R. Eliezer says: One may take a wood splinter from before him [i.e., from what is before him in the house] to pick his teeth with. [Not necessarily "from before him," for according to R. Eliezer it is even permitted to take one from the courtyard; for he says: "Whatever is in the courtyard is 'prepared.'" "from before him" is stated because of the rabbis, who differ with him, saying that even from before him — to kindle, it is permitted; to pick (his teeth) it is not permitted, the rabbis holding that wood may be used only for kindling.] And he may collect (wood) from the courtyard and kindle it, for whatever is in the courtyard is "prepared." And the sages say: He collects from what is before him and kindles, [but not from the courtyard. For since splinters are thin and it is difficult to gather and collect them, they did not "stand" for this from the day before. As to your saying: "He may take a splinter to pick his teeth with," we (the rabbis) hold that even from before him he may take wood only for kindling, wood being permitted only for that purpose. They differ in both instances, and the halachah is in accordance with the sages. It is permitted to take a pick for one's teeth only from the manger, and he may not cut or fashion it for this unless it is fit to be eaten by an animal. For anything which is fit to be eaten by an animal may be cut both on yom tov and on Shabbath and is not regarded as "fashioning a vessel."]
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
משלפניו – from what is in front of him in the house.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Introduction
In the middle of yesterday’s mishnah we learned that chips of wood can be used only as kindling. Today’s mishnah continues to discuss this subject.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
לחצות בו שניו – to take the meat which protrudes between his teeth, and that it is in front of him, is not specifically, for according to Rabbi Eliezer, it is permissible to take it even from the courtyard, as it states that whatever is in the courtyard is ready. But the fact that he (i.e., Rabbi Eliezer) used the term, “in front of him,” because the Rabbis who disagree with him state that even what is in front of him, he can kindle with it, but not to pick at his teeth, for they hold that wood is not used other than for burning.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Rabbi Eliezer says: a man may take a chip from that which is lying before him to pick his teeth with it, and he may collect [chips] from the court yard and make a fire, for everything in a court is prepared [for use on Yom Tov]. Rabbi Eliezer says that one may take a chip of wood that is lying inside his house and use it to pick his teeth clean (aren’t you glad we have toothbrushes). From outside the house one may collect chips of wood and use them to build a fire because according to Rabbi Eliezer all chips of wood are “prepared” to be used as wood for a fire that is they are not muktzeh.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
וחכמים אומרים מגבב משלפניו ומדליק – but not from the courtyard, for since they are thin chips and it is a burden to gather the wood and to sweep/rake them up, for from yesterday, they di dnot exist. But when the Mishnah stated that a person takes a chip of wood to pick at his teeth, we hold that even that which is in front of him he should not take other than to kindle, for wood is not given other than for burning. And in two things they disagree. But the Halakha is according to the Sages. And it is not permissible to take a wood chip to pick at his teeth other the manger of the animal, for anything that is fit for the food of an animal is permitted to cut whether on Yom Tov or on Shabbat, and there is nothing regarding them concerning the repair of a utensil.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
But the sages say: he may collect only from that which is before him and make a fire. The sages disagree with Rabbi Eliezer on two accounts. First of all, one cannot gather wood from outside the house because it was not designated for use on Yom Tov. Only the wood from inside the house that has been set aside for use can be used. Secondly, they hold that wood can only be used to build a fire. It cannot be used to pick one’s teeth (sorry if you’re a dentist).
