Skin, what suffices for the making [i.e., the covering] of an amulet; parchment, what suffices for a small section in the tefillin, viz.: "Hear, O Israel, etc." [For since it is expensive, it is not used for a publican's receipt, but for tefillin or mezuzoth, and he is not liable for a smaller size.]; ink, what suffices for the writing of two letters [to mark two parts of a vessel or two boards, in order to join them]; kohl, what suffices for the painting of one eye. [Those modest women who go veiled, expose only one eye, which they paint.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
לעשות בו קמיע – to cove with it the amulet.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
Introduction
The mishnah continues to list the minimum amount of various items which must be carried in order for one to be liable. Again, the rule of thumb is the smallest amount that has practical use will make one liable.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
קלף כדי לכתוב [עליו] פרשה קטנה – for since his ink was expensive, he didn’t make from it the tax-collector’s receipt but rather [only] Tefillin and Mezuzot and he was not liable for a small measure.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
[One who carries] animal hide: as much as is required for making an amulet; Animal hide was used to make small amulets. Therefore, one who carries enough to make such an amulet is liable.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
דיו כדי לכתוב שתי אותיות – to mark on two segments of a utensil or on two boards to couple them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
Parchment, for writing on it the shortest passage of the tefillin, which is “Sh’ma Yisrael”: Parchment is used for writing tefillin. The smallest passage that goes on one piece of parchment in the tefillin is the Sh’ma.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shabbat
בדי לכחול עין אחת – for modest women who walk wrapped up do not reveal other than one eye and they color/paint it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
Ink, for writing two letters; As we saw in yesterday’s mishnah, the shortest document, that of the tax collector, had two letters. Therefore, one who carries enough ink to write such a document is liable.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shabbat
Eye shadow, for painting one eye. Usually women would paint both eyes, but sometimes women would paint only one. Therefore, one who carries enough eye-shadow to paint one eye is liable.
