A new mishnah that establishes some principles about a yevamah... which is established by means of hypothetical examples that can be head-spinning, to be sure... Including principles regarding various sources of prohibition (mitzvah, sanctity). Until the Gemara asks what this principle really adds! Which brings us back to the eilonit, and the implications of those who are connected to her. Also, the widow and how a kohen gadol is prohibited from yibum with her. Part of the question is how far in...
Mar 27, 2022•22 min•Season 14Ep. 20
The kind of case we've been dealing with, but with ma'amar, not full yibum - with an entrance to probe R. Shimon's opinion further. Also, more on ma'amar - including the case of ma'amar when she doesn't know about it (does that even work? It's a machloket).
Mar 26, 2022•25 min•Season 14Ep. 19
A lengthy discussion on how to understand the mishnah: R. Huna, R. Yehudah, R. Yehudah Ben Beteira, R. Meir, and Rabban Gamliel. So first, a view of each of their opinions. Also, a new mishna, tracking yibum cases of two brothers, who are each married, one dies, one does yibum, and now has two co-wives, the widow and his original wife. What happens if he dies? And a third brother was only born after the marriages and yibum? What if there was only ma'amar, not yibum?
Mar 25, 2022•30 min•Season 14Ep. 18
Concerns about those with questionable lineage, which sparks a discussion about the 10 Tribes that were exiled in the era of the prophets. Including the question of Jewish heritage in a small amount, and the question of mamzerut that might emerge from the more questionable relationships... But how likely was this really?! The question is also whether the child is one if a couple who are idolators (or an idolator who married a Jew). Also, a new chapter, and new mishnah: the case of brothers who w...
Mar 24, 2022•26 min•Season 14Ep. 17
The question of whether the co-wives of a daughter would be permitted to the brothers... As answered in the time of R. Dosa ben Hyrcanus, in accord with Beit Shammai (which is a startling alignment). He was elderly and rather homebound, so he wasn't available for consultation or elaboration on his psak, so eventually, a crew of rabbis make the trek to his home. And the Gemara presents what seems to be the entirety of their visit and inquiry. Plus, the harsh language among brothers... (and then w...
Mar 23, 2022•29 min•Season 14Ep. 16
More on Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel... Specifically, did the members of Beit Shammai actually follow the approaches of Beit Shammai. Note also the affinity of other sages for either given approach - for example, Rabbi Tarfon (and his opinion, in contrast to R. Yochanan ben Nuri). Rabban Gamliel should be following Beit Hillel... But is introduced here as a follower of Beit Shammai?! Plus, several more cases by which to investigate the question of whether Beit Shammai people followed the rulings...
Mar 22, 2022•54 min•Season 14Ep. 15
More on the disputes of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, with the serious implications of a potential "mamzer" status for a child of a forbidden relationship (or perhaps not). That is, they disagreed, and followed their respective approaches for actual practice. What about the bat kol (heavenly voice) that said the law is in accord with Beit Hillel?
Mar 21, 2022•23 min•Season 14Ep. 14
How we derive the exemption of the co-wives with regard to the yavam. Plus, a new mishnah! The 6 cases that are more stringent than the original mishnah's 15 cases. And the disputes here between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, and the implications of those differences of approach that come to pass, and those that do not.
Mar 20, 2022•20 min•Season 14Ep. 13
More cases of yibum, of course, including that of the eylonit. Also, 3 cases where an attempt, such as it was, at contraception was recommended - including details that do align with modern science, and others that do not: a pregnant woman, a nursing woman, and a "ketanah," a status that is narrowly defined and involves further discussion.
Mar 19, 2022•18 min•Season 14Ep. 12
Two complicated yibum situations, with regard to the co-wife, and whether there are other relationships that would exempt the co-wife. Say, the sotah. Or a divorcee. Note: "Sotah" in this example means a woman who inadvertently committed adultery, and not the usual definition of a woman who is suspected of having committed adultery. And divorcee here is specifically remarrying her first husband after having been married to someone else.
Mar 18, 2022•24 min•Season 14Ep. 11
Another yibum case - including when one brother dies before the other is born leads to a mnemonic how to keep this particular complication straight: "died, was born, does yibum" x2 - in a family of many brothers. And if the brother doing yibum dies... another brother should be taking it on. Yaakov is brought as an example - a strawman, and with echos of the biblical Yaakov. Also, when a woman exempts her co-wives, and other cases when she doesn't - ie, it's not "across the board" and is continge...
Mar 17, 2022•19 min•Season 14Ep. 10
Disturbing daf: Warning - discussion of rape. The question if the strange case of a wife who is raped by her father-in-law, which yields all kinds of complications for those who accept the possibility of the case (as compared to the Tanna who basically calls the question itself idiotic). Plus, a discussion of why there are 15 cases in the opening mishnah instead of 16 cases. Also, charts are needed for amud bet. Where the yibum becomes complicated with regard to the various possible cases - or a...
Mar 16, 2022•20 min•Season 14Ep. 9
The way yibum is pulled out of the category of "arayot," the illicit sexual relationships. Where the prohibitions seem to add up, until we realize how narrow a scheme the issue of yibum is, and we don't extend it further beyond the exception. And then the Gemara tries to knock down the rationale it's built up, via the specificity of the language in the biblical verse that teaches yibum. Until that inference is knocked down... All for the sake of handling the co-wives in the best way (prohibited ...
Mar 15, 2022•19 min•Season 14Ep. 8
More on the contradictory cases where a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment that has a punishment of karet - until that very line of inquiry is upended and rejected as a principle. So the Gemara takes another stab at explaining the rationale behind yibum and the "extra" word of "aleha" in the verse about yibum. Which brings us to hermeneutical derivation of k'lal u-p'rat u-k'lal. Also, how does the logic actually pan out? The Gemara illustrates it with another case - a metzora ...
Mar 14, 2022•21 min•Season 14Ep. 7
What specific mitzvot can override Shabbat? Shouldn't one fear the Beit HaMikdash itself? That would theoretically have impact on what you can/have to do, since there's no fear of Shabbat in that same way. But there is reverence for God that is then later applied to the Temple? What kind of reverence is due to the place where the Temple stood? Namely, don't use the Temple as a shortcut. Plus, going back to the question of a positive commandment pushing aside the negative one. R. Yosi and R. Nach...
Mar 13, 2022•22 min•Season 14Ep. 6
When the mitzvah and the prohibition essentially come together, as with shaatnez and tzitzit - such that the positive commandment overrides the prohibition. Where else does this happen? For example, the metzora and the prohibition against shaving pe'ot. What about a kohen who's a metzora? With all concomitant objections. Of course, it is also relevant and present in the context of yibum and the prohibition of "eshet ach," the wife of one's brother. Also, the question of whether a positive comman...
Mar 12, 2022•21 min•Season 14Ep. 5
How do we interpretation biblical verses that are juxtaposed, or simply in proximity to each other? Do we extrapolate details from one verse and apply to the context of the other verse? Or is that too much to assume? Of course, the discussion uses the case of the yevama to discuss this principle, and establishes that a yevama cannot be forced to marry a yavam whom she doesn't want to marry. A third option for relying on this method of interpretation is to apply it only for the Book of Deuteronom...
Mar 11, 2022•18 min•Season 14Ep. 4
Why are the co-wives described as "exempting" one another from yibum, when really those potential cases of yibum are prohibited? One suggestion is that that language would have suggested a need for halitzah, and once there's a need for halitzah, there's a risk of presuming yibum was possible, when it wasn't. Another suggestion: Plus, the strong connection between halitzah and yibum. Also, the Gemara asks why these 15 cases of co-wives don't include 6 more stringent cases of illicit sexual relati...
Mar 10, 2022•23 min•Season 14Ep. 3
Diving right in... Introducing Masekhet Yevamot and Seder Nashim! Defining the case of yibum, the Levirate marriage. Defining halitzah. Defining tzarot. Also, beginning with the first mishnah, which presumes knowledge of the basic yibum case, and how co-wives negate the need for yibum for other co-wives - 15 different cases of relationships. Note that the requirement of yibum cancels the prohibition of a woman marrying her husband's brother... And it does not cancel the other illicit sexual rela...
Mar 09, 2022•37 min•Season 14Ep. 2
The backup vessels of the Beit HaMikdash did not include a backup mizbeach (altar). But they assumed everything was impure because of the kohanim who were amei ha-aretz, which means that the mizbeach didn't need purification. The question is what mechanism kept it pure? Also, the fire of Gehenna has no power over Torah scholars, as can be inferred from the case of the fire salamander. Nor even over the sinners of Israel, as can be inferred from the golden altar. HADRAN ALAKH Chagigah and Seder M...
Mar 08, 2022•20 min•Season 13Ep. 27
The daf discusses a variety of different scenarios where an Am Ha’areaz can or cannot be trusted. What happens to all the Keilim in the Beit HaMikdash after the regalim.
Mar 07, 2022•20 min
Why the Galileans weren't considered reliable with regard to purity and impurity. And possible solutions that would have enabled them to bring their goods to Jerusalem - like a movable tent for those who consider that to be immune to bring rendered impure. Or perhaps a tightly sealed cover would do the trick. Plus a comparison to the purification waters from the red heifer. Also, on the relationship between an am ha-aretz and a chaver, including when the chaver is a kohen. Plus, when one family ...
Mar 06, 2022•23 min•Season 13Ep. 25
4 more stringencies for kodesh over terumah, including what happens when only one hand is pure and the other hand impure, and how consecrated foods that are dry have a different status. Also, a new mishnah with a stringency for terumah over kodshim, specifically in the context of grape pressing and olive pressing for wine and oil, in the area of Judea.
Mar 05, 2022•18 min•Season 13Ep. 24
More on the purity/impurity stringencies... Trying to make sense of the list of them, by their numbers. One who carries something that has impurity because of the way it came in contact with someone who was impure can also carry terumah, but not kodshim. This stringency is based on a one-time occurrence of things going wrong. Also, another stringency focuses again on the possibility that an am ha-aretz would render a chaver's vessels impure - including the very unlikely case. Plus, the final str...
Mar 04, 2022•19 min•Season 13Ep. 23
The daf discusses how the Chaver and Am HaAretz interact with each other. How many different parts of a klei are there?
Mar 03, 2022•18 min
The starts the delve into the maalot. Why does kodesh have extra stringencies over terumah?
Mar 02, 2022•11 min
More on the purity/impurity issues with regard to clothing. What does it mean to have a constant awareness of your garments? And how little inattention it takes to render a garment impure! Plus, the wives of "chaverim" who switched their clothing, and fendered their garments impure. Also, the questions posed to one who is generally very careful, but knows that she hasn't had complete intent and attention, to determine the status of a garment. Also, the new chapter, and its opening mishnah of str...
Mar 01, 2022•26 min•Season 13Ep. 20
More on intent when immersing in a mikveh -- and just how far that goes. Specifically, will dunking one hands in a mikveh, for example, render one's hands pure? Or must you have that purification aim in mind at the time of immersion? The rules for Chillun (regular food) vs. sanctified food turn out to be different. Plus, the case of a large enough wave that falls on a person and vessels that need immersion. Also, more on that middle ground of ma'aser, as entailing greater purity than chullin, bu...
Feb 28, 2022•21 min•Season 13Ep. 19
A new mishnah: Washing hands prior to eating non-kodesh food, for ma'aserot, for terumot; and for kodesh (korbanot) or for a chatat, you need to dunk. But what if you've dunked for the purpose of eating regular food? You're presumed to be pure for the level of food that you dunked, but not for anything that requires a greater level of purity (whereas if you are pure for a higher level, you are considered pure for the lesser requirements as well). Also, a hierarchy is present for the potential im...
Feb 27, 2022•20 min•Season 13Ep. 18
A new mishnah! With a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai (with some background on their disputes), over whether semichah - the laying of hands on the holiday. Beit Shammai says the fully burnt offerings can't be brought on the holiday anyway, because they aren't eaten. But when the festival of Shavuot falls out on Shabbat, and there is a korban olah (that is fully burnt), then when can you bring it? Since Shavuot doesn't have any Chol HaMoed! Note the historical context to the Shavuot ...
Feb 26, 2022•15 min•Season 13Ep. 17
