Talking Talmud

Blemishes that disqualify kohanim from doing the Temple service -- derived from the verses in Leviticus. There are 3 categories of blemishes -- 1. appear in kohanim and animals; 2. appear in kohanim and not animals. 3. rabbinic disqualifications, especially as "mar'it ayin," in terms of unusual appearances. Including, for example, baldness, where some degree of hair loss is acceptabl...

With regard to an animal that is an androgynos, with both male and female sexual organs, is not considered for a first-born status, because it's not uniquely male. With editorial comments, as it were, made about the baraita that establishes these standards. Also, a tannaitic dispute on a tumtum (human) -- if this person betroths a woman, we accept the kiddushin, because the tumtum might be mal...

Beginning with a couple of mishnayot -- on a calf whose tail doesn't reach down to the upper leg joint, which is considered to be a blemish. Imagine a camel to help picture the join on the animal, which is more pronounced on the camel. Also, blemishes in a first-born that don't lead to slaughtering outside of the Temple -- with a decently long list, including, eventually, the tumtum and an...

There are 7 mishnayot on this daf! (though we'll save the last one for tomorrow). 1 - On testicles and the nature of testicular blemishes. 2 - On the fact that blemishes are not how things are supposed to be; for example, an animal that should have 4 legs, but instead has 3 or 5. 3 - On blemishes that are not immediately discernible. 4 - On the jaw of a first-born animal, where the lower jaw j...

3 mishnayot! Rabbi Hanina bar Antignos on various blemish, specifically the pale spots that constitute a blemish. Note the requirement of an even amount of time between checking the blemish. Also, determining the timing of the impurity of a blemish. Plus, a list of possible, fairly minor blemishes -- including on the outer part of the lip. 2 - On the gums and whether the external gums are signific...

Determining the capacity of an earthenware vessel to become impure on both its inside and outside -- as long as it's a receptacle, with a "middle," such as it was, with sides that form a middle to contain something (in contrast to a platter). Also, 2 mishnayot: 1 - Blemishes in an animal's eye, such as cataracts. Also, the case of the "hilazon nahash" -- is that one ani...

Finishing chapter 5 and starting chapter 6, with a mishnah in each chapter, and attention to the requirement of an experts to sign off on a first-born animal's status as "blemished" (and what can be done with it afterwards), as well as the various blemishes and their implications, as we embark on a new chapter that focuses on blemishes, and -- to be careful -- not treyfot.

The case of hearsay testimony - and when it's acceptable (not often!). Also, the opinion of Rabbi Tzadok on a first-born that split its lip while eating. But does that smack of intentional blemishing? Plus, the famous and important showdown between Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua, which also appears on Berakhot 27b. Also, 3 mishnayot: more on kohanim and unblemished first-borns who get blemi...

3 mishnayot! 1 - Beginning with a story about a Roman soldier intentionally blemishing a first-born ram, and how the sages approved that case as a blemish, but not when others attempted the same. Likewise, kids who tied the tails of lambs together, including first-borns, and one lost a tail, and that case was also permitted, but not as a general rule. Intent would ruin that. 2 - One who kicks a fi...

For a case of certainly pure terumah vs. uncertain terumah (whether it's pure or not) - in light of the plural of the word "terumotai" in the Torah. Or is it "terumati"?! Also, what if one DID make a blemish on a first-born animal, even though it's of course not allowed. The Gemara specifically looks for comparable cases to determine the penalties, if there are to be an...

The Gemara picks up on Beit Hillel's leniency from the previous day's mishnah, and Rabbi Akiva's opinion on "the gazelle and the hart" - which are permitted to a non-Jew to eat. And how that phrasing drives the interpretation, including explanations by Rishonim (the medieval commentators). Plus, the question whether menstruant woman could participate in such a meal. Also, a n...

A discussion here compares the first-born with tithed animals. For a firstborn, it cannot be redeemed, but it can be sold. And tithed animals are the reverse. What's the source? The Gemara explains that for the subjects of this group much be free. Thus, there are two steps here - establishing that a "maaser" item cannot be redeemed to begin. with. The details, for those who delve in,...

Finishing the 4th chapter - with the series of baraitot about the "chaver" - with a focus here on the last one. That is, specifically, a kohen can examine first-borns for blemishes, as long as they are not being given to himself, but he could rule on his own sacrifices, for example. Plus, how many judges are needed for various things, including judging first-borns, one or three? Plus, ot...

A new mishnah! A person who is suspected or known to not be careful about the laws of the shemitah year may or may not be careful about tithing, and likewise with regard to the rules of purity/impurity. But once one is suspect, that person can't judge or bear witness, at least with regard to that specific arena. Also, a focus on the "chaver," someone who is known to be careful in all...

Another day of mishnayot: 1 - One who takes wages to be a judge or give testimony or a kohen who does so to facilitate a red heifer -- all of those efforts would be void. Note that the kohen who facilitates the red heifer becomes impure and cannot partake of terumah, which is his own monetary loss. 2 - If one is suspect with regard to bekhorot, for example, a kohen who is accused of making a blemi...

4 mishnayot! 1 - On determining that an animal has a blemish - after slaughtering, and the tension of having non-experts involved in determining whether the animal has a blemish. 2 - What if the kohen makes an error in judgement? What is done is done. But the judge may well be liable. With mention of dina de-garmi. 3 - A story (in the mishnah!) about the error of the previous mishnah. 4 - Making s...

If the kohen demands the first-born before the prescribed time, the owner does not need to provide it, because it seems that such a kohen would look too close to an employee of the owner -- for taking care of the animal. Also, more on the question of giving terumah to the kohen when it does appear that he assists "on the threshing floor." Note the fact of a rabbinic level of terumah as w...

To close the 3rd chapter: What if wool were plucked from an unblemished burnt-offering? What would the halakhah be regarding benefiting from that detached wool? The sacrifice might be postponed because of this question, and that can really complicate matters. And the new chapter begins -- with a new mishnah, and some basic questions about when the first-born is given the the kohen. "Small&quo...

If you're slaughtering the first-born, you can part the hair and even pluck a hair for the sake of smoother slaughtering. That is, plucking is not considered to be shearing. This might complicate matters for a red heifer -- if one trimmed red hair that had some black, which is allowed, in this case, without actually shearing. So that task is also unintended beyond its actually purpose. Note th...

One who purchases a nursing female animal from a non-Jew - and the question is whether that animal can conclusively be said to have born progeny before, or perhaps the animal was nursing another animal's offspring, without having borne any herself. Also, what if the first-born has a blemish? What about the slaughtering of the first-born? How one finds the best place for the slaughtering - movi...

Coming in the middle of a long discussion with a focus on a mix of sacred and regular ashes -- where impurity would be nullified via the mixture. Also, a new mishnah! If one purchases an animal from a non-Jew, and it is nursing, we don't worry that the nursing animal had a different mother. Which leads into a discussion about the opinions represented in the mishnah here, in terms of anonymity.

NOTE: This daf talks about animal miscarriage and extends the conversation to human miscarriage. Please be forewarned. A new mishnah! With various status questions regarding the first-born. Even when the mother has conceived and had a miscarriage before carrying the animal that becomes her first-born to term. Also, if you buy fish brine from someone who is not reliable with issues of purity and im...

More on the female triplet goats who each have triplets to lead into a discussion of Rabbi Shimon's position, as compared to the tanna kama. Specifically about whether a goat that has miscarried will delay for a spate of time before mating again. Which in turn gets into how to count that time, even to the final day. Also, a dispute between Rav and Shmuel (and Rabbi Yochanan) as to whether one...

More on buying an animal from a non-Jew, with the question of whether the animal has given birth before. A goat that has offspring during its first year - those must be the first offspring, and the first-born goes to the kohen. But what if there was evidence of a miscarriage -- does that count as the first-born, as it were? Note the discussion lands on concern for a minority, when there's a st...

2 mishnayot to close out chapter 2! Two ewes bear 2 male lambs -- both are first-born. One male, one female - the kohen gets the male. But with twins, what goes to the kohen? What about a C-section? Chapter 3 - and a new mishnah: When a Jew purchases an animal from a non-Jew... has that animal given birth already? Or no? And the certainty for not having given birth depends on the youth of the anim...