Uncategorized – 2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day.

Chullin 62

Today’s daf lead me down a rabbit hole trying to discern who “Piruz the Evil” was. In discussing which birds are kosher, we get this line: And your mnemonic to remember this is the known personality Piruz the Evil. So, who was this guy? An evil king! In Persia (modern day Iran). Apparently, Sassanid KingContinue reading “Chullin 62”

Chullin 61

How do we know which birds are kosher? While the Torah offers indicators make land animals kosher (split hooves and chews its cud) it does not do this for birds (instead we get a list of 24 forbidden birds). Enter the Sages to establish 4 indicators for birds to be kosher: The gem? That ifContinue reading “Chullin 61”

Chullin 60

There are days when it’s hard to find a gem on the daf – then there are days when the daf is dripping with them. Today’s daf begins with a spoiled/demanding daughter of the roman emperor getting exactly what she asked for (and that being a hard lesson to learn for her as it requiresContinue reading “Chullin 60”

Chullin 59

Today’s daf has . . . UNICORNS! And giant lions. we will focus on the lion, but first, on our daf, the Keresh (Hebrew קֶרֶשׁ) refers to an enormous, one-horned animal or “unicorn.” It is described as large in size, one horned, and a kosher undomesticated animal! But before you do down the rabbit holeContinue reading “Chullin 59”

Chullin 58

Okay, there is so much I love about this passage. A mosquito gets mad at her partner and is withholding, mosquitoes have their own money, and mosquito years are measured on their own timelines (think dog-years). But what I love the most is the fact that Abaye tells Rav Pappa not to take the storyContinue reading “Chullin 58”

Chullin 57

There is the stereotype of the absentminded professor who is brilliant but at the same time, a bumbling idiot. There are the 80s versions of nerds who are so smart on paper, but socially completely inept. And there is today’s gem. The Gemara asks: But from the fact that Rabbi Yoḥanan says in response: AContinue reading “Chullin 57”

Chullin 56

I apologize, but today’s gem is the horror of of the Hebrew term used in the Talmud for vulva (yes, female external sexual organs). The term used is: בֵּית הַבּוֹשֶׁת – Which literally translates to “house of shame.” If you’re thinking – that seems more like it should mean “brothel,” don’t worry, it does inContinue reading “Chullin 56”

Chullin 55

Animals have feelings too. The mishna states: Or if its lung shriveled [ḥaruta] by the hand of Heaven, the animal is kosher. The Sages taught in a baraita: Which is a ḥaruta? It is any animal whose lung shriveled. If this occurred by the hand of Heaven, e.g., if the lung shriveled from fright ofContinue reading “Chullin 55”

Chullin 54

Today’s daf gives a great lesson on the difference between honoring people and honoring actions. It all starts with discussing how big a hole int he windpipe can be for an animal to still be kosher. The mishna states: How much can the windpipe be missing and still be kosher? Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says:Continue reading “Chullin 54”

Chullin 53

One of the rabbis quoted on today’s daf is identified by a single name: Ilfa. Who was this Ilfa? Why does he need no title? As it turns out, he has one of the most fascinating stories in the Talmud. Apparently, Ilfa and Rabbi Yohanan studied together under Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (talk about big hitters!).Continue reading “Chullin 53”