Beitza 14 a, b

We learned four Mishnayot today.  Each of them had to do with food preparation on the festeivals.  Although much of the reading was very interesting, I found it ironic that my 'break' from Pesach preparations was spent reading about food on Festivals.

1) Are we permitted to grind or pound spices (including salt) on a Festival?  The Gemara suggests that we are indeed permitted to do this given that thef ood will lose its flavour if left fore the day.  It seems that our rabbis lived in a time where people bought chinks of a certain spice and then ground it with a large mortar and pestle.  We learn that if we do the grinding/pounding in an unusual manner, all the better.

2) When are we permitted to prepare legumes on a Festival? The rabbis describe separating refuse from the food.  We learn about how legumes are selected and rinsed in ordinary circumstances:   Instead, he is permitted to select in his lap with a tray or in a large vessel.  Normal selection uses utensils like winnows [?], sieves, or tablets.  In addition, legumes are washed in water where the refuse will float to the top.  The Gemara questions what to do with this refuse.  I am guessing that regardless of the method used, the older daughters take of it.

3) Beit Shammai say that on Festivals, we can only give portions of food or other items. Beit Hillel teach that we can give anything, providing us will a lengthy list of permitted items including slaughtered and unslaughtered animals.  Surprisingly, the Gemara shares arguments how these gifts might be delivered.  We learn that a convoy is three or more people.  

4) We are permitted to send each other clothing on a Festival.  In fact we are able to send diverse kinds, even one shoe.  But these items should not be unfinished, nor should they create work to be done on Shabbat.  The Gemara shows us the rabbis' thoughts about this Mishna; how could we transport diverse kinds as gifts when we cannot wear them in other circumstances.  And so the rabbis begin to argue that there must be an exception - these must be curtains and not clothing.