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Talking Talmud

Zevahim 38: When Beit Hillel Turns Stringent and Beit Shammai Lenient

10.22.2025 | ל׳ בתשרי תשפ״ו

More on Beit Hillel’s understanding that one placement of blood on the altar is sufficient – as derived from the “atonement” as stated in each verse about the sin-offering. The Gemara probes whether the law can be derived via logic, which sounds plausible, and not only from the verses – for example, an inference about the outer altar placement of blood because of the placement of blood on the inner altar. Also, not the shift in the cases, where Beit Hillel’s position ends up being more stringent, and Beit Shammai more lenient, which is not their usual way. But look to Tractate Eduyot – as early mishnah! Note also more details of the placement of the blood, with details of what makes the placement acceptable to qualify the offering for atonement.

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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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