Beitzah 29b — the Talmud in English

And it was taught in the school of ![](pamud.bmp "

Exact page location")

Shmuel permits—

Shmuel’s practical halakha

for one who comes to ask

is what he came to teach us.

However, one does not issue this ruling publicly; therefore, the tanna of the school of Shmuel taught that it is prohibited.

The Sages taught: One does not sift

a second time by sifting the

flour on a Festival,

since he could have done so on the previous day.

In the name of Rabbi Pappias and Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira they said: One may sift a second time,

because there is no exertion involved the second time, and it is apparent to all that he is sifting a second time, since virtually no refuse comes out.

And they agree that if a pebble or a splinter fell into it

on a Festival—

one may sift it a second time.

A tanna taught before Ravina: One does not sift flour a second time on a Festival, but if a pebble or a splinter fell into it—

he removes it by hand.

He said to him:

Removing a pebble or splinter by hand—

all the more so is that prohibited, as it is sorting.

Rava bar Rav Huna the junior expounded at the entrance

of the gates

of Nehardea: One may sift flour a second time on a Festival.

Rav Naḥman said to them: Go and tell Abba: Your benefit has been taken away and cast upon thorns!

Your favor is worthless and lies upon thorns. This is an expression used for something that is of no benefit.

And indeed, the permission to sift flour a second time is well known!

Go see

go out and see

how many sifters

sieves

are going around

on a Festival

in Nehardea

to sift flour a second time with them.

The wife

his wife

of Rav Yosef sifted

a second time

flour on the back of the sifter,

that is, on the reverse side of the sifter, in order to make the act different.

He said to her: See,

make sure that you sift well,

for I—

excellent bread

superior bread

desire.

The wife of Rav Ashi sifted flour on the back of a table

on an overturned table, in order to make the act different.

Rav Ashi said: This wife of mine,

my wife,

is the daughter of Rami bar Hama.

And Rami bar Hama was a master of deeds,

he was meticulous in his actions,

and had she not seen

this being done

in her father’s house—

she would not have done it.

Mishna:

A person may go to a shopkeeper with whom he is accustomed to deal,

who relies on him to give him goods without setting a price,

and say to him: Give me eggs and nuts by number

a specified number!

And counting them is not the manner of a purchase,

as it is customary for a householder to count things in his home.

Gemara:

The Sages taught: A person may go to a shepherd with whom he is accustomed to deal and say to him: Give me one kid or one lamb.

To a butcher with whom he is accustomed to deal, and say to him: Give me one shoulder or one thigh;

to a poultry dealer with whom he is accustomed to deal, and say to him: Give me one turtledove or one fledgling;

to a baker with whom he is accustomed to deal, and say to him: Give me one loaf or one bun;

and to a shopkeeper with whom he is accustomed to deal, and say to him: Give me twenty eggs or fifty nuts, ten peaches, five pomegranates, and one etrog.

Provided that he does not mention a measured quantity.

Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Provided that he does not mention the total purchase.

We have returned to you, chapter “One May Not Trap.”

Mishna:

The one who brings

[the one who transfers]

wine-jars from place to place

on a Festival,

shall not bring them in a basket or a box.

He shall not place three or four jars inside a basket or a box and transfer them, because it appears like a weekday activity, carrying burdens.

But he may bring

one or two jars

on his shoulder or

carry it

in front of him

in his hand, since this is a departure from his weekday manner [Shulchan Arukh].

And likewise, one who leads straw

inside a box in order to fuel the oven or for an animal, this person

shall not sling the box behind him,

because this is disgraceful for the Festival, since it appears that he intends a major labor, or to lead it to a distant place, in the weekday manner.

But he may bring it in his hand,

since this is a departure from his weekday manner.