Talking Talmud

Another quick December 31 request for support for Talking Talmud. || Introducing the halakhit pertaining to a husband and father being able to revoke a girl or woman's vows. Revoking being a different treatment of the vow than a sage's annulling a vow. And with recognition that this treatment of a woman's vows may be troubling. The daf introduces the most complicated case of a betrothed young woma...

Note: Plug for 2022 year-end contributions to Talking Talmud (details and link to contribute on FB or WhatsApp). Two mishnayot: First, an opening to release a person from his vow against eating meat, for example, if he can be asked: had you realized that would include Shabbat and holidays, would you have made this vow? Note that a vow that is partly nullified is wholly nullified. Likewise, excepti...

Dissolving a vow that pertains to another person can only be done in the presence of that other person. With a proof from Moses and Jethro - and Midian and Egypt. Plus, a story about Nebuchadnezzar and his shame before Tzidkiyahu. Also, 3 mishnayot: openings to annul a vow, beginning with new developments. For example, a vow to keep out if certain property because of a dog or a snake, with the sub...

Chapter 9. With a new mishnah, introducing the process of removing, annulling, dissolving a vow. The question arises as to how one demonstrates regret, or what makes a person regret a vow. For example, feeling bad before one's parents, before God. Plus, other future developments that lead to regretting the past vow - so many vows would never be made if the future were known as to the impact. Note...

What happens when one swears off wine for the year and then the year turns out to have an extra month? What happens if the person swearing off the wine specified Adar in his vow - but didn't specify Adar I or Adar II, then what are the implications for the length of the vow? Also, what happens when the vow specifies Pesach? Given the presumption of wine on the first night if Pesach. Plus, Ezra's d...

Several stories about Rabbi Tarfon, including his reputation, and how he made use of it. [Who's Who: R. Tarfon] Also, harvesting as a time that defines or limits a vow - with mention of several different harvests. Likewise, referring to the rainfall as a way to define time (we didn't know it would happen when we recorded, but this day in Israel is a representative very rainy day).

The Gemara continues its discussion around nedarim of time and how do we define a section of time. Why is the fig harvest considered the end of summer?

Chapter 8. When one vows to make wine off-limits, but with a time factor - today, this week, this month, and so on - it's off-limits until the end of that same day, week, month, and so on. But "a day," "a week," "a month" means for the specific length of time. Also, applying these details of time to other situations of vows - "today" vs. "one day," for example. Plus, avoiding the language of nedar...

Concluding the discussion of whether something prohibited can lost that status. Recall the ability to annul a vow! Plus, the implications of a terumah-hullin mixture, and the possibility of reversing its status. Also, what happens when that which is planted has already been tithed? When it grows again, do you have to tithe again? When do you cross the line into taking too much?

More on the onion and the way it grows - does the prohibited part forbid the permitted part, or vice versa? Note the Talmudic, halakhic concept: Davar she-yesh lol matirin - a way to permit something that was forbidden. How that concept is applied elsewhere, especially with regard to mixtures, and here. Also, weeding with a Kuti/Samaritan, who is not considered reliable for taking terumot and maas...

A long mishnah: One who declares certain foods to be off-limits will have different restrictions, depending on the phrasing. Plus, how far into the future does one's vow extend? Also, when a husband swears off his wife's productivity. Or does so for a set amount of time (the same "until Pesach" deadlines that we've seen in the past). Note that the Gemara doesn't address the whole if the mishnah; r...

3 mishnayot: When one swears off a house - going into the attic of a house may or not be included in that vow, as prohibited (a dispute between R. Meir and the sages). Also, one who swears off a bed, which may or may not include a "dargash." Plus, defining "dargash." Also, swearing off entrance to a city - which includes its environs, apparently, while the inside/outside of a house are more specif...

More on the terms we use. One who swears off "dagan" may include a particular bean, and not just the 5 grains, because of the way that bean is stored. Plus, the story of Mar bar Shmuel and the stipulation in his will. Also, character development for Rava from R. Yosef. Also, swearing off clothing, and the implications for non-garments, and for things made of the same kind of thing as garments, but...

Chapter VII: Swearing off "vegetables" - does that include gourds? What about legumes? What drives whether the term "vegetables" is more or less inclusive? Also, the implications for punishment if this vow is violated technically are significant. Namely, the question of whether one would get lashes. Also, implications for me'ilah. What happens with different (correct) names for meat - when that me...

More vows about food in 3 new mishnayot. Does swearing off dates include silan (date honey)? What about winter grapes and their vinegar? It would seem that the way we refer to the different foods and their derivatives may make the difference, as to whether it is included in the vow against the food. But is there really a dispute in the mishnah? Also, one who swears off wine can still have cider (w...

Food vows in the mishnah - first, swearing off milk (does that include whey?), or swearing off whey (does that include milk?). Plus, R. Tarfon, meat, and more. Also, one who swears off grapes (what about wine?) or olives (what about olive oil?). To what extent does the general casual phrasing have impact on the reach of the vow?

A racy daf. Bar Kappara talks to R. Yehudah HaNasi's daughter, apparently provoking her. Ben Elasa was the son-in-law to R. Yehudah HaNasi, and he was invited to the wedding of R. Shimon, son of R. Yehudah HaNasi. And Bar Kappara asks provocative questions of R. Yehudah HaNasi, some of them less table-talk than others. [Who's Who: Bar Kappara] Also, 2 mishnayot, with attention to the precise meani...

Biographical details about various sages, with a focus on R. Akiva, including his marriage, and the dynamic with his father-in-law, Kalba Savua. Plus, the Jerusalem of Gold ornament. Note the Nedarim context here of the very familiar narrative. Also, the insult to R. Yehoshua that he is ugly, despite his glorious Torah. Plus, another insult to Shmuel, and the consequences of that.

Another granular mishnah. One who swears off cooked food can still eat roasted food or undercooked food. Cooked means prepared with heat that you eat with bread, as per the practices of yore. Likewise, one who swears off food made in a pot - boiling, specifically, or moving on to any food that's cooked in a pot. Also, the porridge eaten in Babylonia, with bread. Plus, table manners and the effect...

Starting with a long mishnah: the phrasing of the vow prohibiting benefit makes a real difference, even in private property. What happens when the property is available for public use? How can one be sworn of use or benefit from them? The mishnah defines municipal works in this context. Plus, different locales have different expectations and requirements. Also, on the people of the Galilee - whom...

When the vow is on a specific property, how long would one be prohibited from benefit? For example, what if the property changes hands? For that matter, can one prohibit something even after it's gone from his own possession?! Also, a discussion of the off-limits property, with a question raised by Rami bar Hama. Namely, how effective is a vow when the relevant property changes hands? With several...

Continuing the mishnah... With regard to joint ownership. What if only one is prohibited from the benefit of that which jointly owned? It's the same rationale for prohibition or permission. Likewise, what about property or tools that are leased to the public (eg - a bathhouse or an olive press) - it will depend on whether the owner who has sworn off another getting benefit depends on whether the o...

Closing chapter 4. Retracting a statement of hefker is not effective when the declaration of hefker took place before 3 people - then it's automatically ownerless (and according to biblical law, one witness would be enough for immediate effect, but the sages required 3). Also, chapter 5: where jointly owned property may be subject to vows swearing off benefit, and the question of whether that shar...

On the rules of "hefker," declaring something ownerless. And how it removes this issue of being unable to provide benefit (or not). How long is a declaration of hefker into effect? And when can that declaration be retracted? That is, if nobody else has come along to claim the "ownerless" property. Also, timing that is designed to protect against swindlers. Plus, when the Torah requirement for tith...

A new mishnah: When one wants to borrow a cow (!), and the cow isn't available, which leads the would-be borrower to swear off the cow ever coming to plow the field. But when one who has sworn of benefit from another and is truly in need, the one who can't give CAN work around the prohibition and vow via indirect benefit to the other. But R. Yosi doesn't like the indirect giving as a work-around....