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Talking Talmud

Zevahim 64: Bird Offerings – Not for the Faint of Heart

11.17.2025 | כ״ו בחשון תשפ״ו

3 things were done on the altar above the red line – including libations of water and wine, and certain details of the bird olah (burnt-offering), and on the southeast corner. Also, specific directions or coordinates where the different parts of the offering must take place. Plus, a new mishnah! Specifically the details of the bird sin-offering. Including a vivid description of “melikah” of the bird – pinching the neck of the bird in such a way as to nearly separate the head from the body. And then all that blood would be placed (or dripped) on the altar. Also, a very long mishnah detailing various practices pertaining to the bird offerings, including that pinch on the neck — and also the permutations of details that could go wrong with our without significant impact on the validity of the offering.

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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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