Continuing on the question of atonement and how one way to atone doesn't necessarily atone for other needs for atonement. In this case, the he-goats of Yom Kippur vs. the goats of Rosh Chodesh. [What's What: Binyan Av] And where do the offerings of the holidays fit in with the Rosh Chodesh offerings and those of Yom Kippur? Plus, the linguistic comparison of "avon" - sin - for the goats of Rosh Chodesh and the tzitz, the front plate worn by the kohen gadol. Though the conclusion leads to great s...
May 09, 2025•19 min•Season 26Ep. 9
Does the goat-offering atone for 3 different kinds of impurities? The verse indicates it won't atone for all kinds of impurities, only some of them. But what kind of impurities does it atone for? Perhaps for an idolater - but it's too egregious of a transgression. Perhaps for a woman after childbirth -- but what is her sin for which she brings a sin-offering? Perhaps she has (falsely) sworn off relations with her husband in the throes of labor (but it's a machloket). So the Gemara comes around t...
May 09, 2025•18 min•Season 26Ep. 8
An investigation into the verses that teach that the sliding scale sacrifice is offered to atone for bringing impurity into the Temple, or the consecrated foods. Also, a long baraita on these violations and the specific sliding-scale offering, including 3 specific kinds of impurity, and the question what the Yom Kippur se'ir (he-goat) atones for.
May 08, 2025•23 min•Season 26Ep. 7
On the shades of white of tzara'at, in terms of color and brightness, and how they were to be compared, and perhaps even mixed. With various analogies to help explain the relationships among the various colors and intensities. With a possible dig at the Roman empire, in the last analogy.
May 07, 2025•24 min•Season 26Ep. 6
Beginning on the previous daf - we have a deep dive into the halakhic approach, when it comes to interpreting the biblical text. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi uses "ribui u-miyut" -- amplification and limitation (vs. "k'lal u-p'rat" -- generalization and specification). Both approaches infer meaning and practical applications from the wording of the biblical text. It turns out that either is acceptable, as long as the scholar is consistent. Which was Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi's approach, though? Also, a retur...
May 06, 2025•21 min•Season 26Ep. 5
More on whose opinion is represented in the mishnah - Rabbi Yishmael vs. Rabbi Akiva, and why each would be the opinion represented. Plus, the underlying discussion about the lashes that would be applied to the person who has violated the halakhah in question in the mishnah.
May 06, 2025•18 min•Season 26Ep. 4
The Gemara's introduction to Shevuot seems far afield - in its sidestepping to tzara'at blemishes and Shabbat details. So it explains the connection to lashes in the previous tractate. Plus, the sacrificial offerings that are brought on a sliding scale - dependent on one's economic status. Plus, the period of lapsed awareness of one's status as impure (for example). Also, whose opinion is represented in the mishnah? The Gemara first explains that it is not in line with the opinions of either Rab...
May 04, 2025•18 min•Season 26Ep. 3
A new - and long - mishnah: Those who violate their oaths need to bring a sacrifice for not following through on their commitment (2 such cases). But is that only with regard to the future (with the past, another 2 are added)? Likewise, 2 that are 4 with regard to the oaths of the kohanim. Plus, 2 that are 4 in carrying from on domain to another (that is, from private to public; and then public to private is added to make 4). Plus, the various stages of lack of awareness while on is transgressin...
May 03, 2025•21 min•Season 26Ep. 2
More on the 613 mitzvot - and ways of encapsulating the most essential mitzvot into many fewer. Plus, the way one prophet follows the next, supplanting the message of the previous one (in concern and petition to God, not competition). Also, two stories of how the sages mourned the prominence and hegemony of Rome having taken over the holy places -- most of the sages weep, but Rabbi Akiva laughs. For all that desecration, even foxes in the ruins of the Temple, fulfills the prophecy of Uriah, whic...
May 02, 2025•20 min•Season 25Ep. 24
Details of the whip itself are derived or inferred from verses in the Torah -- specifically to focus on the process of flogging the sinner. Also, the last mishnah of Makkot: with the list of one who gets lashes to the exclusion of karet, thanks to the inherent humiliation in the lashes. Also, 3 practices were decided by the earthly courts and then approved by the heavenly court - so the Gemara proves that heavenly support through supporting verses. Likewise, a heavenly voice that confirmed 3 oth...
May 01, 2025•21 min•Season 25Ep. 23
3 mishnayot, but first: more on plowing, in such a way that leads to lashes. Then: details of lashes -- how many, where on the body, in numbers divisible by 3. Also, when transgressors are covered by one set of lashes or get several in a row - with time to heal in between the sets. And lastly, a detailed description of the process of the lashes - including where the person doing the flogging stands, how he flogs, and how the person getting the lashes stands, and holds himself, and so on.
Apr 30, 2025•19 min•Season 25Ep. 22
A daf with 2 mishnayot: 1. One who tattoos a tattoo is liable for lashes -- if the person both engraved in the skin and also added the ink. But maybe that's only if the tattooist wrote the Name of God. Or alternatively, the name of idolatry. Likewise, things that look like tattoos seems also to be at least taboo, even if they don't incur lashes. 2. Repeated violations of the same constraint on a nazir will incur multiple sets of lashes - or only one, depending on whether he was warned. The quest...
Apr 29, 2025•13 min•Season 25Ep. 21
Finishing out ma'aser sheni - determining when one would be subject to lashes if the produce is eaten outside of Jerusalem. That measure is derived from the proximity of verses in the Torah that align lashes with the phenomenon of eating outside of Jerusalem. Plus, the tithing of one fig that wasn't tithed - how does that work? Note how designating food for tithing might actually result in more lashes than if no designation had taken place. Also, a new mishnah -- on one who shaves his head or th...
Apr 28, 2025•18 min•Season 25Ep. 20
More on Bikkurim - first fruits: Rav Sheshet says that not placing the produce in the right place next to the altar will prevent it from counting as first fruits, but not reciting the verses from the Torah won't invalidate the first fruits. Which then leads to discussion of whose view he is citing. With comparisons to "bekhor" - first animals - and also to ma'aser sheni (second tithings). Also, from there, the discussion of why ma'aser sheni isn't practiced in the absence of the Temple (eating f...
Apr 27, 2025•15 min•Season 25Ep. 19
A case of a kohen who eats from a korban olah before the throwing of the blood on the altar... but even kohanim aren't allowed to eat from an olah/burnt-offering. In any case, the inappropriate eating of sacrifices leads to reason for 6 sets of lashes (or maybe 5, which is part of the discussion). Also, more on bikkurim, the first fruits - and what invalidates them as food for the kohen, or perhaps not. Plus, a comparison to mixing flour and oil for the meal-offering.
Apr 25, 2025•14 min•Season 25Ep. 18
A new mishnah! Bikkurim - first fruits - and other special offerings where one who eats incorrectly and gets lashes. NOTE CLARIFICATION TO THE AUDIO: The issue of lashes upon eating the Bikkurim is specifically in the case that a kohen ate the offerings before the person who brought them recited the verses (two separate people (which wasn't clear, in listening to the recording). Plus other prohibited foods - like a korban Pesach, if it were left over night. Plus, the case of the mother bird and ...
Apr 25, 2025•12 min•Season 25Ep. 17
With regard to the mitzvah of sending away the mother bird when you come to take the eggs (or the fledgling birds), if one took the mother bird instead of sending her away - what happens? It's a machloket! Either the perpetrator here receives lashes, or he should just send away the mother bird now, and not get lashes. (it's an example of the positive commandment that comes together with the negative commandment, and doesn't (necessarily) get lashes). And there's one other mitzvah that has that s...
Apr 25, 2025•22 min•Season 25Ep. 16
A difficult daf. When a combination of mitzvot (positive and negative) and the violation thereof lead to lashes vs. when the result is no lashes. Plus, Rabbi Yochanan changes his mind. Plus, the case of a man who rapes a woman, has to marry her, can't divorce her, and then does divorce her - what happens to him? Also, how the time factor to do a positive commandment is relevant to his rectifying this situation.
Apr 23, 2025•21 min•Season 25Ep. 156556622
Reviewing the opinions of Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Yishmael, and Rabbi Yitzchak on lashes and more severe punishments from the previous daf, with some focus on Rabbi Yitzchak's opinion. Plus, Rabbi Yochanan's opinion that one who committed all of the illicit sexual relationships in one period of forgetting or lack of awareness would need to bring a sin-offering for each relationship. But the only way one could violate the prohibition against sleeping with one's sister, who is also one's father's siste...
Apr 22, 2025•20 min•Season 25Ep. 14
The end of chapter 2, and the beginning of chapter 3. First, a killer who goes into exile must be upfront about why he's in exile. And in the event of people wanting to honor him, he would need to protest just the once. But not more. The chapter closes with a dispute. Also, the beginning of chapter 3, with its first mishnah -- namely, for when people get lashes. Plus: who and why the Givonim? Note: The Gemara explains the view that says - for every violation of karet, one also gets lashes, but n...
Apr 22, 2025•20 min•Season 25Ep. 13
If the verdict comes from the court that an inadvertent killer has to go to the city of refuge to exile, but there is no kohen gadol at that time - the killer cannot every leave his exile. Plus, Yoav and the mistakes he made in trying to seek refuge. Plus, the angel of Rome. Plus, a new mishnah, with a person in need of exile who is in a tree, on the border of the city of refuge. And another mishnah, with the role of ma'aser sheni - and the Levite cities Along with the need to take refuge in a c...
Apr 20, 2025•12 min
The verses of the Torah suggest that Joshua wrote part of the Torah - which might just be the passages about the city of refuge (since he later implemented the plan for them, upon entering the land). Or did Joshua simply repeat it later in his own book? A worthy dispute. Also, a new mishnah: The role of the kohen gadol and his death with regard to exiles returning from the city of refuge. Plus, the role of the anointed kohen. Plus, how the mothers of the kohanim gedolim helped the exiles, so the...
Apr 18, 2025•23 min•Season 25Ep. 11
More on the cities of refuge -- what kinds of cities are suitable for this purpose? Medium-sized cities, with water available, and marketplaces, and a sizable enough population -- which should be replenished if those numbers drop. Also, if a student (of Torah, presumably) is exiled, his teacher is exiled with him -- as essential to his life. Which points to the idea that people should only teach suitable students (who are not likely to end up in a city of refuge). If a teacher is exiled, the ent...
Apr 18, 2025•21 min•Season 25Ep. 10
Are people responsible for doing the wrong thing when they thought it was permitted at the time that they did it, or to what extent is a person responsible for making sure he or she has knowledge of those permitted/prohibited actions? The example is a ger toshav - and the question of when punishing consequences kick in. That is, when does it seem close to deliberate, in contrast to the consequences all being left to God. With examples from the Torah where people were held responsible for transgr...
Apr 17, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 9
A new mishnah! But first - the written form of the Torah's verses, as compared to the read/pronounced form. Now, when one throws a stone into a public gathering - that person would go to exile in the city of refuge (among other cases, and with exclusions). Plus, cases between father and son, teacher and student, etc., where there might well be a mitzvah for the perpetrator to have a mitzvah for the action, including deliberate hitting (as compared to throwing a stone). With the Gemara doing the ...
Apr 16, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Last mishnah of the chapter: After the witnesses have testified, and the court has issued its verdict (a death sentence), and the defendant runs away... and he comes back, but is not judged again. Rather, witnesses testify to the previous judgement. Plus, the concern about a court being a "bloody court" for sentencing however many to death - and the concern that no death sentences (so the court would never be a bloody court, but, at the same time, murderers would be getting away, as it were). Al...
Apr 15, 2025•22 min•Season 25Ep. 7
A new mishnah - a long one, including discussion of verses that provide the key details about witness testimony (not conspiring witnesses, though). For example, how many witnesses may offer testimony to establish the case. Plus, the significance of warning, especially in capital cases. Also, another mishnah: where different groups of witnesses see the same event from different angles. Plus, what happens if the potential victim of conspiring witnesses truly did wrong things?
Apr 13, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 6
3 mishnayot! 1 - Conspiring witnesses who plot to impose monetary penalties on their victim. The witnesses can divide the payment that they are then required to pay, but each gets the full total of lashes (with a linguistic connection on the verses of the Torah - according to Abaye, vs. Rava's claim of imposing lashs on another). 2 - Conspiring witnesses are only deemed such when other witnesses come forward to establish that they couldn't have witnessed what they claim to have witnessed - with ...
Apr 13, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 5
If a barrel of well water falls into the Mediterranean and a person comes to immerse where that water fell into the sea, that dunking is not effective - on the assumption that the water doesn't blend/disperse quickly. With some attention to other mixtures - such as wine in the Mediterranean, and more. Also, a new mishnah - back to the conspiring witnesses, and the monetary cases where the witnesses get lashes for false testimony and also are dunned for paying the amount they were attempting to f...
Apr 13, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 4
How to assess the damage that the conspiring witnesses would have caused if they hadn't been determined to be conspiring: especially with monetary cases, such as the value of a ketubah, for example. But if he were to have died, he'd only have lost the value of the ketubah, without having to pay it out. So the risk of her having been widowed becomes part of the equation - including whether someone might have been willing to buy out the ketubah. Likewise, a case where the person they're testifying...
Apr 11, 2025•17 min•Season 25Ep. 3
