About This Text
Composed: Talmudic Israel, c.375 – c.425 CE
Tractate Beitzah (“Egg,” named for the first word in the tractate) is located in Seder Moed (“the Order of Festivals”) and discusses the laws of Yom Tov (biblical holidays). In medieval commentaries, it is often referred to as tractate Yom Tov. The tractate opens with discussions about muktzeh, or items that are set-aside and cannot be used on Shabbat or Yom Tov. The remaining chapters mainly focus on preparation of food on Yom Tov, a form of labor that is prohibited on Shabbat.