Beitzah 35

In Maseket Sukkot, we learned that, while the ideal is that we eat, sleep and spend as much time as possible in the Sukkah – that if it rains, or it smells, or if we are otherwise experiencing discomfort – we can go inside the house.

Today’s daf deals with rain as well. But instead of physical discomfort, it deals primarily with financial discomfort. If it begins to rain on a festival, and you have fruit drying on the roof, can you move it (which would normally be prohibited) to prevent a financial loss? What about if the roof is leaking – can we cover things inside the house? What if that means moving items that were deemed “mukseh” (things that are set aside and not used on the festival day)?

Our rabbis seem to have a practical take on the issue:

One may lower produce, which had been laid out on a roof to dry, into the house through a skylight on a Festival, in order to prevent it from becoming ruined in the rain. Although it is a strenuous activity, it is permitted do to so on a Festival in order to prevent a financial loss; however, one may not do so on Shabbat. And one may cover produce inside a building with cloths to prevent damage due to a leak in the ceiling over it, and similarly one may cover jugs of wine and jugs of oil for the same reason. And one may place a vessel beneath a leak in order to catch the water on Shabbat, to prevent it from dirtying the house.

I love the openness of this daf in that it takes into account the larger goal of the festival – yes, the festival is a day to rejoice, to not work, to eat good food and pray and study – a day to enjoy. But can we really enjoy the day if we are sitting in a room with a leaky roof and doing nothing to prevent damage? Can we really enjoy the day if we are forced to not perform an action that can save us from significant financial loss?

I love that our rabbis, today and ancient, ask themselves about the bigger picture, about what is practical, about what the people will do whether they rule one way or another. I love that they want to give us boundaries to help us feel part of a people, but leave the boundaries semi-permeable so that we can feel part of the world.