that Melachah is forbidden on Chol ha'Mo'ed is because of Tircha, which the Rabanan waived in place of a loss; whereas the criterion for permitting work on Erev Pesach is Tzorech ha'Mo'ed (and whatever is not for the needs of Yom Tov will not be permitted, even if it does have a Heter on Chol ha'Mo'ed).

5)

(a)Our Mishnah forbids transporting vessels from one house to another on Chol ha'Mo'ed. The Tana permits however - transporting vessels into the Chatzer.

(b)One may not bring home vessels from the repair-man on Chol ha'Mo'ed (assuming that one does not need them for Yom -Tov). If he suspects that the repair-man will charge him for the work a second time - then he may deposit them in a third Chatzer.

(c)The Seifa (which permits transporting the finished vessels to another Chatzer, clashes with the Reisha, which forbade it. To resolve the contradiction, Abaye emends the Seifa - to permits only transporting the Kelim to another house in the same Chatzer.

6)

(a)When Rava tested his Talmidim and asked them how our Mishnah can forbid bringing home one's vessels from the repair-man, when another Beraisa expressly permits it - Rav Papa replied that the latter was referring to Erev Pesach, the former, to Chol ha'Mo'ed.

(b)Initially, we try to establish even the Beraisa which permits it by Chol ha'Mo'ed - in a case where he does not trust the repair man.

7)

(a)The Tana of the Beraisa permits fetching a jar from the pottery and a cup from the glass-blower, because these are needed for Yom Tov - but not wool from the dyer or vessels from the repair-man, which are not.

(b)The Tana permits paying the repair-man for his work if he doesn't have what to eat for Yom Tov, but he must leave the vessels by him. We have already learned in our Mishnah that, if he does not trust him, he may take the vessels to another house in the Chatzer. If he suspects that they may get stolen from there - then he is even permitted to take them home, but in a discreet manner.

(c)In the second answer (at the end of Amud 1) we established even the Beraisa which permits bringing vessels from the repair-man, on Chol ha'Mo'ed. The problem with this is - that the Beraisa also permits taking the vessels to the repair man, and for this there is no Heter on Chol ha'Mo'ed!

(d)We deal with this Kashya by reverting to the first answer - which establishes the Beraisa on Erev Pesach.

8)

(a)The Tana Kama of our Mishnah permits covering drying figs with straw ('Mechapin'). Rebbi Yehudah is even more lenient - permitting covering them even with a thick cover ('Me'avin' [both of these will be explained shortly]).

(b)Sellers of fruit, clothes and vessels may sell what is required for Yom Tov, but they must do so discreetly - to avoid people suspecting the purchasers of buying for after Yom Tov.

(c)The Tana Kama permits hunters and wheat and bean-threshers to do their work discreetly on Chol ha'Mo'ed. Rebbi Yosi says that they were strict with themselves (which will be explained shortly).

9)

(a)Two interpretations of 'Mechapin' (Tana Kama) and of 'Me'avin' (Rebbi Yehudah) are quoted in the name of Rebbi Yochanan and Chizkiyah. If 'Mechapin' means ...

1. ... to cover them thinly - 'Me'avin' means to cover them with a thick cover.

2. ... to cover them even with a thick covering - then 'Me'avin' means to pile them up in order to facilitate their subsequent covering.

(b)It is the second explanation - that is borne out by a Beraisa.

10)

(a)Rebbi Yosi says that the hunters and wheat and bean-threshers were strict with themselves. In light of the Tana Kama's statement - he either meant that they were even more strict than the Tana Kama, who permits hunting and threshing discreetly, whereas according to him, they refrained from doing so at all; or that really they were even permitted to do their work openly, but they were strict and did it discreetly.

(b)We resolve this She'eilah from the words of Rebbi Yosi himself in another Beraisa. There he says - that the merchants of Teverya, the hunters of Acco and the wheat-grinders of Tzipori did not do their work at all on Chol ha'Mo'ed.

11)

(a)In connection with the wheat-grinders of our Mishnah and the Beraisa, Abaye explains that 'Chilka' means breaking the wheat kernels into two, 'Targis', into three, and Tisni, 'into' four. Rav Dimi interprets 'Chilka' - as spelt that has been scalded in boiling water.

(b)The problem with Rav Dimi from the Beraisa which rules that Chilka, Targis and Tisni are all subject to Tum'ah anywhere (meaning even in villages, even though the villagers are not normally particular to soak their flour, to make it white) is - that if Chilka means spelt that has been scalded ... , then that of villagers, who do not bother to scald it, should not be subject to Tum'ah either!

(c)We answer that the Beraisa speaks when the spelt has been peeled ...

1. ... which needs prior soaking - in order to facilitate their peeling, and ...

2. ... which explains why it is called 'Chilka' - (due to its smoothness).

(d)The Beraisa declares that someone who makes a Neder not to eat 'Dagan', is forbidden to eat dry Egyptian beans, but is permitted to eat wet ones. It also permits him to eat rice, Chilka, Targis and Tisni, posing a Kashya on Rav Dimi - according to whom Chilka, which is proper Dagan, ought to be forbidden.

(e)We remain with a Kashya.

12)

(a)Rav Huna permitted spice-merchants to sell spices (which people tended to purchase for immediate use) as usual. The Beraisa, which restricts shops to selling publicly to the last day of Chol ha'Mo'ed, when it is permitted because of the forthcoming Yom Tov, but not throughout Chol ha'Mo'ed - is referring to selling fruit, which is forbidden without a Shinuy, because of the suspicion that people will purchase it for after Yom Tov.

(b)A store that opens on to a colonnade - may open as usual on Chol ha'Mo'ed, unlike one that opens on to the street - which is obligated to keep one of its two doors shut).

13)

(a)Someone who arrives from overseas, a captive and a prisoner who have been set-free, are all permitted to shave on Chol ha'Mo'ed. Apart from a Nazir and a Metzora who are becoming Tahor - this concession also applies to a Menudeh whose Niduy the Beis-Din just raised and to someone who just had his Neder released.

(b)Apart from the previous Halachah, someone who arrives from overseas, a captive or a prisoner who were set-free and someone who had his Cherem or his Neder released on Chol ha'Mo'ed - are also permitted to wash their clothes on Chol ha'Mo'ed.

(c)Our Mishnah - permits washing hand and bath-towels and barbers' cloths on Chol ha'Mo'ed.

(d)Our Mishnah - permits Zavin, Zavos, Nidos and Yoldos, and anyone who was Tamei and is now becoming Tahor, to wash their clothes on Chol ha'Mo'ed.