Talking Talmud

Another yibum case - including when one brother dies before the other is born leads to a mnemonic how to keep this particular complication straight: "died, was born, does yibum" x2 - in a family of many brothers. And if the brother doing yibum dies... another brother should be taking it on. Yaakov is brought as an example - a strawman, and with echos of the biblical Yaakov. Also, when a woman exem...

Disturbing daf: Warning - discussion of rape. The question if the strange case of a wife who is raped by her father-in-law, which yields all kinds of complications for those who accept the possibility of the case (as compared to the Tanna who basically calls the question itself idiotic). Plus, a discussion of why there are 15 cases in the opening mishnah instead of 16 cases. Also, charts are neede...

The way yibum is pulled out of the category of "arayot," the illicit sexual relationships. Where the prohibitions seem to add up, until we realize how narrow a scheme the issue of yibum is, and we don't extend it further beyond the exception. And then the Gemara tries to knock down the rationale it's built up, via the specificity of the language in the biblical verse that teaches yibum. Until that...

More on the contradictory cases where a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment that has a punishment of karet - until that very line of inquiry is upended and rejected as a principle. So the Gemara takes another stab at explaining the rationale behind yibum and the "extra" word of "aleha" in the verse about yibum. Which brings us to hermeneutical derivation of k'lal u-p'rat u-k'lal....

What specific mitzvot can override Shabbat? Shouldn't one fear the Beit HaMikdash itself? That would theoretically have impact on what you can/have to do, since there's no fear of Shabbat in that same way. But there is reverence for God that is then later applied to the Temple? What kind of reverence is due to the place where the Temple stood? Namely, don't use the Temple as a shortcut. Plus, goin...

When the mitzvah and the prohibition essentially come together, as with shaatnez and tzitzit - such that the positive commandment overrides the prohibition. Where else does this happen? For example, the metzora and the prohibition against shaving pe'ot. What about a kohen who's a metzora? With all concomitant objections. Of course, it is also relevant and present in the context of yibum and the pr...

How do we interpretation biblical verses that are juxtaposed, or simply in proximity to each other? Do we extrapolate details from one verse and apply to the context of the other verse? Or is that too much to assume? Of course, the discussion uses the case of the yevama to discuss this principle, and establishes that a yevama cannot be forced to marry a yavam whom she doesn't want to marry. A thir...

Why are the co-wives described as "exempting" one another from yibum, when really those potential cases of yibum are prohibited? One suggestion is that that language would have suggested a need for halitzah, and once there's a need for halitzah, there's a risk of presuming yibum was possible, when it wasn't. Another suggestion: Plus, the strong connection between halitzah and yibum. Also, the Gema...

Diving right in... Introducing Masekhet Yevamot and Seder Nashim! Defining the case of yibum, the Levirate marriage. Defining halitzah. Defining tzarot. Also, beginning with the first mishnah, which presumes knowledge of the basic yibum case, and how co-wives negate the need for yibum for other co-wives - 15 different cases of relationships. Note that the requirement of yibum cancels the prohibiti...

The backup vessels of the Beit HaMikdash did not include a backup mizbeach (altar). But they assumed everything was impure because of the kohanim who were amei ha-aretz, which means that the mizbeach didn't need purification. The question is what mechanism kept it pure? Also, the fire of Gehenna has no power over Torah scholars, as can be inferred from the case of the fire salamander. Nor even ove...

The daf discusses a variety of different scenarios where an Am Ha’areaz can or cannot be trusted. What happens to all the Keilim in the Beit HaMikdash after the regalim.

Why the Galileans weren't considered reliable with regard to purity and impurity. And possible solutions that would have enabled them to bring their goods to Jerusalem - like a movable tent for those who consider that to be immune to bring rendered impure. Or perhaps a tightly sealed cover would do the trick. Plus a comparison to the purification waters from the red heifer. Also, on the relationsh...

4 more stringencies for kodesh over terumah, including what happens when only one hand is pure and the other hand impure, and how consecrated foods that are dry have a different status. Also, a new mishnah with a stringency for terumah over kodshim, specifically in the context of grape pressing and olive pressing for wine and oil, in the area of Judea.

More on the purity/impurity stringencies... Trying to make sense of the list of them, by their numbers. One who carries something that has impurity because of the way it came in contact with someone who was impure can also carry terumah, but not kodshim. This stringency is based on a one-time occurrence of things going wrong. Also, another stringency focuses again on the possibility that an am ha-...

The daf discusses how the Chaver and Am HaAretz interact with each other. How many different parts of a klei are there?

The starts the delve into the maalot. Why does kodesh have extra stringencies over terumah?

More on the purity/impurity issues with regard to clothing. What does it mean to have a constant awareness of your garments? And how little inattention it takes to render a garment impure! Plus, the wives of "chaverim" who switched their clothing, and fendered their garments impure. Also, the questions posed to one who is generally very careful, but knows that she hasn't had complete intent and at...

More on intent when immersing in a mikveh -- and just how far that goes. Specifically, will dunking one hands in a mikveh, for example, render one's hands pure? Or must you have that purification aim in mind at the time of immersion? The rules for Chillun (regular food) vs. sanctified food turn out to be different. Plus, the case of a large enough wave that falls on a person and vessels that need...

A new mishnah: Washing hands prior to eating non-kodesh food, for ma'aserot, for terumot; and for kodesh (korbanot) or for a chatat, you need to dunk. But what if you've dunked for the purpose of eating regular food? You're presumed to be pure for the level of food that you dunked, but not for anything that requires a greater level of purity (whereas if you are pure for a higher level, you are con...

A new mishnah! With a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai (with some background on their disputes), over whether semichah - the laying of hands on the holiday. Beit Shammai says the fully burnt offerings can't be brought on the holiday anyway, because they aren't eaten. But when the festival of Shavuot falls out on Shabbat, and there is a korban olah (that is fully burnt), then when can y...

On demons, angels, human beings, and animals. Also, on how people should not attempt to look in the prohibited 4 directions, or aspects of the functioning of the heavens, the future, etc. Rather, we focus on this world. Plus, not looking at a rainbow, whether for reasons that disparage the phenomenon or for those that elevate it. Also, the question of one who is overcome by a desire to sin - what...

Such a rich daf! First, the story of "Pardes," the four who entered the Pardes and came out with very different reactions (Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Elisha ben Avuyah, and R. Akiva). What happened to them is helpful, and perhaps essential, to understanding how people function in the world, when they confront that which is difficult, or metaphysically challenging, and the like. Also, Elisha ben Avuyah's...

How angels were created, daily, for the purpose of singing the praises of God... Or via the utterances of God. Plus, R. Akiva's foray into aggadic interpretation and the double rebuke he receives for his efforts. Also, how R. Yochanan ben Zakkai taught, or didn't, the Ma'aseh Merkavah to R. Elazar ben Arakh. And what happens to R. Elazar ben Arakh when he delves in on his own, including the creati...

Delving into Ma'aseh Merkavah, when we're not supposed to learn it at all... Who should not be studying Ma'aseh Merkavah? Perhaps everyone, but broad strokes may be acceptable, or acceptable for a select few. Plus, the words of the Torah are not to be taught to a non-Jew. And how R. Elazar defers his opportunities to learn Ma'aseh Merkavah. Also, the purported hiding of the Book of Ezekiel, and th...

Delving into "Ma'aseh Bereishit" - including the order of creation, heavens or earth first? It's debatable, by Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel: top down or bottom up? The later sages arrive at a resolution. And yet, the discussion of the Rakiya (firmament) is still rather beyond what we can make sense of. Also, a dispute between R. Yishmael [Who's Who] and R. Akiva, who have significantly different a...