Welcome to a new tractate! Before we dive in, it’s probaby a good idea to remind ourselves: What Are Menachot? Unlike animal sacrifices, menachot are meal offerings — made of flour, oil, and frankincense — brought in the Temple. They are quieter, humbler offerings, often associated with those who could not afford livestock. Central toContinue reading “Menachot 2”
Tag Archives: talmud
Zevachim 120
We did it! We made it to the end of this bloody tractate (see what I did there?)! We end the tractate with a summation of what was the same and what was different between offering sacrifices on a communal altar verses a private personal altar. And, maybe a lesson for us. What are theContinue reading “Zevachim 120”
Zevachim 119
When the Ark Was Missing — and What We Learned About Holiness One of the quietly astonishing ideas in Zevachim 119 is that there was a real period in Jewish history when the Mishkan stood — sacrifices were offered, ritual life continued — and yet the Ark was not there. The Talmud reads the verseContinue reading “Zevachim 119”
Zevachim 117
Our daf today teaches us that no one is outside the system and everyone has their camp (even accidental murderers). Even those furthest from the inner camp are still part of the sacred map. Everyone is oriented toward the center, even if they do not stand in the same place. That makes this sugya quietlyContinue reading “Zevachim 117”
Zevachim 114
There was a 440-480 year gap between the Mishkan in the desert and the building of Temple in Jerusalem. The daf has been discussing what sacrifice looked like during those years. It’s discussed private altars, the altar in Jerusalem, and what can be offered in what place. But there was one altar between the twoContinue reading “Zevachim 114”
Zevachim 113
Today’s daf is so interesting! I am pasting the entire passage I want to focus on, but here is an easier to understand summary: The Gemara debates whether the Flood in Noah’s time happened in the Land of Israel. They argue based on the same verse in Ezekiel—Rabbi Yoḥanan reads it as a rhetorical question,Continue reading “Zevachim 113”
Zevachim 99
In Zevachim 99, Rabbi Shimon offers a striking interpretation of a familiar offering. The Torah calls the peace offering shelamim, he says, to teach that it is brought only when a person is shalem—whole. Someone in a state of acute mourning does not bring this offering. The Gemara counters: But isn’t it taught in aContinue reading “Zevachim 99”
Zevachim 97
The Torah teaches that contact creates consequence. When ordinary food comes into contact with a sacrifice and absorbs its “flavor,” it is no longer neutral. It takes on the status of the sacrifice itself, with all of its restrictions and sanctity. If the sacrifice becomes invalid, the food becomes forbidden. Even when the sacrifice isContinue reading “Zevachim 97”
Zevachim 95
What do you use to get out stains? We all get stains and we all have our special go-to that we think is the best solution. Well, the Talmud has them too. We will get there, but in Masseket Niddah we get 7: Yep, spit shine (admit it, we still do it) and piss (okay,Continue reading “Zevachim 95”
Zevachim 88
What does what you wear say about you? On our daf today, we learn that every piece of the priest’s clothing atones for a certain kind of sin. I will paste the entire section below, but here is a summary for those who don’t want to get into the weeds: That’s a lot for oneContinue reading “Zevachim 88”
2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day. 