Today’s daf TB Shabbat 109 discusses the prohibition of healing on
Shabbat. Healing on Shabbat is prohibited because back in Talmudic days one had
to grind the ingredients to make the potion and grinding (הטוחן) is one of the
39 prohibited labors. This prohibition only applies when the person is discomforted.
If a person’s life is at stake and in danger one may not only override any
rabbinic prohibition but also any Torah prohibition. A bedridden person is in
the same category as one whose life is in danger. Obviously to save a person’s
life one may prepare any medicine and administer it on Shabbat.
There are even exceptions to the general prohibition according to the
Mishnah on TB Shabbat 109b. Sick people may eat food that cures when healthy people
eat it as well. For example, every Jewish mother knows that chicken soup helps
heal the common cold and administers it to those in need. Since healthy people eats
chicken soup all the time, a person may eat it as well when ill for its
curative powers. Secondly, if the potion only provides some comfort to what ails
a person, but does not have a strong curative effect, a person may take
advantage of the potion as well.
Finally the Hatam Sofer (1762-1839) ruled since modern medicine is premade
and premixed, there is no Shabbat violation in using our syrups or pills to
cure us for what ails us on Shabbat.
“Mishnah: One may
not eat eizoveyon on Shabbat because healthy people do not eat it,
and therefore it is clear that anyone eating it is doing so for its medicinal
value. However, one may eat a plant called yo’ezer and may
drink abuvro’e. Furthermore, all types of food that
healthy people eat may be eaten by a person even for medicinal
purposes. And one may drink all drinks except for water from palm
trees and a kos ikarin because they are known as a remedy for jaundice.
Therefore, it is prohibited to drink them on Shabbat for curative purposes. However,
one may drink palm tree water on Shabbat in order to quench his
thirst, and one may smear ikarin oil on himself for non-medical
purposes.” (Sefaria.org
translation)
The Gemara defines eizoveyon as hyssop (אֵזוֹב).
“The hyssop (Majornana syriaca (L.) Rafin. or Origanum syriacum (L.) Is a grayish
shrub within woody branches; neither its leaves nor its flowers are outstanding
in any way. It makes due with very little sometimes even growing out of the
smallest cracks in the stone (‘in the rock’), yet is highly valued for its
fragrance and flavor. The hyssop is an important spice medicinal plant, while
his dry branches are excellent kindling. The best known food made from the
hyssop in the Middle East is a powder known by its Arabic name, za’tar. It is a
mixture of crushed or powdered hyssop leaves, sesame seeds, ground sumac fruit,
salt, and pepper.” (Nogah Hareuveni, Tree and Shrub in Our Biblical Heritage,
page 108) Hyssop belongs to the oregano family. Times have changed and now
everybody uses hyssop on their food. I highly recommend you stock your pantry
with za’tar (aka za’atar). Here is a website with lots of different recipes
using za’tar for your perusal: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/what-is-zaatar-and-how-to-use-it-11-best-zaatar-recipes/
I am at a loss to define some of the other terms in the Mishnah because the
Gemara only provides the Aramaic name which is as unclear as the Hebrew term. “However,
one may eat the yo’ezer plant. The Gemara asks: What is yo’ezer?
The Gemara answers: It is the vegetable known as potnak. For
what is it eaten? It is eaten to cure liver worms…
What is abuvro’e?
The Gemara answers: It is the plant known as ḥumtareya. The
Gemara asks: What is ḥumtareya? It is that which is called the
lonely staff. The Gemara asks: For what purpose is it used?
It is used for one who drank exposed water from which we suspect
a snake drank and left behind its venom” (Sefaia.org translation)
This is the last bit of my advice today. Don’t try the any of the cures
on this daf, consult your doctor for good medical advice.
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