Talking Talmud

A kohen whose sister dies... Recognizing that kohanim don't become impure in mourning anyone other than the 7 relatives, but the sister seems to be an exception, that her status has impact on his becoming impure on her behalf. Why her status makes a difference is not clear. Also, the case of a convert before the age of 3 years and one day, who is considered fit to marry a kohen, whereas older conv...

A new mishnah - this time, on the marriage restrictions on the kohen gadol, the high priest. He is not permitted to marry a divorcee... Nor a grown woman, which of course needs a lot of unpacking... Nor a woman whose hymen is not intact - the focus here is most definitely on virginity. What was the reality of all this for the kohen gadol? And to what degree did the sages expect any of these cases...

Issues of relationships (betrothal, for example) that are inappropriate with a kohen, but now she's in one - and even if she's the daughter of a kohen - can she eat terumah? What is the dispute here between the tannaim over the impact of the stages of marriage on her partaking of terumah? Also, applying the discussion to cases of yibum and ma'amar. And expanding the discussion on terumah.

Disqualifications for marriage - with a focus on a "patzua daka," a man with crushed testicles, and the ramifications of this status, especially if the man is a kohen - can his wife eat from terumah, for example? Also, the eligibility of a 3 year old girl for marriage (wait, what?).

When a bat Yisrael marries a kohen, is then entitled to eat terumah, and he is then excluded from being able to eat terumah - what about her? What if he dies, and they have no children? May she continue to eat terumah? Plus, the implications for her. Also, in the case of a wife of a kohen who is raped.... What happens to their marriage? Is the issue the second man (unwanted though he was)? What ab...

The punishment for "all the prohibited sexual relationships" is stated as karet, and then the punishment for prohibition of one's sister is separate. Why? What if they were all violated "be-he'elem echad," in one time period of forgetting. Also, how do we know that a woman (not yibum) would be betrothed via sexual intercourse? The answer relies on the Torah's use of the same term in disparate case...

A little sexually explicit... as is technically reasonable, given the essence of yibum. To what extent does yibum take place if either party is asleep? What if sexual intercourse takes place in other ways without intent? Also, beginning the act of intercourse, as compared to completing it - what are the implications for yibum? Plus, what if the woman is in niddah (where even an initial stage will...

When a yavam and a yevama consummate the relationship, that's yibum and now they're married. If they do chalitzah, they're done. But that seems to be only when either action is taken initially, and when not complicated by other actions. 3 divergent opinions on the different permutations here. Also, a new chapter, and the unexpected cases of a man who sleeps with a woman without knowledge or intent...

What happens when the couple that has ma'amar between them sleep together before they formalize yibum? A discussion of lashes - makat mardut and the other times the sages imposed them. Also, the specifics of ma'amar - perhaps making yibum a little more tasteful.

NOTE: It's not you, it's us. Several events coincided to render the past several weeks very hectic for us (in different ways). Please God, we'll go back to releasing the episodes first thing in the Israeli morning in the next few days, at worst. || Why does Rabban Gamliel say there's no divorce after divorce, or betrothal after betrothal? But also, how do betrothal and cohabitation interact....? P...

The fifth chapter! Plus, the options of ma'amar, get, chalitzah... and, of course, yibum. And how the may follow one from the other, as it happens. Note - a long mishnah here establishes the basic cases and basic principles - for example, once ma'amar has been done, it can't be done again in that same context. The Gemara basically establishes where Rabban Gamliel and the sages agree and disagree.

A new mishnah! And more on mamzerim, even an introduction to the status. Plus, a genealogy scroll that includes mention of a person as "mamzer." Also, the second half of the mishnah... The impact of a woman who dies on her sister's permissibility to marry a whole slew of people. Also, spotlight that lineage scroll. With insights, as it were, from the prophet Isaiah. What does his position, as pres...

The daf discusses Eshet Yifat Toar with an interesting twist from Rabbi Akiva. The daf ends with a theological discussion about converts.

Continuing the conversion conversation... How to be sure that a conversion in Israel will be accepted outside the land? Including the case of one who claims about himself that he's truly a concert, and not in accord with halakhah. How can he testify against himself? What can his testimony do against his children? How do we know whom to trust about their own Jewishness? Plus, why would someone want...

A long daf... When Jewish women became pregnant from partial converts (men who had been circumcised, but not yet dunked in a mikveh). Similar issues turn up with wine and cooking... So: decrees against the wine and the food, and that the children of such unions were mamzerim. All of which decrees by R. Yochanan do seem to be in line with his approach. Also, R. Eliezer's position on this status (ci...

Cases a union between a non-Jewish father and a Jewish mother - what are the implications for the children (or are there any)? Rav takes a strong position that is indeed the halakhah - that the children are "kosher." Plus, the talmudic equivalent of a camel dancing on the head of the proverbial pin - meaning, thr law has to be upheld to be trusted. Also, other ramifications for the kosher progeny...

A case: 4 brothers married to 4 women, and some of the brothers died... Can a brother do yibum more than once? When is chalitzah done instead? What does an "invalid" status mean? Also, a man who remarries the woman he'd divorced, after she is divorced or widowed by someone else. Can they stay married? What is the status of children? Note Rabbi Akiva's difficult (and rejected) position regarding wh...

More on the methodology of halakhic decisions, via a case of ritual impurity and the possibility thereof for carding combs for flax and wool. And the implications of unattributed mishnayot. Also, betrothal within the 3 months, plus a whole lot of cases of how people would wait or not wait for the 3 months. Plus, the implications of a waiting period for those who are in the 30-day mourning period f...

Two scientific points of interest - the 7 or 9 month baby, suggesting 1 month wait is all that is needed to determine paternity, not 3 months. What are the implications of these assessments? Including the woman's incentive to lie. And a deeper dive into the 7/9 months. Plus, pregnancy while nursing. Also, following some of the halakhic guidelines to determine the rulings of the Tannaitic literatur...

The ramifications of chalitzah for the relatives of the pair doing chalitzah. Also, what happens when a widow awaits yibum or chalitzah, and those other relationships are already getting put into play? Also, the widow must wait 3 months for yibum or marriage, to see if she might be pregnant with her dead husband's child. Why defer betrothal, though? Plus, in the landed area of Yehudah, they may ha...

First, a timely comment on chametz on the altar, and matzah too, for that matter, for an episode release after the first day of Pesach (as that day's daf). Also, what is the goal of yibum, what is accomplished? Plus the implications for inheritance. Also, how doing chalitzah has impact on other potential relationships, prohibiting some relatives of each to the other.

Is a yibum marriage a full marriage? For leaving it, it would seem so - requiring divorce and not chalitzah. And the woman who is now divorced from the yavam is treated as a divorced woman in regular cases. Also, a new mishnah that could pass for the tractate's opening mishnah - about how yibum works, who is obligated, etc. For example, one who is obligated by the yavam and tries to pan it off on...

Cases of questionable inheritance, which need some real calculation and navigation to determine who should inherit what (particularly property). Plus, a new mishnah - where a yevamah-to-be inherits prior to yibum... Which complicates the inheritance she bequeaths as well. Also, when a husband died before a Sotah woman has a chance to have her test to determine whether she has committed adultery ta...

The babies who are born at 7 months or 9 months - with a paternity question. Why get into the 7-month baby possibility? That seems to be introducing complications for no good reason. But how much of this is determined by a majority of women? Depending on when they know they're pregnant... What are the real norms here? Also, a ln important discussion that begins with preventing mamzerim, and ends w...

On Resh Lakish, in contrast to R. Yochanan - on the 3 times we follow Resh Lakish. Including regarding inheritance regulations, as compared to those of a gift. Also, what happens if there's yibum between a yavam and a yevama before waiting to see if she is pregnant from the brother who died....? The Gemara debates them needing to divorce and separate forever, or separate until they know if there's...