Talking Talmud

The daf explains how a condition is supposed to be formulated based on a famous example in Tanakh. A new Mishnah continues to discuss conditional getts but this time the condition involves other family members.

A new mishnah: A case where the divorce is conditional on a woman paying a sum of 200 dinar. Plus, other conditions. What happens if they're not fulfilled? Plus, a dispute as to when the conditional divorce kicks in - from the time she receives it or from the time she fulfills the condition? Also, a deep investigation into the text of the mishnah itself and the vocabulary used in the condition. Pl...

A tosefta on conditions that might prevent a get from bring valid - when one is too specific with a condition. (With very precise formulations). Plus, to what degree would uncommon things be included in a condition? Also, a new mishnah on an I'll man who gives his wife a conditional divorce - in the event that he dies, they are divorced - but in the interim, they must refrain from sexual intimacy.

More on the different readings by R. Meir and R. Yosi. When are verbal instructions to a scribe acceptable? The verse seems to imply that the husband's voice is necessary... Plus, a new mishnah: How a husband can formulate a conditional get in the event of his death. How to make it valid?? More, in trying to understand R. Yosi both supports his view and raises questions on it. Plus, a side bar and...

A deaf-mute who can communicate in writing, who wants to appoint one to write a get for his wife - because he can communicate, the court appoints on his behalf. [Note: The skipping and choppiness in Anne's recording is something we've never encountered before, and we didn't realize it was happening. You have our profound apologies.] Plus, mute vs deaf vs deaf-mute. Also, how the scribe(s) writing...

Talmudic ronouncements about what diminishes a person's strength - with verses from Psalms as prooftexts. Plus, what not to do while standing. Plus, an assortment of things that will bring a person to death, if done in a particular order. Also, the case of the person who has some kind of temporary insanity and the implications for a get that is commissioned by him.

Talmudic medical remedies, which may or may not work (we don't know). Certainly, there was some scientific method, while others seem much farther flung. For example, writing Levi backwards, as compared to curing bleeding from the mouth, depending on whether it sticks to a straw, and therefore is understood to have an ailment of the lung or alternatively of the liver. Note also that the gemara supp...

A story with R. Sheshet - in his visit to the exilarch, where he has concerns about the uprightness of the servants, who were not careful with kashrut (in particular, eating a limb from a live animal). With sends them into a fairly graphic show-and-tell, whereby R. Sheshet makes his point, the exilarch accepts it, and the servants try to harm him in return. But he triumphs each time. Also, a deep...

How does R. Yehudah HaNasi side with R. Yosi against R. Meir and Hanina Ish Ono? Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi defends himself, and that leads into a characterization of each of the Tannaim. Plus, a new focus on R. Shimon, and his connection to R. Akiva. Also, in the end, a verbal direction for a shaliach to write a get does work, but should not be done (with explanation why not). Plus, the first mishnah o...

A series of mishnayot. 1. At first, when someone was to be taken out to be executed, they'd write a get on his behalf, even if he was abbreviated in his instructions. And that was extended to others. Plus, a story about Geneiva - another appearance in Gittin! Also, pre-death gifts in the context of gittin. 2. Concern about shedim, demons, who might trick one into giving a get. 3. A healthy person...

Two mishnayot! But first, a quick note on the tearing of the get document. Plus, how minors can acquire property... with 3 stages of development. Also, a new mishnah, with several cases - including the important detail that a minor cannot designate a shaliach, and R. Elazar's point that a woman (then) could be divorced against her will. Also, another mishnah with implications regarding eating from...

Two mishnayot: 1. A woman who appoints a shaliach to accept her get for her needs two sets of witnesses to ensure the divorce goes through. Likewise, when are the main parties in a transaction believed over a third (objective) party, and when the reverse? 2. The case of the na'arah hame'orsah - a minor girl who is betrothed and needs a get to be free of the betrothed. Her father needs to accept th...

When a woman tells a shaliach to go get her get, and he goes the husband, tells him, and the husband hands it over "as she said," but R. Nachman maintains that she's still not divorced. The Gemara then discusses why he says this, and also where his analysis may go wrong (and she would be divorced). Where the wording and process are essential. Also, may a woman appoint a shaliach to accept a get? I...

More on the interactions between Jews and non-Jews -- specifically in the context of shemitah. How much encouragement can a Jew give a non-Jew? Plus, how a Jew must avoid a double greeting Plus, a story with Geneivah, the sage who causes some consternation, including now, using a double-greeting. Also, a new chapter (6), with a new mishnah, and a return to divorce and messengers bringing bills of...

On the interactions between Jews and non-Jews. Also, a new mishnah, on lending utensils to this who are not careful about Shevi'it. Also, the case of a mother-in-law, a son-in-law, and demai (food that may not have been tithed). Note the lack of "cancel culture."

The people who lived in the Galil wanted to know if they could read from the Torah for public reading from a chumash (a scroll of only one of the 5 books of the Torah). Turns out, it wasn't an easy question. Plus, can a scroll of one parsha be written for the sake of teaching children? The answer depends on whether you think the Torah was given as a while or piecemeal. Plus, Queen Helene's sheet o...

The daf describes the continuity of leadership from Moshe Rabbenu to Rebbi to Rav Ashi. Two mishnahs and the Gemara introduces the idea of Darchei Shalom.

Wrapping up the dapim about the destruction of the Temple. First, on a beautiful (Jewish) child in prison in Rome, as visited by R. Yehoshua ben Hananya. [Who's Who: R. Yishmael Ben Elisha] Plus, another story of destruction, as siblings who were separated and enslaved were nearly forced to marry each other for the sake of their beauty. Also, a story to illustrate a verse from the prophet Mikhah,...

On Onkelos -- the famous translator, who converted to Judaism. The Gemara here presents his investigations prior to conversion, wherein he consults some dead and ostensibly wicked non-Jews: Titus, Balaam, Jesus. Titus advises him to fight the Jews, not join them. Also, concern about the small size of the Land of Israel, and the way it's going to expand as needed. Plus, other famous converts -...

Another very long daf with the stories about the destruction of the Second Temple. Encountering some of the personalities of that era... During the time described, there was a serious famine, which is important backdrop. Also, Rabbi Tzadok fasted for a very long time in his prayer for the salvation of Jerusalem. Which brings us to the story of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, and how he fundamentally sa...

NOTE: Apologies for the late release. This time, massive machine error, in a complicated way. Hopefully now resolved... A new mishnah - a deaf-mute woman who was married off by her father when she was a minor... Can she get divorced? What happens with regard to terumah? Plus, a beam is stolen and used in the construction of a building... Which leads us to Takanat HaShavim - people can pay money ra...

A long discussion comparing R. Meir and R. Yehudah, on damages, when committed inadvertently. Plus, what if a man paid another back with terumah? Where is the penalty for one who acts be-shogeg? How does the dispute play out? The penalty? Also, what happens when there's pigul at the hands of the kohen?

A new mishnah! One who renders another's produce impure or mixed in ways that it can't be used... Plus, unrecognizable damage - is it tested as damage for payment or not? Also, a talmudic treatment of the dispute between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehudah, over when one is penalized for a violation, for example, of unrecognizable damage, or even Shabbat. And the Gemara's resolution of that apparent cont...

Orphans who rely on a caretaker - with implications whether that caretaker is appointed him by the father, by the court, or no formal appointment, as yet. That person is responsible for making sure that their fields are tithed appropriately. Plus, the apotropos needs to swear that he hasn't taken anything he shouldn't have. Plus, the responsibility when it comes to mitzvot. [Who's Who: Rabbi Meir]...

A case of a person who has 2 daughters and 1 son as heirs - the case has its own complications, but the crux of the matter is how much of a given was it that the daughters would inherit from the estate to provide for the daughters' dowries? Also, when one volunteers to return lost property, the finder doesn't have to swear that he's returning everything he found (or who would ever return anything)...