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Why does the opening Mishna of Shabbos (שבת) use 'oni' and 'baal bayis' rather than simply 'inside person' and 'outside person'? The shiur develops the Rav's approach that this language highlights the tension of mitzvah (מצוה) haba'ah ba'aveirah when giving tzedakah on Shabbos. Following the Tosafot Yom Tov's logic, giving tzedakah may involve no maaseh mitzvah at all — the giver merely facilitates the poor person's benefit.
This shiur presents an in-depth examination of the opening Mishna of Masechta Shabbos (שבת) (2a), which discusses the laws of transferring objects on Shabbos using the terminology of oni (poor person) and baal bayis (householder). The fundamental question addressed is why the Mishna specifically uses these terms rather than simply referring to someone inside and someone outside. The Rambam (רמב"ם) suggests this terminology is merely for efficiency in language. However, Rabbi Zweig explores the view of 'the Rav' (likely referring to Rabbi Soloveitchik) who proposes that this language teaches us about the concept of mitzvah (מצוה) haba'ah ba'aveirah (a mitzvah that comes through transgression). According to this view, when the baal bayis extends his hand outside on Shabbos to give tzedakah, he violates Shabbos laws but performs the mitzvah of giving charity, creating a conflict between the transgression and the positive commandment.
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Shabbos 2a
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