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Hullin 66: Spontaneous Generation

July 05, 2026 | כ׳ בתמוז תשפ״ו

Fish that have scales for part of their lives — are likely to be kosher. But fish that have fins and no scales are not kosher. But if scales are all that matters, why doesn’t the Torah just say scales? Why mention fins at all? The Gemara gives several answers. Also, the Gemara focuses on the language of the permitted and prohibited — both of which forms are stated. Plus, eating that which grow in water is permitted, say, pits and ditches, but what about vessels? How did these creatures emerge from the water?!

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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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