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Hullin 7: A Righteous Donkey (and Animals of the Righteous)

05.07.2026 | כ׳ באייר תשפ״ו

Does produce from Beit She’an need tithing? How is this even a question – Beit She’an is clearly part of the land of Israel. Note the Gemara’s initial focus on how a sage isn’t going to change his mind — with various interpretations of the Hebrew term used here to note that he won’t be dissuaded. Back to Beit She’an – it all goes to the human consecration (and re-consecration) of the land as essential to the holiness that results in land-based mitzvot, and the decisions made for the sake of the local poor. [Who’s Who: Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair] Also, a story of the animals of the righteous. With a story of R. Pinchas ben Yair being able to split the river (for easier passage) – and with allusions to the splitting of the Red Sea -because of his own stance that it should – and God granted the miracle. Which rolls into a story about a stubborn donkey who wouldn’t eat non-tithed barley. Plus, the concerns about preventing the suffering of animals and the righteous who take up their cause. Plus, Rabbi Hanina’s statement that any injury or suffering in this world was decreed on high – with all the accompanying theological conundrum.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/talkingtalmud/episodes/Hullin-7-A-Righteous-Donkey-and-Animals-of-the-Righteous-e3j12va

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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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