While the daf discusses whether one or two witnesses are needed to prove an ervah the daf discusses the story ad Yannai and Shimon ben Shetach. Plus a disagreement between Rabbi Tarfon and Rabbi Akiva which demonstrates the genius of Rabbi Akiva’s exegesis
Oct 18, 2023•22 min•Season 20Ep. 66
A new mishnah - with a series of cases: when there's a dispute between a man and a woman as to whether he betrothed her (and the implications of betrothal, which prohibits them to some of each other's relatives, for example). Which of them is to be believed? Or rather, how do we handle not knowing whom to believe? Also, an Amoraic dispute on at least one of the cases in the mishnah: with Rav saying the man should be forced, apparently to give a get, and Shmuel saying he should be asked to give a...
Oct 17, 2023•12 min•Season 20Ep. 65
More mishnayot - more cases of a father betrothing his daughter (who is not the age of majority). What if the father says he has done so - when is he believed or not? Also, one who says at the time of his death that he has children (keeping a wife who has no children with him from needing to do yibum) - he's believed. If he claims to have brothers (giving her the need for yibum), he's not believed. Plus, a father who has several groups of daughters, from two wives, how to handle unspecific state...
Oct 16, 2023•11 min•Season 20Ep. 64
3 mishnayot! Each with unusual, surprising conditions for betrothal, and when they donor don't work.
Oct 15, 2023•12 min•Season 20Ep. 63
If a man betrothes a woman and explains that he was mistaken in his thinking about different aspects of her identity, they remain betrothed. She wasn't acting under false pretenses. But not so if they weren't eligible to be betrothed at the time that the man makes conditions on the betrothal, the conditions coming true are not enough - because they weren't eligible to begin with. Plus, a condition to betroth an unborn daughter. Also, the question of that which doesn't yet exist vs. that which do...
Oct 14, 2023•12 min•Season 20Ep. 62
Irregularities in a field that is to be used for kiddushin - how do they change things? Plus new mishnah on the double conditions of Gad and Reuven. Plus, the dispute between R. Meir and R. Hanina ben Gamliel.
Oct 13, 2023•18 min•Season 20Ep. 61
The parallels between the regular case of betrothal and other topics. Plus, specific conditions - based on specifics of money - what he has, what she can trust that he has. The specific phrasing of the conditions can make a difference. Depending, course, on the behavior of the shaliach, and retroactive kiddushin... Plus, if the condition is the 30 days for when betrothal kicks in, and what he really means by it. And similarly with regard to other conditions.
Oct 12, 2023•15 min•Season 20Ep. 60
A new chapter, and a new mishnah - when a man appoints an agent to betroth a woman on his behalf, and instead the agent betrothed her to himself. With examples and commentary, and some confusion.
Oct 11, 2023•19 min•Season 20Ep. 59
The daf introduces a new concept of tovat hana and asks can one take a payment for a mitzvah?
Oct 10, 2023•15 min
On the ox that is condemned to death - how do we know that its hide is prohibited from any benefit? As "et" was interpreted by the sages, including R. Akiva's famous inclusive interpretative approach. Also, sourcing the prohibition against benefitting from a nazir's hair or meat and milk cooked together.
Oct 09, 2023•11 min•Season 20Ep. 57
More on the second tithe, ma'aser sheni - as a paradigm of deconsecrating the produce, and redeeming it, eventually. For example, you can't (or shouldn't) use ma'aser sheni money to purchase an animal outside of Jerusalem. Also, a new mishnah, with prohibited items that cannot be used for kiddushin -- because they are prohibited for benefit (items that a user can't get any benefit from, without incurring a violation).
Oct 08, 2023•14 min•Season 20Ep. 56
More on the dispute between R. Yehudah and R. Meir. With a mention of Shekalim - and how wandering animals are understood to have been designated for various sacrifices. Plus, the question of deconsecrating consecrated property, and if/when that is possible. Plus, the mechanism by which that deconsecrating worked.
Oct 07, 2023•17 min•Season 20Ep. 55
More on what can and cannot be used for betrothal, specifically among the sanctified property, specifically the garments of the kohanim - that have not worn out. And what about the worn out garments? When does me'ilah (misuse of consecrated property) kick in? Also, the question of whether the walls of Jerusalem are consecrated, and if so, does that mean stones loose from the wall are subject to me'ilah? With more dispute between R. Meir and R. Yehudah.
Oct 06, 2023•12 min•Season 20Ep. 54
A long beraita that is brought into the discussion of when betrothal with a portion of some sanctified or dedicated portion works, or doesn't. Plus, how this parallel text to our Gemara is relevant to understand the differences of opinion. Also, more analysis of the cases of the mishnah - specifically, using the second tithe (maaser sheni) for betrothal. In contrast to other gifts to God/kohanim, which are effective for betrothal.
Oct 05, 2023•18 min•Season 20Ep. 53
A deep dive on 5 women, including 2 sisters, who are given a basket of figs as a means of betrothal. Rav taught 3 of the 4 halakhot that the specifics of the case teach. Note the chronological restructuring of the personalities here. Also, several cases of attempted betrothal where the ownership of the betrothal item is iffy, to say the least. Also, a new mishnah - on a kohen using kodshim as an item for kiddushin (the mishnah says no, with a dispute between R. Meir and R. Yehudah. Which leads t...
Oct 04, 2023•19 min•Season 20Ep. 52
A dispute between Abaye and Rava, whether a betrothal works if there's no consummation with sexual intercourse. Plus, how is this impacted by an attempt betrothal of two woman who can't be "co-wives" to begin with. Also, explaining the rationale of both Abaye and Rava, including complicated cases of betrothal to support the rational of each.
Oct 03, 2023•14 min•Season 20Ep. 51
If you think your positions in your mind without articulating them, then they don't count, even when it's a positive commitment. Also, 4 new mishnayot: betrothal via shaliach with conditions, like the location of betrothal. What if she has "vows," for example, as a lien, etc. She needed to be forthcoming monetarily. She needed to divulge any relevant details... or blemishes might be grounds for divorce (not as blemishes, but as undisclosed information). Plus, betrothal with less than the value o...
Oct 02, 2023•12 min•Season 20Ep. 50
A conditional kiddushin - where a statement is made as a prerequisite to the betrothal. With implications for lineage status (yuchasin). Plus, a rich man who claims to be poor and vice versa. Also, 10 measures of all kinds of things that were given to the world, where specific countries or entities got 9 of those measures (beautiful Jerusalem, for example). Plus, a mishnah, continuing the discussion of conditional betrothals, where the conditions are not met and the betrothals do not take effect...
Oct 01, 2023•23 min•Season 20Ep. 49
A dispute on the question of whether kiddushin works via a loan, on an oral agreement. Plus, transferring the right if collection. Also, betrothal with a document - when does it work, and when not? All via beraitot trying to understand Rav's opinion on betrothal. Also, a new mishnah: a man who betroths a woman with a cup of wine, but it turns out to be honey, or other cases of mistaken identity, as it were - that betrothal does not take effect.
Sep 30, 2023•17 min•Season 20Ep. 48
Betrothing with a loan does not work - but why not? What is the rationale for the mechanism not bringing about kiddushin? Perhaps the loan itself is never really considered owned by the borrower who would use it for kiddushin. Plus, how she feels about the sum total of the betrothal and the need to scrounge for it can have impact on whether the kiddushin takes effect. Also, Rav's view on the loan not working for betrothal. Plus, a disagreement over a loan that has not yet been spent. If it hasn'...
Sep 29, 2023•20 min•Season 20Ep. 47
A new mishnah: a betrothal via a date (the fruit). But is it worth a perutah? Can the value of the individual dates accrue? What if she eats them as he gives them to her? How are we to make sense of this mishnah? Also, a gift to a sister is obviously collateral, a deposit. Why would he say "kiddushin" (in this case)? How did the sanctity of a kohen's food make a difference? What about the challah that is given as flour? How complicated can that flour be whether it's challah or not? Won't it get ...
Sep 28, 2023•17 min•Season 20Ep. 47
A couple of cases of betrothing a daughter - with a cup of wine, with a package of vegetables in the marketplace. And who's doing the betrothing? The father of the daughter to the father of a son is a complicated question. And the marketplace complicates matters because it (or the vegetables themselves) may be lacking in respect. Plus, when the mother and father of the daughter each want their daughter betrothed to a relative of each respective side. Also, terumah! Namely, how the minor might be...
Sep 27, 2023•16 min•Season 20Ep. 45
On the case of a father betrothing his daughter - a series of disputes on how this works. Which leads into a "reality" story account of the yelling in the beit midrash. Also, what about a minor who accepts kiddushin, not her father's doing? Plus, the complicated case of bringing a case before Shmuel and then Rav - when the get is needed, plus mi'un, where the action (or marriage, or betrothal) can be rejected.
Sep 26, 2023•14 min•Season 20Ep. 44
More on the topic of sending an agent to do a sin - in this case, specifically, murder. With parallels to King David, in his efforts to hide his affair with Batsheva. Also, can a shaliach (agent) be a witness? Some key disputes flesh out the concerns.
Sep 25, 2023•20 min•Season 20Ep. 43
How do we know shelichut (appointing an agent) works, with some pushback as to whether it should work at all. Plus, the idea of benefitting another person, and whether action taken on another's behalf is necessarily shelichut. Also, who is responsible for damages in the process of shelichut - the agent or the one who appoints an agent? Note the important principle that there's no agent for a sin, because the agent himself needs to heed God's instructions over and above those of the person who wo...
Sep 24, 2023•19 min•Season 20Ep. 42
A new chapter, with a new mishnah: Both men and women can betroth/be betrothed directly or via an agent. With investigation of these cases. Plus, the famous pronouncement that marriage is better than being alone, with the halakhic ramifications. Plus, discussion of a father betrothing his young (but not too young) daughter. Also, a discussion of agency in the context of betrothal, though it begins with a return to the discussion of an agent for divorce.
Sep 23, 2023•14 min•Season 20Ep. 41
Starting with mitzvot that are done in this world, and the reward for them comes in the next world. Eg: Honoring your parents. Plus, the impact of how we handle our mitzvot in the environment around us, such as sending away the mother bird. Also, a new mishnah - those who learn Torah and refine their behavior won't come to sin too easily, while those who don't aren't even part of the community. Plus, another discussion of theodicy...
Sep 22, 2023•20 min•Season 20Ep. 40
More on the discussion of orlah outside of the land of Israel, with some sharp disagreement by the sages. Plus, according to those who say there is orlah outside of Israel, how should it be treated? Also, when a couple of sages spot someone planting kilayim - and how they react to him. Also, a new mishnah! On the value of doing mitzvot, including the rewards that are known for them. And the challenge of watching one who should be getting long life die in the process of doing those mitzvot - and ...
Sep 21, 2023•24 min•Season 20Ep. 39
The Children of Israel were given several mitzvot at the time they entered the land, so the Gemara focuses on their experience just before this time. For example, how close to the land of Israel were they when they stopped eating the manna? It's not as obviously "40 years in the wilderness" as one might think. Plus, tracking the date via Moshe's death on the 7th of Adar. Plus, how it is known that he was born on the 7th of Adar too, and the righteous implications of that. Also, more on the mitzv...
Sep 20, 2023•17 min•Season 20Ep. 38
Mitzvot that depend on the land only apply in the land of Israel. Mitzvot that are not dependent on the land apply everywhere. But orlah and kilayim also apply everywhere. And R. Eliezer says "chadash" - and the question is whether he is being more machmir, in adding another mitzvah to the list, or swapping it out. What does "land-dependent" mean? Because not all of these mitzvot seem quite dependent on the land! Plus, a deep dive into R. Eliezer's position, and R. Akiva's question on him.
Sep 19, 2023•19 min•Season 20Ep. 37