Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 135/ספרי דברים קל״ה
אוּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עֲצֶרֶת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: יָכוֹל יְהֵא אָדָם עָצוּר בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר כט לה): ״לָכֶם״. יָכוֹל יְהֵא אָדָם אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עֲצֶרֶת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ. הָא כֵּיצַד? תֵּן חֵלֶק לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ וְתֵן חֵלֶק לַאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה.
1Pisqa’ 1354511. “Then, on the seventh day—it is a Closure-festival 452 refers exclusively to the early summer festival of Shavuot (also known as the “First-fruits festival”). The Closure-festivals associated in the Bible with the last day of Passover (Dt. 16:8) and the Festival of Huts (Lv. 23:36) have generally been assimilated, by name, to the preceding Common-festival days, despite still being counted as formal days of rest, on which many forms of labor are proscribed. for HASHEM your God . . .your shall do no productive work”453 (Dt. 16:8-21).Rabbi says:is it possible to say thata person should be cloistered (`atzur)454 with the disciple-circlefor the entire day?The Teaching states:“Count for yourselves . . . seven complete weeks” (Lv. 23:15)455) in the context of festival legislation.—[for yourselves implies that leisure is permitted on a Festival]!Is it possible to say thata person should eat and drinkfor the entire day?The Teaching states:“It is a Closure-festival for HASHEM your God” (Dt. 16:8).Well now—how is this done?Devote part of the day to the disciple-circle,and part of the day to eating and drinking!
ברַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁיְּמֵי מוֹעֵד אֲסוּרִים בִּמְלָאכָה, מִנַּיִן לִימֵי מוֹעֵד שֶׁאֲסוּרִים בִּמְלָאכָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תֹּאכַל מַצּוֹת וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עֲצֶרֶת, מַה שְּׁבִיעִי עָצוּר – אַף שִׁשִּׁי עָצוּר.
22. R. Ishmael says:Since we have nowhere learnedthat the Common-festival days456 This refers to the intermediate days between the festival days of Sukkot and Passover. In rabbinic custom these are days of semi-rest. See M. M.Q. 3:1-4.are prohibited for productive work,on what basis do we know thatthe Common-festival daysare prohibited for productive work?The Teaching states:“Six days shall you eat unleavened-bread;then, on the seventh day—it is a Closure-festival”457. 9. (Dt. 16:8)—is it possible to say thatjust as you are entirely closeted-in on the seventh day,you should also be entirely closeted-in on the sixth day?458
גאוֹ מָה שְׁבִיעִי עָצוּר מִכָּל מְלָאכָה, אַף שִׁשִּׁי עָצוּר מִכָּל מְלָאכָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תֹּאכַל מַצּוֹת וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי עֲצֶרֶת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״, שְׁבִיעִי עָצוּר מִכָּל מְלָאכָה, וְאֵין שִׁשִּׁי עָצוּר מִכָּל מְלָאכָה. הָא לֹא מְסָרוֹ הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא לַחֲכָמִים, לוֹמַר אֵיזֶה יוֹם אָסוּר וְאֵיזֶה יוֹם מֻתָּר, אֵיזוֹ מְלָאכָה אֲסוּרָה וְאֵיזוֹ מְלָאכָה מֻתֶּרֶת.
3Or [perhaps this is the proper inference]:just as you cease productive work on the seventh day,you should also cease productive work on the sixth day?The Teaching states:“Six days shall you eat unleavened-bread,then, on the seventh day—it is a Closure-festival for HASHEM your God” (Dt. 16:8).Thus, the seventh day is closed-down for all productive work,but the sixth day is not closed-down for all productive work.459 par. 12:4.So we see thatScripture transmits to sages alone[the right to legislate]which day is prohibited for productive workand which day is permitted;which type of work is prohibitedand which type of work is permitted.