Beth Shammai say: One may not send [a gift to his friend] on yom tov, except manoth [something prepared, which is not generally put away for the next day, such as meat or fish.] Beth Hillel say: One may send a beast, an animal, or a bird, whether alive or slaughtered. [Beth Hillel permit sending it only with one or two persons; but it is forbidden to do so with three or more, for this makes a "stir," and the impression is given that they are taking it to market to sell.] One may send wine, oil, meal, and pulse, but not grain, [it not being fit for eating without being ground, and grinding being forbidden on yom tov.] R. Shimon permits it with grain, [for it can be crushed in a small mortar and cooked as a dish. The halachah is not in accordance with R. Shimon.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
אין משלחין ביום טוב – gift of a person to his friend.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Introduction
In our mishnah the two houses debate what types of food gifts one person may send to his neighbor on Yom Tov. The problem with gifts would occur if they cannot be used on Yom Tov itself.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
אלא מנות – something prepared that is not made to be left over until the morrow, such as pieces of meat and/or fish.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Bet Shammai says: one may not send [gifts to a neighbor] on Yom Tov except portions [of food, ready to be eaten]. Bet Shammai says that one shouldn’t send gifts on Yom Tov unless they are ready to be eaten immediately. Thus one could send pieces of meat or fish that have already been prepared.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
וב"ה אומרים כו' – The School of Hillel did not permit other than to send via one or two people. But three or more people who carry the present is forbidden, as it the matter is too large and appears like one is bringing [things] to sell in the marketplace.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
But Bet Hillel says: one may send cattle, game and poultry whether alive or slaughtered. One may [also] send wine, oil, flour or pulse but not grain. Bet Hillel extends this even more and allows one to send whole live animals to one’s friends, because he could slaughter the animals and eat them on Yom Tov. Bet Hillel also permits one to send other food items to one’s friend on Yom Tov. The only exception is grain. Since grain cannot be ground into flour on Yom Tov, because one can grind it the day before, one cannot send it as a gift on Yom Tov.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
אבל לא תבואה – which is not appropriate for eating, for it requires grinding and we do not grind on the Festival Day.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
And Rabbi Shimon permits [even] grain. Rabbi Shimon continues the trend to leniency by allowing one to send even grain. Although one cannot grind the grain on Yom Tov, he is allowed to cook the grain whole and eat it as cereal. In other words, even grain is edible on Yom Tov.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ור' שמעון מתיר בתבואה – for one is able to crush it in a small mortar and cook it through the use of a pot. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Shimon.
