R. Eliezer dice: Uno puede tomar una astilla de madera de delante de él [es decir, de lo que está delante de él en la casa] para morderse los dientes. [No necesariamente "antes que él", porque según R. Eliezer, incluso se le permite tomar uno del patio; porque él dice: "Todo lo que hay en el patio está 'preparado'", se dice "antes que él" porque los rabinos, que difieren de él, dicen que incluso antes que él—encender, está permitido; no está permitido recoger (sus dientes), los rabinos que sostienen que la madera puede usarse solo para encender.] Y puede recoger (madera) del patio y encenderla, porque lo que esté en el patio está "preparado". Y los sabios dicen: Él recoge de lo que está delante de él y enciende, [pero no del patio. Ya que las astillas son delgadas y es difícil juntarlas y recolectarlas, no "toleraron" esto desde el día anterior. En cuanto a su dicho: "Puede tomar una astilla para morderse los dientes", nosotros (los rabinos) sostenemos que, incluso antes de él, puede tomar madera solo para encender, madera que se permite solo para ese propósito. Difieren en ambos casos, y la halajá está de acuerdo con los sabios. Está permitido elegir los dientes solo del pesebre, y no puede cortarlo ni modelarlo a menos que sea apto para ser comido por un animal. Todo lo que sea apto para ser comido por un animal puede cortarse tanto en Iom tov como en Shabat y no se considera como "una vasija".
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
משלפניו – from what is in front of him in the house.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
