Shabbat 92: Baskets on the Threshold, Carrying Atypically

A new Mishna teaches that an item carried out on Shabbat with the right or left hand, on one's lap or shoulder, the person is liable.  These are typical ways of carrying used by the sons of Kechat when carrying the Tabernacle in the desert.  If one carries with his foot, mouth, elbow, ear, hair or belt, with the opening faced downward, between his belt and cloak, with the hem of his cloak, with his shoe or sandal, he is exempt because he has carried out in an unconventional way.  

The rabbis question how much must be carried out to equal the size of the Tabernacle, which was ten cubits high.  The altar was also ten cubits high.  The rabbis wonder if Moses himself was ten cubits tall as he could cover the tent by himself.  Were all Levites ten cubits?  Or was the Ark's cover just one handbreadth over nine handbreadths of height?  The Master said that the Dive Presence only rests upon a person who is wise might wealthy and tall.  

If one carries out things on one's head like the people of Hotzal, one is liable to bring a sin-offering.  Carrying on one's head was a typical way for these people to carry.  Others believe that one who carries in this way is exempt. 

We hare a new Mishna: One who intends to carry out an object and was walking past the object, he is exempt.  Hi is liable if he comes to stand behind it.  A woman who girded herself in a pants-like sinar, girdle or apron,  worn beneath the outer garments, whether she put an object in front of her or behind her, on one side or the other, she is liable, as it is common for this garment to be reversed.  Rabbi Yehuda says that even those royal couriers who receive notes carry the in their belts and do not notice whether they are in the front or backs of those belts.  

The Gemara explains that when an item is in front of us, we are ready to realize our intention.  When an object is behind us, we manage to protect the item from our carrying it out.  The rabbis try to understand why the Mishna is taught in this way.  

Another new Mishna is introduced.  It teaches that one who carries a large mass into the public domain on Shabbat is liable.  If two carried it out together they are exempt because neither performed a complete prohibited labour.  But if one person is unable to carry it out alone and then calls in another to help, they are both liable.  Rabbi Shimon says that they are exempt even in that case.  The rabbis consider the prooftext for this to come from Leviticus 4:27, where it is taught that if a commoner sins unwittingly by performing one of G-d's negative commandments, they are guilty because of the performance of the sin.  The Gemara interprets this as performing in its entirety and not just in part.