Siman - Shabbos Daf 150
- Hiring workers on Shabbos
The next Mishnah states that one may not hire workers on Shabbos nor may a person tell his friend to hire workers for him. The Gemara questions why the Mishnah needed to teach the second point as it is obvious that if he cannot hire workers, his friend would not be able to as well?
Rav Ashi answered that the Mishnah is going according to Rebbe Yehoshua ben Korcha and is coming to teach that while one cannot ask his friend to hire workers for him, he can hire his friend himself, as long as it is done in a non-direct way by asking him, “Shall we see whether you will join me in the evening,” (i.e. after Shabbos).
Rabbah bar bar Chanah said in the name of Rebbe Yochanan that Rebbe Yehoshua ben Korcha’s ruling is based on the passuk, ממצוא חפצך ודבר דבר – refrain from pursuing your business and speaking words. The words ודבר דבר, imply that דיבור אסור הרהור מותר – only speech is forbidden, but thought is permitted.
- Which speech is forbidden?
The Gemara questions this statement that speech is prohibited on Shabbos, bringing numerous examples of permitted speech including, making calculations for the sake of a mitzvah, allocating tzedakah funds, arranging shidduchin for girls and teaching a boy a text or a trade.
The Gemara answers based on the passuk, ממצוא חפצך ודבר דבר – refrain from pursuing your business and speaking words. The word חפצך implies that חפציך אסורים חפצי שמים מותרין – your business is forbidden, but the business of Heaven (i.e. a mitzvah, is permitted).
- המבדיל בין קדש לחול
The Mishnah stated that one may go to the techum to await nightfall for the purpose of guarding his property after Shabbos, and he may bring back produce.
The Gemara says that the implication of the Mishna is that he may pluck produce, even before he recites havdalah (as there is no wine in the field that he can recite havdalah with). The Gemara asks how he is permitted to do this (the melacha of kotzer), for Rebbe Elazar ben Antigonos says אסור לו לאדם שיעשה חפציו קודם שיבדיל – It is forbidden for a person to attend to his affairs before reciting havdalah?
Two answers are given. One is what Rebbe Abba said to Rav Ashi, that in Eretz Yisroel they would say המבדיל בין קודש לחול, and then do melacha, even before the havdalah was said on wine.
