Wenn man auf yom tov Erbsen herauspickt —Beth Shammai sagt: Er nimmt das Essen und isst es [Er nimmt das Essen (die Erbsen) eins nach dem anderen aus den Psoleth (den nicht essbaren Teilen)], und Beth Hillel sagt: Er nimmt (das Psoleth) im Normalen heraus Art und Weise auf seinem Schoß, in einem Schilfkorb oder in einem Tablett [solange die Anstrengung, die Psoleth herauszusuchen, nicht größer ist (als die, die Nahrung herauszusuchen); aber wenn es größer ist (wie wenn das Psoleth besonders dünn ist), stimmt Beth Hillel zu, dass er das Essen heraussucht und das Psoleth verlässt, selbst wenn es mehr Nahrung als Psoleth gibt, wobei die Verringerung der Anstrengung das Hauptkriterium ist.]; aber er darf es nicht auf dem Tisch, mit einem Sichter oder mit einem Sieb heraussuchen. R. Gamliel sagt: Er kann sie auch ausspülen und heraussuchen (die Psoleth) (sholeh). [Er bringt ein Gefäß voller Erbsen, gießt Wasser darauf, das Psoleth steigt an die Oberfläche und er nimmt es mit der Hand heraus. "sholeh", wie in (2. Mose 3: 5): "Zieh deine Schuhe aus." Die Halacha stimmt nicht mit R. Gamliel überein.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
בורר אוכל אוכל – he collects food one piece at a time from the refuse.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Introduction
This mishnah deals with how one separates out the dirt and inedible parts from a pile of beans on Yom Tov. “Sorting” is one of the prohibited labors on Shabbat, but it is permitted on Yom Tov because it is done in preparation of food.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
בורר כדרכו בחיקו – and as long as it won’t be a painstaking preparation separating the large amount of refuse. But if it the painstaking preparation involved in separating the refuse is greater than the trouble involved to separate the food, such as the case where the refuse is exceptionally thin, even though the food is greater in its measure than the refuse, the School of Hillel agrees that one separates the food and sets aside the refuse, to exclude where the trouble involved is preferable.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
One who sorts beans on Yom Tov: Bet Shammai says: he must sort the edible parts and eat [them immediate]. According to Bet Shammai he is not really allowed to sort out the beans and make two piles, one of edible beans and one of dirt and other such yucky stuff. Rather all that he is allowed to do is sort out the beans and either eat them immediately, or put them in water to cook them if they are the type of bean that requires cooking. Again we see that Bet Shammai allows one to prepare food on Yom Tov but requires it to be done in a very minimal way, and with some significant differences from how it is done during the week.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
אף מדיח ושולה – that he brings a utensil filled with pulse and puts water upon it and the refuse floats on top of the water and he removes it with his hand. The word שולה /”draw it out” is like (Exodus 3: 5 ) “Remove your sandals [from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground].” But the Halakha is not according to Rabban Gamaliel.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
But Bet Hillel says: he may sort as usual in his lap or in a basket or in a dish; but not with a board or in a sifter or in a sieve. Bet Hillel allows one to sort beans but only if he does so in a more make-shift fashion, using his lap a basket or a dish. He may not use the instruments that he regularly uses during the week, vessels such as a board, a sifter or a sieve.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Rabban Gamaliel says: he may even rinse them [in water] and skim off [the refuse]. Rabban Gamaliel is the most lenient of the opinions in the mishnah. He allows one to sort beans even by rinsing the beans in water and skimming off the refuse that floats to the surface.
