Skip to content
Artwork for Talking Talmud

Talking Talmud

Yardaena Osband & Anne Gordon

Learning the daf? We have something for you to think about. Not learning the daf? We have something for you to think about! (Along with a taste of the daf...)
Join the conversation with us!

Play
  • 112 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 17 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S31 · E128
    September 5 · 19 min

    Hullin 128: The Value of No Conclusion: Teiku (Again)

    When a dangling limb might become susceptible to impurity. Plus, cases that conclude "Teiku" -- the conclusion is not known with surety. Does the whole body function as a "handle" for the dangling limb? It's a machloket. And several other cases that are not resolved, but conclude "teiku." Plus, flesh that is severed and becomes susceptible to impurity, with attention to the difference between a limb from a live animal in contrast to a limb from a carcass. Note the careful interpretation of the biblical texts here.

  • S31 · E127
    September 4 · 13 min

    Hullin 127: Count Your Teeth!

    A list of the creeping-crawlies... which diverts us to the fire that a salamander can generate, and the glory of God's creations, including animals that grow on land vs. those from sea vs. those from fire, and the wonder of Rabbi Akiva. Plus, the corruption of the people of Neresh, and various different strengths (or weaknesses) of various locations. Also, a new mishnah! The impurity of partially severed limbs.

  • S31 · E126
    September 3 · 14 min

    Hullin 126: Dem Bones

    The question of impure marrow from bone - if closed, it doesn't matter, but if punctured, it will impart impurity. Thus, bones become a whole discussion unto themselves, as exceptional cases. Also, the eggs of creepy crawlies - when would they render a person impure? (Begin with the perforation of the egg -- much as the hole in the bone to access the marrow makes a difference too). Note: Ahistorical scientific assumptions included. Also, consider the pervasiveness of impurity and the implications of that for society - much like our own.

  • S31 · E125
    September 2 · 19 min

    Hullin 125: Do Bones Impart Impurity? Do Tents?

    The marrow of a bone - in a sacrificial offering, that was then leftover - leads to impurity, as do the bones themselves. But that can depend on whether they are opened or closed. Also, touching impurity turns out to have the same status as one would have after carrying impurity. And raises the question of the "ohel," tent, for when impurity is transferred as a matter of being there, as per all of the different categories. Also, the "list' of the Mishnah plays out in the Gemara. Plus, defining the impurity of the tent ("ohel").

  • S31 · E124
    September 1 · 13 min

    Hullin 124: Tannaitic Debates: Measurements of Meat

    A new mishnah! But first, procedure about how that which is rendered impure becomes pure again by virtue of an action, though that action is not necessarily needed. Plus, when is the impurity of such an item lasting? Some of the description are very fast, in contrast to some others. Plus, how one applies the cautionary tale of this verse. So, when is nevelah meat a debate? And would one want to prove the nevelah meat, and the correct kinds of all of these losses would happen?

  • S31 · E123
    August 31 · 12 min

    Hullin 123: Hides in Plain Sight

    A new mishnah! More on the hide, and how, without flesh, it doesn't transmit impurity. But in the process of flaying the hide, there is a short time when convey impurity is possible. Also, note that impurity can be removed by changes to the item itself, and not just ridding the item of its ritual impurity.

  • August 30 · 13 min

    Hullin 122: The Impurity of Skin

    A new mishnah! But a difficult one. Specifically about skin and when it conveys impurity -- with specific reference to creepie-crawlies, but there is also discussion about the skin of other animals, and even of a dead body (human). And the gruesome discussion of skin being used functionally. With a different level of impurity for human skin -- from a Torah level and from a rabbinic level, which is more cautious and stringent than the Torah level (including the question of tanning). Also, a review of different statuses of different kinds of skin, and the potential of imparting impurity.

  • S31 · E121
    August 29 · 12 min

    Hullin 121: Check the Knife!

    More on items that join with meat to achieve a volume of food that would lead to the imparting of impurity. Including "allal" - which this daf defines (nuchal ligaments?). With a focus on what aspects can join with meat. Also, if a Jew slaughters a non-kosher animal for a non-Jew's consumption (or the converse) -- the implications of that case, as to when impurity would be imparted, or when there would be halakhic complications to begin with.

  • S31 · E120
    August 28 · 15 min

    Hullin 120: When Food Is Not Food

    When do spices join together with the meat to yield an amount that can impart impurity of food -- even though the spices alone wouldn't get that impurity to begin with, because spices aren't quite food for this purpose. The Gemara clarifies that it really means the scrapings - including meat - at the bottom of the pot. But what if that includes forbidden fats or coagulated blood or the like? Also, liquids that come from foods with special halakhic statuses -- and how those liquids have the special statuses as well.

  • S31 · E119
    August 27 · 14 min

    Hullin 119: Join Together (without a band)

    A pod that has beans that come in contact with a creepy-crawly will not impart impurity (the beans are protected well enough on their own). In contrast to a pod with smaller legumes. What kind of "protections" of the food can come together to make the food large enough to impart impurity? For example, the 3 peels of an onion have different practical implications with regard to this kind of protection.

  • S31 · E118
    August 26 · 13 min

    Hullin 118: Useful Handles

    How handling impure food can become its own issue, and using a handle or an item of protection for the food will have different implications for the impurity and transfer thereof. The connection between the accouterments of food and the food itself is derived from the Torah verses. Also, in the case of something that was impure from a carcass falls on food - then the handle can import or export impurity, depending. Is logic the basis of the conclusion or is that based on the verses? The Gemara provides both.

  • S31 · E117
    August 25 · 11 min

    Hullin 117: Food Impurities

    A new mishnah! Both blood and forbidden fats are prohibited by Torah law, but there are ways in which each is more stringent than the other, and also more lenient than the other. But one would not be liable for the other prohibitions that are more connected to the sacrifices, like "pigul," at that same time. Also, a new chapter (9) with a new mishnah! Parts of an animal that are not edible that can still come together with meat to make a "ke-beitzah," an eggs-worth, the minimum needed to impart impurity from one food to the next.

  • S31 · E116
    August 24 · 14 min

    Hullin 116: Chicken and Cheese

    The distinction between Rabbi Akiva's leniencies regarding cooking undomesticated animals and fowl in milk vs. those of Rabbi Yossi HaGelili's permission and stringency in that regard. Plus, the respect afforded Rabbi Yossi HaGelili's opinion because it was his opinion, in his own region -- even by those who strongly disagreed, like Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi. Also, a new mishnah! On curdling milk to make cheese -- even when the process is done within the stomach of an animal. With implications when the animal was kosher or non-kosher, and dependent also on whether that "meat" gives flavor to the cheese.

  • S31 · E115
    August 23 · 15 min

    Hullin 115: And... No Benefit from Meat Cooked in Milk, Either

    More on the abominable products that are the result of actions that are prohibited -- for example, food that was cooked on shabbat, which violates shabbat and then is itself problematic. Also, the prohibition against benefitting from meat cooked in milk -- an inference that comes not only from the 3-fold repetition about the kid and its mother's milk, but together with the Pesach sacrifice.

  • S31 · E114
    August 22 · 16 min

    Hullin 114: Mother's Milk

    How literal is the Torah's phrasing of "mother's milk"? Does it really mean the milk of the mother of the given animal, or all milk? Clearly, all milk - and the Gemara provides the logic for that as well as a verse to teach it too. But why both? Also, how do we know that it is prohibited to consume meat and milk that have been cooked together? The product of that which is prohibited (the cooking) is considered abominable, which would prohibit eating that product. Plus, Rambam's inference that there was once an idolatry where the worship was done via cooking milk and meat together, which was determined to be true, centuries later.

  • S31 · E113
    August 21 · 19 min

    Hullin 113: The Soul and the Life Force

    Beginning with a mnemonic to help remember the cases that are exceptions -- for example, the way salting (and rinsing, depending on the order and location) renders some meat kosher. Also, what happens if the blood from one piece of meat can be absorbed elsewhere? And - a new mishnah! What if you have cheese and fowl on the table? Does that violate the meat/milk-on-the-same-table problem? It would seem not, and that it's only prohibited at the rabbinic level. And a second new mishnah - on the 3 statements about not cooking a kid in its mother's milk - and what we learn from them. Plus, the implications with regard to non-domesticated animals and also birds/fowl. And the fact that this statement is repeated in the Torah 3x.

  • S31 · E112
    August 20 · 13 min

    Hullin 112: Kutach and Kashering Meat

    Can you put a jug of salt alongside a jug of kutch - milk and grain reality....? The Gemara seems to say other substances would not be allowed - and that the kutach would not allowed.... depending on whether it was mixed with salt, or maybe vinegar. Also, bread that was used as something under the meat that you're cooking - that bread is a complicated situation, for the blood that emerges from unsalted, but roasted meat and is absorbed by the bread. Plus, other conditions that make it clear that blood was absorbed.

  • S31 · E111
    August 19 · 17 min

    Hullin 111: Dairy/Meat Equipment

    What if you roast a liver with other meat? Over a fire is acceptable, because the blood would be burned out, but an udder is not, because of the milk being absorbed. Except that there's a machloket, where the reverse positions are taken. Also, fish that was put in a meat bowl that doesn't have meat in it at the time -- can that same fish be eaten with kutach (the very dairy sourdough fermented food)? Will that meat give off flavor that would combine (in a prohibited way) with the kutach? Plus, the pressure from the edge of the knife as a factor, and the sharpness of a food itself, like radishes (as compared to cucumbers).

  • S31 · E110
    August 18 · 18 min

    Hullin 110: Udder, Liver, and Common Practice

    More on the udder. And the different practices with regard to eating udder, as per different places. Plus, the story of Rami bar Dekuli, who went to Sura from Pompedita (where they don't eat udders) on the day before Yom Kippur. But in Sura, they don't eat udder, and so they were shocked when he collected them to eat. Leading to an intensive discussion about minhag, basic practice. Also, more on liver. R. Safra is tasked with asking the sages of the land of Israel how they manage liver -- in terms of preparing to eliminate the blood.

  • S31 · E109
    August 17 · 19 min

    Hullin 109: Yalta's Search for Permitted Meat-and-Milk

    When milk flavor is imparted to a plate of meat -- it's prohibited even if the milk flavor would be squeezed out of it. With a 3-way machloket, on the efficacy of squeezing out the flavor. Also, a new mishnah! On the udder and the heart, filled with milk and blood, respectively. Also, a story of Yalta [Who's Who: Yalta!]. She is clear on the fact that every prohibited area of halakhah has a foil that has a comparable permitted area, and she's looking for the foil to meat and milk cooked together - what has the kosher version of that taste?

Showing 61–80 of 112 episodes