יום ד Date: 2 Nissan, 5774 (4/2/14) – Beitzah#3 {Eliezer}

[ A+ ] /[ A- ]

mo·not·o·ny – 

Beis Hillel explained by R’ Yoseph [3a top]: A derivative from its source (ie: a fruit fallen from a tree) may not be eaten on YomTov (as a prohibitory fence so as not to come to climb a tree and pull off a fruit).
Tosephos: Why is climbing a tree prohibited? It should be permitted because we know one is ALLOWED to do cooking and preparatory acts for it on YomTov… (*see below for full Tosephos answer)
R’ Rosner: Why is cooking on a YomTov (Holiday) permitted in the first place?
Ran: Hutra vs. Dechuya. Either Hutra (it is prohibited, but permitted here and now for a specific time and place) or Dechuya (it is not even prohibited anymore, the violation is no longer valid). [Another example of this principle in practice would be violating Shabbos in order to save a life.] (**see below for a 3rd answer)

E’s Lesson: We easily get lost in mechanically working and serving everyday of our lives. However, monotonous actions may lead to lackadaisical and eventually absent performances. We should strive to find the magnificent beauty (where applicable and understandable) behind the decrees and infuse deeper meaning and enthusiasm into our practices.

— EXTRA CREDIT Knowledge —

*Tosephos’s Answer: Yerushalmi: There is a Biblical distinction between acts before GUARDing and onward (ie: adding liquid to flour to knead it – when you need to “Guard” Matzah from becoming Chametz). The first of the 11 ordered Melachos (creative acts), those before kneading [ie: planting, plowing, harvesting…], are considered pre-preperatory (according to the Meiri) and prohibited. Later acts (ie:kneading and onward in the process) are permitted for food.

**R Shechter (explaining the RAMBAN in Parshas Emor) – A 3rd approach is that cooking is not ever prohibited on YomTov to begin with! The Torah here says one may not do “Meleches AVODAH” (the Melacha/creative-action prohibition gets limitationally  redefined as only pertaining to Avodah/WORK). However “Meleches Ha’na’ah” (creative action in reference to Ha’na’ah/BENFIT) (ie: for FOOD) was never even prohibited on the Holiday from the beginning.