יסודות ביום טוב 3 אוכל נפש

You shall celebrate a sacred occasion on the first day, and a sacred occasion on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them; only what every person is to eat, that alone may be prepared for you.

MISHNA: Five items, i.e., offerings, may be brought in a state of ritual impurity, but they may not be eaten in a state of ritual impurity. They are all communal offerings: The omer, which is brought in Nisan; the two loaves brought on Shavuot; the shewbread, which were arranged each week; the communal peace-offerings, which were brought on Shavuot; and the goats sacrificed on the New Moons, which were sin-offerings eaten by the priests. However, the Paschal lamb that is sacrificed in impurity is eaten even in impurity, as it is brought to begin with only for eating, which is the essence of the mitzva. With regard to other offerings, the essence of their mitzva is fulfilled when they are sacrificed on the altar, and the eating is non-essential.

When the Paschal sacrifice was offered in a state of impurity, it should also be eaten in a state of impurity, for from the outset, it was brought only to be eaten. It may not be eaten by all those who are impure, only by those impure because of contact with a human corpse. For them, this impurity is suspended. This also applies to those impure because of contact with other sources of impurity.
Those who are impure because of an impurity that results from a physical condition, e.g., zavvim, zavot, niddot, women after childbirth, those afflicted by tzara'at, should not partake of it. If, however, they do partake of it, they are exempt. According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that when a sacrifice is eaten by those who are pure, those who are impure are liable for partaking of it in impurity. When it is eaten by those who are impure, there is no liability for partaking of it in impurity. Even if those who are impure because of contact with a human corpse partook of the fats and organs to be offered on the altar, they are exempt.
When does the statement that a Paschal sacrifice may be eaten while ritually impure apply? When the people became impure before the blood was poured on the altar. If, however, they became impure after the blood was poured, it should not be eaten.

For your own sake, therefore, be most careful—since you saw no shape when יהוה spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire—

On the first day you shall celebrate a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations.

The entire house of Israel are commanded regarding the sanctification of [God's] great name, as [Leviticus 22:32] states: "And I shall be sanctified amidst the children of Israel." Also, they are warned against desecrating [His holy name], as [the above verse] states: "And they shall not desecrate My holy name."
What is implied? Should a gentile arise and force a Jew to violate one of the Torah's commandments at the pain of death, he should violate the commandment rather than be killed, because [Leviticus 18:5] states concerning the mitzvot: "which a man will perform and live by them." [They were given so that] one may live by them and not die because of them. If a person dies rather than transgress, he is held accountable for his life.

Let, then, Bezalel and Oholiab and all the skilled persons whom יהוה has endowed with skill and ability to perform expertly all the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary carry out all that יהוה has commanded.

together with their kinsmen, chiefs of their clans—1,760, men of substance for the work of the service of the House of God.

YE SHALL DO NO MANNER OF ‘M’LECHETH AVODAH’ (SERVILE WORK). “[Not] even such work as is considered by you important and necessary work, because the neglect of it would involve a monetary loss, as for example a matter that will not permit delay. So I understood from the Torath Kohanim which teaches as follows: ‘I might think that on intermediate days of the festival it is also forbidden to do m’lecheth avodah (servile work) etc’” This is Rashi’s language.
But this is not correct at all. For what reason is there that Scripture should say, “Do not do [on the festival days even] such work that will not permit delay,” and [the prohibition for] all other labors be deduced by a kal vachomer and if so it would have been proper to say it in the same way in the case of the Sabbath too! [However, with reference to the Sabbath it says Ye shall do ‘no manner’ of ‘m’lachah’ (work), and it does not say m’lecheth avodah (servile work) as in the case of the festivals!] Moreover, if it be [as Rashi explained it], then there is an allusion in the Torah to the effect that on the intermediate days of the festival it is permissible to do work that will not permit delay, but the Rabbis have said, “Scripture has handed over this matter [of determining which activities are forbidden and which are permitted on the intermediate days of the festival] only to the Sages,” which means that there is no allusion in the Torah as to which work is permitted and which is forbidden! Again, the term avodah (work) includes all kinds of labors and purposes, [as the following verses indicate]: ‘oveid’ (he that tilleth) his ground shall have plenty of bread; ‘va’avadcha’ (he shall serve thee) six years; ‘v’avad’ta’ (thou shalt serve) thine enemy — and nowhere does the term avodah mean only work that permits no delay, which, if not done today, can no longer be done on the following day [as Rashi had written]!
Rather, the meaning of m’lecheth avodah (servile work) is all work that is not necessary in the preparation of food, similar to that which it is said, Six days ‘ta’avod (shalt thou labor), and do all thy work; and in all ‘avodah’ (manner of work) in the field; ‘v’ne’evadtem’ (and ye shall be tilled) and sown; but Cain was an ‘oved’ (tiller) of the ground. But work which is done in preparation of food is work of direct benefit, and is not [called] m’lecheth avodah (servile work). This [distinction] is clearly explained in the Torah. For with reference to the Festival of Unleavened Bread where He said at first, no manner of work shall be done in them, it was necessary to explain [in the same verse], Save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you; therefore with respect to the other festivals He shortened [the command] and said [as in the verse before us], ye shall do no manner of servile work, thus prohibiting all work which is not done in preparation of food, and informing us that the preparation of food is permissible on the festival days. And in no place does Scripture say concerning any of the festival days, that “no manner of work” [shall be done on it] without explaining [immediately] that the preparation of food is permissible on it, because the form m’lecheth avodah (servile work) establishes that principle. However, in the section of All the firstling males [where all the festivals are mentioned], He states with reference to the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Eternal thy G-d; thou shalt do no work therein [and yet Scripture does not follow it up with a permission for preparing food]! The reason for this is that He had already clearly permitted the preparation of food on it [Passover], and it was therefore no longer necessary [there in the section of All the firstling males] to say in connection with it: “all manner of servile work.” He mentioned there merely “work” (thou shalt do no ‘work’ therein), and did not say kol m’lachah (“all work” or “any manner of work”) as He said with reference to the Sabbath and the Day of Atonement, because the intention is, “Do not do that work about which I have admonished you [elsewhere, i.e., ‘servile work’].”
Now Rabbi Chananel wrote: “Do no manner of ‘m’lecheth avodah’ (servile work). This teaches that He only permitted [on a festival day] the preparation of food, as it is written in connection with this matter in another place: And in the first day [of Passover] there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them. And because He mentioned there any manner of work [which indicates a prohibition covering even preparation of food], it was essential that He should explain [in the same verse]: save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. The meaning of m’lecheth avodah is work for the purpose of material possessions, such as sowing, harvesting, digging and the like, but the preparation of food is not m’lecheth avodah.” This is Rabbeinu Chananel’s language.
And the Beraitha in the Torath Kohanim [which Rashi quoted at the beginning of the section] is taught as follows in the correct texts thereof: “Do no manner of ‘m’lecheth avodah.’ This is intended to elucidate [the law] about the intermediate days of the festival, that it is prohibited to do work on them. I might think that any manner of m’lecheth avodah (servile work) is forbidden on them. Scripture therefore states it [i.e., the eighth day of Tabernacles, is a day of solemn assembly], meaning: it is a day on which all manner of servile work is forbidden, but on the intermediate days [of the festival] such work is not forbidden. These are the words of Rabbi Yosei the Galilean. Rabbi Akiba says: What need is there for Scripture to say: These are the appointed seasons of the Eternal which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations? If it refers to the festivals, they are each stated [separately]! If so, why is it said, These are the appointed seasons of the Eternal, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations? This refers to the intermediate days of the festival, on which the doing of work is forbidden. I might think that all manner of servile work is forbidden to be done on them. Scripture therefore states, it etc.” [as quoted above].
The explanation of this Beraitha is [as follows]: Rabbi Yosei the Galilean interprets the verses, Ye shall do [no manner of servile work], and These are the appointed seasons of the Eternal, as meaning that Scripture prohibits the doing of work on all [the days] which are termed “the appointed festivals of the Eternal.” Thus I might think that they are all alike with respect to this prohibition, and that any manner of servile work is prohibited to be done on [the intermediate days of the festival] just as on the first and eighth days [of Tabernacles], and [then] we would interpret the verses thus: Ye shall do no manner of servile work. These are the appointed seasons of the Eternal, since a verse may be interpreted together with an antecedent phrase or even together with a penultimate phrase. It is for this reason that Scripture excludes it by saying, ‘it’ is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work, meaning: “the eighth day [of Tabernacles] is restricted as regards all servile work, but on the intermediate days of the festival the prohibition is not like that of [the eighth day], affecting all manner of ‘servile work,’ but it is only ‘work’ which He said they must not do,” and [the precise nature of the work forbidden on the intermediate days of the festival] Scripture did not mention, nor did it allude to it at all, but entrusted it to the Sages [to establish which work is permitted and which is prohibited]. The text which Rashi brings [further on in Verse 36] is also to be explained in this way.
This Beraitha [of the Torath Kohanim] is taught in the Gemara of Tractate Chagigah in the following way: “Ye shall do no manner of servile work. This teaches us about the intermediate days of the festival, that it is forbidden to do work [on them]. These are the words of Rabbi Yosei the Galilean. Rabbi Akiba says etc.” [as quoted above]. And there [in Tractate Chagigah] it is further taught: “Just as [servile work] is forbidden on the seventh day [of Passover], so also it is forbidden on the sixth day; if so [I might think], just as the seventh day is restricted with respect to all work, so also the sixth day [as well as the other intermediate days of the festival] are restricted with respect to all work. Scripture therefore states ‘ha’shvi’i’, (‘the’ seventh day), meaning: “the seventh day is restricted with regard to all work, but the sixth day is not restricted with respect to all work, for Scripture entrusted [the determining of which work is permitted and which is forbidden] only to the Sages, etc.” Now the Gemara states that [on the seventh day of the festival we are] restricted against doing “all work,” but the Torath Kohanim [mentioned above] states “all servile work.” This is because in the interpretation [of the Gemara] the Sages chose the wording of the Scriptural text [and since in Deuteronomy 16:8 it says with reference to the seventh day of Passover, thou shalt do no ‘work’ therein, the Gemara followed that expression, but the intention is really only to “servile work”], for with respect to a festival it cannot be said that “all work” is forbidden therein, but only “all servile work.” Thus both [the Torath Kohanim and the Gemara] meant the same thing, namely, that on the festival days all manner of servile work is forbidden, but on the intermediate days of the festival all manner of servile work is not forbidden; however, forbidden are those kinds of labor which [although] have not been set forth in the Torah, but which Scripture entrusted to the Sages [to be specified as forbidden].
And in the Sifre [we have been taught]: “Rabbi Yishmael says: Since we have not been instructed that on the intermediate days of a festival it is forbidden to do work, therefore Scripture states, Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly, [thus teaching that] just as the seventh day is restricted [as regarding work], so also is the sixth day [and all intermediate days of the festival] restricted. Now I might think that just as the seventh day is restricted with regard to all work, so also is the sixth day restricted with regard to all work. Scripture therefore states ‘the’ seventh day, thus teaching that the seventh day is restricted with regard to all work, but the sixth day is not restricted with respect to all work.” This Beraitha too [speaking of “all work” being prohibited on the seventh day of Passover] is to be explained in accordance with the principle we have laid down [i.e., that the intention is “all servile work,” the Beraitha merely following the language of the verse, as explained above]. Thus we have discussed at length the matter of the Beraithoth dealing with this subject, in order that the words of our Rabbis, of blessed memory, should conform with the clear and correct interpretation which we have said of these verses.
Yet despite all this, I have found a contradiction to our words from a Beraitha taught in the Sifre: “Ye shall do no manner of ‘m’lecheth avodah’ (servile work). This teaches that the doing of work [on the first day of Passover] is forbidden. How do we know that the preparation of food is permitted thereon? Here it is stated a holy convocation [In the first day shall be ‘a holy convocation'; ye shall do no manner of servile work], and there it is said [with respect to the same day] a holy convocation. Now just as there [the verse explicitly] permits preparing food, so here too the intention is to permit the preparation of food [on the same day].”
It appears to me that the term avodah was understood by our Rabbis, of blessed memory, in the sense of labor and toil which one does for another, [the usage being] similar to these expressions: ‘avodath aved’ (the work of a bondservant); ‘eved avadim’ (a servant of servants) shall he be unto his brethren; ‘avdu’ (they served) Chedorlaomer. Similarly: ‘avodath avodah va’avodath masa’ (the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens), which means the work of any task in the Tent [of Meeting], and the work of [bearing] burdens upon the shoulder. If so, it would be possible [to think] that light works which one does for one’s own enjoyment are permissible, even though they are not for the preparation of food, while those difficult labors done in the course of preparation of food, which a servant performs for his master, are forbidden to be done. Therefore this [Beraitha just quoted from the Sifre] asked: “Whence do we know that this permission [for certain works] refers to preparation of food, so that all work done in the preparation of food is permissible, even if it involves difficult labor, and that we should prohibit all other kinds of work, for even the easiest of them are called m’lecheth avodah? From the similarity of phrases, a holy convocation, for there it is indicated that all works [even easy ones] are prohibited, and all works done for the preparation of food [even those difficult tasks that a servant does for his master, such as cooking, baking, etc.] are permitted to be done.”
Now I have seen the following text taught in the Mechilta: “Save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. All works necessary for the preparation of food overrule the festival, but not all Services [in the Sanctuary, as will be explained] overrule the festival. Now [the argument may be advanced]: Let some works done for the preparation of food overrule the Sabbath! And the following reasoning would favor it: If in a situation when all Services do not overrule the festival, nonetheless all works necessary for the preparation of food do overrule the festival, then in the situation where some Services [in the Sanctuary] do overrule the Sabbath, is it not logical that some works done for the preparation of food overrule the Sabbath! Scripture therefore states, Save that which every man must eat, [that only may be done by you. — on the festival, but not on the Sabbath. It is thus established that although] some Services [in the Sanctuary] overrule the Sabbath, no work for the preparation of food may overrule the Sabbath.” Now the meaning of the phrase [in the Beraitha] “some Services [in the Sanctuary which overrule the Sabbath],” is such things as offerings which are obligatory for the day, these being the Daily Whole-offering and the Additional Offerings; “but the festival is not overruled by all Services [in the Sanctuary],” these are vow-offerings and freewill-offerings [of individuals], or a freewill burnt-offering [which, although wholly for the altar, may yet not be offered on a festival]. But the meaning of the phrase [“is it not logical that] some works for the preparation of food [overrule the Sabbath]” has not been clarified to me. However, it alludes to what we have said, that work which is accomplished by means of great toil, akin to work [which a servant does for his master], is included in the prohibition, but that which is accomplished easily, and is customary for a man to do for himself, is permitted; or “some works” may mean [those necessary] for maintenance of life, and “all works” may mean abundance of dishes for pleasure. The principle then of ‘m’lecheth avodah’ [servile work — stated in the case of the festivals], is thus to permit the preparation of food [since that is not within the terms of “servile work” which is forbidden on the festival].

MISHNA: Rabbi Eliezer says: One may suspend and stretch over a base the strainer through which sediment is filtered from wine, on a Festival. And one may place wine through a strainer that was already suspended the day before; however, one may not suspend the strainer on Shabbat. And the Rabbis say: One may not suspend the strainer on a Festival, and one may not place wine for filtering through a suspended strainer on Shabbat; however, one may place wine through a suspended strainer on a Festival. GEMARA: The Gemara raises a difficulty with regard to Rabbi Eliezer’s position: Now, Rabbi Eliezer holds that we may not even add to a temporary tent on Shabbat; could it be that to make a tent is permitted ab initio? Stretching a strainer over a base, which Rabbi Eliezer permits, is comparable to making a tent. The Gemara explains the question: What is this opinion of Rabbi Eliezer’s? As we learned in a mishna: With regard to a window shutter used to cover a skylight, Rabbi Eliezer says: When it is tied to and hanging from the window, i.e., it is not touching the ground, one may shutter the window with it, and if not, one may not shutter the window with it. And the Rabbis say: Both in this case and in that case one may shutter with it. And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Everyone agrees that one may not construct a temporary tent on a Festival for the first time, and needless to say, one may not do so on Shabbat. The tanna’im disagree only with regard to adding to an existing tent, as Rabbi Eliezer says: One may not add to an existing structure on a Festival, and needless to say, one may not do so on Shabbat. And the Rabbis say: One may add to the temporary structure on Shabbat, and needless to say, one may do so on a Festival. The Gemara answers: Rabbi Eliezer indeed holds that the suspension of a strainer constitutes a prohibited labor. However, Rabbi Eliezer holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda with regard to actions that facilitate preparation of food on a Festival, as it was taught in a baraita: The only difference between a Festival and Shabbat is with regard to the preparation of food alone. It is permitted to perform labors for the purpose of food preparation on a Festival, but not on Shabbat. Rabbi Yehuda permits even actions that facilitate food preparation on a Festival, e.g., fixing utensils with which food is prepared on the Festival. Similarly, Rabbi Eliezer permits the suspension of a strainer, which would otherwise constitute a prohibited labor, in order to prepare wine for use on the Festival. The Gemara asks: Say that we heard that Rabbi Yehuda permits labors that are otherwise prohibited if they pertain to actions that facilitate food preparation that cannot be performed on the eve of the Festival; however, with regard to actions that facilitate food preparation that can be performed on the eve of the Festival, did you hear that he permits doing so? The Gemara answers: The leniency of Rabbi Eliezer exceeds that of Rabbi Yehuda. Unlike Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Eliezer does not distinguish between actions that facilitate food preparation that can and those that cannot be performed on the eve of the Festival.

We may, however, knead, bake, slaughter, and cook on a holiday, since if these activities had been performed on the previous day, the taste would be adversely affected. For warm bread or food that is cooked today does not [taste] the same as bread or food that was cooked the day before. Similarly, meat that is slaughtered today does not [taste] the same as meat slaughtered on the previous day. The same rules apply in all analogous situations.
Similarly, when it would be detrimental for subsidiary activities [involved in the preparation] of food to be performed on the day [before the holiday] - e.g., grinding spices and the like - they may be performed on the holiday.