2 mishnayot on the daf. One is not permitted to fill vessels at the grocery store to a measuring line on yom tov. Abba Shaul ben Botnit (short Who's Who) measured foodstuffs out in advance. The shopping on yom tov seems very foreign, but it seems to have been the norm. Plus, Abba Shaul ben Botnit and other grocers prepared jugs of oil and wine to check with the Temple treasurers that they weren't getting paid for goods they weren't providing (being stringently honest to the extreme). In the end,...
Sep 29, 2021•19 min•Season 8Ep. 29
3 mishnayot on the daf. If you're selling meat on yom tov (yes), you still need to avoid the weekday manner of doing so. For example, using a balance scale to weigh out the meat. Also, you can't sharpen a knife on the holiday in the usual weekday manner. But in unusual ways, one can - for example, if a knife is nicked over yom tov to begin with. That is, even though it's part of food preparation, and not food itself (of course, this is disputed). Plus, one can't ask a butcher for a specific amou...
Sep 28, 2021•18 min•Season 8Ep. 28
More on the first-born animal - figuring out whether you can check for a blemish on yom tov itself. But what a temptation - to blemish your animal so you could have it for yourself (not the way it's supposed to be). Also, an animal that drops dead on yom tov can't be moved. Challah that has been rendered impure likewise has no value on yom tov. What was the status of the animal before it died? The answer to that will have impact on what can be done about both the animal, and the challah (which i...
Sep 27, 2021•23 min•Season 8Ep. 27
A case of the first-born male animal - bekhor - that is dedicated and given to kohanim to eat, unless it has a blemish. When is checking for such a blemish permitted, on yom tov? Also, can something be muktzah for only part of Shabbat, whether it gains or loses that status?
Sep 26, 2021•18 min•Season 8Ep. 26
A new mishnah - an animal that is in danger of dying should not be slaughtered on yom tov. Or rather, there must be enough time in the day to eat from the meat after the slaughtering. Also, if you slaughter an animal out in the field, you can't bring it home as you usually would on a weekday. Plus, comparable stipulations regarding how garlic and onion are to be eaten, to avoid the appearance of being a glutton. Likewise, drinking. Plus, taking care with eating lupines - which are to cut off the...
Sep 25, 2021•18 min•Season 8Ep. 25
Chapter 3 - It is prohibited to trap fish from fish ponds on yom tov, as is feeding the fish, but taking an animal from an enclosure for food on yom tov is permitted. But there's a direct contradiction to this statement regarding the animals, which the Gemara needs to resolve. Likewise, an apparent contradiction about birds, and when they are considered to be in an enclosure. Also, any catch in traps that are set prior to yom tov can't be eaten on yom tov, unless it's known that it was trapped p...
Sep 24, 2021•14 min•Season 8Ep. 24
Keturah - a type of melakhah that needs definition and application. Specifically, fire and incense. Plus, R. Elazar's leniencies vs. the sages. And the politics of leadership and wealth. Plus a new read of the Mishnah, in the light of the principle that "silence is an endorsement." Plus, the impurity of a 3-part pepper mill. Also, a child's wagon can be rendered impure. Plus, whether that wagon can be dragged in the ground - will it make a furrow and count as plowing? Or is it acceptable, given ...
Sep 23, 2021•23 min•Season 8Ep. 23
A story about Ulla - regarding Beit Shammai's stringency regarding a candelabra and vessels... and extinguishing a fire. Plus, Rabban Gamliel's leniencies.
Sep 22, 2021•13 min•Season 8Ep. 22
The case of an animal that is jointly owned by a Jew and a non-Jew, is it permissible to slaughter that animal on yom tov (for yom tov)? And how does that relate to the discussion about animals that are nedavot - gifts to the kohen? Plus, the case of an ancient Jewish twin that has a non-Jewish army garrisoned there, relying on certain aspects of Jewish labor - but what about on yom tov? Also, a couple of new mishnayot towards the end of the daf: what about heating water for washing on yom tov? ...
Sep 21, 2021•23 min•Season 8Ep. 21
Bringing an obligatory korban, as compared to a voluntary offering. Can one korban fulfill both? Which leads to a discussion on different implications of different phrasings of conditions. Also, the laying on of hands on a korban - where the students of Shammai bother Hillel. And Shammai's side actually got the upper hand.... which plays out in somewhat dramatic fashion, including ending on the majority view.
Sep 20, 2021•15 min•Season 8Ep. 20
Further explication of the most recent mishnah: a vessel that has been immersed... and then dunked again. A dunking that does nothing is allowed, of course. And "from one group to the next" - brings us back to the Korban Pesach. But these superfluous immersions are puzzling. Also, a new mishnah: laying on of hands on a korban - on yom tov - permitted? It's another dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. Which leads to the discussion regarding the focus of their dispute.
Sep 19, 2021•14 min•Season 8Ep. 19
Immersing a vessel on Shabbat - a problem of carrying. But what if the immersion was possible in one's own courtyard? Or what about on yom tov, when carrying isn't an issue? Abaye probes all the possibilities, and permutations of the prohibition. Also, suggestions why dunking on yom tov would be prohibited, in its own right. Plus, another instance of ho'il, since.
Sep 18, 2021•15 min•Season 8Ep. 18
When yom tov falls out on Shabbat, what should the Amidah prayer entail? As discussed in an era when the tefilah wasn't yet set. Also, more on the eruv tavshilin - to what extent do we penalize someone who didn't set up an eruv tavshilin? Plus, what is one supposed to do if one didn't prepare an eruv tavshilin? Also, what about dunking vessels or yourself to purify on Shabbat? Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai don't (fully) agree.
Sep 17, 2021•18 min•Season 8Ep. 17
All of people's wealth is allocated to them during the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, except for the sums that are put toward Shabbat and the holidays and talmud Torah, which are not to be deducted from that allocation. Also, a dispute between Hillel and Shammai - how they treated each day and related to the preparations for Shabbat. Plus, the role of Shabbat as a covenant, even a private one. Also, the extra soul that is present on Shabbat. Plus, going back to eruv tavshilin, and pu...
Sep 16, 2021•15 min•Season 8Ep. 16
Sending gifts on yom tov - if the principle was that anything that can be used on yom tov can be sent, then why does the Gemara say - anything that can be used on a regular day, not just yom tov, can be sent on yom tov?! Which introduces several cases of one who wears tefilin in the say of Erev Shabbat or erev yom tov, and when it gets dark, hides the fact that he's wearing tefilin. Of course, tefilin are a precious commodity, and need careful protection, from the elements, perhaps, but also fro...
Sep 15, 2021•20 min•Season 8Ep. 15
4 mishnayot on the daf, a series of disputes between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai with regard to food preparation for yom tov. The first, salt, and other spices (to crush them) - and introducing a discussion of "shinui," doing apparent melakhah a little differently, in this case, the mortar and pestle - size, material, and so on. Plus, a difference in location (Bavel, in particular). Also, preparing legumes, and skimming the undesirable refuse from the top, which would not be the way to that sel...
Sep 14, 2021•24 min•Season 8Ep. 14
Terumot and maaserot - the holiness that is in the food, and how to handle it. Including how the foods themselves are usually prepared for eating. Plus all kinds of food prep for yom tov. Also, fixing the amounts of these gifts - must the amounts be precise? Or approximate? Terumah, ma'aser, and terumat ma'aser are treated differently.
Sep 13, 2021•20 min•Season 8Ep. 13
Again, more Beit Hillel vs. Beit Shammai. This time, what can be carried from the private domain to the public domain. Including a child, including a lulav. What is the focus of their dispute? Might it be about what is usually permitted and can be extended? Or is the dispute over a difference between Shabbat and yom tov? Also, giving gifts to the kohen on yom tov - another Beit Hillel/Beit Shammai dispute. How far does that concern extend regarding other gifts? What if it's a matter of simchat y...
Sep 12, 2021•21 min•Season 8Ep. 12
[For reasons unclear, several audio issues returned in this episode. The content is still readily available. In the spirit of the season, please forgive us and the app.] Another dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai on what can and cannot be done on yom tov. Including mortar and pestle, including tanning. Also, an investigation into the amoraic handling of the tannaitic dispute, and how Beit Hillel is always accepted.
Sep 11, 2021•17 min•Season 8Ep. 11
Continuing from the attempted line up of the positions of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai by R. Yochanan, including his willingness to reverse their positions (the Gemara pushes back). Plus, a new mishnah! With a new machloket between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, which may revolve around the questions of bereira, again (retroactive designation). And another mishnah too: you go to choose birds from the dovecote that you have already designated, and they are apparently not there... Now what? The bir...
Sep 10, 2021•16 min•Season 8Ep. 10
Carrying a ladder on yom tov - muktzah? Not muktzah? To what degree? An apparently straightforward machloket. The Gemara makes it clear that there are other issues as well - including others' perceptions (mar'it ayin), which leads to discussion of other cases of mar'it ayin. Also, the story of R. Hiya's sons, and their misinterpretation of the Mishnah.
Sep 09, 2021•18 min•Season 8Ep. 9
This episode is for Wednesday's daf. || Cases of unclear, obscure, indeterminable statuses: ashes from the hearth, in various permutations. Plus, other cares that are permitted because one angle is permitted even though another angle of the same activity is prohibited. Also: the Koi/Koy, an animal that may be a chaya (wild animal) and may be a behamah (domesticated animal) but really neither, as it has aspects of each, and yet also of neither. With the practical question of whether the blood wou...
Sep 09, 2021•17 min•Season 8Ep. 8
This is Tuesday's episode. || How do we know that a chicken has laid an egg? The Gemara connects laying/bearing with the time of conception, at least, in principle. The practical implications here are a little hard to bring to bear. Note also the implications of a male rooster being present. And how many barriers might deter the rooster. Plus, the case of one who slaughters a sacrifice on Shabbat or the holiday... How is one to treat the blood? Note that this discussion presumes that you have go...
Sep 08, 2021•23 min•Season 8Ep. 7
On Rosh Hashanah - how timely! - that was consecutive with Shabbat, where they forgot to make an eruv tavshilin (and then couldn't prepare for Shabbat). Can't one make the eruv tavshilin on the first day of Rosh Hashanah? Because maybe it's not yom tov at all! (because of the doubt of the day). But that possibility only seems relevant for the other yom tov sheni issues - in the Diaspora, but not Rosh Hashanah. Also, when does the egg become an egg? What about eggs found within the chicken?! Can ...
Sep 06, 2021•21 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Who's Who: Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. Now, from the time of the decrees of R. Yochanan ben Zakkai, an egg that wasn't permitted on one day of Rosh Hashanah would indeed be permitted on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Which leads to a discussion of the calendar differences between witnesses and the math of the calendar. Plus, a recognition of the difference between the Land of Israel, as compared to the Diaspora. And, of course, how it all applies to the egg. Also, why the egg case is specific t...
Sep 05, 2021•24 min•Season 8Ep. 5
When yom tov falls out on Friday or Sunday, and an egg is laid on the first day of the two consecutive holy days, can you eat it on the following day? Of course, the answer is a machloket, and the essence of he dispute seems to be whether the holinesses of the two days make one long holiness, or whether they are two distinct holinesses. Which also boils down to a discussion of preparation for Shabbat to yom tov, and vice versa, under this discussion. Also, the second day of holiday in the Diaspo...
Sep 04, 2021•20 min•Season 8Ep. 4
[Edited to add: My apologies - I thought this posted hours ago, and was surprised to discover it pending still. -AG] What makes the egg that is laid on yom tov problematic? Well, perhaps it compares to other decrees - for example, to not pick fruit in violation of the prohibited labors on Shabbat/yom tov. But the cases are not entirely parallel to begin with - and the decree wasn't in place on both eggs and fruit equally. Maybe this issue is the liquid that seeps out from fruit... But how parall...
Sep 03, 2021•17 min•Season 8Ep. 3
An introduction to this tractate, which is called, "Egg," but is really, fundamentally, about yom tov, the holidays. It therefore has overlap with the tractates of Shabbat, Eruvin, and more. Also: The opening mishnah - when an egg is laid on yom tov... Can you eat it? If so, when can you eat it? If not, what's the rationale for the prohibition? (Including the parallel to Shabbat) Plus, the authorship of the mishnah in this tractate is more complicated, as is evident by apparent contradictory tex...
Sep 02, 2021•19 min•Season 8Ep. 2
A very full closing daf. Beginning with a focus on the day-to-day in the Beit HaMikdash, and distribution of the lechem ha-panim. Also, the blessings on the mitzvah of sukkah - including Shehechyanu. What's the order of these blessings? Which brings us to a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, including on the topic of tadir/eino tadir (how common is the practice?). Also, the case of yom tov falling out on Friday or Sunday (Saturday night), and the implications of that proximity. It sho...
Sep 01, 2021•28 min•Season 7Ep. 56
How what happened in the Temple made it into our liturgy. Specifically, how the musaf sacrifice is represented in the musaf prayer service. Which is necessarily based on the complications of an ambiguous calendar, when t days if each Jewish month can shift, depending on the witnesses who come to the Temple to testify to the new moon. Including our practice today if reading both possible day's passages. Also, dividing the mishmarot, and the division of sacrifices over the holiday. Plus, saying go...
Aug 31, 2021•25 min•Season 7Ep. 55
