About this episode
Study Guide Beitzah 2 Today's daf is sponsored anonymously for the yahrzeit of Elazar ben Shimon, R. Elazar son of R. Shimon bar Yochai and Saadia ben Joseph, Rav Saadia Gaon. There are three debates quoted in the first mishna between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel where Beit Shamai is more lenient. The topics are: an egg that was laid on Yom Tov – can it be eaten, what measurement of a leavening agent and chametz is one liable for if one ate it on Pesach, and can one slaughter an animal on Yom Tov if one does not have earth prepared to use for covering it? What type of hen is referred to in the mishna? Is it an egg from a hen that was designated for eating or for laying eggs? And if so, what is the point of contention between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel? The gemara will bring four answers. Rav Nachman says that this is a hen that is designated for laying eggs and Beit Shamai does not hold by laws of muktza/nolad . The gemara raises two questions against his position. One is resolved, the other is not. Raba said that the debate regarding the law of preparation – does things need to be prepared before Shabbat/Yom Tov and the problematic case is when Yom Tov falls after Shabbat. However, they instituted that even on a regular Yom Tov, not following Shabbat, they would forbid it so that people wouldn't get confused and think it was permitted also when Yom Tov followed Shabbat. Rabbi Yosef gives a third answer - says that this is a decree because of fruits that fall from a tree on Shabbat – if we permit the egg, people will think the fruits are permitted as well. The fourth answer will be on page 3a.