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

Chullin 41

Today’s daf reminds us that people have always, and will always, do things for no greater purpose than to annoy someone else! The Gemara discusses whether someone can make another person’s animal forbidden by slaughtering it as an act of idol worship. The basic assumption is that if a non-Jew slaughters or offers the animalContinue reading “Chullin 41”

Chullin 24

How long do you pursue something before giving up/switching gears? The daf gives us an idea by pointing out an inconsistency in the age the Torah says a Levite serves. . . The baraita notes that one verse states: “From twenty-five years old and upward” (Numbers 8:24), and one verse states: “From thirty years oldContinue reading “Chullin 24”

Chullin 23

There’s a passage in Talmud Chullin 23 that, on the surface, feels almost painfully technical. Rabbi Zeira raises a dilemma: With regard to one who says: It is incumbent upon me to bring an animal burnt offering of a ram, which is a sheep that is at least thirteen months old, or of a lamb,Continue reading “Chullin 23”

Chullin 15

One of the things I love about the Gemara is that sometimes, buried inside a technical legal discussion, is a really profound insight into human nature. Today’s daf discusses food prepared on Shabbat for someone who is dangerously ill. Of course, saving a life overrides Shabbat. But then the Gemara asks: what about everyone else?Continue reading “Chullin 15”

Chullin 4

This piece of today’s daf grabbed me right away—not just for the halakhic question, but for the people behind it. The Gemara is debating whether you can eat matzah made by Samaritans on Passover, and even fulfill your obligation with it. The Master said: It is permitted to eat the matza of a Samaritan onContinue reading “Chullin 4”

Menachot 109

Today’s daf sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole—into the story of the Temple of Onias, a temple that stood at the same time as the Temple in Jerusalem (in Landious Egypt). The Gemara tells the backstory, and it’s wild. This whole temple in Egypt seems to emerge out of a family dramaContinue reading “Menachot 109”

Menachot 106

We have a wonderful new Mishnah on today’s daf. MISHNA: One who says: It is incumbent upon me to donate pieces of wood as fuel for the altar, must donate no fewer than two logs. One who says: It is incumbent upon me to bring frankincense, must bring no less than a handful. The mishnaContinue reading “Menachot 106”

Menachot 104

Today’s daf begins and ends with people who are experiencing poverty. It begins with Rabbi Beivai being asked a question, and when Rabbi Beivai does not answer, he explains that, when you have no money, it’s hard to even think. Rabbi Beivai was silent and did not answer. Rabbi Zerika said to him: What isContinue reading “Menachot 104”

Menachot 100

We know how people can influence each other in the wrong direction through what we normalize, what we excuse, what we model. It doesn’t take much to pull someone slightly off course, and over time, that drift can lead somewhere harmful. But that’s not how God works. God doesn’t lure us toward harm. God luresContinue reading “Menachot 100”

Menchot 95

The daf today is trying to solve a very practical problem. The lechem ha-panim, the showbread, has to be ready for Shabbat. But there’s a catch: And their preparation does not override Shabbat. So you can’t bake it on Shabbat. But baking it before Shabbat doesn’t seem simple either. There’s a concern about leaving consecratedContinue reading “Menchot 95”