You Rest, Your Vessels Work Shabbat: Between Bet Shammai and Bet Hillel

(5) Beit Shammai say: One may not steep ink, dye, or vetches [fodder] in water [on Friday] unless there is sufficient time for them to dissolve while it is still day. But Beit Hillel permit it.

(6) Beit Shammai say: One may not put bundles of flax into the oven [on Friday] unless they will be steamed during the day; nor wool into the vat unless it will absorb the color. But Beit Hillel permit it. Beit Shammai say: One may not spread traps for animals, birds or fish [on Friday] unless they will ensnare [their quarry] during the day. But Beit Hillel permit it.

(7) Beit Shammai say: One should not sell [anything] to a non-Jew [on Friday], or help him load [an animal], or lift [a burden] onto himself, unless there is sufficient time for him to reach a neighboring place [before Shabbat]. But Beit Hillel permit it.

(10) One may not roast meat, onions, or eggs [on Friday] unless there is sufficient time for them to get roasted during the day [before Shabbat]. One may not put bread into the oven towards dusk [nightfall on Friday], nor cakes on the coals, unless there is sufficient time in the day for its surface to form a crust [before Shabbat]. Rabbi Eliezer says [unless there is sufficient time for] its bottom [surface] to form a crust.

(11) One may lower the Passover offering into the oven towards dusk [on Friday]. And [the priests in the Temple] may kindle the fire in the hearth-room [on Friday], but outside [the Temple a fire may be lit] only if there is sufficient time for the fire to ignite the greater part of the wood. Rabbi Yehudah says: With regard to coals [it is acceptable] if any part of them becomes ignited [before Shabbat].

Bet Shammai said to Bet Hillel: Don't you agree that one may not roast meat, onion or egg on Friday afternoon as it gets dark unless they are roasted [before Shabbat]? So too ink, dyes and vetch should be the same.

Bet Hillel said to them: Don't you agree that one may lay down olive press beams and suspend wine press rollers Friday afternoon as it gets dark. So too ink, dyes and vetch should be the same.

They stood by their arguments and they stood by their arguments, for Bet Shammai says: "Six days you shall work and perform all your labor" (Exodus 20:8)—[meaning] all your labor should be completed by Friday afternoon. And Bet Hillel says: "Six days you shall work": you may work all six days.

One may conduct water into a garden on Friday afternoon just before dark, and it may go on being filled the whole day.

And one may place an eye salve on the eye and a plaster on a wound on Friday afternoon just before dark and it will continue healing all day.

And one may place sulfur under [silver] vessels on Friday afternoon just before dark and it may continue making sulfurous odor all day;

And one may place incense on top of coals on Friday afternoon just before dark.

But one may not place wheat in a water-mill unless it can be ground [when it is still day.]

(1) A pot of food may be placed on a double stove [which holds two pots, shortly before Shabbat], if it is fueled with straw or stubble; [but if it is fueled] with peat or wood one may not put [a pot of food thereon] unless he sweeps out [the lower compartment], or puts ashes [there]. Beit Shammai say: [One may place] hot water [on such a stove] but not cooked food; but Beit Hillel say: [One may place both] hot water and cooked food [there]. Beit Shammai: One may remove [a pot from the stove], but may not return [it]; but Beit Hillel say: One may even return [it].

(2) [If] an oven is fueled with straw or stubble, one may not put anything either into it or on its outside [surface]. A single [pot] stove which is fueled with straw or stubble is considered like a double stove; but [if fueled] with peat or wood is considered like an oven.