Siman 516

We learned in a Mishnah at the end of the first chapter of Beitzah (14b): Beit Shammai say: One may not send on Yom Tov except for portions. That is to say: one may not send a gift to his fellow except for something that is prepared, and is not made to be set aside for tomorrow, such as pieces of meat and fish. And Beit Hillel say: One may send domestic animals, wild animals, and fowl, whether alive or slaughtered. One may send wines, oils, fine flours, and legumes, but not grain. That is to say, they disagree on two points: First: that even something that is not yet prepared, such as living creatures that still require slaughtering—it is permitted, since he is able to slaughter them. And it is obvious that there must still be enough time to slaughter, to salt, to cook, and to eat. For if not so—behold, they are not fit for Yom Tov. And the second: that even if he certainly will not eat all of them today or will not drink them, as they are for many days, such as wines, oils, and fine flours, which implies they are in abundance, nevertheless, since he will eat from them on Yom Tov or drink from them—it is permitted (and therefore it divided them into two clauses). But not grain, because it is forbidden to grind on Yom Tov, and they are not fit for Yom Tov. And see what I wrote in section 4.

And if there is some food that can be made from grain—some say that it is permitted (Taz). And some say that it is forbidden, because most grains are designated for grinding (Eliyah Rabbah in the name of the Maggid Mishneh chapter five). And according to this, to send an animal designated for its milk is forbidden, for it is impossible to slaughter it due to the reason of muktzah (ibid.) unless she is a milker and he sends her so that he may milk her. And also on Yom Tov he can milk into food, as I wrote in siman 505. And so too animal food is forbidden to send, because one does not exert effort for the sake of an animal (Magen Avraham). And there is one who permits (Taz and see Eliyah Rabbah).

And even something that is permitted to be sent on Yom Tov – nevertheless, one should not send them in a public manner, that is, by way of three people walking in a row one after another or in a crowd (Eliyah Rabbah), all of them carrying one type. Rather, each one should go by himself, distant from one another. And so too if each one carries one type – it is permitted, as it does not appear so much as if they are going to one place. And there is one who says that in one after another even with three types – it is forbidden (Magen Avraham in the name of Yam Shel Shelomo).

And one may send garments even though they are not sewn, because they are fit to lean upon, and they have a use for Yom Tov. And even if they contain shaatnez, if they are stiff in a manner that it is permitted to lean upon them, according to what I wrote in Yoreh Deah siman 301. And if not – it is forbidden. And one may send tefillin even though he does not need them on Yom Tov; nevertheless, since on a weekday they are ready to be donned immediately – he has joy and it is permitted on Yom Tov. And according to this, also wines and oils, even if he will not consume them on Yom Tov – it is permitted. But an animal and fine flours are forbidden, since they are not fit as they are.

And the reason for the prohibition to send that which is not fit for Yom Tov—this is by way of a reshut harabim. For even though on Yom Tov carrying is permitted, nevertheless, that which is only for the needs of a weekday, and in which there is no joy on Yom Tov—it is prohibited. And all those that have been explained—it is permitted to send them even by way of a reshut harabim. But by way of a karmelit, and for us who do not have a reshut harabim—everything is permitted, as long as it is not muktzeh (Taz).