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Shabbos 54

1) A CAMEL GOING OUT WITH A "METULTELES"

QUESTION: The Mishnah states that a camel may not go out into Reshus ha'Rabim with a "Metulteles." The Gemara explains that this prohibition does not apply when the Metulteles is tied to both the hump and the tail of the camel, in which case the camel may go out with it. RASHI (DH b'Shilyasah) explains that a Metulteles is a small, stuffed pillow that is placed under the animal's tail so that the strap which binds the load-saddle on the animal's back should not rub against the tail and harm the animal when it is carrying a load.

If the whole purpose of this pillow-pad, according to Rashi, is to protect the camel while it is carrying a load, and on Shabbos it is not allowed to carry a load, why is it permitted to go out with this pillow-pad? Since it serves no purpose other than when the camel is carrying a load, which it may not do on Shabbos, it should be considered an Masuy (load) and not a garment of the camel, and it should be forbidden! (SEFAS EMES)

ANSWER: Perhaps we could suggest that Rashi is consistent with his opinion elsewhere. At the beginning of the Perek, Rashi (51b, DH Yotz'in) writes that anything which is usually worn by an animal, whether it is for the sake of adornment or for protection, is permitted. Here, although the Metulteles might not be for adornment nor for protection, since it is the usual manner for the animal to go out with it (even after its load has been removed), it is not considered a Masuy and is permitted. (M. Kornfeld)

54b

QUESTION: The Gemara explains that an animal may not walk out into Reshus ha'Rabim wearing a bell, even if the bell is stuffed up, because it looks like it is being taken to the marketplace.

The SMAG rules that an animal may not go out with a stuffed bell because it is considered *carrying*, and it is forbidden for one's animal to do Melachah (such as carrying) on Shabbos. Why does the Smag give an entirely different reason than that which our Gemara gives? According to the Gemara's reason, the prohibition is mid'Rabanan, while the Smag's reason makes it into a prohibition mid'Oraisa!

ANSWER: The CHASAM SOFER answers that since the usual manner is to wear the bell when going to the marketplace, it follows that on days when it cannot go to the marketplace, it is *not* the usual manner to wear the bell. Therefore, on Shabbos, when the animal cannot go to the marketplace, wearing the bell is not the usual manner and therefore it is carrying.

This is what the Gemara means, according to the Smag, when it says that the animal may not go out with the stuffed bell because it appears that it is being brought to the marketplace: since bells are only worn when going to the marketplace -- to which it is forbidden to go on Shabbos -- it is therefore a Masuy. (This understanding of the Smag is perhaps not in agreement with the understanding of Rashi we presented in our discussion on Daf 54a. According to Rashi, it is permitted for the animal to wear anything it usually wears *during the week*, even on Shabbos.)