About this episode
Study Guide Beitzah 28 Is it permissible to weigh meat for sale on a Yom Tov? Under what conditions? And what are the different opinions? Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Shimon the son of Rebbe divided meat between each other by weighing each piece against the other to make sure it was divided evenly. According to whose opinion did they rule as it doesn't match either opinion in the Mishnah. Apparently, it was according to Rabbi Yehoshua whose opinion is presented in a braita. Rav Yosef ruled like him as in the case of the firstborn animal who had a blemish, they ruled that it was possible to weigh a portion against a portion, even though it was forbidden to weigh it with weights. But Abaye argues that it is not clear whether the firstborn can be compared to weighing on a Yom Tov as the issues are not the same. In addition, another difficulty is raised against this case as it was described as it does not seem that Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Shimon the son of Rebbe would be so exacting with each other to weigh the meat and therefore the Gemara concludes that it was probably one of them with someone else. According to the Mishnah, it is forbidden to sharpen a knife but it is permissible to rub two knives against each other. Rav Huna says that the Mishnah is referring to sharpening it on a stone vessel but it would be permitted on a wooden one. There are four versions of what Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel – he either limited the first part of the words of Rav Huna, or the last part of his words or the first part of the Mishnah or the last part of the Mishnah and thus each version reaches a different conclusion about what kind of come to different conclusions about what kind of sharpening is allowed/forbidden and for what purpose (to sharpen or remove the fat). The one who allowed the sharpening of the knife was Rabbi Yehuda, who permitted on Yom Tov not only food preparation but also actions that facilitated the food preparation. The rabbis did not permit that. Although many ruled like Rabbi Yehuda, they did not want to teach publicly that it is permissible to sharpen a knife on a Yom Tov. How do Rabbi Yehuda and the rabbi derive their opinions from the verses in the Torah? Is it permitted to repair a broken skewer? Is it permissible to move a skewer after grilling? This is one of a few laws recited by Rav Malkiyo. The Gemara brings up a controversy as to which cases were recited by Rabbi Malkiyo and which by Rabbi Malkia.