Talking Talmud

A parallel to the lots selecting the goats - birds! Including Sotah. But also if one choose bird korbanot because of the expense. And then what happens to the birds... which seems to have different parameters from the goats of Yom Kippur, in any case. Also, with regard to the goats - the kohen gadol ties the red string on the head of the goat going to Azazel. He positions the goats, and then utter...

On whether the lottery is necessary as an element of the Yom Kippur device. Which leads to a dispute between R. Shimon and R. Yehudah,on the role of the Vidui, the confession, and atonement. Note that the dispute is about interpretation of biblical verses, and not about philosophy, per se, or so it seems. Also, a question for R. Akiva about switching hands after choosing the lots, and the risk of...

The mishnah describes the procedure of the kohen gadol choosing the lots to determine which goat is to go God as a korban, and which to Azazel. The lottery receptacle had certain defining factors, including the fact that it wasn't large enough for more than the kohen gadol's two hands at one time, including the fact that it was unconsecrated, as it was made from wood. Also, Shimon HaTzadik (Who's...

The Gates of Nikanor - when they brought back the big heavy doors for the gate, there was a terrible storm, so they tossed one door to alleviate the effects of the storm, but Nikanor wouldn't let them throw the second one in too. What devotion he had to the Beit HaMikdash! Though the timeline is puzzling. Also, another account (parallel to the one in Shekalim) on the families that didn't want to s...

How the Vidui is based on biblical verses. Also, the mishnah on the ordering of the kohanim, as well as the lottery to decide which goat goes to God as a korban, and which is sent to Azazel. Plus the gold accoutrements, under King Monobaz. Wherein the Gemara neatly follows the topics of this mishnah. Plus a focus on the goats.

Where and how the kohen sets up the animal for the korban of Yom Kippur, including semichat yadaim and the vidui confession, an element of Yom Kippur that lasts to this very day. Plus discussion of when a Korban is necessary, what the laying on of hands accomplishes, as per a dispute between R. Yosi HaGalili and R. Akiva, on the various sins and atonement. Plus, the Vidui itself, in much of its se...

Beit HaParvah - what is this? Why is it called this, when Parvah seems to have been a sorcerer? How would a chamber of the Beit HaMikdash be named after a sorcerer?! And isn't this term anachronistic to begin with? Also, dedicating of one's own goods to the Temple - or that tunic that his mother made! A few different examples of this are introduced. Plus, various stories of functioning through pov...

Procedural details about the day that is Yom Kippur: havitin, nisakhin, and more, based on the close read of the biblical verses. Also: When the kohen gadol is an "istanis," and the water for immersion is very cold, and it can be heated for this consideration - testimony to the sages' awareness of psychology and the phenomenon of what we call "highly sensitive people" today. How does this connect...

What was the daily avodah (not the Yom Kippur part of the day)? Aligning the procedure with the biblical text that orders it, and ordering the day, at least as per the Amoraim. For example, cleaning out the ash (terumat ha-deshen) takes place before cleaning out the menorah's lamps. Which leads to the key point that we do not pass over an opportunity to do mitzvot. This aligns with the order of op...

Why does the Gemara take so much time and space for the 5 immersions and 10 sanctifications of hand and feet washing in Yom Kippur? Interspersed, he changes his garments from white linen to gold to white to gold to white. What pageantry! What a way to establish the tempo of the day! Plus: What is the source of these 15 various washings? Is it from the Torah's account of Aaron's conduct ? Or is it...

Closing the debate between Ben Zoma and R. Yehudah, not wholly satisfactorily. The washing sanctification and the immersing was all done in a holy chamber near the kohen's chamber -- except for the first immersion of the day, which took place outside, in the water that arrived to the Temple via an aqueduct higher than the courtyard of the Temple. Also, a new mishnah! Continuing with the procedures...

A new mishnah focused in the kohen's washing of hands and feet, and immersing in the mikveh (10 and 5 times, respectively). With measures in place to preserve his modesty, of course. Which brings us to a dispute between Ben Zoma and R. Yehudah, with regard to how close to a risk of incurring later this washing avoids. What are they actually disagreeing about? Whether the washing (or lack thereof)...

In memory of Yardaena's father, Dr. Michael Osband, z"l, whose yahrzeit is today. || Some "wise statements"... And accompanying reminders, as it were, to help remember the wise statements. For example, planning a sin is worse than a sin itself. And the mnemonic? The smell of a meat. Which needs some unpacking, of course. Also, the part we're skipping (explicit handling of Esther and Achashverosh's...

Why the non-kohen subject to death for setting up the logs. Is this activity its own separate act? Plus, this smacks of the Second Temple. And - the new chapter, with the mishnah beginning to account for the activities of the day of Yom Kippur, which are the activities that apply to every day, as it happens. Checking for daybreak. Bringing the kohen gadol to cleanse himself. Plus, connecting the T...

Arranging the wood for the fire - if a non-kohen does this, he is subject to death. If he did it, he should disassemble and reassemble it (which latter part makes no sense!). The kohen needs to step in and participate. But some nighttime activities are permitted to non-kohanim. Until it seems clear that everything is lined up with the daytime! Also, shouldn't the fact that a non-kohen could be put...

Lotteries #3 and #4, per day in the Beit HaMikdash! For the ketoret, incense, only those who had never done it before were eligible. A blessing of prosperity reaches those who have done it, so once seems to be enough. But the kohanim weren't eligible to do it very often to begin with, so the extra motivation to limit it to once ever may have other factors as well. Plus, the tribes that produce Tor...

The second lottery... A whole slew of tasks, and a question whether there's a new lottery for each task. Also, the details of every step of the way, and different details, per different opinions on what should be done. Note that this daf is heavy on the animal parts.

On the 4 services that if a non-kohen did them, he'd be deserving of a death sentence. Is terumat ha-deshen one of these 4? The dispute here is between Rav and Levi... And the discussion revolves around a k'lal u-f'rat u-kh'lal form of logic - the general and specific, as present in the biblical verse. What is the nature of this service, and its connection to the parokhet (vs. courtyard). Applying...

Follow up on why the thumb, and only one finger was acceptable for the lottery to be chosen to do terumat ha-deshen. Also, Revenge and holding a grudge are good, nay, necessary (!) for a Torah scholar. But that contradicts the verses in Leviticus, so the Gemara has to resolve this surprising statement. Including the Gemara's definitions of revenge and holding a grudge. Recognizing that people have...

The basics of every day for the kohanim in the Beit HaMikdash, beginning with clearing out the ashes from the previous day. They chose who did what by racing for it! That wasn't the best plan, so the started a lottery, to choose who got the job more safely. Also, the question of who would get up early was real. Plus, counting fingers or shards of pottery instead of counting people, to not violate...

A discussion of the 10 miracles that took place in the Beit HaMikdash. Including the miracle that kept each person from hearing a neighbor's confession. Plus, other miracles that aren't on the first list, deliberating why not? Such as a study of the Cedars of Lebanon.

And now for some aggadah: Why hasn't mashiach come? Presumably because of the promiscuity and sin that were getting in the way of his arrival. And the Satan will stand as an accuser against the people - in this case, that they shouldn't deserve mashiach. But on Yom Kippur, the Satan has no sway to argue against Bnei Yisrael. Plus, a new mishnah, bringing us back to the work of the altar, in this c...

More on preparing the kohen gadol before Yom Kippur. For example, assessing the fitness if the given kohen gadol in the lishkat ha-gazit - done by the Sanhedrin. Note how much attention was paid to determining whether the kohen was fit. What if he wasn't at risk of being a Sadducee, etc.? Why did they put him through such a rigorous preparation time, walking from end to end of the Temple, to get t...

More on prepping the kohen gadol - reading the account of the service to him to make sure he's on top of the details he must do on Yom Kippur. The question of why he might not be on top of the details is a good one, and depending on when in history the year fell, the reason is different. Plus, on Erev Yom Kippur, the kohen gadol's food was managed and selected carefully. Also, reviewing the animal...

The layout of the Temple - a contradiction between a mishnah in Tamid vs. one in Middot. Is this a debate in methodology or in content? Also, the oral nature of the tradition may have had impact here. Also, a shift to focus in how the kohen gadol chooses his food first,from sacrifices, from lechem hapanim, even. The process leads to what appears to be a contradiction in terms, a neat resolution, a...