- החי נושא את עצמו
The Mishnah on 93b stated that if one carries a live person on a bed, he is exempt for carrying the person, and even for taking out the bed, because the bed is secondary to the person.
The Gemara attempts to prove that this is the minority opinion of Rebbe Nassan, based on a Baraisa that taught that if one carried out animals into a reshus harabim, either dead or alive, one is liable. Rebbe Nassan however, disagrees and says that although one is liable for carrying a dead animal, he is exempt for carrying a living animal, שהחי נושא את עצמו – because a living creature supports its own weight. This is like our case in the Mishnah of carrying a live person on a bed.
Rava says that it’s possible that the Rabbonon also hold that in regards to a person החי נושא את עצמו, and they only disagreed with Rebbe Nassan in the case of animals because animals stiffen themselves to try to escape, and as Rashi explains they actually feel heavier. Therefore, they cannot be considered as if they “carry themselves”.
- Metzora plucking one of three white hairs
If a metzora plucked out one of two white hairs in the afflicted area of his skin, to prevent himself from being declared tamei, he has transgressed a negative commandment. There is a machlokes Amoraim regarding a case where a metzorah plucked out one of three white hairs in the afflicted area of his skin.
• Rav Nachman holds that he is liable because his action is potentially consequential, for if one more hair becomes removed, the tumah will depart.
• Rav Sheishess said that he is not liable since the tumah is still present with the two remaining white hairs. Therefore, the act was inconsequential.
- Removing a partially detached fingernail
It was taught in an emended Baraisa that Rebbe Shimon ben Elazar says that fingernails or cuticles that have become detached most of the way, may be removed by hand , but it is Rabbinically forbidden to be done with an instrument. If they did not become detached most of the way, then removing them by hand is Rabbinically forbidden, and removing them with an instrument would make one liable to bring a chatas.
Rabbah bar bar Chanah said in the name of Rebbe Yochanan that removing them is only allowed where the cuticles have become detached toward the top of finger and are peeling back toward the base of the nail, because this causes considerable pain.
