Talking Talmud

Rava and Abaye on Isi's position regarding women not making bald spots on their heads. Plus, the Jewish people as treated like children, in their relationship with God, as compared to when the relationship is there, but the epithet is not (depending on their loyalty). Also, a new mishnah - on how women, for the most part, did not participate in the actions connected to offering sacrifices, except...

And now, sources for why women are obligated in negative commandments, including 3 verses that teach different component parts.

How do we know that women are exempt from positive time-bound commandments? It's learned from tefillin, which is linked to learning Torah. Or tefillin could be linked to mezuzah - but that would make women obligated in tefillin! Also, delving into the mitzvah of Re'iyah, which is specifically for males - implying that women are obligated in other positive time-bound commandments. But maybe that's...

More on giving honor - to Torah scholars. Standing before those who brought first fruits vs. Not standing before Torah scholars - what a difference a mitzvah makes. Plus, when scholars don't stand up for scholars, and the insult that can provide. Which R. Yehudah HaNasi takes more mildly than the scholars who are hot under the collar. Plus, why standing before another person honors that person. Al...

More on kibud av va'em, honoring one's parents. How far must one go? What about correcting a parent's error? Plus, the example of the 4 deaths of the court. Also, several sages and the acts of honoring parents that each does, and whether one can forego the honor.

Lots of nuggets of stories in this daf - beginning with defining the lengths one must go to fulfill the mitzvah of honoring one's parents. Dama ben Netina was just that considerate. Plus, the valuable red heifer. Also, the difference between being commanded for a mitzvah and being exempt, as per R. Yosef, who was blind. Also, the practices of several sages in terms of honoring their respective par...

The Gemara shares some beautiful passages about the importance of reaching Torah to one’s children and how to teach. The daf also discusses why teaching a son a trade and to swim are an obligation for the father

A doozy of a mishnah, especially with regard to gender wars. What mitzvot are women obligated in, and what mitzvot are they not obligated? With some specifics for men, boys, fathers for sons, sons for fathers. (How to swim, circumcision, etc.) And where do the mothers and daughters fit in? Plus, the rules regarding teaching Torah. (Where are the girls?) Also, the story of the demon in Abaye's beit...

More on devolving oaths - gigul shevuah. With various cases of swearing that one is not a slave... Also, defining halipin, exchange - what it is and what it is not.

Cases of acquiring movable items along with land - from tithes of growing produce along with rent to several different kinds of documents - and whether the transaction is by virtue of the document, or after it. The Gemara then moves on to discuss how the concept of Gilgul Shevua is learned from Sotah.

The daf has a Mishnah discussing how land and houses are. acquired. The Gemara introduces the concept of agav and how moveable property should be sold with land.

The elders in Nezonya did not show up to R. Hisda's shiur. R. Hamnuna goes to rebuke them. They complained that R. Hisda didn't answer their halakhic question - regarding the blemish of castration (whether it's go-free damage, or not). And then they're rude to R. Hamnuna. But the question is raised regarding overt injury as compared to hidden injury - including the tongue. Also, the kinyan of "mes...

Ways that Canaanite slaves go free. Including when a slave is injured seriously, permanently, in an external way, based on the biblical verses, but not only. Plus, the cases when, despite injury, the slave does not go free. Plus, lesser injuries. Plus, the case of the owner who is a doctor and inadvertently does harm to his own slave in the process of treatment. Also, does the slave who goes free...

More on slaves' emancipation - and how that works as a matter of transaction. Even if he's not cognizant of it, it's to his benefit - and actions in his own interest can be done without his knowledge. Also, the sages allow the slave to free himself with the money of others. Because otherwise, the funds are immediately acquired by the master when they arrive in the slave's possession. But can you g...

More on "retziyah" - and the obligation of a master to the slave's family. Plus, a description of piercing the slave's ear, and where the slave who adds to the time of service goes wrong. Also, switching to a Canaanite slave - what are the means of acquisition?

The Gemara continues its discussion comparing the redemption of fields and houses during Yovel. The daf then shares a baraita that explains many of the halachot of retziah. Finally a discussion about the kohen who becomes a slave.

Abaye compares himself to Ben Azzai [brief recall of Who's Who]. How does one figure out the purchase price of redeeming a slave? Plus, treating a slave leniently. What about a Jew working for an idolater? Also, a mnemonic to help remember the cases of partial redemption.

Can a father tell his minor daughter to go accept her own betrothal that she isn't old enough to accept herself? Plus, the marriage that follows the time of a maidservant - to the master - and how that kiddushin can kick in, switching the relationship from marriage to slavery. With props to marriage over and above slavery, given the comparison.

Redeeming the maidservant against "his" will - but whose will? The master or the father? What about the strike against the family's good name in the servitude itself?! Plus, a maidservant isn't sold a second time. Also, she can't be sold to a second master - with interpretation of a phrase in the verse being essential.

The daf explores a few different opinions on how much severance must be paid to a freed slave.

Gemara discussed some key differences between female and male Hebrew slaves. The daf also looks at which slaves are eligible for a severance gift and what might that teach us about biblical slavery.

More on the gezerah shavah between "sachir" and "sachir," with regard to how this indentured fellow goes free - aside from the jubilee year, which is already specified in the verse. But Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi doesn't use this gezarah shavah, so why not? And why the disagreement over this? Plus, how does a gezarah shavah really work? How does one be freed from one owner only to be enslaved to the rel...

Recapping Yevamot, to explain the first mishnah of Kiddushin. With a deeper dive into the halitzah case on this daf - namely, how do we know she frees herself with halitzah? Plus, a story of R. Tarfon's beit din for a woman who comes for halitzah. Also, the economics of Jewish (Hebrew) slaves, usually as a matter of paying off debt. What about the sale of a female Hebrew slave? How does that compa...

More cases of possible kiddushin. For example, betrothal with a mat of myrtle branches - to no response by the woman who takes the mat. Is that silence a matter of acquiescence or rejection? How would she knows the details of that kind of silence? Also, what about a designated sin-offering on the woman's behalf post childbirth? What if she dies in childbirth? Plus, what about a loan where the debt...

How much is a perutah actually worth? How do we define its value, given fluctuating currencies and given the different value of items in various places. Also, what happens when the value diminishes over time? Plus, how can some cases of actual effective kiddushin be valued at less than a perutah (Shmuel's opinion vs. that of R. Hisda). Plus, R. Hiya's wife's efforts to leave him.