Talking Talmud

More on the fact that any unused goats need to be left to die, rather than risk it being used the following year. Even under conditions that would be acceptable for reuse. Also, a new mishnah: the process of the day continues, with semihat yadaim (laying of hands) and confession, which will lead to atonement. And whether a kohen must lead the goat to the wilderness. Plus, details questions to R. E...

Focusing on the details of many possible cases in a way that seems harried, and perhaps is a diversion from larger worries. Also, why do we pasture the goat that isn't used (when a second pair is needed), and let it die,rather than let it live? The rationale is a bit difficult... And the Gemara seems to struggle with the "waste" of the animal's life here too.

What happens if the se'ir ha-mishtaleach (the scapegoat) is disqualified? Whether because it's too young, or has a physical blemish, or because of the circumstances surrounding the day (for example, if the mother goat of the scapegoat were killed on Yom Kippur as well). How this works - or even was discovered - seems a logistical challenge, or few. Also, what happens if you need a new lottery for...

What happens when the kohen gadol goes to slaughter the goats? What if he does so outside of the Temple, which might be fine for the Azazel, but certainly not for the sin-offering. Designation of an animal for sacrifice is what makes the difference. In this case, through the lottery. [Who's Who: Hanan the Egyptian] Lining up the long beraita with his views. Plus, the unusual status of the Azazel g...

A focus on the goats of the Yom Kippur avodah. They have to be alike exactly - but how identical can they be? Which leads to the lottery to select each for its respective role. But what if one of these two goats dies? Before the lottery? After the lottery? Did a goat ever actually die under these circumstances (on Yom Kippur), or is the Gemara simply exploring the possibilities? Plus, the identity...

The focus on the practical details, as opposed to philosophizing. Even though the focus is literally on atonement. That is, the phenomenon of atonement is functional here, a piece of the avodah. Rather than the need for it being a constant thought and topic of faith. Also, where does the kohen gadol restart the procedure if there is a need? Does he go back to the beginning, or can he pick it up wh...

A new mishnah! On the order of the day, and what happens if the kohen gadol does things out of order.

Sprinkling on the "pure" of the altar - the Gemara puzzles out what this pure is. Possibly, the midpoint of the altar wall. Possibly, an indication of revelation, as the prooftext of a verse in Exodus suggests. Also, what happens when a Tanna changes his mind to agree with a different Tanna...?! Plus, what happens to the blood that runs off, into the Kidron River, no less? And if one uses that blo...

Pouring the blood of the bull into the blood of the goat.... Into the smaller bowl. And then the smaller bowl or its contents are put into the empty one. To mix well. Rami bar Chama asks some questions that seem to be exploring, rather than trying to recall. Also: Blood on the altar, in very specific ordered directions. Where does he start, though? Even the path of the kohen gadol is subject to a...

Another daf considering "hekesh," comparing verses and inferring halakhic detail. In this case, on what happens in the Sanctuary, but it's a hekesh on a hekesh, and that seems too much. Plus examining the way the learning itself came to pass. Until a reality check knocks down the "Gemara logic." Namely, an eyewitness account vs. the information derived from exegetical principles. Which is reasonab...

Who's Who: The Baalei HaTosafot. What they do, and why they're here, on the daf. Plus, what one of these long comments by the Baalei HaTosafot has to say on our daf, specifically, on "yesh bereira" or not. Specifically, in the context of terumot and maaserot with Samaritans. With a pile of passages from the Gemara to support the claims of who holds what...

The sprinkling of the blood of the bull and of the goat, in great detail - as it also appears in the Yom Kippur liturgy. How does the kohen gadol count? Of course, it's a machloket. What IS the point of counting out loud? Plus, the bowls of blood from the bull and the goat, to be placed on the pedestal. Or the two pedestals. But there is no clear information whether there was one or two! Also, a p...

What really happened with the ark? Was it exiled to Babylonia? Was it buried? How the biblical verses are used to support both views. And how Jerusalem and the Temple were mourned in the ark's absence. [What's What: Gematria] Also, the keruvim in the Temple, and the intimacy in that representation of the relationship between God and Israel. Plus other signifiers of differences between the Temples,...

The deaths of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aharon, who die in a conflagration on the altar. The sages work hard to figure out what sin deserved this death, and one of them is presented on our daf. This particular reason seems extreme: namely, answering halakhah in the presence of Moshe, instead of deferring to him. Also, a prayer for a rainy and hot year, which seems incongruous. Which merits inve...

How the kohen gadol needs to take a circuitous route to get to the Kodesh Kodashim... Or not. An the implications thereof. Also, that "amah" that at one time was a divider between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies, and what kind of kedushah, and how we measure the space. Plus, verses of unresolved ambiguity, and Yossi ish Hotzal's take on this (his own identity ambiguous, given the number of na...

On the kohen gadol's sin-offering - to what extent us it a communal offering and to what extent is it his own? With implications for whether temurah would work, among others. Also, a piece of architecture that defines and divides the Temples from each other and the Mishkan. Namely, there was an amah-wide space between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. Which raises the question of the degree of...

Sin-offerings that could not be offered as sacrifices, and therefore were left to die: 5 cases. A more brutal death, surely, than simply putting it to death.... Also: the korban of "par he'elem davar shel tzibur" (What's What). These sin-offerings, both individual and communal, attest to the need for sin-offerings... Namely, that people sin. Plus, a focus on Temurah - the exchange or substitution...

What if a replacement kohen gadol is needed, whether because of death, Impurity, or anything else? Can the initial scooping done by the first kohen gadol count towards the second kohen gadol's completion of this avodah? Or does that not work? (Isn't the amount of incense taken specific to each kohen gadol's hands?!). Also, how the kohen gadol actually maneuvered all the movable parts - spoon, ince...

More on the incense. What happens if things go wrong with the basic incense plan? When is the incense invalid? When is it fine? (Shouldn't they know the answers here easily? But they don't). Also, the 4 aspects of the avodah with blood, with each animal, including moving the blood over, as here - with his left hand. So doing some of the avodah with his left hand seems to be fine... Or will it inva...

Note: Audio issues in the first 2 minutes, but then it settles down. ||. Chapter 5 - a new chapter, with a focus on the avodah that is done by the kohen gadol in preparation for, and then in the kodesh kodashim, hidden from the eyes of all. Beginning with the kohen gadol taking the amount of incense according to his own physical measurement. With a focus on right-handedness. Also, the story of Yis...

On the different fires in the Temple. With a focus on R. Huna's position, on the conflation of issues between Yom Kippur and Shabbat. Plus, the override clause. To what extent, do we need to extrapolate? Also, the fire is never supposed to go out the mizbeach. What happens if/when it does? Who is responsible...?

Gold! 7 different kinds, or maybe 5, ranging in quality, and shade, and origin. Including the red gold for Yom Kippur, which reflected the red of the blood of the korbanot. Also, the fire of the altar, and the inner/outer issue - entailing careful analysis of the biblical text (on a vav and a hey, plus, mi-lifnei).

On the incense as a mechanism of atonement. Specifically for lashon hara, evil speech. Which aligns neatly, in terms of the scent and spread of it atoning for the spread of lashon hara. Plus, it's more comfortable for modern sensibilities that have a hard time with animal sacrifice. Also, on separating between the antechamber and the altar, the blood of korbanot vs. that of idolatry. But is this d...

The need to read the parah adumah verses very carefully, in terms of establishing what the halakhah is, and all of the details pertaining to the parah adumah, in its classic status as a "chok." Noting that the Amoraim remain puzzled... Plus, a new and very long mishnah... Comparing the kohen gadol's actions on Yom Kippur to "every day." Including some differences to ease the strain on the kohen ga...

A dispute between Rav and Shmuel - who are Amoraim! - on whether the slaughter of the Yom Kippur Korban or the parah adumah can be done by a non-kohen. Namely, forgetting. Also, a zoom in on the slaughter of the parah adumah if done by a non-kohen. With a spotlight on the logic of how the non-kohen came to be excluded - just as a woman would have been excluded (it works, but also a little odd). Th...