We have learned already that the only difference between the observance of Shabbat and the Festival is okhel nefesh-אוֹכֵל נֶפֶשׁ. One is allowed to cook on Yom Tov. Today’s daf TB Beitzah 14 qualifies some of the preparations.
The first qualification is we don’t
want the Festival become just like every other ordinary day (עוּבְדָא דחוֹל) because of
our preparations. The first Mishnah on our daf
discusses the differences between preparing spices and salt on Yom Tov.
“Beit Shammai say: Spices may be
pounded
on a Festival in a slightly unusual manner, with a wooden pestle, and salt
may be pounded only with an earthenware flask or with a wooden pot
ladle, in a manner very different from that of a weekday. And Beit
Hillel say: Spices may be pounded in their usual manner, even with
a stone pestle, and as for salt, although it must be pounded in an
irregular manner, a slight modification such as pounding it with a wooden
pestle is enough to render the act permitted.” “Sefaria.org translation)
The Gemara
explains the different attitude between spices and salt. “In any event, everyone, both Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, agrees
that the pounding of salt requires a change; it may not be performed in
the regular weekday manner. What is the reason for this? Rav Huna and
Rav Ḥisda disputed this issue. One of them said: Everyone
knows that all dishes require salt, and therefore one should prepare
salt the day before the Festival. Since he failed to do so, this task may be
performed on the Festival only in an unusual manner. But not all dishes
require spices, and therefore it is possible that on the day prior to the
Festival, one was not aware that he would require spices on the Festival. And the other one
said a different reason: All spices lose their flavor and cannot be
prepared ahead of time, and salt does not lose its flavor, which means
one could have prepared it the day before. Since he neglected to do so, he may
prepare salt on the Festival only in an unusual manner.” (Sefaria.org
translation)
Later
in the Gemara Shmuel teaches a far-reaching leniency by sharing a baraita in which Beit Hillel permits the
pounding of salt in the ordinary way no matter whether the person pounds a
small amount or a large amount of salt. Rav
Aḥa modifies Shmuel’s leniency. “Rav Aḥa Bardela said to his son:
When you pound salt, tilt it a little to the side and then pound,
so that it will at least be performed in a slightly different manner on a
Festival.” (Sefaria.org translation) To fully enjoy Yom Tov, we need to prepare in advance. If we grind salt on the Festival
because of our lack of preparation, we are treating it just like every other
day. The halakha follows Beit Hillel
with Rav Aha’s modification (Shulkhan Arukh, Orekh Hayim, 504:1).
The second qualification is extra
exertion. The holiday is made for enjoyment. If we have to exert ourselves a
lot, our joy will decrease as demonstrated with the next example.
“Rabban Gamliel said: In what case is this
statement said? Under what circumstances did Beit Hillel permit the removal
of the refuse (separating the
edible and inedible portions of the legumes under discussion-gg) in the weekday manner of
selecting? In a case where the quantity of the food is greater than
the quantity of the refuse. However, if the quantity of refuse is
greater than the quantity of food, everyone agrees that one must
remove the food and leave the refuse.
“The Gemara asks: If the quantity of refuse is greater than the quantity of food, is there an opinion that permits it? Since the smaller amount of food is nullified by the refuse, the entire mixture is considered muktze and may not be moved. The Gemara answers: No, it is necessary to state this halakha in a case where the removal of the refuse is greater in terms of effort, and yet it is smaller in size. In other words, there is actually more food than refuse, but since greater effort (טִרְחָה יְתֵרָה) is required to remove the refuse, it is preferable to remove the food.” (Sefaria.org translation).
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