Study Rosh Hashanah folio 33A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ואין חותכין אותו, בין בדבר שהוא משום שבות ובין בדבר שהוא משום לא תעשה. משום שבות — מגלא. לא תעשה — סכינא.
§ The Mishnah stated: One may not cut the shofar if it needs to be prepared, neither with an object that is prohibited due to a rabbinic decree nor with an object that may not be used due to a Torah prohibition. The Talmud explains: An example of an object prohibited due to a rabbinic decree is a sickle, which is not ordinarily used for preparing a shofar; an example of an object that may not be used due to a prohibition by Torah law is a knife.
השתא משום שבות אמרת לא — לא תעשה מיבעיא? זו ואין צריך לומר זו קתני.
The Talmud asks: Now that you have said that to sound the shofar one may not perform an action that is prohibited due to rabbinic law, is it necessary to say that one may not perform an action that violates a prohibition by Torah law? The Talmud answers: The Mishnah teaches employing the style: This, and it is unnecessary to say that.
אבל אם רצה ליתן לתוכו מים או יין — יתן. מים או יין — אין, מי רגלים — לא.
§ The Mishnah continues. However, if one wishes to place water or wine into the shofar on Rosh HaShana, so that it should emit a clear sound, he may place it. The Talmud infers: Water or wine, yes, one may insert these substances into a shofar. However, urine, whose acidity is good for the shofar, no.
מתניתין מני — אבא שאול היא. דתניא, אבא שאול אומר: מים או יין — מותר, כדי לצחצחו. מי רגלים — אסור, מפני הכבוד.
The Talmud asks: Who is the tanna of the Mishnah? The Talmud answers: It is Abba Shaul, as it is taught in a baraita that Abba Shaul says: With regard to water or wine, one is permitted to pour these liquids into a shofar on Rosh HaShana in order to make its sound clear. However, with regard to urine, one is prohibited to do so due to the respect that must be shown to the shofar. Although urine is beneficial, it is disrespectful to place it in a shofar, which serves for a mitzva.