Siman - Shabbos Daf 51
- Insulating cold food to keep cold
When it was reported that Shmuel ruled that one may insulate something cold on Shabbos to keep it cold, Rav Yosef wanted to know why Shmuel needed to teach this when the Mishnah stated very clearly that it was permitted.
Abaye answered that without Shmuel one might have thought that the Mishna only permitted insulating cold water, which is not usually heated up through placing it under a pillow and therefore there is no concern that one would heat up the water in this fashion, thereby violating the prohibition of hatmanah. Food however, which is normally covered by a pillow in order to warm up, would be prohibited to insulate to keep cold, lest one come to insulate it to warm up. Shmuel is coming to teach that it is permitted to insulate even cold foods as well.
- Crushing snow or hail into a liquid
A Baraisa states that one may not crush snow or hail on Shabbos in order to make it into a liquid. It is permitted however, to place them into a cup or bowl of liquid.
- Rashi explains that the Rabbonon forbade crushing the snow or hail into water because one is creating something new (נולד) and therefore it has the appearance of a melocho. However, placing them into a cup of wine, as an example, in order to cool the wine in the summer, or into a bowl, is not a problem though since the snow and hail melt on their own and not as a result of one’s direct actions.
- Animals wearing excessive restraints on Shabbos
The first Mishnah in the 5th perek states that it is permitted to let one’s camel go out into a reshus harabim wearing a halter (אפסר) and a female dromedary wearing a nose ring (חוטם), and it is not considered that the animal is doing the melocho of hotzah. The reason for this is that since they both serve to restrain the animal they are not considered a burden (משאוי) which would be prohibited to carry, but rather as clothes. Rebbe was asked what the case would be if the restraints were switched. Meaning, if a camel may wear a nose ring, and if a female dromedary may wear a halter.
Rebbe responded that it is obvious that the female dromedary cannot go out with the halter since it is a feistier animal and the halter will not restrain it. Therefore, the halter would be considered a burden.
Rebbe said the only question is regarding the nose ring for the camel which is considered an excessive restraint for it. On the one hand, since it is an excessive restraint, it is not necessary and therefore maybe it is considered a burden. Or perhaps we do not say an excessive restraint is considered a burden.
