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Prepared by R. Yakov Blinder of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Moed Katan 18
1) CUTTING NAILS
(a) Beraisa: Just as it is forbidden to shave on C.H. and
during mourning, so it is forbidden to cut one's nails on
C.H. and during mourning. This is the opinion of R.
Yehudah. R. Yosi, however, permits it both times.
(b) The Halachah: Ula permits on C.H. and forbids during
mourning. Shmuel permits both.
(c) Story with Shmuel and his brother. Moral of the story:
Don't say things that are ominous. Things that are spoken
out loud tend to come true.
(d) Which nails may be cut according to Shmuel?
1. At first the Gemara thought only fingernails, but
toenails are forbidden.
2. The Gemara discards this notion and rules that both
are permitted.
3. With a Genustera (Aruch - nailclipper; Rashi -
scissors), however, it is forbidden.
(e) Story with R. Yochanan, with three lessons:
1. He held it is permitted to cut nails on C.H.
2. It is not gross to bite your nails in front of other
people (Rashi MS).
3. One may throw one's nails on the floor.
i. Question: A Beraisa says that it is dangerous
to discard nails on the floor; they should be
buried or burned.
ii. Answer: The danger of nails on the floor is
only for pregnant women, and pregnant women do
not usually go into the Beis Midrash (where R.
Yochanan threw his nails)
(f) Rebbi permitted nails to be cut (during mourning -
Rashi), and also permitted trimming the moustache.
1. How much moustache may be cut?
2. Rav (Papa): the whole thing.
3. R. Ami: This means only the part that bothers one when
he eats.
4. R. Nachman Bar Yitzchak: The whole thing can be
bothersome (he agrees with R. (Papa)).
5. Some Agadta about Pharaoh.
2) SOME DETAILS ABOUT LAUNDERING ON C.H.
(a) R. Yochanan: If someone owns only one robe he may wash it
on C.H.
(b) Question: This case is not listed among the exceptions
where laundering is permitted, in the Mishnah (above,
14a, 1:b).
(c) Answer: The Mishnah was not dealing with this kind of
case, but only with cases of people who have more than
one garment and they are all dirty. (Rashi: The case of
one robe is too obvious for the Mishnah to mention.)
(d) Someone said in the name of R. Yochanan: It is permitted
to launder linen garments on C.H. (because they are easy
to launder - Rashi, and because they get dirty quicker -
Rashi MS.).
(e) Question: The Mishnah does not list this among the
exceptions.
18b---------------------------------------18b
(f) Answer: The Mishnah was not dealing with linen, but only
with woolen clothing. (Rashi: The case of linen clothing
is too obvious for the Mishnah to mention.)
(g) Bar Hedya: Saw people laundering linen clothing on C.H.
in Teveryah.
(h) Abaye: This doesn't prove anything; they might not have
bothered to ask the rabbis if it was permitted.
3) MISHNAH - DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE WRITTEN ON C.H.
(a) The following documents may be written on C.H., because a
delay would result in a loss:
1. A document of Kidushin.
2. A Get
3. A receipt
4. A will
5. A deed of a gift
6. A Pruzbul (for Shemitah)
7. A document of assessment of property by the court.
8. A document obligating someone to support his
stepchild.
9. A document attesting that Chalitzah was performed.
10. A document attesting that Mi'un was performed.
11. A document attesting to a decision of the court to
divide a property in a particular manner. (So Rashi.
According to others, it is a document attesting to
the agreement of the litigants to use three
particular judges for their case.)
12. Documents announcing decrees of the court.
13. Documents concerning governmental rulings.
4) GEMARA - DOING KIDDUSHIN ON C.H.
(a) Shmuel's statement: It is permitted to do Kidushin
(betrothal) on C.H. (although it is forbidden to marry -
above, 8b). This is permitted so that he may lay claim to
the woman before someone else beats him to it.
(b) Proof: The Mishnah permits the writing of documents of
Kiddushin on C.H., so obviously the Kiddushin is taking
place on C.H.
(c) Rejection: Perhaps the Mishnah refers not to the Shtar
used to effect Kiddushin itself, but to a document
outlining the financial obligations of the two families
upon betrothal.
(d) Proof: The Mishnah above (8b) prohibits only marrying,
implying that mere Kiddushin is permitted.
(e) Rejection: On the contrary, Kiddushin has more of a
reason to be forbidden than marriage, for the latter is a
mitzvah while the former is not. Thus, perhaps if the
Mishnah forbade marriage, it certainly means to forbid
Kiddushin.
(f) Proof: A Beraisa states explicitly that it is permitted
to do Kiddushin on C.H.
(g) Question: Why does Shmuel express concern (above, 4:a)
that someone might beat this man to marrying this woman
if he does not hurry to betroth her? Shmuel is the one
who said that all marriages are pre-ordained in heaven!
Whatever happens is supposed to happen; no rushing will
help!
(h) Answer: It is possible to change the pre-ordained plan
through prayer.
5) AGADTA
(a) Shmuel's concept, that matches are pre-ordained, is
alluded to several times in Tanach.
(b) A person is never suspected of a misdeed unless he is
guilty, in some sense, to some degree, of that misdeed.
6) MISHNAH - THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE WRITTEN ON C.H.
(a) The following may not be written on C.H., because they
can wait:
1. An IOU, unless:
i. the lender refuses to lend the money without
it, or
ii. the scribe needs the money thus earned for
basic food
2. Sifrei Torah, Tefilin, Mezuzos. Even a small
correction in a Sefer Torah may not be made.
3. R. Yehudah does permit writing Tefilin and Mezuzos for
one's own use, and spinning Tzitzis threads with a
Shinui.
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