Shabbat 103a
שבת ק״ג א — ד"ה מַתְנִי׳ הַחוֹרֵשׁ כׇּל שֶׁהוּא
Shabbat 103a:4
Discusses acts that improve or cultivate the ground and the parameters of choreish and related labor categories. It is a key sugya for determining whether an action has the requisite benefit to soil.
מַתְנִי׳ הַחוֹרֵשׁ כׇּל שֶׁהוּא, הַמְנַכֵּשׁ וְהַמְקַרְסֵם וְהַמְזָרֵד כׇּל שֶׁהוּא — חַיָּיב. הַמְלַקֵּט עֵצִים, אִם לְתַקֵּן — כׇּל שֶׁהֵן, אִם לְהֶיסֵּק — כְּדֵי לְבַשֵּׁל בֵּיצָה קַלָּה. הַמְלַקֵּט עֲשָׂבִים, אִם לְתַקֵּן — כׇּל שֶׁהוּא, אִם לִבְהֵמָה — כִּמְלֹא פִי הַגְּדִי. גְּמָ׳ לְמַאי חֲזֵי? חֲזֵי לְבִיזְרָא דְקַרָא. דִּכְווֹתַהּ גַּבֵּי מִשְׁכָּן, שֶׁכֵּן רָאוּי לְקֶלַח אֶחָד שֶׁל סַמָּנִין. הַמְנַכֵּשׁ וְהַמְקַרְסֵם וְהַמְזָרֵד. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַתּוֹלֵשׁ עוּלְשִׁין וְהַמְזָרֵד זְרָדִים, אִם לַאֲכִילָה — כִּגְרוֹגֶרֶת. אִם לִבְהֵמָה — כִּמְלֹא פִי הַגְּדִי. אִם לְהֶיסֵּק — כְּדֵי לְבַשֵּׁל בֵּיצָה קַלָּה. אִם לְיַיפּוֹת אֶת הַקַּרְקַע — כׇּל שֶׁהֵן.
MISHNA: One who plows is liable for plowing any amount of land on Shabbat. One who weeds and removes grass on Shabbat, and one who removes dry branches and who prunes any amount is liable. With regard to one who gathers wood, if he did so to enhance the tree or the land, he is liable for any amount; if he did so for fuel, he is liable for collecting a measure equivalent to that which is used to cook an easily cooked egg. With regard to one who gathers grass, if he did so to enhance the plants or the land, he is liable for any amount; if he did so to feed an animal, he is liable for collecting a measure equivalent to a goat’s mouthful. GEMARA: The Gemara asks: For what use is plowing any amount of land suited? The Gemara answers: It is suited for a single pumpkin seed. The corresponding situation in the Tabernacle was as it is suitable for planting a single stalk of herbs to make dyes. We also learned in the mishna: One who weeds, and one who removes dry branches, and who prunes any amount is liable. The Sages taught that in a baraita: With regard to one who severs endives that grow like weeds, or who prunes reeds [zeradim]; if he did so for human consumption, he is liable in the measure of a fig-bulk; if he did so for animal consumption, he is liable in a measure equivalent to a goat’s mouthful. If he did so for fuel, he is liable for severing a measure equivalent to that which is used to cook an easily cooked egg. If he did so to enhance the land, he is liable for any amount.
