Mishnah
Mishnah

Talmud for Moed Katan 1:3

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר, מוֹשְׁכִים אֶת הַמַּיִם מֵאִילָן לְאִילָן, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יַשְׁקֶה אֶת כָּל הַשָּׂדֶה. זְרָעִים שֶׁלֹּא שָׁתוּ לִפְנֵי הַמּוֹעֵד, לֹא יַשְׁקֵם בַּמּוֹעֵד. וַחֲכָמִים מַתִּירִין בָּזֶה וּבָזֶה:

R. Eliezer b. Yaakov says: Water may be routed from [under one] tree to [a different] tree, [for this does not entail too much exertion], so long as he does not water the entire field. [We are speaking of a beth haba'al field, which does not deteriorate (by not being watered), for the rains suffice for it; it is just that when it is watered, it is richer.] Seeds which were not watered before Chol Hamoed, [not perishing (by not being watered)] may not be watered on Chol Hamoed. The sages permit it in both instances, [i.e., even if they were not watered, and even with a beth haba'al, the sages permitting enrichment. The halachah is in accordance with R. Eliezer b. Yaakov, for the anonymous Mishnah (1:1) is in accordance with him. However, a moist field, whose soil is viscid, may be watered on Chol Hamoed even according to R. Eliezer b. Yaakov, being akin to "seeds that were watered before Chol Hamoed."]

Jerusalem Talmud Sheviit

“One may sprinkle with water on white dust, the words of Rebbi Simeon; Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob forbids it.” Rebbi Simeon follows the rabbis and Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob is consistent, as we have stated there102Mishnah Mo‘ed Qaṭan 1:3, in the name of R. Eliezer ben Jacob. During the intermediate days of a holiday, only agricultural work necessary to avoid losses is permitted. R. Eliezer ben Jacob does not permit to water a field but, if necessary, he allows one to water the depression around a tree and then to make a shallow channel from one tree to the next, on condition that the water be confined to trees and channels and not cover the entire field.: “One may continue [to draw] water from tree to tree on condition not to water the entire field.” Rebbi Mana said it anonymously, Rebbi Abin in the name of Samuel: They disagree anonymously103Since the Mishnah is in the name of R. Eliezer ben Jacob, not anonymous, it follows that the rabbis, whose opinion is ignored in the Mishnah, must disagree. From here to the end of the Chapter, the text is found also in Mo‘ed Qaṭan 1:3 (fol. 80c).. Where are we holding? If they are widely spaced, it is forbidden according to everybody, if they are tightly planted, it is permitted according to everybody. But we deal with the case that they are planted ten to a bet seah104Cf. Mishnah Kilaim 5:1. Every-where, ten trees planted on a bet seah are a model orchard. “Widely spaced” means less than ten to a bet seah, “tightly planted” more than ten.. Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob makes them widely spaced, the rabbis make them tightly planted. So the rabbis said, if they are widely spaced, it is forbidden to irrigate105Irrigate the entire field at the same time.. May one continue? Let us learn the opinion of the rabbis from that of Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob. Just as Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob says, it is forbidden to irrigate but permitted to continue, so the rabbis say it is permitted to continue but forbidden to irrigate. Did we not think that according to everybody if they are widely spaced, it is forbidden; but is white dust not when they are widely spaced95Technical term for earth in an orchard whose trees are standing sufficiently apart (not more than 10 trees per bet seah.)? But here it is the Sabbatical, there the holiday106R. Eliezer ben Jacob may agree with the rabbis about the rules of a widely spaced orchard on a holiday and still disagree in matters of the Sabbatical year..
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