Welcome to a new tractate! Tractate Shevuot literally means “Oaths.” While the first two chapters tell us about the sacrifices brought to atone for entering the Temple or eating from a sacrifice while impure, the remaining six chapters discuss different types of oaths, like those taken by litigants in court or a false promise madeContinue reading “Shevuot 2”
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Makkot 24
This text is everything. (As an aside, the entire daf is amazing, summarizing the 613 mitzvot down to 10 rules, then even down to 3 then just 1 mitzvah (it’s fear God).) The gem for today is a favorite of modern rabbis, and maybe it can give us hope right now. On another occasion they,Continue reading “Makkot 24”
Makkot 23
How many commandments are there? On our daf today, we get the total . . . and it’s not 10. Rabbi Simlai taught: There were 613 mitzvot stated to Moses in the Torah, consisting of 365 prohibitions corresponding to the number of days in the solar year, and 248 positive mitzvot corresponding to the numberContinue reading “Makkot 23”
Makkot 22
Today we get down to the nitty-gritty of how exactly someone receives lashes (seems like it’s about time the daf actually discusses lashes as we are three week’s into the tractate called “lashes”). We learn that a doctor assesses the person to see how many they can withstand, that you reassess along the way soContinue reading “Makkot 22”
Makkot 21
Jews with Tattoos and Booboos! That’s what our daf talks about today. We all have heard that Jews can’t get tattoos (but the whole “you can’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery is just false), but on our daf today we see a bit of a debate about this. MISHNA: One who imprints a tattoo,Continue reading “Makkot 21”
Makkot 20
Who wears short shorts? If you dare wear short shorts . . . On our daf today, we learn that one who creates bald spots on his head receives lashes. Then they ask if one who makes five bald spots is lashed for each spot, or just once if they were all done at theContinue reading “Makkot 20”
Makkot 18
On our daf today the rabbis are discussing bringing bikkurim, first fruits. This ritual is done in a particular order with bringing elevating and reciting a story. (Yay story telling!!) the debate comes along to ask what happens if we bring the bikkurim but fail to say the required schpeil? Rabbi Elazar says that Rabbi Hoshaya says: WithContinue reading “Makkot 18”
Makkot 17
My favorite moment on the daf today is the following passage. Rava is so impressed with Rabbi Shimon that he says every mother should want to have a kid like him! (But there’s more – read on) Rava says with regard to Rabbi Shimon’s statement in the baraita: With regard to anyone whose mother isContinue reading “Makkot 17”
Makkot 16
Some things are just gross. While the Torah prohibits lots of disgusting actions, it can’t cover them all. On our daf today, we see how the rules against eating creepy crawly things is used as a blanket ruling to just not be disgusting. The mishna teaches: And one who eats unslaughtered animal or bird carcasses,Continue reading “Makkot 16”
Makkot 15
We get a new idea on the daf today, what you’re supposed to do AFTER you sin/perform a prohibited act. If so, with regard to a prohibition that entails fulfillment of a positive mitzva as well, let us say:Is it reasonable to say that due to the fact that the Merciful One wrote in its regard an additional positive mitzva, the stringency of the prohibition lessens, soContinue reading “Makkot 15”
2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day. 