More on the onion and the way it grows - does the prohibited part forbid the permitted part, or vice versa? Note the Talmudic, halakhic concept: Davar she-yesh lol matirin - a way to permit something that was forbidden. How that concept is applied elsewhere, especially with regard to mixtures, and here. Also, weeding with a Kuti/Samaritan, who is not considered reliable for taking terumot and maaserot, with implications for shemitah concerns as well. All of these concerns seem to kick in for the...
Dec 22, 2022•20 min•Season 16Ep. 58
A long mishnah: One who declares certain foods to be off-limits will have different restrictions, depending on the phrasing. Plus, how far into the future does one's vow extend? Also, when a husband swears off his wife's productivity. Or does so for a set amount of time (the same "until Pesach" deadlines that we've seen in the past). Note that the Gemara doesn't address the whole if the mishnah; rather, it focuses on the vow against the productivity of the wife's hands. Plus, the question of upr...
Dec 21, 2022•23 min•Season 16Ep. 57
3 mishnayot: When one swears off a house - going into the attic of a house may or not be included in that vow, as prohibited (a dispute between R. Meir and the sages). Also, one who swears off a bed, which may or may not include a "dargash." Plus, defining "dargash." Also, swearing off entrance to a city - which includes its environs, apparently, while the inside/outside of a house are more specific to the doorjamb.
Dec 20, 2022•14 min•Season 16Ep. 56
More on the terms we use. One who swears off "dagan" may include a particular bean, and not just the 5 grains, because of the way that bean is stored. Plus, the story of Mar bar Shmuel and the stipulation in his will. Also, character development for Rava from R. Yosef. Also, swearing off clothing, and the implications for non-garments, and for things made of the same kind of thing as garments, but when it's not garments. Likewise, the implications of carrying on Shabbat for "garments" - namely, ...
Dec 19, 2022•23 min•Season 16Ep. 55
Chapter VII: Swearing off "vegetables" - does that include gourds? What about legumes? What drives whether the term "vegetables" is more or less inclusive? Also, the implications for punishment if this vow is violated technically are significant. Namely, the question of whether one would get lashes. Also, implications for me'ilah. What happens with different (correct) names for meat - when that meat is hekdesh?! Whose fault is it?
Dec 18, 2022•17 min•Season 16Ep. 54
More vows about food in 3 new mishnayot. Does swearing off dates include silan (date honey)? What about winter grapes and their vinegar? It would seem that the way we refer to the different foods and their derivatives may make the difference, as to whether it is included in the vow against the food. But is there really a dispute in the mishnah? Also, one who swears off wine can still have cider (wine from apples) - the default understanding of the term "wine" means from grapes. Likewise, "oil" m...
Dec 17, 2022•13 min•Season 16Ep. 53
Food vows in the mishnah - first, swearing off milk (does that include whey?), or swearing off whey (does that include milk?). Plus, R. Tarfon, meat, and more. Also, one who swears off grapes (what about wine?) or olives (what about olive oil?). To what extent does the general casual phrasing have impact on the reach of the vow?
Dec 16, 2022•12 min•Season 16Ep. 52
A racy daf. Bar Kappara talks to R. Yehudah HaNasi's daughter, apparently provoking her. Ben Elasa was the son-in-law to R. Yehudah HaNasi, and he was invited to the wedding of R. Shimon, son of R. Yehudah HaNasi. And Bar Kappara asks provocative questions of R. Yehudah HaNasi, some of them less table-talk than others. [Who's Who: Bar Kappara] Also, 2 mishnayot, with attention to the precise meaning of the words used when making a vow - common use and expression vs. literal use of a term, which ...
Dec 15, 2022•19 min•Season 16Ep. 51
Biographical details about various sages, with a focus on R. Akiva, including his marriage, and the dynamic with his father-in-law, Kalba Savua. Plus, the Jerusalem of Gold ornament. Note the Nedarim context here of the very familiar narrative. Also, the insult to R. Yehoshua that he is ugly, despite his glorious Torah. Plus, another insult to Shmuel, and the consequences of that.
Dec 14, 2022•26 min•Season 16Ep. 50
Another granular mishnah. One who swears off cooked food can still eat roasted food or undercooked food. Cooked means prepared with heat that you eat with bread, as per the practices of yore. Likewise, one who swears off food made in a pot - boiling, specifically, or moving on to any food that's cooked in a pot. Also, the porridge eaten in Babylonia, with bread. Plus, table manners and the effect of different foods.
Dec 13, 2022•18 min•Season 16Ep. 49
Starting with a long mishnah: the phrasing of the vow prohibiting benefit makes a real difference, even in private property. What happens when the property is available for public use? How can one be sworn of use or benefit from them? The mishnah defines municipal works in this context. Plus, different locales have different expectations and requirements. Also, on the people of the Galilee - whom the Gemara calls "contrarians," who regularly made nedarim, swearing off each other's property! Plus...
Dec 12, 2022•23 min•Season 16Ep. 48
When the vow is on a specific property, how long would one be prohibited from benefit? For example, what if the property changes hands? For that matter, can one prohibit something even after it's gone from his own possession?! Also, a discussion of the off-limits property, with a question raised by Rami bar Hama. Namely, how effective is a vow when the relevant property changes hands? With several attempts to address the dilemma.
Dec 11, 2022•12 min•Season 16Ep. 47
Continuing the mishnah... With regard to joint ownership. What if only one is prohibited from the benefit of that which jointly owned? It's the same rationale for prohibition or permission. Likewise, what about property or tools that are leased to the public (eg - a bathhouse or an olive press) - it will depend on whether the owner who has sworn off another getting benefit depends on whether the owner actually has any rights to the leased property/tools. Also, what happens when one says another ...
Dec 10, 2022•16 min•Season 16Ep. 46
Closing chapter 4. Retracting a statement of hefker is not effective when the declaration of hefker took place before 3 people - then it's automatically ownerless (and according to biblical law, one witness would be enough for immediate effect, but the sages required 3). Also, chapter 5: where jointly owned property may be subject to vows swearing off benefit, and the question of whether that shared ownership means one must be stringent with regard to the potential benefit, or whether one can as...
Dec 09, 2022•12 min•Season 16Ep. 45
On the rules of "hefker," declaring something ownerless. And how it removes this issue of being unable to provide benefit (or not). How long is a declaration of hefker into effect? And when can that declaration be retracted? That is, if nobody else has come along to claim the "ownerless" property. Also, timing that is designed to protect against swindlers. Plus, when the Torah requirement for tithing and the rabbinic standing overlap in ways that leave produce untithed when it should be tithed.
Dec 08, 2022•12 min•Season 16Ep. 44
A new mishnah: When one wants to borrow a cow (!), and the cow isn't available, which leads the would-be borrower to swear off the cow ever coming to plow the field. But when one who has sworn of benefit from another and is truly in need, the one who can't give CAN work around the prohibition and vow via indirect benefit to the other. But R. Yosi doesn't like the indirect giving as a work-around. Which makes the Gemara explore why he doesn't. Is it just timing? The way he conceives of hefker? Th...
Dec 07, 2022•20 min•Season 16Ep. 43
One who swears off benefit from his friend cannot enter the friend's field or benefit from his produce. But a shemitah year changes those terms. Plus, how the phrasing her lines up (or doesn't) with the position of Rav and Shmuel, or perhaps R. Yochanan and Resh Lakish - specifically with regard to the impact of shemitah on the benefit factor. Plus, swearing off benefit means no lending/borrowing, or selling/buying. Even though only one direction is "benefit"
Dec 06, 2022•14 min•Season 16Ep. 42
More on illness and its impact (like forgetting all of one's learning), plus stories about the sages. Including R. Yosef. Plus, insight into the writing or compiling of the Mishnah. Also, the challenges of forgetting, as per R. Hiya - and the remembering by a lowly laundryman. Also, two mishnayot on the extent to which one can be near another person and not violate the swearing off of benefit.
Dec 05, 2022•16 min•Season 16Ep. 41
The sages falling ill and getting visitors. Including when nobody visited R. Helbo. But how curative are such visits! And how much harm does one do when not praying for another's recovery. Plus, Rava gets sick and wants to keep it quiet. Until he finally agrees - go out and announce it, and let them pray (or rejoice). Also, the Shechinah visits the sick too. Plus, a question of whether the visitor sits, stands, sits on the floor, etc. - in the presence of God, as the Shechinah is visiting too. P...
Dec 04, 2022•18 min•Season 16Ep. 40
A mishnah from Daf 38, and the Gemara on it - one who is the subject of someone else's vow swearing off benefit from him. How would this have impact on a visit to the sick, in either direction? It seems an indirect benefit... One possiblity is standing instead of sitting, while visiting. Plus, "benefitting" from fruit during a shemitah year. Also, where in the Torah do we find the mitzvah of visiting the sick? Plus, there's no "measure" to visiting the sick - with several interpretations of what...
Dec 03, 2022•22 min•Season 16Ep. 39
Prophets are rich, says the Gemara. Just see Moses, Samuel, Amos, and Jonah. Including prooftexts. Plus, R. Yehudah HaNasi and his wealth too. Also, a new mishnah - when a person swears of benefitting from another, what relationship can they still have? Including during a wedding between the families of both people.
Dec 02, 2022•21 min•Season 16Ep. 38
What benefits can accrue from Torah when one swears off benefit from a given person? The Gemara shows the monetary loss. Plus, the dispute over whether teachers of children are paid for childcare or for teaching them skills. Also, analysis of the dispute. Plus, what about girls, when boys were the only ones in school? Also, how do the ta'amei hamikra (trop) fit in? Aren't they part of the text, essentially?
Dec 01, 2022•23 min•Season 16Ep. 37
The daf explores an very existential question: can we perform an action on someone else’s behalf for their benefit without their knowledge?
Nov 30, 2022•19 min
A dilemma posed to R. Nachman: when one swears off property, does that make the use of that property its own violation, as per me'ilah, the violation of property consecrated to the Beit HaMikdash? Also, the new mishnah: what is included and excluded when one swears off benefit from another person? What can the limited person still do for or with the other? For example, the role of a kohen that goes beyond personal benefit... When can he function in his official role, even for one who has sworn o...
Nov 29, 2022•19 min•Season 16Ep. 35
A mishnah on the previous daf leads into a discussion of what is excluded when one swears off benefit from another. Including returning a lost object, for example, and how benefit should go to the Temple treasury. And the dispute that arises in this question. Plus, an important assessment of these passages as difficult, which leads to considerations of different manuscripts or editions before the different commentators. Also, the complications this emerge from swearing off benefit - specifically...
Nov 28, 2022•24 min•Season 16Ep. 34
A new chapter! The only real difference between one who swears off benefit from his friend and one who swears off the food of his friend is only a matter of walking over, on his property, for example (and whether items not connected to food prep would be allowed or not). Plus, who taught this mishnah? (R. Eliezer). Also, another mishnah...still on food prep, and a question on what might be rented, and that connects. Plus, swearing off and yet getting benefit. With complicated parameters. Plus, t...
Nov 27, 2022•17 min•Season 16Ep. 33
More on the importance of circumstances. Specifically, the story of Moshe and God's wrath at his apparent delaying the circumcision of his son. Plus, more on Moshe, and God's wrath. Also, the completion of Avraham via brit milah, and the covenant with God. Plus, the significance of gematriya in names.
Nov 26, 2022•23 min•Season 16Ep. 32
More mishnayot! One - a person who makes a vow not to benefit from those who "rest" on Shabbat - who is included and excluded from this category? Or a vow not to benefit from those who eat garlic... Which links back to a decree from Ezra, specifically to eat garlic on Shabbat. Likewise, one who goes up to Jerusalem. All being connected to Jews vs. Kutim. Two - Swearing off benefit from those who are descendants of Noah, which sounds like everyone, but comes to exclude the Jewish people. Three - ...
Nov 26, 2022•20 min•Season 16Ep. 31
A whole lot of mishnayot. One: A person who swore off benefit from seafarers. Or land-dwellers. But who's included in these sweeping statements? Two: One who swears off benefit from those who benefit from seeing the sun. But again, who is included here? The wording is specific. Exposed to the sun includes the blind, of course. Three: One who swears off the dark-headed. But whom does that exclude? Four: One who swears off benefit from those who are born. As compared to those who have not yet been...
Nov 24, 2022•15 min•Season 16Ep. 30
More on the consecrated trees... If they're consecrated until they're felled. What does that time stipulation do to the neder? And then they need to be reconsecrated, with ongoing renewal. But that's debate (whether they need to be redeemed). Where does the sanctity go? Plus, the comparison to kiddushin, betrothal, and the sanctity of marriage. Plus, the comparison to korbanot. Also, how stipulations with regard to timing in a neder matter. And again the application to kiddushin. And likewise, w...
Nov 23, 2022•19 min•Season 16Ep. 29
