Talking Talmud

A new mishnah - from the bottom of daf 78: What happens to the thanksgiving offering when there's an issue with the grain-offering part of it -- as compared to the animal part of it? Plus, the connection to the inauguration of Aaron and his sons as kohanim. With a focus on a dispute revolving around a blemished animal vs. the incorrect location for slaughtering, as issues that interfere. But is th...

A new mishnah - with a new discussion of a korban: miluim, the inaugural grain-offerings that were brought by Aaron and his sons. A second mishnah - when the kohen slaughters the thanksgiving offering in the proper place in the Temple courtyard, and the accompanying loaves were brought outside the place - with some dispute as to where that was - which means they were not consecrated.

Chapter 8, focusing on the korban todah, the thanksgiving offering - with a new mishnah. The amount of flour used for this grain-offering was 5 "Jerusalem se'ah" (or 6 "wilderness se'ah"). With all the concomitant conversions. Where the number of se'ah are then assessed for an eiphah, as measured in tenths of an eiphah. Plus, a discussion of the flour for the leaven...

2 mishnayot: 1 - All of the grain-offerings require 500 "rubbings" (between hands) and 300 "poundings" (in kneading, for example). With clear heritage of the knowledge, though it has essentially been lost now. 2- The measure of barley of the omer: one-tenth of a se'ah of barley - and the amounts of flour required for not only the omer, but also other grain-offerings. Includ...

More on the use of oil in the grain-offerings, whether mixing, or smearing, etc. Note the different ways of applying the oil. Plus, a tiny new mishnah: regarding breaking the grain-offering into pieces. And then doused (to some degree) with oil. Note the distinction between the oven vs. cooking on a flame. The Gemara introduces a beraita with the breaking of the product that is to be the grain-off...

A couple of addenda - about the grasshoppers as reapers of the field, and the impossibility of the 16th of Nisan falling out on Shabbat nowadays. Also - for the grain-offering brought by the "sinner" - with the details of what must be in place for this offering to count for the sinner's atonement. Also, 2 new mishnayot: 1 - grain-offerings that are completely burned on the altar, wit...

A new chapter! With a breakdown of the specific various grain-offerings, with an initial focus on the different ways a grain-offering could be prepared. With a question as to whether the variety could be brought together to complete a dedication of an offering. With a focus on the impact of the nature of the way the offering is prepared. Also, voluntary offerings that are usually understood to be...

A daf that covers a range of topics at the end of chapter 5: harvesting a crop for the sake of clearing out the area, rather than for the sake of the harvest... The omer is, of course, supposed to be brought from the standing grain - barley, that is. The Gemara then lists several "less than ideal" ways of offering the omer, all of which are included in the Torah's verse - "you w...

Exclusions when it comes to harvesting the omer and bringing the offering - including an irrigated field, not fully ripe grain. The offering should come from standing grain, unless there's none to be found. Plus, what happens with fields that are "trimmed" via natural means, such as grasshoppers. Plus, making sense of Rabbi Meir's approach vs. Rabbi Shimon's approach.

What about produce that remains attached to the ground? Is that to be tithed? Is it food? Also, a new mishnah with the 5 grains that are obligated in "challah" - giving a portion to God - plus, the same 5 that can become both matzah and chametz.

Does the omer offering render kernels that are planted in the ground permitted? It depends on whether they have taken root. Also, sales of grain - with questions as to whether it's movable property or land, and how to deal honestly, rather than in fraudulent ways. And what about swearing as to the honesty of their handling? Under what circumstances - the narrowest of them - does the omer offer...

2 mishnayot - 1. The impact of bringing the omer offering - and how it releases the new grain from that status, even at quite a physical distance from the Temple. Plus, determining what is done in the absence of a Temple in terms schedule (the release from the prohibition against new grain is not cancelled). Also, the decree of R. Yohanan ben Zakkai. [What's What: The decrees of R. Yohanan ben...

Questions by Rava that lead to his seeking answers in a dream! What if dough were kneaded by a non-Jew? Is that dough subject to having hallah separated? What is the status of the dough? With answers coming from a parallel to the case of a convert -- and his dough. Of course, the dream-sourced answers are then queried by other sages, to no conclusion, or at least not as yet. Plus, the process of o...

More on the opinions about when the omer offering was to be brought - as presented by the Tannaim, and explained (and refuted and then finally upheld) by Rava. Plus, the question of how to count the omer. Also, a new mishnah - on handling the omer and parching the grain. The Gemara follows, defining the springtime and elaborating on how they would parch the grain. Plus, bringing the first fruits -...

A new mishnah! On the ceremony of the process of the omer - how they wove the stalks of barley together while they were still attached to the ground, which made them easier to harvest. And the people who lived in the area came together to celebrate. And the ceremony continued... with underlying goals of taking a polemical stance against the Boethusians. [Who's Who: The Boethusians]. Plus, Megi...

A new chapter - focused on the grain-offering that is the omer, brought on the 16th day of Nisan, the second day of Pesach, and which allows the "new" grain (or removes the prohibition against it. So, beginning with the new mishnah - on the case of the day of the omer offering falling on Shabbat, which is the unusual case, not the norm. The proper date of this entails a decision made aga...

A new mishnah, with specifications for the different grain-offerings - marheshet vs. merhavat (with the different pans for each). The first has a cover and the second does not OR the first is deep and the second is shallow (it's a machloket, of course, coming from different traditions). Plus, the pan known as the "kalbus" - with an illustration of it by Rashi! Also, a second mishnah,...

Still more on the offerings for Shavuot - the lambs and the loaves. Namely, showing the lambs in the 4 directions, plus up and down, to demonstrate God's province of the heavens and the earth. Or alternatively, to acknowledge and pray that nothing bad befall the people, from any which direction. With parallels, of course, to lulav and the waving thereof. Plus, the fulfillment of mitzvot as a m...

A new mishnah! Another list of the grain-offerings that require waving and do not require being brought near to the altar. With a deep dive into the procedure of the waving. And a focus on those offerings that require waving. Plus, the offering that is brought by a woman, yet she doesn't do the waving herself.

A new mishnah! Two requirements of all grain-offerings (and not only): 1. bringing near (to the altar), and 2. waving. The bringing near is only done for grain-offerings, but not all grain-offerings. The waving is not only done for grain-offerings, and not all of them, and not all of other offerings either, but for some of them. First listed are those that require drawing near and no waving. (Rabb...

A new mishnah! It lists grain-offerings that need both oil and frankincense, one or the other, or neither. Note the various kinds of menahot, and how these various terms and requirements are applied. Also, the grain-offering of the sinner, which involves oil and frankincense - in circumstances where the latter has to be brought as part of the offering (including the minhah kena'ot). Oil on the...

More on when the grain-offerings can have chametz/leaven and when they cannot. And the prohibition again honey on the altar -- and if there are exceptions regarding leaven, there are none, according to this Gemara, for honey. But there are still minor exceptions for the honey as well - in terms of what the kohanim themselves can eat. Plus, what happens when these factors are indeed violated? When...

In the context of cooking on Shabbat... when there is layering of meat on the coals, and then turn the meat over, one is liable for cooking on Shabbat. But not turning the meat over should also be an issue of cooking on Shabbat, depending on when the meat was put on the fire. Not turning the meat over leaves the meat substantially undercooked, but edible. Plus, the measure of this violation would...

Essential component elements of offering sacrifices on the altar - including the laying on of hands, on the head of the goat (for example). Also, the concept of the sacrifice of Nachshon - namely, the "prince" of the tribe of Yehudah, representative of all of the tribute by the tribes in the wilderness (Parshat Naso in the Torah), in contrast to the sacrifices as commanded for the genera...

A new mishnah! With basic directions as to how to make and shape the grain-offerings, with a clear prohibition against "chametz"/leaven, except for 2 specific grain-offerings. Including the source from the Torah to prohibit leaven from the altar. Plus, does each act with offering count as a prohibition (kneading, shaping, baking) or just as one? It's a case of a generalization and a...