What is the connection between carrying to okhel nefesh? TB Beitzah 12

The only difference between the observance of Shabbat and the Festival is okhel nefesh-אוֹכֵל נֶפֶשׁ. One is allowed to cook on Yom Tov as it is written “You shall celebrate a sacred occasion on the first day, and a sacred occasion on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them; only what every person is to eat, that alone may be prepared for you.” (Exodus 12:1, my emphasis) Today’s daf TB Beitza 12 connects carrying to okhel nefesh in order to permit carrying on Yom Tov.

The discussion begins with a disagreement between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel in the Mishna where Beit Shammai argues only cooking is allowed and Beit Hillel expands what is allowed. “Beit Shammai say: One may carry out on a Festival neither a minor child, nor a lulav, nor a Torah Scroll into the public domain, as none of these are required for the preparation of food; and Beit Hillel permit it.” (Sefaria.org translation) At first glance the two schools don’t seem to be arguing about okhel nefesh at all. The Gemara makes the connection for us

“Instead, Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree with regard to carrying out that is not for the purpose of food preparation. According to the opinion of Beit Hillel, since carrying out is permitted for the sake of sustenance, it is entirely permitted-

בְּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהוּתְּרָה הוֹצָאָה לְצוֹרֶךְ הוּתְּרָה נָמֵי שֶׁלֹּא לְצוֹרֶךְ. According to Beit Shammai, the Sages permitted only labor that serves the purpose of food preparation.” (Sefaria.org translation) Since one is allowed to slaughter an animal for food and bring it into the house on the festival, Beit Hillel expands this notion of carrying food from one domain to another to anything like our lulav and etrog on Sukkot. The halakha follows Beit Hillel. (Shulkhan Arukh, Orekh Hayim, 518:1) We are allowed to carry on the Festival whatever we need for that holy day.

Beit Hillel is only being lenient in the prohibition of carrying from one domain to another on Yom Tov. All the other melakhot, prohibited categories of work that have nothing to do with the final stages of preparing food[1] are still in force. For example, sowing a crop or reaping it on Yom Tov and building a silo are still forbidden.

 

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[1] Tosefot back on TB Beitzah 3 enumerates the four malakhot which are permitted on the festival. They are slaughtering, cooking, transferring a flame, and carrying from one domain to another. They also forbid any malakha that could have been done before the festival, but wasn't.