QUESTION: The Mishnah states that a camel may not go out into Reshus ha'Rabim with a "Metulteles." The Gemara explains that this prohibition does not apply when the Metulteles is tied to both the hump and the tail of the camel, in which case the camel may go out with it. RASHI (DH b'Shilyasah) explains that a Metulteles is a small, stuffed pillow that is placed under the animal's tail so that the strap which binds the load-saddle to the animal's back will not rub against the tail and harm the animal when it is carrying a load.

If, as Rashi explains, the sole purpose of this pillow-pad is to protect the camel while it carries a load, then why is the camel permitted to go out with this pillow-pad on Shabbos? A camel may not carry a load on Shabbos! Since the pad serves no purpose other than to protect the camel while it carries a load, on Shabbos it should be considered a Masuy (load) and not a garment of the camel, and it should be forbidden! (SEFAS EMES)

ANSWER: Perhaps Rashi is following his own opinion as expressed elsewhere. At the beginning of the Perek, Rashi (51b, DH Yotz'in) writes that anything that is usually worn by an animal, whether it is for the sake of adornment or for the sake of protection, is permitted. Here, although the Metulteles might not be for adornment nor for protection, since the animal usually goes out with it (even after its load has been removed), it is not considered a Masuy and is permitted. (M. KORNFELD)

QUESTION: The Gemara explains that an animal may not walk into Reshus ha'Rabim while wearing a bell, even if the bell is stuffed and does not clang, because an animal with a bell looks as though it is being taken to the marketplace.

The SEMAG rules that an animal may not go out with a stuffed bell because it is considered as though it is carrying the bell, and it is forbidden for one's animal to do Melachah (such as carrying) on Shabbos. Why does the Semag give an entirely different reason than the reason the Gemara gives? According to the Gemara's reason, the prohibition to go out with a bell is mid'Rabanan, while according to the Semag's reason, it is forbidden mid'Oraisa!

ANSWER: The CHASAM SOFER answers that since the usual manner is for an animal to wear a bell when going to the marketplace, it follows that on days when it cannot go to the marketplace, it is not the usual manner to wear the bell. Therefore, on Shabbos, when the animal cannot go to the marketplace, wearing the bell is not the usual manner and therefore it is prohibited for a different reason -- carrying.

This is what the Gemara means, according to the Semag, when it says that the animal may not go out with the stuffed bell because it appears as though it is being brought to the marketplace. Since a bell is worn only when the animal goes to the marketplace -- to which it is forbidden to go on Shabbos -- the bell is not considered attire, but rather a load (Masuy). (This understanding of the Semag does not seem to be the understanding of Rashi that we presented earlier (Insights to 54:1). According to Rashi, the animal is permitted to wear on Shabbos anything that it usually wears during the week.)