Whatever one is liable for by reason of shvuth ("resting") [i.e., whatever the sages forbade one from doing on Shabbath by reason of shvuth], or reshuth (a permitted activity), [where there is "somewhat" of a mitzvah, but not a distinct mitzvah, so that it has a semblance of "reshuth" (and which is forbidden by the scribes)], or mitzvah [i.e., where there is a distinct mitzvah, but which the rabbis forbade on Shabbath], (Whatever one is liable for by reason of shvuth), one is liable for [i.e., he may not do it] on yom tov. Shvuth: [those things which the sages charged one to "rest" from, and in the doing of which there is no mitzvah]: One may not climb a tree [a decree, lest he tear (something from it) ], and one may not ride on an animal [a decree, lest he cut a vine-rod in order to lead it], and one may not swim [a decree, lest he make "a swimmer's bottle"], and one may not clap [hand to hand], and one may not slap [hand to thigh], and one may not dance, [all decrees lest one make musical instruments]. Reshuth: One may not render a (halachic) ruling. [Sometimes, this is (entirely) reshuth, as when there is a higher authority in the city in which instance it is not incumbent upon him (a lesser sage) to rule.], and one may not betroth. [Sometimes it is not a distinct mitzvah, but reshuth, as when one has a wife and children.], and one may not perform chalitzah nor yibum. [When one has an older brother, this is also reshuth, it being a mitzvah for the eldest brother to perform yibum. The reason for all of these — a decree, lest he write.] Mitzvah: One may not dedicate (to the Temple), and one may not assess, [e.g., "The value of that man is upon me" (to give to the Temple), and he gives according to age as explained in the section on assessments (Leviticus 27:1-8)], and one may not make devotions (charamin) [e.g., "This beast is devoted." Devotions, unqualified, are for Temple maintenance. The rabbis forbade all of these (on yom tov) for they are similar to buying and selling, something passing from his domain to that of hekdesh (the Temple)], and one may not separate terumah and ma'aser (on yom tov) [even to give it to the Cohein on that day, where it is evident that he is separating them for the Cohein's festival joy — still, it is forbidden, for he thereby "amends" (the produce). This, with what was tevel (subject to tithing) the day before, but with what had become tevel today, such as dough, from which challah must be taken, he separates it on yom tov and gives it to the Cohein.] All of these were stated in respect to yom tov — a fortiori, in respect to Shabbath. There is no difference between yom tov and Shabbath but food (preparation) alone, (being forbidden on Shabbath but permitted on yom tov.) [This anonymous Mishnah is in accordance with Beth Shammai, who say (1:5): "Neither a minor, nor a lulav, nor a Torah scroll may be carried out to the public domain (on yom tov)," only what is necessary for eating having been permitted. But we rule in accordance with Beth Hillel, who say that since carrying was permitted for eating purposes, it was permitted for other purposes, too. (Another difference is the dropping of fruits through the aperture (5:1), which is forbidden on Shabbath and permitted on yom tov.)]
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
כל שחייבין עליו – that the Sages forbade to do on Shabbat because of Rabbinic decrees to enhance the character of the Shabbat/Festivals as a day of rest.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Introduction
This long mishnah deals with three categories of acts that are prohibited by the rabbis on Shabbat and on Yom Tov. They are all considered to be prohibited “derabbanan”, by the rabbis and not by the Torah. The three categories are:
Shevut mandated rest on Shabbat. These are activities that are prohibited because they are generally not in the spirit of the day or because by doing one of them one might come to transgress a biblical prohibition.
Reshut optional activities. These have some aspect of mitzvah in them but can be done on other days. Therefore one doesn’t do them on Yom Tov or Shabbat.
Mitzvah these are commandments that can be performed on other days and therefore shouldn’t be done on Shabbat.
The main point of the mishnah is that the only actions which are allowed on Yom Tov but prohibited on Shabbat those done while preparing food. All of the other Shabbat prohibitions still hold true.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
או משום רשות – that there is in a bit of a Mitzvah, but not a large Mitzvah, but it is near to being an optional act, but there is within it a prohibition from the words of the Scribes.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Every [act] for which one is liable on Shabbat because of mandated rest [shevut], [or] because it is only optional [reshut], [or] even though it is a religious act [mitzvah], he is also liable on Yom Tov. For the following acts he is liable because of shevut: One may not climb a tree, And one may not ride on an animal. And one may not swim in water. And one may not clap hands, nor slap [thighs], nor dance. Climbing a tree is forbidden lest one breaks a branch, which is forbidden to do on Shabbat. Riding an animal is considered prohibited lest one while riding break a branch to use as a switch in guiding an animal. It seems that a deeper reason for why the rabbis prohibited this was that they did not believe that riding an animal was in the spirit of Shabbat. Swimming was prohibited lest while swimming one makes a raft on which to float. Finally, certain types of clapping, slapping of thighs and dancing were prohibited on Shabbat lest one begin to make music and then come to make a musical instrument. We should note that some of these activities are no longer generally prohibited because the likelihood that by doing one of them one will come to transgress a more serious commandment is minimal. In my mind the most important thing to remember is that while one follows the minutiae of Shabbat, one should also be mindful of the spirit of Shabbat. Even things that are permitted should not always be done.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
או משום מצוה – or there is within an actual Mitzvah/commandment, and the Sages prohibited doing it on the Sabbath.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
For the following acts he is liable because they are only optional: One may not judge; And one may not betroth a wife, nor perform halizah, nor perform yibbum [consumate a levirate marriage]. This section contains activities that have some aspect of “commandment” to them but can be done on other days. Judging, betrothing and other legal aspects of arranging various types of marriages can be done any day of the week, therefore one should not do them on Shabbat. In my opinion, this is again because these activities are not in the “spirit of Shabbat.” They might detract from the special sanctity of Shabbat, a day set aside. A more technical reason why these things are prohibited is that by doing one of them one might come to write.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
וחייבין עליו – not to do it on the Festival.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
And for the following acts one is liable even though it is a religious act [mitzvah]: One may not dedicate [anything to the Temple], nor vow a personal valuation, nor make a vow of herem, nor set aside terumah or tithes. These acts are actually mitzvot, but still one may not perform them on Shabbat or Yom Tov because they can all be done with as much ease on other days. The Rambam explains that donating something to the Temple is similar to engaging in business and hence one does not do so on Shabbat. One does not separate tithes or terumah on Yom Tov or Shabbat because by doing so one “fixes” something to make it usable. Also, this could have just as easily been done the day before.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ואלו הן משום שבות – that the Sages placed upon him to abstain from doing but there isn’t in their performance any kind of Mitzvah.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
All these things they [the rabbis said that they are forbidden] on Yom Tov, how much more so [are they forbidden] on Shabbat. There is no difference between Yom Tov and Shabbat except for the preparation of food alone. In conclusion the mishnah notes that when discussing the laws of Yom Tov the rabbis prohibited these activities, but they are nevertheless even more prohibited on Shabbat. The mishnah reminds us that the only type of activity which is permitted on Yom Tov but not on Shabbat is something done while preparing food.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
לא עולין באילן – a decree lest he tear off [a branch].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא רוכבין על גבי בהמה – a decree lest he cut a vine-shoot to drive the animal.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא שטין על פני המים – a decree lest he make a swimmer’s bottle (see Tractate Kelim, Chapter 2, Mishnah 3 – used for practicing).
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מטפחין – hand upon hand.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מספקין – hand upon the leg.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מרקדין – on the Festival, and all of them are a decree lest he repair a musical instrument.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ואלו הן משום רשות – because oof those of the ending section of the Mishnah which are a complete Mitzvah, regarding them we call these “optional.”
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
לא דנין – a judgement, and sometimes it is optional, such as when there is a larger city than this one, and it is not upon him to judge.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מקדשין – the betrothal of a woman. For sometimes, it is not a complete commandment but rather optional, such as when he has a wife and children.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא חולצין ולא מיבמין – also at the time when he has an older brother than him, it is option, but it is a great Mitzvah to perform a levirate marriage and the reason for all of them is lest he write [documents].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מעריכין – the value of this thing is upon me, and he gives according to the years, as it is written in the portion of valuations (Leviticus 27:1-8).
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מחרימין – behold this animal is devoted to God. And a mere devotion of an animal is for the treasury of the Temple. And all of them, the Rabbis forbad because they are similar to business transactions where one removes it from his domain to the domain of the Sanctified.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
ולא מגביהין תרומות ומעשרות – and even in order to give them to the Kohen on the same day that is appropriate, for because of the Rejoicing on the Festival that the Kohen who needs them, he separates them (i.e., the tithes), and nevertheless, it is prohibited, for it is considered like repairing. And these words concerning produce that yesterday were eatables forbidden prior to the separation of sacred gifts, that currently such as dough one has to separate Hallah from, we separate it on the Festival and give them to the Kohen.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
אין בין יו"ט לשבת אלא אוכל נפש בלבד (this part of the Mishnah is also found in Tractate Megillah, Chapter 1, Mishnah 5) – this anonymous teaching is according to the School of Shammai which states that we do not take out the minor nor the Lulav nor a Torah scroll into the public domain, for taking out was only permitted for the purpose of the preparation of food. But we hold like the School of Hillel which states that since removal was permitted for the purposes of the preparation of food, it is also permitted for that which is not needed [for food preparation]. And there are those who state that we let down pieces of fruit through an aperture in the roof looking to the ground floor at the beginning of our Chapter (Mishnah 1), that it is prohibited on the Sabbath, but that is permitted on the Festival.
