יום ב Date: 7 Nissan, 5774 (4/7/14) – Beitzah#8 {Eliezer}

Dirt-Crushers –

R’ Chiya bar Ashi in name of Rav [8a top]: One is only allowed to cover blood with dirt that does not need crushing (loose soft dirt). Otherwise, one would be violating the prohibition of “crushing/grinding.”
Eglay Tal explains the Rashba: All grinding by hand for immediate use is ONLY permissible in regards to eating food (that is why the dirt used to cover blood must be unrequiring of crushing).

E’s Lesson: The acceptable distinctions are only for food related activities. This may be because the exact purpose of Shabbos/YomTov is understanding the concept of elevating our physical bodies to nothing other than being vehicles to drive our souls. Food becomes a literal part of us. The Rabbis constructed allowances only in this realm to help integrate within our bodies, minds and souls these unifications.  Let us always understand the true purposes for food and all our “activities” on both Holidays and weekdays, and crush all the dirt in our lives into Mitzvah-materials.