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Yevamot 5: Shaatnez as a Classic Contradiction

When the mitzvah and the prohibition essentially come together, as with shaatnez and tzitzit – such that the positive commandment overrides the prohibition. Where else does this happen? For example, the metzora and the prohibition against shaving pe’ot. What about a kohen who’s a metzora? With all concomitant objections. Of course, it is also relevant and present in the context of yibum and the prohibition of “eshet ach,” the wife of one’s brother. Also, the question of whether a positive commandment can override a negative commandment that has a punishment of karet? For example, brit milah on Shabbat. The Korban Pesach. The Korban Tamid. All in all, the power of deriving halakhah from the biblical text.

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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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