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Eruvin 18: If She Walks in Front of You, You May Not Follow

A small portion of a long mishnah: the case of arranging boards as an enclosure around a well, where 4 boards look like 8, or 8 that look like 12. The key being the “dyumadim” – double-boards. Then the daf moves on to aggadot connected to that “dyu” (two). Specifically, Adam and Eve, who were also two, but one. Also an observation on Eve as a receptacle for a baby. And the image of God as Adam’s “best man,” accompanying him at his wedding, putting God into the equation for both of them. Plus: A man should not walk behind a woman, for reasons of modesty… Which several biblical men seem to defy. Manoach (father of Samson) is singled out as an ignoramus. And finally, a hierarchy of following behind a lion, a woman, and idolatry.

 

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Anne and Yardaena

Anne Gordon is the deputy editor of Ops & Blogs at The Times of Israel. She is a veteran educator, having taught in high school and post-high school institutions in Israel and America for several decades. Yardaena Osband is a pediatrician and teaches in her community and online. They both hail from Boston, proud alumna of Maimonides School, where they first learned Gemara. Talking Talmud is their conversation (via podcast) on the daf yomi. They say: "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!"
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