Talking Talmud

What about produce that remains attached to the ground? Is that to be tithed? Is it food? Also, a new mishnah with the 5 grains that are obligated in "challah" - giving a portion to God - plus, the same 5 that can become both matzah and chametz.

Does the omer offering render kernels that are planted in the ground permitted? It depends on whether they have taken root. Also, sales of grain - with questions as to whether it's movable property or land, and how to deal honestly, rather than in fraudulent ways. And what about swearing as to the honesty of their handling? Under what circumstances - the narrowest of them - does the omer offer...

2 mishnayot - 1. The impact of bringing the omer offering - and how it releases the new grain from that status, even at quite a physical distance from the Temple. Plus, determining what is done in the absence of a Temple in terms schedule (the release from the prohibition against new grain is not cancelled). Also, the decree of R. Yohanan ben Zakkai. [What's What: The decrees of R. Yohanan ben...

Questions by Rava that lead to his seeking answers in a dream! What if dough were kneaded by a non-Jew? Is that dough subject to having hallah separated? What is the status of the dough? With answers coming from a parallel to the case of a convert -- and his dough. Of course, the dream-sourced answers are then queried by other sages, to no conclusion, or at least not as yet. Plus, the process of o...

More on the opinions about when the omer offering was to be brought - as presented by the Tannaim, and explained (and refuted and then finally upheld) by Rava. Plus, the question of how to count the omer. Also, a new mishnah - on handling the omer and parching the grain. The Gemara follows, defining the springtime and elaborating on how they would parch the grain. Plus, bringing the first fruits -...

A new mishnah! On the ceremony of the process of the omer - how they wove the stalks of barley together while they were still attached to the ground, which made them easier to harvest. And the people who lived in the area came together to celebrate. And the ceremony continued... with underlying goals of taking a polemical stance against the Boethusians. [Who's Who: The Boethusians]. Plus, Megi...

A new chapter - focused on the grain-offering that is the omer, brought on the 16th day of Nisan, the second day of Pesach, and which allows the "new" grain (or removes the prohibition against it. So, beginning with the new mishnah - on the case of the day of the omer offering falling on Shabbat, which is the unusual case, not the norm. The proper date of this entails a decision made aga...

A new mishnah, with specifications for the different grain-offerings - marheshet vs. merhavat (with the different pans for each). The first has a cover and the second does not OR the first is deep and the second is shallow (it's a machloket, of course, coming from different traditions). Plus, the pan known as the "kalbus" - with an illustration of it by Rashi! Also, a second mishnah,...

Still more on the offerings for Shavuot - the lambs and the loaves. Namely, showing the lambs in the 4 directions, plus up and down, to demonstrate God's province of the heavens and the earth. Or alternatively, to acknowledge and pray that nothing bad befall the people, from any which direction. With parallels, of course, to lulav and the waving thereof. Plus, the fulfillment of mitzvot as a m...

A new mishnah! Another list of the grain-offerings that require waving and do not require being brought near to the altar. With a deep dive into the procedure of the waving. And a focus on those offerings that require waving. Plus, the offering that is brought by a woman, yet she doesn't do the waving herself.

A new mishnah! Two requirements of all grain-offerings (and not only): 1. bringing near (to the altar), and 2. waving. The bringing near is only done for grain-offerings, but not all grain-offerings. The waving is not only done for grain-offerings, and not all of them, and not all of other offerings either, but for some of them. First listed are those that require drawing near and no waving. (Rabb...

A new mishnah! It lists grain-offerings that need both oil and frankincense, one or the other, or neither. Note the various kinds of menahot, and how these various terms and requirements are applied. Also, the grain-offering of the sinner, which involves oil and frankincense - in circumstances where the latter has to be brought as part of the offering (including the minhah kena'ot). Oil on the...

More on when the grain-offerings can have chametz/leaven and when they cannot. And the prohibition again honey on the altar -- and if there are exceptions regarding leaven, there are none, according to this Gemara, for honey. But there are still minor exceptions for the honey as well - in terms of what the kohanim themselves can eat. Plus, what happens when these factors are indeed violated? When...

In the context of cooking on Shabbat... when there is layering of meat on the coals, and then turn the meat over, one is liable for cooking on Shabbat. But not turning the meat over should also be an issue of cooking on Shabbat, depending on when the meat was put on the fire. Not turning the meat over leaves the meat substantially undercooked, but edible. Plus, the measure of this violation would...

Essential component elements of offering sacrifices on the altar - including the laying on of hands, on the head of the goat (for example). Also, the concept of the sacrifice of Nachshon - namely, the "prince" of the tribe of Yehudah, representative of all of the tribute by the tribes in the wilderness (Parshat Naso in the Torah), in contrast to the sacrifices as commanded for the genera...

A new mishnah! With basic directions as to how to make and shape the grain-offerings, with a clear prohibition against "chametz"/leaven, except for 2 specific grain-offerings. Including the source from the Torah to prohibit leaven from the altar. Plus, does each act with offering count as a prohibition (kneading, shaping, baking) or just as one? It's a case of a generalization and a...

How much flour needs to be measured out for the grain-offering? A minimal amount, so that even the poorest sinner can manage the offering. And that flour? It's dough, not just loose, powdery flour. Also, fresh figs vs. dried figs in terms of figuring out the volume or number when it comes to giving terumah (and the question of whether that's terumah gedolah or terumat ma'aser).

Chapter 5! On preparing the dough... with a new mishnah that explains that all of the grain-offerings are matzah (unleavened), with two exceptions. Plus, a discussion on how leavening was used. Plus, an important genealogy on the descendants of Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah (who himself could trace back to Ezra). Also, a gripping aggadic story about Abraham (the patriarch), the Destruction of the Templ...

More on the griddle-cakes... which were brought together with the daily offerings of the morning and of the afternoon. This raises the question of how much flour went into each offering - was the 10th of an efah of flour divided between the two daily offerings, or per each of them? Plus, the same question as applied to the frankincense, in terms of quantity with regard to each daily offering of th...

On Rava's opinion about the kohen gadol's griddle-cake offering. The griddle-cake involves flour and oil, but the measurements of each are not clear -- and are therefore subject to interpretation and deriving the details, whether from the verses or logic. Note the recipe that doesn't address taste, but rather learned inferences. Also, a new mishnah! The commitment to the offering of th...

More on the incense - including differences between communal incense vs. individual's incense. Also, the parallel is drawn between the gifts of the 12 tribes' princes, as told in the Book of Numbers (Parshat Naso) and the offering of this incense. Also, back to grain-offerings! And a specific recall of the "havitin" brought by kohanim, and the special one offered by the kohen gadol -- that were of...

More on Shavuot and its lambs... If older animals were brought - it's a dispute, whether they would count for the offerings of Shavuot or not. That is, if the intent is correct; if not, then not. Also, if the kohanim made something pigul - then that is invalid, even if it was done inadvertently. Plus, a new mishnah - with more on essentiality: the daily offerings and the additional offerings o...

The case of slaughtering 4 lambs with the 2 loaves of Shavuot (instead of 2 lambs), then how is that error handled? Two of those lambs are not offered for their own sake, since they aren't presented in the right context, as, for example, a generic peace-offering. That is, the first two lambs have already fulfilled the Shavuot requirement. Also, Rav Yitzhak comes from the land of Israel to the...

More on the loaves and lambs of Shavuot and how the slaughtering of the lambs with the proper intent consecrates the breads too. Plus, the possibility of possible consecration (which is not possible according to everyone, but it is in the view of some). Also, the strength of the connection between the lambs' slaughter and the consecration of the loaves. What happens if that bread is lost? Plus...

The bond between the animal sacrifices of the holiday of Shavuot and the "Shtei ha-Lechem" loaves of the same holiday, and when they are both required, as essential, and when one could be offered without the other, if need be. Also, a deeper dive into the the loaves of the Shtei ha-Lechem to begin with, and how they have to be changed in appearance (and if and when they are to be eaten)....