Shabbat 90: Liability for Carrying Out Small Things on Shabbat

There are three new Mishnayot on today's daf. 

First Mishna: Any amount of pepper makes one liable for carrying out on Shabbat.  Tar, perfumes and some types of metals can be of any amount.  We are liable for any amount of stones of the altar or earth of the alter, sacred scrolls or their coverings, and insects that destroy their covering.  It is explained that people store and bury them, and even small measures of these items are significant.  Similarly, Rabbi Tehuda says that even one who carries out accessories of idolatry on Shabbat is liable for carrying out in any amount.  Even the smallest amount should be burned.

Second Mishna: One who carries out a merchant's basket, even if there are many types of spices and jewelry in it, is obligated to bring only one sin offering because there was only one act of carrying out.  One is liable for less than a fig bulk of garden seeds.  Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says that the measure for liability is five seeds. Only two cucumber, squash, or Egyptian beans seeds are required for liability, however.  Any amount of live kosher locust is liable.  A dead kosher locust is edible, and is must be less than all other foods, which is one fig bulk.  Rabbi Yehuda notes that even one who carries out a live non-kosher locust is liable for carrying out any amount because people store locusts for a child who wants to play with them.  In the Gemara, Rabbi Yehuda is not worried that the child might kill and eat the locust because the child would eulogize it and mourn it instead.

Our final Mishna in today's daf is also the start of Perek X.  It says that one who stores a seed for sowing or as a sample or for medicinal purposes and then carried it out on Shabbat is liable for carrying out any amount.  Storing implies importance.  If one stored a seed, carried it out, and then brought it back in with no further intention to use it as planned, one is only liable if one brought in its measure for liability (Rav Shmuel Strashun).