(Mishnah): If a person saw the new moon but cannot walk (to Yerushalayim to testify), on Shabbos, they may take him on a donkey or even on a bed.

If there are enemies that might attack them, they make take sticks with them.

If it is a long journey, they may take food with them, because for a journey of a night and a day (but no more) one may profane the Shabbos to travel for declaring the New Moon, as the Pasuk says (Vayikra 23, 4), "These are the (Moadei) festivals of Hash-m, holy convocations'' (whenever the Pasuk says Moed - one may override Shabbos to fulfill it).

(Gemara - R. Yitschak): The Torah speaks even in 'borrowed' expressions - for example, the Pasuk states (Bereishis 24, 21), "And the man was 'Mishta'eh Lah' - waiting for her'' (the word Mishta'eh usually means astonished).

Another example is the Mishnah in Maseches Terumos that teaches - "Any 'Garav' - barrel (the word Garav usually means boils) - that holds two Se'ah''.

The Mishnah had taught: If there are enemies that might attack them, they make take sticks with them.

One might have thought that just as one may profane Shabbos to testify upon the new moon, one may also profane Shabbos by having messengers go out to inform the people -

The Pasuk states (Vayikra 23, 4), "...that you shall declare'' - for declaring them one may profane Shabbos but not for informing the people about them.

Query (R. Shimon ben Lakish): Does the harvesting of the Omer override Shabbos in the daytime of the 16th of Nisan as it does in the night?

Answer (Abayei - Mishnah in Maseches Menachos): The Mitzvah is to harvest it at night. If it was harvested in the daytime, it is valid and it overrides Shabbos.

However, R''SBL did not accept this proof (as he understood that the words 'it overrides Shabbos' refer to actually bringing the sacrifice).

R. Acha: R''SBL retracted his objection, as he concluded that it does override Shabbos in the daytime...he learned it from the following (Mishnah earlier in Menachos) -

When nightfall came, the harvester would ask them, "Has the sun set?'' They replied, "Yes!'' He (again) asked, "Has the sun set?'' They replied, "Yes!'' (Why the repetition?)

What is the case (when it is repeated)? If it is ask if the sun has set, this was already asked?! (Note: The Korban HaEidah understands this question slightly differently.) Rather, it must be referring to the daytime, that it overrides Shabbos even then.

Question: For a Mitzvah that overrides Shabbos in the daytime, may one make the essential preparations (that involve Melachah) on Friday night?

Answer (proof #1): The Mishnah in Maseches Tamid (1, 3) teaches - They prepared (i.e. heated up the water for) the Chavisin makers to make the Chavisin (a certain type of meal offering brought daily by the Kohen Gadol). (This Mishnah is referring to heating the water before dawn in order that the Chavisin could be made in the daytime - this proves that one may make the preparations on Friday night for Shabbos in the daytime.)

Rejection: This Mishnah is referring to a weekday, not Shabbos.

R. Chiya bar Ada (Beraisa): This is the order of the Tamid for the service of the House of Hash-m, both on a weekday and on Shabbos. (This shows that the Mishnah was also referring to Shabbos.)

Proof #2 (Mishnah): They harvested the Omer and put it in boxes. They brought it to the Temple courtyard and they singed it in fire, in order to fulfil the Mitzvah of roasting it. These are the words of R. Meir. (This Mishnah is also referring to Shabbos and it teaches that they would singe it immediately in the Temple courtyard.)

Rejection (R. Yosi): Once he started the Mitzvah of harvesting, they tell him to complete it by singeing it at night as well (but in another case perhaps one would not be allowed to prepare the Mitzvah at night).

Question (R. Yudan of Kepudkiya to R. Yosa): If you think about it, here also, since he did not yet start the Mitzva, we do not instruct him to complete it? (This shows that he could begin the preparations the night before the Mitzvah is performed that will override Shabbos.)

Question (R. Yaakov bar Susai - Mishnah): ...because for a journey of a night and a day (but no more) one may profane the Shabbos to travel for declaring the New Moon. (This shows that one may profane Shabbos for a Mitzvah that is done in the day - sanctifying the New Moon cannot be done at night)!

Rejection - R. Yehuda bei R. Bun: Does it not become sanctified retroactively? If so, when this actually happens, the night is the same as the day (so sanctifying the new moon is different to other Mitzvos).