Talking Talmud

A new chapter! With an introduction to the basis of the laws of inheritance. Including the rules of the first-born, and referring to the daughters of Tzlofchad. The first mishnah gives the list of who inherits and bequeaths to each other, who inherits but doesn't bequeath, doesn't inherit, but does bequeath, and neither. The Gemara wants to address the order of these cases -- including the fact th...

A case of a debtor coming to collect a deceased father's debt from one of two brothers who had divided their father's estate: is the brother who covered the debt left high and dry or do they redistribute the entirety of the estate? Also, what do judges do when they are in the process of appraising and distributing property for orphans, and they disagree about the appraisal? Plus, what happens when...

A new mishnah! On the sale of a field with demarcations of the property, where the buyer can hold the seller to those specifications, with a one-sixth margin of error (give or take, which is the bulk of the discussion). Plus, whether one-sixth exactly should be treated as more or less than one-sixth, which are respectively defined with halakhic conclusions. Also, the case of brothers who drew lots...

A new mishnah! (from 104) With a case of contradictory measurements (specific and approximate), which is a complication for an effective sale - the one nullifies the other. Plus, a story that took place in the Galil - with the rental of a place for the year, 1 gold dinar per month. But then the year was declared a leap year - with an extra month. Should that be paid for as an independent month or...

Interactions between buyer and seller - when a seller gives the buyer and advantage, for the portion of land being sold. In whose favor are the adjustments for the buyer or seller? It seems the seller wins out - in that he cannot be compelled to sell.... or so it would seem. Based on the costs of the land. Plus, the amount of land that is a minimum for the sowing of the given measure of seed could...

Beginning a new chapter - with a new mishnah. Namely, if one sells a field that has crevices or rocks of 10 handbreadths of depth or height, respectively - those areas are not included in the amount of land sold (a minimum of which is to plant a basic minimum of seed). And another new mishnah too, with specifics of a contract and their implications brought to practice.

More on the spacing of found buried bodies - and when the presumption is that you have found an ancient burial ground, based on the spacing (depending on the dispute with regard to burial details). Also, a dispute between the sages and R. Shimon in the mishnah vs. that of both sides in the baraita. Plus, the contrast to a burial ground and a vineyard, in terms of proximity.

Beginning with a mishnah on 100 -- about the structure of catacombs: family burial places carved into the recesses of a wall, and the specifics of the dimensions required for them. The Gemara delves into the spacing of niches for burial coming off chambers, including what direction to place the body. Also, the question of coming across a buried body - or two, and how to ascertain whether they are...

More on the definitions of a thoroughfare -- specifically, a private path. Is it measured in cubits or by use? Note: "Dayanei Golah" - the judges of the Diaspora, who weigh in on the width of a private path. With prooftexts for why a public thoroughfare is the width it is in comparison to other roads, likewise the king's road, and the cemetery road. Also, a ceremony that took place on the cemetery...

All you want to know about the cherubim/keruvim, and then some (because of there's dispute). What is their wingspan? What are their positions? Which way are they facing? Plus, 3 mishnayot: Beginning with the location of one home that had a cistern on the other side of another party's home. Also, the various ownership of property, from private to public to the king's road to that of a graveyard.

2 mishnayot! First, wine that goes sour is not the seller's responsibility, unless he knew it would sour. Plus other cases where it turns out that the seller is in fact responsible (e.g., if he brags about how great the wine is before the sale and then it goes bad). Also, the difference between "old wine" and "aged wine" and "cooking wine," in terms of caliber. Second, in the event of building a s...

Wine that is produced by pouring water over leaves (shemarim) that are terumah - the first 2 pourings are considered terumah still, but by the third, it loses that standing, unless it still has the taste of wine. That question of "taste" carries many ramifications as well. Also, to be able to make kiddush on "wine," the wine itself has to be eligible for libations on the altar.

More on wine that may have become vinegar - this case, in a barrel from which terumot and ma'aserot may have been taken. Does the barrel turn from the top or from the bottom? What if the liquid smells of vinegar, but tastes of wine? How to determine thee time of the turning? Also, more on the suitable use of the generic "Shehakol" blessing, as compared to "Borei Pri HaGefen" blessing - for various...

A seller of wine selling a cellar of wine - where the difference between a barrel vs. the stock carries real implications for the shift from wine to vinegar being an issue for the sale. Also, when wine is sold in a store, the blessing over it should be the one for wine (Borei Pri HaGefen). But there is a risk of the wine becoming vinegar - and when it's turning, or turned, it should get the more g...

A new mishnah discusses how much dirt can be sold with different types of produce. Rav Huna shares a halacha about happens if the buyer finds more than a quarter kav if dirt.

More on the dispute between Rav and Shmuel - on whether the seller owes the buyer the value of the error in the event that the merchandise sold was not as it should have been. Also, the saga of fighting camels - where the original owner might be liable for the loss of one of them. Plus, the question of the application of the concepts of "rov" and "chazakah" in establishing whet...

Beginning chapter 6 - with a new mishnah. One who sells produce that is sometimes used for eating and sometimes for planting -- what happens if the buyer plants the item and it doesn't grow? What if one sells an ox and it turns out to be a gorer? When is the seller responsible for the dud of the sale? Plus, when does the issue of "rov" - the majority, especially in terms of expectati...

In the middle of 7 beraitot -- the last of which addresses increases to the cost of wheat, and then the Gemara turns to Megillat Ruth. Specifically, can you find wheat to purchase? If so, there's a dispute whether you can leave the land of Israel. Think of the family of Naomi, who left the land of Israel for Moab, because of a famine in that generation. Plus, all of the arrangements that neede...

A given town has limits on how much it can increase the size of its measures. If the rationale is to avoid inflation, then why increase at all? Perhaps it's a concern of "ona'ah" - defrauding either party - but the Gemara rejects that as a concern too. And so on, for a few attempts. Plus, the use of verses to establish the adjustments to weights and measures. Also, people who hol...

Further discussion of the laws that pertain weights and measures, with a mnemonic to help them remember 11 beraitot, all pertaining to weights and measures, including those pertaining to the norms of the given place. For example, whether a serving might be flat or level, as compared to rounded or heaping. Plus, a caution against using "large" or "small" weights, with the goal,...

A new mishnah! (the last of the chapter) -- on the upkeep of weights and measures. That is, wiping them clean, specifically those that are used for wet goods. Also, a question of ethical importance as determined by one's honesty in weights and measures -- supported by textual nuance. Plus, why it is that dishonesty in weights and measures is so bad.

2 mishnayot! First: The case of someone who sells food and drink -- that is, oil and wine -- and the price rises or falls, and the seller or the buyer wants to renege, it depends where in the process of pouring it out for the buyer whether each can renege. If a middleman is responsible for the commodity, and a barrel of the goods breaks, he is responsible to cover the loss. Plus, the dripping of 3...

The daf describes how kinyan meshicha works and questions if it an alternative to hagbaha or only done when hagbaha cannot be performed

A baraita with the 4 different methods by which a buyer can acquire merchandise -- for example, dry good. That is, until the measuring cup (as it were) is filled, as per their terms, at which point, the seller cannot renege. If the buyer owns that vessel, however, then the buyer takes full possession from the time that the good reach the vessel. Plus, what happens if the goods are deposited with a...

The daf has a discussion about the color of the sun based off the mishnah’s halacha about white and red wheat. A new mishnah discusses the sale of fruit and flax.