Talking Talmud

Shemini Atzeret! What makes this day, named for its connection with Sukkot, a different holiday? Beginning with the blessing of Shehechyanu, and reflecting on a variety of distinctions between the eighth day and the week preceding it. Also, delving deep into Bikkurim, including a discussion on the ne d to stay overnight in Jerusalem at the time of bringing Bikkurim. Note: the waving of lulav is re...

On establishing the halakhot of certain blessings, specifically on the mitzvah of sukkah - which brachot does one make, and when? And what about the brachot for many mitzvot that come to your hand at the same time? Which raise considerations of how the mitzvah of sukkah differs from the mitzvah of Jordanian. Also, on the minhag of children of finding the etrogim, and eating them. And other uses of...

On the aravah... They would gather the willow branches in Motza, and stand them around the altar in the Beit HaMikdash. They would blow the shofar. And recite pleas to God, and encircle the altar. But when Hoshana Rabbah fell out on Shabbat, they'd set up the willows in advance, in water, before they'd use them on Shabbat. Plus, some realia about the Romans' use of the town, Motza. Also, setting u...

The aravah in the Beit HaMikdash opens some avenues to the kohanim who have some kind of defect, and would be prevented from certain activity in the Beit HaMikdash. Plus, certain leniences of shmittah. Also, the underlying discussion of whether the aravah is a mitzvah from the Torah or a practice from the Nevi'im - a cross-generational dispute. Which leads to a discussion of the levels of halakhah...

On the prohibition of taking the lulav on Shabbat - the issue is moving the lulav, which is a rabbinic precept, as compared to the Torah mitzvah to take the lulav to begin with. This is a bit of a puzzle. But the concern extends to carrying the lulav when it isn't purely for the use for the mitzvah. Part of the question may be resolved by some calendar issues, and perhaps the percentage of those w...

A woman and the lulav on Shabbat, including storing it in water. A minor who knows how to wave the lulav and the obligation that emerges because of that knowledge. And the new perek, with its list of a variety of Sukkot practices by number, and how those numbers are borne out. [Still working on the audio - with apologies. We need the app to update with the right changes, and we are looking into al...

[Some audio mess towards the beginning, but it mostly resolves pretty quickly. We're working on a permanent solution] When the Temple stood, the lulav was taken every day of Sukkot there, but only on the first day outside of the Temple. This is one of 9 decrees by R. Yochanan ben Zakkai, to establish and salvage Judaism after the destruction of the centralized force of Judaism. Similarly, he estab...

More on using items that have kedushah shev'it. But why doesn't a lulav from the 7th year have kedushah? Which teaches us that trees themselves (the wood of them) don't have kedushat shevi'it. The sanctity kicks in for that produce that is used for food. Which leads us into a sharp brief focus on what it takes for kedushat shevi'it to kick in. Also, how are you supposed to deconsecrate that which...

A final point about Hallel and the blessings connected to it, with a distinction made between the one before and the one after the recitation of Hallel. Also, on shemitah, and what that means for the lulav and etrog, which, of course, grow from the ground and are affected by shemitah. The navigation of shemitah is more complicated when the purveyor of goods is an ignoramus, who is presumed not to...

The case of a traveler on Sukkot who doesn't have a lulav with him - when and how should he take the lulav? What about anyone who doesn't take a lulav in the morning? The degree of urgency to go take the lulav will depend on how late in the day it is. And, of course, this case is only relevant for chol hamoed. Also, the case of a slave, woman, or child reciting Hallel, and a man repeating after an...

Anything that is present to beautify the 4 species will not be a barried to separate between the person doing the mitzvah and the mitzvah itself - in the context of "taking" the lulav. Plus, a bunch of halakhic positions about the 4 species by Rabbah and the risk of such a barrier. Plus, the difference between smelling and eating your etrog (and smelling the myrtle). Plus, on Hallel! And the vario...

The many different ways that an etrog can be invalidated for use for the mitzvah of the 4 minim - with a focus on an unripe etrog, and the dispute about it. Also, on making sure that the etrog is beautiful - with a story about R. Akiva and his super-large etrog. His partiality to this etrog seems to point to the subjectivity of beauty, yet there do seem to be some objective standards as well. Plus...

It's the etrog's turn - one that is stolen or dry cannot be used for the 4 species. Plus, the various regulations that apply to the etrog as a fruit (terumot and maaserot, specifically). Plus, different kinds of blemishes on the etrog itself that invalidate it for the 4 species (or not). Plus, the size parameters for the etrog. Also, why "pri etz hadar" is known to be the etrog. Also, how to handl...

And now the willow - if it's dry, it is not kosher for the 4 minim, in the same formulation as the lulav and the hadas, which leads to defining what this "aravah, arvei nachal" is. Plus, how language changed, where names are confused or switched, and the change sticks. With possible implications in halakhah. Also, fulfilling the mitzvah of the 4 minim, according to an assortment of Tannaim, and to...

An existential question about mitzvot and if/when the items we use for mitzvot are disqualified from that use. Specifically, a myrtle branch, the top of which has been cut off. Can that disqualification be removed? (Even theoretically). But why would the berries disqualify the myrtle branch? (Blame the sense of beauty). Also, the question of timing: if diminishing the number of berries takes place...

Lulavim from the Iron Mountain - are these kosher with an exception that is not, or not kosher with an exception that is? With a possible explanation why it's called the Iron Mountain. Plus, the length of the lulav, both for the waving of it and in relation to the hadas (myrtle) and aravah (willow). Plus, R. Tarfon's apparent extreme stringency with regard to the length of the 4 minim. Also, a new...

What if you use stolen land to erect your sukkah? On the claim that at the resh galuta's home that this took place. Also, the case of a stolen beam - to be incorporated into the sukkah, which seems to have a much more lenient sentence than if it were used on a home. Basically, a plug to repent, at the very least. Namely, the thief returns only the monetary value of the beam, at least during sukkot...

The third perek - and a shift away from the mitzvah of sukkah to that of lulav. We open with several ways a lulav is pasul, not fit to be used for the mitzvah. Including some of the requirements for a kosher lulav. Also, "mitzvah haba'ah be-averah" - the concept of not fulfilling one's mitzvah because its completion depends on a sin (in this case, theft). Halakhic theft including an element of "ye...

What does it mean to make your sukkah your established residence, and make your regularly established home into a temporary residence? Also, under what conditions would the rain drive one inside out of the sukkah? Plus, that rain in its capacity of Hashem rejecting our sukkot... Along with other natural events that are taken as omens (in the way that rain on Sukkot is a bad omen). What do we do wi...

A focus on the scholarly approaches and personalities of R. Eliezer and R. Yochanan ben Zakkai (Who's Whos from the Gemara itself). Also, the case of one whose body is in the sukkah and whose table is in the house (a sukkah that is just off the house). Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai dispute whether such eating counts for the mitzvah of sukkah. Plus, women, slaves, and minors are not obligated in the...

How many meals must be eaten in the sukkah? The mishnah says: 14, day and night, each day. But that's disputed - between a meal a day and no set amount.... Which leads to a deeper dive into R. Eliezer's approach. Including not moving from one sukkah to another. What if you missed a meal? Can you make it up on Shemini Atzeret? Plus, a story about King Agrippas's steward, and how he only eats one me...

Additional conflicts that exempt a person from at least some mitzvot - on this case, the same people who are involved in the writing or selling of Torah scrolls, tefilin, mezuzot, and techelet are exempt from Shema, Amidah, tefillin, and so on. Also, travelers are exempt from sukkah. As are guardsmen. Plus, the idea that the temporary sukkah is akin to dwelling in your temporary house. Plus: Abaye...

Who needs to sit in the sukkah? Or who is exempt from sitting in one? One who is buys with another mitzvah is (often) exempt. Similarly, one whose eating is casual - for example, snacks. Specific cases of mitzvot exempt the doer from sukkah. Beginning with Kriat Shema. Plus a mourner burying his dead. Or the wedding party on the day of the wedding. Also, there's no rejoicing in a place with no mea...

Remember "bereira"? It's here again. This time, in the context of a sukkah that relies on an animal being part of the sukkah. And wine that is in its wineskins, where terumot and maaserot have not yet been taken. Also, a shift to a discussion about gittin - Jewish divorce, and specifically the writing of the bill of divorcement. And the parameters of the writing of that divorce, as per the interpr...

A general principle on when one can enter a sukkah (with an unusual base) on yom tov - it needs to be able to stand on its own, regardless of the tree that it is in, etc. Plus, this mishnah is attributed to R. Akiva, in contrast to the opinion of Rabban Gamliel. Both of which depend on how much wind a sukkah is expected to withstand. Also, building a sukkah with an animal, both on an animal and us...