Talking Talmud

More vows about food in 3 new mishnayot. Does swearing off dates include silan (date honey)? What about winter grapes and their vinegar? It would seem that the way we refer to the different foods and their derivatives may make the difference, as to whether it is included in the vow against the food. But is there really a dispute in the mishnah? Also, one who swears off wine can still have cider (w...

Food vows in the mishnah - first, swearing off milk (does that include whey?), or swearing off whey (does that include milk?). Plus, R. Tarfon, meat, and more. Also, one who swears off grapes (what about wine?) or olives (what about olive oil?). To what extent does the general casual phrasing have impact on the reach of the vow?

A racy daf. Bar Kappara talks to R. Yehudah HaNasi's daughter, apparently provoking her. Ben Elasa was the son-in-law to R. Yehudah HaNasi, and he was invited to the wedding of R. Shimon, son of R. Yehudah HaNasi. And Bar Kappara asks provocative questions of R. Yehudah HaNasi, some of them less table-talk than others. [Who's Who: Bar Kappara] Also, 2 mishnayot, with attention to the precise meani...

Biographical details about various sages, with a focus on R. Akiva, including his marriage, and the dynamic with his father-in-law, Kalba Savua. Plus, the Jerusalem of Gold ornament. Note the Nedarim context here of the very familiar narrative. Also, the insult to R. Yehoshua that he is ugly, despite his glorious Torah. Plus, another insult to Shmuel, and the consequences of that.

Another granular mishnah. One who swears off cooked food can still eat roasted food or undercooked food. Cooked means prepared with heat that you eat with bread, as per the practices of yore. Likewise, one who swears off food made in a pot - boiling, specifically, or moving on to any food that's cooked in a pot. Also, the porridge eaten in Babylonia, with bread. Plus, table manners and the effect...

Starting with a long mishnah: the phrasing of the vow prohibiting benefit makes a real difference, even in private property. What happens when the property is available for public use? How can one be sworn of use or benefit from them? The mishnah defines municipal works in this context. Plus, different locales have different expectations and requirements. Also, on the people of the Galilee - whom...

When the vow is on a specific property, how long would one be prohibited from benefit? For example, what if the property changes hands? For that matter, can one prohibit something even after it's gone from his own possession?! Also, a discussion of the off-limits property, with a question raised by Rami bar Hama. Namely, how effective is a vow when the relevant property changes hands? With several...

Continuing the mishnah... With regard to joint ownership. What if only one is prohibited from the benefit of that which jointly owned? It's the same rationale for prohibition or permission. Likewise, what about property or tools that are leased to the public (eg - a bathhouse or an olive press) - it will depend on whether the owner who has sworn off another getting benefit depends on whether the o...

Closing chapter 4. Retracting a statement of hefker is not effective when the declaration of hefker took place before 3 people - then it's automatically ownerless (and according to biblical law, one witness would be enough for immediate effect, but the sages required 3). Also, chapter 5: where jointly owned property may be subject to vows swearing off benefit, and the question of whether that shar...

On the rules of "hefker," declaring something ownerless. And how it removes this issue of being unable to provide benefit (or not). How long is a declaration of hefker into effect? And when can that declaration be retracted? That is, if nobody else has come along to claim the "ownerless" property. Also, timing that is designed to protect against swindlers. Plus, when the Torah requirement for tith...

A new mishnah: When one wants to borrow a cow (!), and the cow isn't available, which leads the would-be borrower to swear off the cow ever coming to plow the field. But when one who has sworn of benefit from another and is truly in need, the one who can't give CAN work around the prohibition and vow via indirect benefit to the other. But R. Yosi doesn't like the indirect giving as a work-around....

One who swears off benefit from his friend cannot enter the friend's field or benefit from his produce. But a shemitah year changes those terms. Plus, how the phrasing her lines up (or doesn't) with the position of Rav and Shmuel, or perhaps R. Yochanan and Resh Lakish - specifically with regard to the impact of shemitah on the benefit factor. Plus, swearing off benefit means no lending/borrowing,...

More on illness and its impact (like forgetting all of one's learning), plus stories about the sages. Including R. Yosef. Plus, insight into the writing or compiling of the Mishnah. Also, the challenges of forgetting, as per R. Hiya - and the remembering by a lowly laundryman. Also, two mishnayot on the extent to which one can be near another person and not violate the swearing off of benefit.

The sages falling ill and getting visitors. Including when nobody visited R. Helbo. But how curative are such visits! And how much harm does one do when not praying for another's recovery. Plus, Rava gets sick and wants to keep it quiet. Until he finally agrees - go out and announce it, and let them pray (or rejoice). Also, the Shechinah visits the sick too. Plus, a question of whether the visitor...

A mishnah from Daf 38, and the Gemara on it - one who is the subject of someone else's vow swearing off benefit from him. How would this have impact on a visit to the sick, in either direction? It seems an indirect benefit... One possiblity is standing instead of sitting, while visiting. Plus, "benefitting" from fruit during a shemitah year. Also, where in the Torah do we find the mitzvah of visit...

Prophets are rich, says the Gemara. Just see Moses, Samuel, Amos, and Jonah. Including prooftexts. Plus, R. Yehudah HaNasi and his wealth too. Also, a new mishnah - when a person swears of benefitting from another, what relationship can they still have? Including during a wedding between the families of both people.

What benefits can accrue from Torah when one swears off benefit from a given person? The Gemara shows the monetary loss. Plus, the dispute over whether teachers of children are paid for childcare or for teaching them skills. Also, analysis of the dispute. Plus, what about girls, when boys were the only ones in school? Also, how do the ta'amei hamikra (trop) fit in? Aren't they part of the text, es...

The daf explores an very existential question: can we perform an action on someone else’s behalf for their benefit without their knowledge?

A dilemma posed to R. Nachman: when one swears off property, does that make the use of that property its own violation, as per me'ilah, the violation of property consecrated to the Beit HaMikdash? Also, the new mishnah: what is included and excluded when one swears off benefit from another person? What can the limited person still do for or with the other? For example, the role of a kohen that goe...

A mishnah on the previous daf leads into a discussion of what is excluded when one swears off benefit from another. Including returning a lost object, for example, and how benefit should go to the Temple treasury. And the dispute that arises in this question. Plus, an important assessment of these passages as difficult, which leads to considerations of different manuscripts or editions before the...

A new chapter! The only real difference between one who swears off benefit from his friend and one who swears off the food of his friend is only a matter of walking over, on his property, for example (and whether items not connected to food prep would be allowed or not). Plus, who taught this mishnah? (R. Eliezer). Also, another mishnah...still on food prep, and a question on what might be rented,...

More on the importance of circumstances. Specifically, the story of Moshe and God's wrath at his apparent delaying the circumcision of his son. Plus, more on Moshe, and God's wrath. Also, the completion of Avraham via brit milah, and the covenant with God. Plus, the significance of gematriya in names.

More mishnayot! One - a person who makes a vow not to benefit from those who "rest" on Shabbat - who is included and excluded from this category? Or a vow not to benefit from those who eat garlic... Which links back to a decree from Ezra, specifically to eat garlic on Shabbat. Likewise, one who goes up to Jerusalem. All being connected to Jews vs. Kutim. Two - Swearing off benefit from those who a...

A whole lot of mishnayot. One: A person who swore off benefit from seafarers. Or land-dwellers. But who's included in these sweeping statements? Two: One who swears off benefit from those who benefit from seeing the sun. But again, who is included here? The wording is specific. Exposed to the sun includes the blind, of course. Three: One who swears off the dark-headed. But whom does that exclude?...

More on the consecrated trees... If they're consecrated until they're felled. What does that time stipulation do to the neder? And then they need to be reconsecrated, with ongoing renewal. But that's debate (whether they need to be redeemed). Where does the sanctity go? Plus, the comparison to kiddushin, betrothal, and the sanctity of marriage. Plus, the comparison to korbanot. Also, how stipulati...