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”
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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 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”
Chullin 43
Once again, our rabbis are trying to determin when an animal is going to die (treif) and therefore cannot be slaughtered in a way that makes eating it’s meat kosher. Today, we are focusing on the gallbaldder! What does this have to do with me? Well, we get a good lesson that we should noticeContinue reading “Chullin 43”
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”
2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day. 