Talking Talmud

More on the spies. Why people wanted to hear from Calev more than they were willing to hear from Joshua. Plus, trusting God when it comes to conquering the land with His assistance. The midrashim establish the sins of the spies, I spades. And then suggests otherwise. Also, a description of how the people and the ark crossed the Jordan River. Which leads to the story of Uzza.

The splitting of the Jordan River reminded the nations around of what they'd heard of the splitting of the Red Sea, and were still afraid, all these years later. Also, Moses' sending out of the spies, and how they were looking to shame the land from the outset. Also, a discussion of Calev, whose report on the land was dramatically different from nearly all the other spies, and he made a detour to...

On the fact that Tefilah can be said in any language - because it's a request for mercy. But can one really pray in... wait for it... Aramaic?! Plus, the way to pray as an individual... in Hebrew! Plus, a guest appearances by Caligula, and the message from a heavenly voice in Aramaic! Plus, the appearance of the Angel Gabriel, who clearly knew Aramaic, when others seemed not to. Also, determining...

Chapter 7! Passages that are read out that can be recited in any language, as compared to those that need the Hebrew. Plus, a long description of the blessings and curses on Mount Gerizim and Eival. Plus, the difference between a mitzvah that has an utterance as compared to one that has both speaking and saying. What is to be said loud? And what quietly? Including the Amidah. Including one who is...

A daf that opens with aggadata: Job's worship of God from love, as explicated in the text. Plus, Abraham's worship of love of God. As compared to the one who serves God out of fear. Also, the 6th chapter, with its single mishnah. On witnesses and the question of a woman who has secluded herself, and who is considered a reliable witness - to establish her as a sotah or prevent her from becoming a s...

A debate on whether one is allowed to cause non-hekdesh food to become impure. Plus, a quick mention on the debate regarding the status of the Shabbat boundary. Also, intensive interpretation of the Song at the Sea.

On the interpretation of the verses that address the women we cannot marry kohanim - or is it those who can't eat terumah? Delving into the fine points of the text for the sake of the interpretations. Plus, R. Yochanan ben Zakkai's handling of halakhah when he didn't have the proof he thought he needed and would one day (theoretically) get. Including a comparison (attempted) to a tivul yom.

A deep dive into R. Yehudah HaNasi's position that the water check the paramour just as it checks the woman. Also, a long beraita on the way of being rendered impure, in the event if infidelity - the logic of how the sotah-woman is treated accordingly. Which raises questions on R. Akiva and on R. Yishmael.

Finishing one chapter and starting the next. Wrapping up some possible cases - for the relationships where the husband isn't present or available to continue with sotah proceedings, but his warning to her negates her claim on her ketubah even though she doesn't drink the bitter waters. Also, a mishnah that lists many of the halakhot that were taught in the Beit Midrash when R. Elazar ben Azariah t...

More on women who would (or would not) drink the bitter waters. Plus, the forbidden relationships - for which the husband's warning is valid, and she can become a sotah - despite all the rationales that might suggest otherwise. Also, the kohen's wife who does need to drink the waters, and in the event of her acquittal, goes home to her husband, even if she had some kind of negative reaction to the...

Two dilemmas relate back to the very long mishnah: 1. If a woman violates some aspect of modesty standards or practices, does she get a warning before she loses her entitlement to her ketubah? 2. What about the prohibited marriages - do they get warned, once we know they're not going to drink and also won't get their ketubot? The Gemara suggests several explanations for these dilemmas, still comin...

Another long series of mishnayot now discussing situations where a woman does not drink the Mei Sotah. The Gemara further discusses some of the biblical sources for the Mishna’s rulings.

A series of mishnahyots presented as one long Mishnah begins with different laws around menachot which leads into a mishnah discussing some halachic differences between men and women. Why does this mishnah appear in Masechet Sotah?

The Gemara addresses the categories of those who erode the world - we focus first in the "perushot," abstemious women. Specifically, a chaste girl who prays all the time, aiming to protect those who might come to sin because of her. Which is fully impressive, except for one who is masking destructive behavior (as in the case of Yochani bat Retivi). Note the real implications of ancient hypocrisy o...

What merit could stave off the death of a guilty sotah? Perhaps the merit of Torah study (but how much merit does that really get her?!). So presumably the merit of doing a mitzvah - but do mitzvot really protect those who do them? Plus, the role of King David's advisors. Also, the commentary on the positions of Ben Azzai and R. Eliezer in the mishnah. Also, how to expand on the vulnerability of T...

A new mishnah: The woman can walk back her plan to drink from the bitter waters until the very last minute, when the Name of God has already been erased, after which point, she'd be forced to drink. And then, if she's guilty, she basically explodes inside out, and she is removed from the Temple. But if she has merits, then her death will be delayed. Which leads to the oh-so-important dispute over...

A new chapter! The new mishnah delineates the process of the kohen taking the meal-offering from the sotah, and waving the basket it's in together with her. But does this happen before or after she drinks the bitter waters? It's a machloket. Also, another machloket on this process in the Gemara on this mishnah.

Different scenarios of the sotah case - especially where things go wrong in brining her to drink, etc. Which all are held in abeyance, as far as their solutions go. Also, a new mishnah on the sotah's affirmation: Amen, amen. Plus, the role of a husband in putting conditions and warnings on his wife, which is only acceptable during the time they're actually married. Also, the possible cases of adul...

A daf with 2 mishnayot. First, on the kohen's writing the scroll that will be dipped in the water and erased - what is the portion of text from the Torah that will be written there? It is, of course, a machloket. Also, what can (and cannot) this text be written on?

More on the sotah's water - and how earth (and ashes) need to be added to it. Plus, the mesorah/tradition on the writing of this document, as well as that of divorce, and more. Which gives us tradition overriding logic, as we also say in Nazir. Also, the order of the dust in the water (or is that water over dust?), and the parallel to the purification process with the parah adumah, the red heifer.

The ingredients of the meal-offering "always" include oil and frankincense - except for when they are excluded (sin-offerings, in particular, plus the sotah's offering). Also, the process of the water, the Name of God, and the process by which it would be erased. Plus, various purification processes, and some that are never allowed to be used again.

On Moshe's burial - and how the Romans didn't find the place either. Also, interpretations of how people can come close to God, including mirroring His attributes. Which leads back to the burial of Moshe. Also, a new chapter with a new mishnah: The sotah's meal-offering, carried by her husband in an Egyptian wicker basket, to tire her out, and get her to the point that she'll confess, rather than...

On retrieving Yosef's bones to rebury him in the land of Israel, as promised at the end of the Book of Genesis, and the role of Serach bat Asher. Also, on the burial of Moshe - whose burial was so different from that of Yosef, and not only because he can't go into the land of Israel, even after death. Including several interpretations why Moshe couldn't complain to the Israelites, regarding the la...

More exegesis of the Torah's verses on the opening on the story of the Exodus - beginning with Yocheved's pregnancy with Moshe (some of which presupposes knowledge of other midrashim). Tracking her pregnancy, and then the birth of Moshe. Also, the calendar of these events, including the date of Moshe's birth (Nisan? Sivan?)

Verses that are explicated on this daf are also found in the Haggadah - timely, this round of daf yomi, as we learn this daf on Passover. On the righteous women in whose merit the Israelites were redeemed from Egypt - with a focus on the women who promoted their own intimate relationships with their husbands, and also ensure ongoing fertility. Plus, the midrashim on the midwives of the Torah, and...