When One Act Becomes Liable on the Sabbath

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 464:6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he does one" (Leviticus 4:22): one might think one is liable only after writing the whole word, weaving the whole garment, or completing the whole sieve; therefore Scripture says "from one." If "from one," one might think even writing a single letter, weaving a single thread, or making a single mesh in a sieve makes one liable; therefore Scripture says "and he does one." How so? Only when one writes a small name that is part of a larger name, such as Shem from Shimon or Shmuel, Noach from Nachor, Dan from Daniel, Gad from Gadiel. Rabbi Yehudah says: even if one wrote two letters that form a single name he is liable, such as Shesh, Tet, Gag, Chach, Rar. Rabbi Yosi said: is he liable on account of writing? He is liable only on account of marking, for so they would mark on the boards of the Tabernacle to know which board was its match. Therefore one who scratches a single scratch across two boards, or two scratches on one board, is liable. Rabbi Shimon says: "and he does one"; how so? Only when he performs labor of a kind that endures. Rabbi Yosi says: "and he does one," "and he does these": sometimes a person is liable once for them all, and sometimes for each one. How so? If he forgot the very principle of the Sabbath and did many labors, even of the categories of principal labors, he is liable only one sin offering for all his days. But one who knew the principle of the Sabbath yet erred and did not know which day was the Sabbath, or knew it was the Sabbath yet did not know which labor was forbidden, and did many labors, is liable for each category of labor, or for each lapse of awareness.

Themes

SabbathLawOral Torah

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