Topics covered:
Chapter 4, Mishna 1
Source for command to delight in Shabbos. Difference between Ten Commandments regarding Shabbos in Exodus vs. Deuteronomy. How do we know that Rabban Gamiliel was right in our Mishna when he ruled they could roam around the ship which sailed on Shabbos? Rabba’s reason vs. Rabbi Zeira’s reason. What is the Torah source for the rabbinic decree that we may only travel 2000 cubits from our dwelling on Shabbos? Rav Chananya asks, does that travel limit apply if one moves more than ten handbreadths above the ground? Rava says no. Gemara is not sure. Proof offered from story of Elijah returning to Earth in order to teach Torah in two towns sixty miles apart on the same Shabbos. Must be that he made miraculous leap, and the Shabbos boundary does not apply above ten handbreadths, but the proof is rejected because Yosef the Demon might be the one who appeared in both towns. Proof offered from one who vows to become a nazir (prohibited to drink wine) “on the day” the Messiah comes. He may not drink wine on weekdays, but he may drink wine on Shabbos and Yom Tov (holidays), therefore it must be the boundary does not apply above ten handbreadths. No! Reason he can drink on Shabbos/Yom Tov is that we know Messiah not coming on those days, and we know that because his herald, Elijah the Prophet, who is destined to come the day before the Messiah, has promised (as recorded in our tradition) that he will not come on Friday or the day before Yom Tov, lest he inconvenience the Jews who are preparing for Shabbos or Yom Tov! So at the end of the day, we don’t know Shabbos boundary applies above ten handbreadths.