As
I studied today’s daf TB Shabbat 52 I wish that I lived on a farm or on the kibbutz
to visualize the realia of the different types of bits, halters, collars worn
by different types of animals that farmers use. I have to admit for all us urbanites
or suburbanites this chapter is almost completely academic. None of my friends and
I own camels, cows, horses, and mules. I do think that we could apply this concept
when we walk our dogs and Shabbat.
Yesterday’s daf TB 51b and today’s daf continues the
discussion about excessive security. May one use excessive security on an
animal or is that considered a burden (משאוי)?
Yesterday the discussion revolved around
using a nose ring on a camel which is considered excessive when all you need is
a bit. Today’s daf revolves around a strap that was secured around a cow which
is a very docile animal. Is the strap excessive security and permitted or is it
a burden and forbidden for cow to go out thusly and Shabbat?
“We learned there in a mishna: And neither may a cow go out with
a strap between its horns. Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba said: Rav and Shmuel
disagreed about this: One said: Whether it was placed for beauty, as
an ornament, or whether it was placed to secure the cow, it is prohibited
for the cow to go out with the strap between its horns. And the other one
said: For beauty, it is prohibited; however, if it was placed to
secure the cow, it is permitted.”
(Sefaria.org translation)
For the answer I like to share a story that straddles both
dappim.
“The Gemara relates
that Levi, son of Rav Huna bar Ḥiyya, and Rabba bar Rav Huna were once going
together on a road. Levi’s donkey on its own initiative went ahead of
the donkey of Rabba bar Rav Huna. Rabba bar Rav Huna was offended because
he was the greater Torah scholar, and he thought that Levi went first to assert
that he considered himself the greater scholar. Levi said to himself: I
will say something to him, so that he will be placated and will understand
that it was not my intention to disrespect him. He said to him: An
undisciplined donkey whose conduct is wicked like this one that I am
riding, what is the ruling with regard to having it go out
with a halter on Shabbat? Typically, in order to secure a donkey, a bit
suffices and it does not require a halter. A halter constitutes excessive security.
However, the question is whether or not a halter that provides excessive
security for a wild donkey like this one is considered a burden with which it
is prohibited to go out to the public domain on Shabbat. Rabba bar Rav Huna said
to him: Even if the security is considered extraneous, your father said
the following in the name of Shmuel: The halakha is in accordance with
the opinion of Ḥananya, who said that a device that provides excessive
security is not considered a burden.” (Sefaria.org
translation)
The story teaches us three things. First of all, we need to
respect our teachers. They are dedicated, overworked, and underpaid. Especially
today we should appreciate how quickly our teachers pivoted from teaching in a
classroom to teaching online due to the coronavirus. Teaching online requires a
brand new set of skills that most if not all teachers have not been adequately
trained. Secondly, we learn from Levi that it doesn’t hurt to be quick on your
feet to get you out have a tight spot. He probably knew his father’s position on
excessive security. Last of all, we learn that a device that provides excessive security is not considered a burden.
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