Talking Talmud

The sages derive halakhah from a brief phrase in a verse from Leviticus - on an "am ha-aretz," a commoner, or more specifically from a halakhic sense, a person who is not careful regarding certain aspects of Jewish law - and when he would bring a sin-offering to atone. This status excludes a "meshumad," an apostate, who can't atone with a sin-offering for a general intent to act against Torah. Tho...

Chapter 3 - with a new mishnah! (on the bottom of the previous daf) - the anointed kohen who sins unwittingly because of his own erroneous ruling, and then he leaves that standing of anointed kohen before he has brought his atonement offering -- that is, he steps down because of some blemish unrelated to the erroneous ruling... What animal does he bring if he is no longer the anointed kohen? (In f...

More on Rabbi Yossi HaGelili's opinion and the king's exemptions from having to bring atonement offerings. Note the privilege and, alternatively, the limitations of having wealth, as a king must. Also, a new mishnah! When various people violate mitzvot unwittingly that would get a "karet" sentence if done with intent, then they each bring specific animals as offerings. And here t...

More on the anointed kohen, in comparison with the court - specifically, the bringing of a sin-offering for a violation that would receive "karet" if done intentionally and entails a sin-offering when done unwittingly. Plus, the significance of these details being biblical in origin, and therefore prompt a hunt for the source text, as compared to a halakhic dispute. Also, a new mishnah:...

A new chapter! With several mishnayot. 1 - (from the previous daf) - If/when the anointed kohen who makes an erroneous ruling, which he then does unwittingly - he needs to bring a sin-offering in atonement. He is considered akin to the court, as it were, with regard to himself, as the court is, with regard to the public. Note the kohen's authority to determine halakhah as well. 2 - On the cour...

When people returned to the land of Israel from Babylonia after that exile, they brought an offering on behalf of the people from the era of Tzedkiyahu. But all of that generation and long died! Normally, a designated sin-offering that isn't offered before the person offering it dies is left alone to get a blemish. But for a public offering, that doesn't work. But an inference can be made...

A new mishnah! (beginning on 4b) - Who actually brings the offering to atone for the erroneous ruling? What about when the sin is per tribe? Or if the majority of people in less than a majority of tribes?

An indictment of the Sadducees in the context of a court that issues an erroneous ruling that agrees with their understanding of the Torah. With a further investigation into what it would mean to make this kind of "uprooting halakhah" kind of error - how did that come about? And - two new mishnayot: 1 - Ways in which the erroneous judgement came to be issued when it so clearly should not...

Given that if the majority of Jewish people sin in following an erroneous ruling and they need to bring an offering to atone - who counts as that majority? It excludes the Jews who live in the Diaspora - with a source for that in the book of Kings. Also, how does this kind of majority obviate the views of the minority? And - a new mishnah! When the court issues an erroneous ruling and they realize...

A new tractate! On rulings that the court issues in error, and people then follow those ruling - are they held accountable, and if so, how? Sources are in Leviticus and Numbers. Plus, Eduyot and Avot. Also, a new mishnah: A decision to violate a mitzvah is in error - who would bring an offering to atone? Also, the communal offering for when the court explicitly allows something that is not permitt...

A question from a mishnah in Zevachim that contradicts the text here - because of the purging, preparation of the vessels here. Specifically on how that which is absorbed is either permitted or forbidden - and whether that makes a difference. But are the sacrificial meat and the non-Jew's utensils really comparable? Also, a story to close the tractate - that highlights the discussions from the...

How do we purify different kinds of vessels or utensils? Boiling water should do the trick. Or maybe "olive water." Plus time - whatever that may mean, given the vague term of "season." A minimum of half the day and half the night - that is, 12 hours, out of 24. Also, one who buys utensils from non-Jews who made them... prepare them for use after the handling by the non-Jews vi...

Several mishnayot: 1 - A long list of those items that are prohibited and in a mixture, prohibit the entire mixture in any amount. 2 - Libation wine that falls into a cistern prohibits the entire mixture, though it could be sold to an idolater, as long as the libation wine itself is not compensated. 3 - If a stone wine press is covered with pitch, by a non-Jew, and then covered in wine - that is u...

Siyum tomorrow, Sunday! Mixtures of something permitted with libation wine - is prohibited, no matter how little libation wine is added. But water with wine or wine with water - the question is whether it gives flavor to the mixture as a whole, and also depending on "like" and libation wine or tevel. With all kinds of permutations of mixtures with prohibited things. Also, Rav and Shmuel...

Terms used in negotiating a sale or a price - and how 4 people must be in agreement for a price to apply (though the customary appraisal is by 3 people) - among other cases. Also, a new mishnah! Using a funnel for wine and discovering a drop left over - it makes the whole thing prohibited, in case it was libation wine. With ramifications, of course. Plus, the Gemara on this mishnah addresses how t...

2 new mishnayot! (first, on the bottom of the previous daf) - when a military group enters a city in a time of peace, then when the soldiers leave, open barrels of wine are forbidden, but sealed ones are permitted. In a time of war, even the open ones are permitted, taking it as a given that during war, the soldiers would not have time to pour libations. This is a puzzle, because did they really n...

If a Jew leaves wine with a non-Jew, unsupervised, can (or when can) the Jew drink that wine? The 12 case-stories on this daf address this question, several of which are discussed here. Also, when an army came to Nehardea and opened barrels of wine - is that wine permitted for the Jews to use? A comparable question arose in the land of Israel, but it's also qualitatively different, when the ar...

As long as a Jew supervises an idolater's presence with wine, there's no concern about the wine - even the supervisor's presence is intermittent. Plus, other cases where supervision makes a difference - unless that intermittent checking leaves enough time for the idolater to take the opportunity to handle the wine in a way that would prohibit it. With the notable issue becoming how lon...

More on the dispute about whether a mixture in which the forbidden component adds flavor that is detrimental - whether the mixture is permitted or prohibited? The search is on for a tannaitic source. Also, the case of a mouse who falls into a barrel of beer - is this a case of adding a detrimental flavor? There seems to be new factor in the mix, namely, that of it being repellent to people -- a ma...

On the principle of a forbidden item convey taste, and with it "forbiddenness," as manifest in hot split beans and vinegar vs. cold split beans and vinegar. Also, on adding a flavor that is to the detriment of the food - and whether that is then prohibited is a machloket. Plus, the biblical source, going back to Midian. Plus, the time-frame for food to go bad... or for a change in taste...

Old (fermented) wine that was used for a libation that spills onto grapes will be prohibited or not, depending on it affecting the taste of the grapes. New wine, however, is the subject of dispute - are they only forbidden if the new wine affected their flavor, or any amount would be an issue (it's a machloket between Abaye and Rava, on taste vs. name). Also, the smell of the wine helps evalua...

Two stories about wine and categories of people: 1. A Jew sent to a non-Jew, on his festival, because he wasn't an idolater. But someone who hasn't converted might still be problematic. 2. Entering a bathhouse with a good number of prostitutes - with the fear of the monarchy or not? How to judge someone, and what if he's not who you think he is? Also, a new mishnah: wine that was used...

A question is presented before a group of the sages: What is the law regarding the money from a sale of an object of idolatry in the hands of a non-Jew? Similarly, what if a Jew is a creditor for a non-Jew who then sells an object of idolatry and has the funds to pay the Jew back...? The same group receives other questions as well: What about a ger toshav - can he nullify idols? What about when tw...

A beraita about a man who was with a prostitute - can the money he didn't pay her with be used for purchase for the altar? What monies can be swapped for which? Plus, sacrifices. Also, whether it was permitted to borrow produce from the poor before the shemitah year, and paid them back after the shemitah year. Plus, how a Jewish employer might gift or sponsor his employees leisure purchases.

Chapter 5! And a new mishnah: A non-Jew who hires a Jewish worker raises question as to whether that Jew can accept his wages -- depending on the terms of the entire capacity of the job. For example, when there are mitigating factors to reduce the stringencies towards the idolatry. Also, the prohibitions that are rabbinic in nature - are often reduced, or certainly debated. Also, disposing of the...