Bava Metzia - Daf 89
- "דיש" requires גדולי קרקע, time of גמר מלאכה, and before obligation of maaser/challah
The Gemara quotes a series of four Baraisos, each darshening the word "דיש" – threshing (written by the muzzling prohibition), requiring another similarity to דיש regarding a worker right to eat.
(1) Just as threshing is done with produce which grows from the ground, אף כל שגידולי קרקע – so too, regarding anything which grows from the ground, a worker eats from it. This excludes milking cows or manufacturing dairy products. (2) Just as threshing is done with something at the time of completion of its work (i.e., processing), אף כל שהוא בשעת גמר מלאכה – so too, anything which is at the time of the completion of its work, a worker eats from it. This excludes weeding among garlic or onions, even where he is pulling out smaller ones which will be eaten. (3) A worker may only eat produce before the maaser obligation takes effect. This excludes separating fully ripe dates or dried figs. (4) A worker may only eat from produce before it becomes obligated in challah, which excludes those who knead, shape, or bake the dough. According to Rashi, the Gemara clarifies that any produce which is not subject to challah may be eaten until the maaser obligation, but all grains subject to challah may continue to be eaten until the challah obligation takes effect.
- פועל מהו שיהבהב באור ויאכל
The Gemara asks: פועל מהו שיהבהב באור ויאכל – what is the halachah regarding a worker toasting produce in a fire and eating it? Is this similar to a worker eating something together with the produce (to enhance its flavor and increase his appetite), which is forbidden? A Baraisa teaches that workers may dip their bread in brine (to increase their appetite), but the Gemara responds: לאכשורי גברא לא קמיבעיא לן – preparing the person to eat more is not a question to us, and definitely permitted. Our question concerns לאכשורי פירא – preparing the produce to be more appetizing (without adding another ingredient). Another Baraisa explicitly teaches that a worker may not toast grapes in fire, but the Gemara answers that it may be because of ביטול מלאכה – interruption of work while toasting them. Our question is where one’s wife or children toast the produce for him. The Gemara does not appear to resolve the inquiry, but Tosafos notes that according to Rashi, a proof may be inferred below that it is permitted.
- Salting produce re: maaser obligations
It was taught in a Baraisa: ולא יספות במלח ויאכל – he may not dip produce in salt and eat, which the Gemara assumes is because of the prohibition of “grapes and something else.” This contradicts another Baraisa, which states, after teaching the general law of a worker eating: קצץ - if he stipulated for the right to eat, he may pick and eat one at a time, but not two at a time, because stipulating is like purchasing, and purchasing two fruits together Rabbinically obligates it in maaser. The Baraisa concludes: וסופת במלח ויאכל – and he may dip it in salt and eat. Since one who stipulates to eat may do so however he pleases, this clause must refer to one who eats by Biblical right yet teaches that he may dip it in salt!?
Abaye answers that the Baraisos are not discussing the worker’s right to eat, but the maaser obligation, because salting produce completes its processing. Rava ultimately explains that salting one fruit would not obligate it in maaser, but תרתי קבעא ספיתא – regarding two at a time, dipping in salt establishes the maaser obligation, similar to stipulating.