Talking Talmud

NOTE: It's not you, it's us. Several events coincided to render the past several weeks very hectic for us (in different ways). Please God, we'll go back to releasing the episodes first thing in the Israeli morning in the next few days, at worst. || Why does Rabban Gamliel say there's no divorce after divorce, or betrothal after betrothal? But also, how do betrothal and cohabitation interact....? P...

The fifth chapter! Plus, the options of ma'amar, get, chalitzah... and, of course, yibum. And how the may follow one from the other, as it happens. Note - a long mishnah here establishes the basic cases and basic principles - for example, once ma'amar has been done, it can't be done again in that same context. The Gemara basically establishes where Rabban Gamliel and the sages agree and disagree.

A new mishnah! And more on mamzerim, even an introduction to the status. Plus, a genealogy scroll that includes mention of a person as "mamzer." Also, the second half of the mishnah... The impact of a woman who dies on her sister's permissibility to marry a whole slew of people. Also, spotlight that lineage scroll. With insights, as it were, from the prophet Isaiah. What does his position, as pres...

The daf discusses Eshet Yifat Toar with an interesting twist from Rabbi Akiva. The daf ends with a theological discussion about converts.

Continuing the conversion conversation... How to be sure that a conversion in Israel will be accepted outside the land? Including the case of one who claims about himself that he's truly a concert, and not in accord with halakhah. How can he testify against himself? What can his testimony do against his children? How do we know whom to trust about their own Jewishness? Plus, why would someone want...

A long daf... When Jewish women became pregnant from partial converts (men who had been circumcised, but not yet dunked in a mikveh). Similar issues turn up with wine and cooking... So: decrees against the wine and the food, and that the children of such unions were mamzerim. All of which decrees by R. Yochanan do seem to be in line with his approach. Also, R. Eliezer's position on this status (ci...

Cases a union between a non-Jewish father and a Jewish mother - what are the implications for the children (or are there any)? Rav takes a strong position that is indeed the halakhah - that the children are "kosher." Plus, the talmudic equivalent of a camel dancing on the head of the proverbial pin - meaning, thr law has to be upheld to be trusted. Also, other ramifications for the kosher progeny...

A case: 4 brothers married to 4 women, and some of the brothers died... Can a brother do yibum more than once? When is chalitzah done instead? What does an "invalid" status mean? Also, a man who remarries the woman he'd divorced, after she is divorced or widowed by someone else. Can they stay married? What is the status of children? Note Rabbi Akiva's difficult (and rejected) position regarding wh...

More on the methodology of halakhic decisions, via a case of ritual impurity and the possibility thereof for carding combs for flax and wool. And the implications of unattributed mishnayot. Also, betrothal within the 3 months, plus a whole lot of cases of how people would wait or not wait for the 3 months. Plus, the implications of a waiting period for those who are in the 30-day mourning period f...

Two scientific points of interest - the 7 or 9 month baby, suggesting 1 month wait is all that is needed to determine paternity, not 3 months. What are the implications of these assessments? Including the woman's incentive to lie. And a deeper dive into the 7/9 months. Plus, pregnancy while nursing. Also, following some of the halakhic guidelines to determine the rulings of the Tannaitic literatur...

The ramifications of chalitzah for the relatives of the pair doing chalitzah. Also, what happens when a widow awaits yibum or chalitzah, and those other relationships are already getting put into play? Also, the widow must wait 3 months for yibum or marriage, to see if she might be pregnant with her dead husband's child. Why defer betrothal, though? Plus, in the landed area of Yehudah, they may ha...

First, a timely comment on chametz on the altar, and matzah too, for that matter, for an episode release after the first day of Pesach (as that day's daf). Also, what is the goal of yibum, what is accomplished? Plus the implications for inheritance. Also, how doing chalitzah has impact on other potential relationships, prohibiting some relatives of each to the other.

Is a yibum marriage a full marriage? For leaving it, it would seem so - requiring divorce and not chalitzah. And the woman who is now divorced from the yavam is treated as a divorced woman in regular cases. Also, a new mishnah that could pass for the tractate's opening mishnah - about how yibum works, who is obligated, etc. For example, one who is obligated by the yavam and tries to pan it off on...

Cases of questionable inheritance, which need some real calculation and navigation to determine who should inherit what (particularly property). Plus, a new mishnah - where a yevamah-to-be inherits prior to yibum... Which complicates the inheritance she bequeaths as well. Also, when a husband died before a Sotah woman has a chance to have her test to determine whether she has committed adultery ta...

The babies who are born at 7 months or 9 months - with a paternity question. Why get into the 7-month baby possibility? That seems to be introducing complications for no good reason. But how much of this is determined by a majority of women? Depending on when they know they're pregnant... What are the real norms here? Also, a ln important discussion that begins with preventing mamzerim, and ends w...

On Resh Lakish, in contrast to R. Yochanan - on the 3 times we follow Resh Lakish. Including regarding inheritance regulations, as compared to those of a gift. Also, what happens if there's yibum between a yavam and a yevama before waiting to see if she is pregnant from the brother who died....? The Gemara debates them needing to divorce and separate forever, or separate until they know if there's...

The case of a female convert or a freed maidservant... With the inappropriate presumption, though possibly accurate, that prior to their change in status, they were promiscuous, or at least presumed to have been so. Which leads to a discussion of the contraception that promiscuous women would have used. Which is relevant to the discussion when the woman knows her freedom is coming to take great ca...

More on two women who marry two men, and get switched before the nisuin part.... Which leads to a broader discussion of one trying to do a mitzvah who ends up doing a sin, and the machloket on that between R. Yehoshua and R. Eliezer. In this case, mixing up babies who need circumcision, one on Shabbat. What korbanot would need to be brought? Plus, a case of terumah for the child of a kohen from a...

More on simultaneous prohibitions. How the dispute between R. Hiya and Bar Kappara seems to ride on two different teachings by R. Yehudah HaNasi, respectively. But the difficulties in understanding these passages are purportedly resolved... And then left in place. Also, a new mishnah with a strange case: multiple levels of prohibition, perhaps the most possible for a sexual relationship... But the...

If a brother did ma'amar with his brother's yibum, and then divorced that Levirate betrothed, leaves the possibility of yibum for the third brother, with the co-wife. But the woman who had ma'mar and then a get is in a complicated position. (And corresponding other cases). Plus a new mishnah, with another case (well, set if cases) - and bumping up against the claim that the mishnah isn't supposed...

When it's not clear that a couple has either gotten married or (a different couple) divorced... where witnesses are essential. Plus, the case of Bar Shtaya and his property and testimony that can't be used as determinate. Also, a new mishnah, with another yibum case - this time, where 3 brothers are married to 3 women who are not related to each other. It's a case of ma'amar, 2 husbands (brothers)...

5 mishnayot, with templates of 3 brothers, two of whom marry two sisters, and the third brother marries an unrelated woman. The cases play out the different variables and their implications for yibum and chalitzah for the remaining family members. Plus, a mishnaic comment on the 15 co-wives from the first mishnah of Yevamot.

A new mishnah - that facilitates a deeper dive into ma'amar, the Levirate betrothal. Via a case of 3 brothers, and the complications there that get in the way of yibum. Plus, the language of "kiddushin," a formal act of acquisition, and how ma'amar compares to kiddushin. Also, the undoing of vows that a husband can do for a wife.... Can a yavam do so for a shomeret yavam, a woman who awaits yibum?...

Trigger warning there is a discussion about rape in today’s daf. In today’s daf we learn who can decide what is in the canon of Mishnah and who can argue with who. How do forbidden relationships have a different standing if the connection (from mother to child) is via rape.

A case where chalitzah is expected, but the man gives a get instead -- or where there's a yibum betrothal (ma'amar). Consider the layering of procedure and requirement that clouds the question of the practice at the Torah level of requirement. Also, the case of 2 sisters who had been married to two brothers, with one brother remaining to dispatch the yibum requirement. With a focus on Rav's opinio...