Daf 64 — Menachos 64 Summary

Menachos 64 – Good Morning Raboisai Harvesting the Omer on Shabbos The Mishnah discusses how the Omer barley is harvested when it falls on Shabbos . • On a weekday , the harvesting is done publicly with three people, three sickles, and three baskets . • According to Rebbi Yishmael , on Shabbos it should be minimized — only three se’ah of barley are harvested instead of five. The idea is to reduce חילול שבת when possible. The Chachamim , however, say the procedure remains the same as during the week, because the mitzvah is performed in a public and established way . Publicizing the Correct Time of the Omer One reason to maintain the public procedure is פרסומי מילתא — making the mitzvah widely known. The Tzedukim claimed the Omer must always be brought on Sunday . Therefore Chazal performed the harvesting publicly with multiple people and tools to show clearly that the Omer can be brought even during the week , not specifically Sunday. The public ceremony ensured the correct halachah became widely known. Better Quality vs. Minimizing Melachah The Gemara discusses another consideration. Harvesting five se’ah produces higher quality flour than harvesting three. This raises a question: Should we reduce work on Shabbos by harvesting less, or perform more work in order to produce a better korban for the Beis HaMikdash ? The Gemara compares this to cases where Shabbos is overridden in order to bring a better - quality korban . Shechting an Extra Korban on Shabbos A related case is discussed: Someone thought two korbanos were needed and shechted two animals on Shabbos , but in reality only one was required . • The first shechitah is permitted because the korban was needed. • The second shechitah may make him liable for a korban chatas , since it was unnecessary at the moment it was done. Even if it later turns out the second animal was superior , the liability depends on the situation at the time of the act . Intention vs. Result The Gemara debates a broader principle: Do we judge an action based on the person’s intention , or on the result that occurred ? Example: A person threw a net into water on Shabbos intending to catch fish , but instead he saved a drowning child . • One opinion says he is liable , because his intention was to perform a prohibited act. • Another opinion says he is exempt , because the actual result saved a life . The halachah follows the view that we look at the final outcome , and since a life was saved he is not liable . Saving a Sick Person on Shabbos If a dangerously ill person needs figs to eat , and multiple people run to bring them: • Even if ten people each bring figs, they are all exempt from liability. • They are even praised , because they acted quickly to save a life. This reflects the principle that פיקוח נפש דוחה שבת — saving a life overrides Shabbos. Choosing the Lesser Melachah Another case: A sick person needs two figs . Two options exist: • Pick two figs from two stems (two harvesting actions). • Pick three figs attached to one stem (one harvesting action). The Gemara concludes that it is preferable to perform fewer acts of melachah , even if it results in taking more figs. Bringing the Omer from the Closest Place The Mishnah teaches that the Omer barley should ideally come from the closest fields to Yerushalayim . If nearby barley is not available, it may be brought from elsewhere in Eretz Yisrael . The reason is that fresh grain is softer and higher quality , and grain transported long distances can harden and lose quality. Historical Story – The Siege of Yerushalayim During a siege of Yerushalayim by rival Jewish factions, the daily Korban Tamid was still maintained. Each day the people inside the city lowered money , and those outside sent up animals for the korban . Eventually someone advised the attackers to send up a chaz ir instead , which shook the land of Eretz Yisrael and symbolized a terrible desecration. Later, when the time came to bring the Omer , the barley fields had been destroyed. A mute person signaled where barley could still be found, and the sages interpreted his signs correctly and located the grain. Yesodos of the Daf לעילוי נשמת אמי מורתי רות בת הרב מנחם מנדל