Siman - Moed Katan Daf 8
- Machlokes whether one is permitted to gather bones on Chol HaMoed for reinternment
The next Mishnah states: Rebbe Meir also said: מלקט אדם עצמות אביו ואמו מפני ששמחה היא לו – A person may gather the bones of his father and mother and bury them in an ancestral plot on Chol HaMoed because it is a simchah for him. Rashi explains that he is happy that they are buried next to their ancestors, and it is not distressing for him. Rebbe Yose said: אבל הוא לו – It is a source of mourning for him and therefore it is prohibited. The Gemara challenges Rebbe Meir from a Baraisa that taught: המלקט עצמות אביו ואמו הרי זה מתאבל עליהם כל היום – One who gathers the bones of his father and mother is chayav to mourn for them the entire day, ולערב אין מתאבל עליהן – but in the evening he is not required to mourn for them. So how can Rebbe Meir permit this on Chol HaMoed? Abaye answered: אימא מפני ששמחת הרגל עליו – Say that Rebbe Meir means that the simchah of the regel is upon him. Rashi explains that since he is very involved in the simchah of the chag, the reinternment does not bother him.
- אין חופרין כוכין וקברות במועד
The next Mishnah states: אין חופרין כוכין וקברות במועד – We may not dig burial alcoves or graves during Chol HaMoed, אבל מחנכין את הכוכין במועד – but we may adjust burial alcoves during Chol HaMoed . The Gemara asks what kuchin and kevaros are, and Rav Yehudah said: כוכין בחפירה וקברות בבנין – the alcoves are made by digging into the walls of the crypt, and tombs are made by building a structure above the ground. The Gemara asks what is meant by אבל מחנכין את הכוכין במועד – but we may adjust the burial alcoves during Chol HaMoed, and Rav Yehudah said: שאם היה ארוך מקצרו – that if the alcove was too long, one may shorten it, which is done by adding some stone. It was taught in a Baraisa: מאריך בו ומרחיב – One may lengthen it or widen it. This is permitted even though it requires more effort.
- אין נושאין נשים במועד
The next Mishnah states:ולא מייבמין אין נושאין נשים במועד לא בתולות ולא אלמנות – We may not marry women on Chol HaMoed, neither virgins or widows, nor may we perform yibum, מפני ששמחה היא לו – because doing one of these is a simchah to him, אבל מחזיר הוא את גרושתו – but he may remarry his divorced wife on Chol HaMoed. Rashi explains that the simchah is not as great in this case. The Gemara asks what the problem is for someone having simchah on a chag, and the Gemara brings four answers.
- Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel, לפי שאין מערבין שמחה בשמחה – because we do not mix one simchah with another. Rashi explains that one should be completely engaged in the simchah of the chag alone.
- Rabbah bar Rav Huna said: מפני שמניח שמחת הרגל ועוסק בשמחת אשתו – Because the chosson will leave aside the simchah of the chag and be involved in the simchah of his wife. Rav Daniel bar Ketina said the source for this is: "ושמחת בחגך" בחגך ולא באשתך – And you shall rejoice in your chag, in your chag and not in your wife.
- Ullah said: מפני הטורח – because it would involve a lot tircha for the chosson
- Rebbe Yitzchak Nafcha said:מפני ביטול פריה ורביה - because it would result in not fulfilling the mitzvah of pru u’rvu. Rashi explains that people would not get married during the year and wait for a chag instead, so they could make one seudah for both the wedding and the chag.
