שבת י״בShabbat 12

Mishnah 3ג׳

הַכּוֹתֵב שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת, בֵּין בִּימִינוֹ בֵּין בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ, בֵּין מִשֵּׁם אֶחָד בֵּין מִשְּׁנֵי שֵׁמוֹת, בֵּין מִשְּׁנֵי סַמְמָנִיּוֹת, בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן, חַיָּב. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, לֹא חִיְּבוּ שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם רֹשֶׁם, שֶׁכָּךְ הָיוּ כוֹתְבִין עַל קַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן, לֵידַע אֵיזוֹ בֶן זוּגוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי, מָצִינוּ שֵׁם קָטָן מִשֵּׁם גָּדוֹל, שֵׁם מִשִּׁמְעוֹן וּשְׁמוּאֵל, נֹחַ מִנָּחוֹר, דָּן מִדָּנִיֵּאל, גָּד מִגַּדִּיאֵל:

If one writes two letters, whether with his right hand or with his left hand, [if he is ambidextrous, (for with others, writing with the left hand is not considered writing)], whether of one variety [e.g., both aleph] or of two [e.g., aleph, beth], whether of two samemaniyoth [one in ink; the other in sikra (a red dye). Another version: "two simaniyoth," i.e., two signs (simanim), as when aleph is written to signify "one," and beth to signify "two."], in any tongue [or in the script of any nation], he is liable. R. Yossi said: They made him liable for two letters only by reason of "marking," for thus would they do with the boards of the tabernacle to know which their match was [after dismantling them, so that they not lose the order in setting them up again. R. Yossi comes to say that even if he did not write (any letters) but just made two marks as a sign he is liable. The halachah is not in accordance with R. Yossi.] Rebbi said: We find a small name in a big name: Shem in Shimon and Shmuel; Noach in Nachor; Dan in Daniel; Gad in Gadiel. [That is, even though the work was not completed, for he intended writing a large word and wrote just part of it — since that part is a word in itself and meaningful elsewhere, he is liable. And this is the halachah.]

Mishnah 4ד׳

הַכּוֹתֵב שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת בְּהֶעְלֵם אֶחָד, חַיָּב. כָּתַב בִּדְיוֹ, בְּסַם, בְּסִקְרָא, בְּקוֹמוֹס וּבְקַנְקַנְתּוֹם, וּבְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא רוֹשֵׁם, עַל שְׁנֵי כָתְלֵי זָוִיּוֹת וְעַל שְׁנֵי לוּחֵי פִנְקָס, וְהֵן נֶהְגִּין זֶה עִם זֶה, חַיָּב. הַכּוֹתֵב עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ, חַיָּב. הַמְסָרֵט עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר מְחַיֵּב חַטָּאת, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ פּוֹטֵר:

If one writes two letters in one (period of) forgetfulness, he is liable. If he wrote with ink, with sam (a kind of pigment), with sikra (a red dye), with komos [a kind of black earth; another interpretation, tree resin], with kankantum (vitriol), or with anything that leaves an impression — (If he wrote) on two corner walls [one, east; the other, north, next to each other], or on two ledger tablets, [Even though they are not written on one tablet], if they are read together [as they are written, on the two adjoining edges of the tablets], he is liable. If one writes on his flesh [with ink], he is liable. If one tattoos his flesh [with iron], R. Eliezer rules "liable," and R. Yehoshua, "not liable" [even if he drew blood, for this is not the way of writing. The halachah is in accordance with R. Yehoshua.]