R. Eliezer dit: On peut prendre un éclat de bois devant lui [c'est-à-dire, de ce qui est devant lui dans la maison] pour se cueillir les dents. [Pas nécessairement «de devant lui», car selon R. Eliezer, il est même permis d'en prendre un dans la cour; car il dit: "Tout ce qui est dans la cour est" préparé "." "d'avant lui" est déclaré à cause des rabbins, qui diffèrent de lui, disant que même d'avant lui—pour allumer, il est permis; il n'est pas permis de cueillir (ses dents), les rabbins tenant que le bois ne peut être utilisé que pour le petit bois.] Et il peut ramasser (du bois) dans la cour et l'allumer, car tout ce qui est dans la cour est «préparé». Et les sages disent: Il recueille de ce qui est devant lui et allume, [mais pas de la cour. Car comme les éclats sont minces et qu'il est difficile de les rassembler et de les ramasser, ils n'ont pas «supporté» cela depuis la veille. Quant à votre dicton: «Il peut prendre un éclat pour se cueillir les dents», nous (les rabbins) soutenons que même devant lui, il ne peut prendre du bois que pour le bois d'allumage, le bois n'étant autorisé qu'à cette fin. Ils diffèrent dans les deux cas, et la halakha est conforme aux sages. Il est permis de prendre une pioche pour ses dents uniquement dans la mangeoire, et il ne peut pas la couper ou la façonner pour cela à moins qu'elle ne soit apte à être mangée par un animal. Car tout ce qui est propre à être mangé par un animal peut être coupé à la fois le jour même et le Shabbath et n'est pas considéré comme "façonner un récipient"].
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).
