Talking Talmud

A slave who has unintentionally killed someone and been exiled to a city of refuge, how will he provide food for himself? How are his earnings to pay for himself or for his master? Plus, what happens if it's a man's wife who is exiled to the city of refuge? Who and how is she provided for? Can she even go out to work? Shouldn't she be staying at home? (No) Also, what stipulations can be made betwe...

More on non-Jewish involvement in divorces and other documents. Rava introduces an example specifically with Persian non-Jews, but did Jewish witnesses know the Persian to be sure they're accurate? Indeed. How to ensure that the documents can't be forged? Also, at what point can one who's giving a get retract the document? For divorce, it's possible to do, but not for freeing a slave - where the s...

2 mishnayot: First, the question of witnesses of "Kutim" - which usually invalidates a document, with exceptions, of course. Plus, an emendation of the mishnah by the Gemara. Also, documents that are produced in non-Jewish courts are valid - with exception. Plus, "dina de-malkhuta dina" - the law of the land is the law. Plus, speech as speech acts.

The contracts a person makes on his death bed, signing over property to his slave, including freeing him. But then he recovers. So what happens to the slave? Also, a new mishnah: one who delivers a get from overseas, but without a declaration. If there are witnesses, that works. But what if one is deaf? (In the ancient category and all that entailed). Plus, exceptional cases.

Is Syria like the Land of Israel when it comes to freeing a slave? Yes and no. Also, a freed slave who has the document that frees him doesn't automatically grant him property, for example. With parallels to the woman and her bill of divorcement. Plus, a comment on the term "emancipation."

[Who's Who: Mar Ukva] Mar Ukva, the exilarch, asks whether he is allowed to turn over Jews to the non-Jewish (Babylonian) government - the reasons they are upsetting him are unclear, but he is clearly bothered by them. The response: even when you know you have enemies, keep yourself quiet. Plus, follow-up on the idea that God will ease the unpleasant situation, instead of people taking matters int...

The Gemara discusses how does one establish that a get was written lishmah. There is also a lengthy discussion about verifying gittin written in Bavel and what does this passage teach about the relationship between Eretz Yisroel and Bavel.

More on the declaration that the get was written and signed in the shaliach's presence - but what if there are two shlichim? What if the shaliach is the woman herself? What if the shaliach is the husband himself? Also, the concern for mamzerut that emerges from an ineffective delivery of a get - does the lack of a proclamation get in the way if the get?

On the dispute between Rava and Rabbah - why a shaliach needs to proclaim that the get was written and signed before him. Plus, the locations from where the proclamations had to be made, and the implications with regard to the land of Israel vs. outside of the land. Also, the implications of travel within the same country, and how that doesn't involve said declaration.

How many people must witness the shaliach's statement that he was present for the signing and giving of the get (2 vs 3)? And why. But isn't one witness enough, under these conditions? Wouldn't a woman also be sufficient under these conditions? Also, whose opinion is the basis for the mishnah's position? Plus, the Torah (d'Oraita) level and rabbinic level to the issues of gittin/divorce.

Introducing divorce. Including how the verses on divorce in the Torah provide the details of halakhic divorce, most saliently that a man gives a woman a divorce, and the reverse is not acceptable. Also, the first mishnah, and its description of how one can use an agent or emissary (shaliach) to convey a get (bill of divorce) and it will be an effective divorce. With geographical details that defin...

Wrapping up Sotah! So much had changed in the wake of the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash... Plus, a new mishnah, at the very end - poignant in what was lost with various wars and deaths. And the Gemara shifts the focus to Babylonia.

High Priest Yochanan cancelled several practices from the Beit HaMikdash, beyond Sotah and Eglah Arufah: the "Awakeners" and the "Strikers." As well as several other things (Urim veTumim) that were lost in the wake of the destruction of the Temple. Which get explanation on this daf. Plus, a question on the panning of music on this daf. Also, the use of the Urim veTumim in the era of the prophets....

[Who's Who: Yehoshua Ben Perachiya] Plus, his story, including fleeing to Alexandria. Also, the story of the apostate who doesn't belong in teshuvah anymore, and may be Jesus. Also, what happens in the event that the killer of the person that was going to lead to the eglah arufah is determined? Before the heifer? After the heifer? Also, the cancellation of Eglah Arufah, Sotah...

A new mishnah! Going through the process of establishing the heifer whose neck is to be broken, in contrast to some of the details of the red heifer, through to the statement that is to be made by the elders, as a matter of innocence and atonement. Plus, a kal va-homer regarding the way the heifer might (or might not) become invalid. Also, what is the Eitan Valley? What is lost in this kind of mur...

On the dispute between R. Elazar ben Yaakov and our mishnah, with regard to who goes out to confess over the eglah arufah - which leadership? And the verses that get him to his position. Also, when the dead body is found in a pile of stones, among other cases, there wouldn't be an eglah erufah. The halakhic rationale here is derived from the parallel to Shikhcha, the forgotten gleanings from the f...

More on the exemptions from going into battle - the Gemara says the order of the exemptions themselves teach us of the proper order of how we should live. Also, the ways one may be fearful in going out to war, and how that's a good excuse, until a certain point if no return. Plus, defining when war is an elective and when it's obligatory. And the implications for other activities when involved in...

The exceptions of the people who won't go out to war because they are built or planted or married, and so on. Plus, subcategories of these mainstay exemptions. Also, the examination of these basic exemptions by the Gemara.

Chapter 8! On the anointed kohen who is designated to lead the people before and into war, and what he says. Plus, the difference between the enemy that is external to the Jewish people, in contrast to conflicts between the various tribes. Also, how the people felt the Philistines in the battle with Goliath.

How many Torah readers can there be, and what concerns the sages about multiple readers. Plus, in the new mishnah: Hakhel, the 8th year of the shemitah cycle. How did it work? [Who's Who: Agrippas I] Also, the Gemara's reinterpretation of a line of the mishnah that really turns it on its head.

On two of the Temple practices - specifically, how the congregation would daven or meditate on verses while the kohanim were blessing the people. Plus, how "amen" was not said in the Beit HaMikdash, and what was said instead (and when). [Who's Who: Rabbi Abbahu] Also, the blessings by the kohen gadol on Yom Kippur, plus the ceremony of him reading passages from the Torah as well.

More on Birkat Kohanim. Plus, how R. Elazar Ben Shamua achieved a truly ling life - in never using a synagogue as a shortcut, among other respectful aspects of his comportment. Also, what the people say in response to the kohanim when they are duchening (saying the priestly blessing in shul). The formal response brings the people to bless God who has blessed them.

On Birkat Kohanim - the priestly blessing - and how it was said in the Temple and outside of it. Including the responses by the people. Also, the case of eglah arufah - a found murdered body - and why it would happen. And the role of the kohanim there. Plus, coming back to permutations of Birkat kohanim, even in shul.

More on the discussion of Yosef and Yehudah, getting God's name inserted into their names. With some debate over what Nachshon ben Aminadav overcame to jump into the sea first. Were the tribes fighting to jump in, or to avoid the sea wholly? Plus, deriving information (not only halakhah) from the biblical text. Also, what exactly happened during the blessings and curses? With some mathematics and...

Bringing a verse to life - a winged flying insect that helps (or does not help) the Israelites when they crossed into the land of Israel to conquer it. Also, what about the tribes on Mounts Gerizim and Eval, and how that parallels the kohen gadol's breastplate. Also, midrashim on Yosef... and Yehudah, how both of them were righteous and we're therefore treated to letters from God's name to be adde...