One who rubs grain may blow it from his hand, a bit at a time, and he may eat [without separating Maaser]. But if he blows and places it in his lap, it is obligated in Maaser.
Rabbi Elazar: The same applies to Shabbos.
Question: How may one blow grain on Shabbos?
Rav Ada bar Ahava quoting Rav: He must blow it from the joints of his fingers [not from his palm].
In Maarava [Eretz Yisroel] they laughed at that: Since he is making a shinui, he can do it with his whole hand. Rather, Rabbi Elazar: He can blow from one hand with all his energy [he need not limit himself].
[Since it is beneficial to have freshly ground spices on Yom Tov, it is permitted to grind with a shinui. Salt, however, which can just as well be ground before Yom Tov, requires a greater shinui].
Mishnah:
Beis Shammai: Spices [any type of condiment, including garlic] can be pounded in a wooden pounder, but salt, in a pot with a wooden spoon.
Beis Hillel: Spices can be prepared even in a stone pounder, but salt, in a wooden pounder.
Gemara:
Question: Everyone agrees that salt requires a shinui, what is the reason for that?
Rav Huna and Rav Chisda: One says: All pots require salt [and it should have been prepared before Yom Tov]. One says: Spices lose their flavor, salt doesn’t lose its flavor.
Question: What would be the difference between the two explanations?
Response: If one knew what he’s planning on cooking. Or, saffron [the flavor which does not evaporate, like salt].
Rav Yehuda quoting Shmuel: Everything that is pounded on Yom Tov, may be pounded in the usual manner, even salt.
Question: But we learned that salt requires a shinui?
Response: Shmuel follows this Tanna [who differs with our Mishnah].
Beraisa: Rabbi Meir: Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel agree that spices may be pounded in the usual manner and salt may be pounded along with them. Their argument is only regarding pounding salt on its own. Beis Shammai: In a pot with a wooden spoon - for broiling [in which case only a small amount of salt is necessary] but not for cooking [which requires a lot of salt]. Beis Hillel: It can be ground in any manner.
Challenge: Can it be that Beis Hillel is so lenient?
Resolution: It can only be ground in a pot with a wooden spoon [which is not muktzeh], but for any purpose.