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Chullin 24

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Summary

The Mishna states that the method of slaughtering a red heifer (para aduma) is not the same method used for breaking the back of the neck of a decapitated heifer (egla arufa), and vice-versa. A braita brings a source demonstrating that one cannot break the back of the neck of the para aduma and that one cannot slaughter the egla arufa. Both laws are derived from verses found within the passage of the egla arufa.

The Mishna notes that while blemished kohanim are disqualified from Temple service, blemished Levites are fit for their respective duties. Conversely, while Levites are restricted to a specific age range for their service, kohanim can work in the Temple at all ages. A braita derives a source for both of these exclusive rules from a verse in Bamidbar 8:24. The age limitation on Levites only concerned the period of carrying the Tabernacle in the desert; for the singing service, there is no age limitation, provided the Levite can still sing properly.

Regarding this age restriction for the Levites, a contradiction arises between two verses, as one states the youngest age one can work is thirty, while another states twenty-five. The Gemara reconciles this by differentiating the stages: at twenty-five a Levite begins his training, and at thirty he can actually perform the service.

A braita brings a debate about the minimum age for kohanim to begin serving in the Temple – either at the biological age of maturity (the appearance of two pubic hairs) or at the age of twenty. The maximum age for their service is when they reach old age, which Rabbi Ela in the name of Rabbi Chanina defines as the point when one begins to tremble.

Rav Chisda explains the scriptural source behind this minimum age debate. Later, the Gemara brings two explanations regarding whether Rebbi’s requirement of twenty as the minimum age is an enacted rabbinic law, or if it was instituted because the older kohanim felt uncomfortable with teenagers performing the sacred Temple service.

The method of contracting ritual impurity in earthenware vessels is not the same method of contracting impurity in other vessels. A braita details the exact differences and delineates the scriptural sources from which they are derived.

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Chullin 24

אָמַר קְרָא ״וְשָׁחַט״ וְחוּקָּה: בִּשְׁחִיטָה אִין, בַּעֲרִיפָה לָא.

The Gemara answers that the verse states with regard to the red heifer: “And he shall slaughter it” (Numbers 19:3), and it mentions the term statute: “This is the statute of the Torah” (Numbers 19:2), indicating that with slaughter, yes, the red heifer is rendered fit; with breaking the neck, the red heifer is not rendered fit.

וְכֹל הֵיכָא דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ חוּקָּה, לָא דָּרְשִׁינַן קַל וָחוֹמֶר? וְהָא גַּבֵּי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ חוּקָּה, וְתַנְיָא: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״ – הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת.

The Gemara asks: And is it so that anywhere that statute is written with regard to a certain matter, we do not learn an a fortiori inference? But what about Yom Kippur, with regard to which statute is written: “And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you” (Leviticus 16:34), and nevertheless it is taught in a baraita: “And Aaron shall bring forward the goat upon which the lot came up for the Lord, and he shall offer it for a sin offering” (Leviticus 16:9). The verse indicates that the lottery renders the goat a sin offering, but a verbal designation of the goat with the status of a sin offering does not render it a sin offering.

שֶׁיָּכוֹל, וַהֲלֹא דִּין הוּא: וּמָה בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא קִדֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל, קִדֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, מְקוֹם שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת.

The baraita continues: A verse is necessary to teach this halakha, as one might have thought that the opposite conclusion is correct: Could this not be derived through an a fortiori inference: If in a case where the lottery does not sanctify the animal with a specific designation, such as in the case of two birds brought by a woman after childbirth, and nevertheless a verbal designation of that offering sanctifies it, in a case where the lottery sanctifies the animal on Yom Kippur, isn’t it logical that a verbal designation as a sin offering sanctifies it? Therefore, the verse states: “And render it a sin offering;” the lottery renders the goat a sin offering, but a verbal designation of a sin offering does not render the goat a sin offering.

טַעְמָא דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הָא לָאו הָכִי דָּרְשִׁינַן קַל וָחוֹמֶר!

The Gemara infers: The reason that the a fortiori inference is not learned is that the Merciful One writes: “And he shall offer it for a sin offering.” But otherwise we would learn an a fortiori inference, despite the fact that statute is written with regard to the Yom Kippur service.

מַיעֵט רַחֲמָנָא גַּבֵּי עֶגְלָה הָעֲרוּפָה, ״זֹאת״ בַּעֲרִיפָה, וְאֵין אַחֶרֶת בַּעֲרִיפָה.

The Gemara explains: Actually, one may learn an a fortiori inference even in a case where statute is written. Nevertheless, with regard to the heifer whose neck is broken, the Merciful One restricts the use of breaking the neck: “And all the Elders of that city…shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck is broken” (Deuteronomy 21:6). From the relative pronoun “whose” it is derived: This heifer is killed by breaking the neck, but no other, i.e., the red heifer, is killed by breaking the neck.

וּתְהֵא עֶגְלָה כְּשֵׁרָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה מִקַּל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה פָּרָה שֶׁלֹּא הוּכְשְׁרָה בַּעֲרִיפָה – כְּשֵׁרָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה, עֶגְלָה שֶׁכְּשֵׁרָה בַּעֲרִיפָה – אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁהוּכְשְׁרָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה? אָמַר קְרָא: ״וְעָרְפוּ הָעֶגְלָה״ – בַּעֲרִיפָה אִין, בִּשְׁחִיטָה לָא.

The Gemara challenges: And let it be derived that the heifer whose neck is broken is rendered fit with slaughter by means of an a fortiori inference: If a red heifer, which is not rendered fit with breaking the neck, is rendered fit with slaughter, then with regard to a heifer whose neck is broken, which is rendered fit with breaking the neck, isn’t it logical that it is rendered fit with slaughter? The Gemara responds that the verse states: “And shall break the neck of the heifer there in the valley” (Deuteronomy 21:4). The doubled reference to breaking the neck in the two verses indicates that by breaking the neck, yes, the heifer may be killed; by slaughter, the heifer may not be killed.

מַתְנִי׳ כָּשֵׁר בַּכֹּהֲנִים פָּסוּל בַּלְוִיִּם, כָּשֵׁר בַּלְוִיִּם פָּסוּל בַּכֹּהֲנִים.

MISHNA: There is an element with which priests remain fit and Levites are unfit, and there is also an element with which Levites remain fit and priests are unfit.

גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כֹּהֲנִים, בְּמוּמִין – פְּסוּלִים, בְּשָׁנִים – כְּשֵׁרִים. לְוִיִּם, בְּמוּמִין – כְּשֵׁרִים, בְּשָׁנִים – פְּסוּלִים. נִמְצָא כָּשֵׁר בַּכֹּהֲנִים – פָּסוּל בַּלְוִיִּם, כָּשֵׁר בַּלְוִיִּם – פָּסוּל בַּכֹּהֲנִים.

GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita in explanation of the mishna: Priests are rendered unfit for Temple service with the blemishes enumerated in the Torah (see Leviticus 21:16–23), but remain fit with the passage of years, as from the moment that they reach majority they are fit for service for the rest of their lives. Levites remain fit for Temple service with the blemishes enumerated in the Torah but are unfit with the passage of years, as they are fit for service only between the ages of thirty and fifty (see Numbers 4:47). It is found that there is an element with which priests remain fit and Levites are unfit, and there is an element with which Levites remain fit and priests are unfit.

מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמִבֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה יָשׁוּב״, לָמַדְנוּ לַלְוִיִּם שֶׁהַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם. יָכוֹל מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם? וְדִין הוּא: וּמָה כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁאֵין הַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶן, מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶן – לְוִיִּם שֶׁהַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיְּהוּ מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – זֹאת לַלְוִיִּם, וְאֵין אַחֶרֶת לַלְוִיִּם.

The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? The Gemara answers: It is as the Sages taught in a baraita: “This is that which pertains to the Levites” (Numbers 8:24); why must the verse state this? Since it is stated: “And from the age of fifty years he shall return from the service” (Numbers 8:25), we learned with regard to the Levites that the passage of years disqualifies them. One might have thought that blemishes disqualify them too. And ostensibly, it could be learned through logical inference: If priests, with regard to whom the passage of years does not disqualify them, blemishes disqualify them, then in the case of Levites, with regard to whom the passage of years disqualifies them, isn’t it logical that blemishes disqualify them? Therefore, the verse states: “This is that which pertains to the Levites,” from which it is derived: “This,” the passage of years, is a disqualification that pertains to the Levites, and there is no other disqualification that pertains to the Levites.

יָכוֹל יְהוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים פְּסוּלִין בְּשָׁנִים? וַהֲלֹא דִּין הוּא: וּמָה לְוִיִּם שֶׁאֵין מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם – שָׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם, כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁהַמּוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם – אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיְּהוּ שָׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – וְלֹא אֲשֶׁר לַכֹּהֲנִים.

One might have thought that priests would be disqualified with the passage of years. And ostensibly, could this not be derived through the following a fortiori inference: If Levites, with regard to whom blemishes do not disqualify them, the passage of years disqualifies them, then in the case of priests, with regard to whom blemishes disqualify them, isn’t it logical that the passage of years disqualifies them? Therefore, the verse states: “Which pertains to the Levites,” and not which pertains to the priests.

יָכוֹל אַף בְּשִׁילֹה וּבְבֵית עוֹלָמִים כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״לַעֲבֹד עֲבֹדַת עֲבוֹדָה וַעֲבֹדַת מַשָּׂא״, לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָעֲבוֹדָה בַּכָּתֵף.

One might have thought that the Levites were disqualified with the passage of years even in Shiloh, the permanent place of the Tabernacle, and in the eternal Temple. Therefore, the verse states: “To perform the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens” (Numbers 4:47), juxtaposing the two forms of Levite service to teach: I stated the disqualification of the passage of years only at a time when there is Levite service involving carrying the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״מִבֶּן חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה״, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים״, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר שְׁלֹשִׁים, שֶׁכְּבָר נֶאֱמַר חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים, שֶׁכְּבָר נֶאֱמַר שְׁלֹשִׁים. הָא כֵּיצַד? חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים לְתַלְמוּד, וּשְׁלֹשִׁים לַעֲבוֹדָה.

The baraita notes that one verse states: “From twenty-five years old and upward” (Numbers 8:24), and one verse states: “From thirty years old and upward” (Numbers 4:47). It is impossible to say thirty, as twenty-five is already stated, and it is impossible to say twenty-five, as thirty is already stated. How can these verses be reconciled? Twenty-five years old is the time for apprenticeship and thirty for service.

מִכָּאן לְתַלְמִיד שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה סִימָן יָפֶה בְּמִשְׁנָתוֹ חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים – שׁוּב אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּלְגַדְּלָם שָׁנִים שָׁלֹשׁ״, ״וּלְלַמְּדָם סֵפֶר וּלְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים״.

From here it is derived that a student who did not see a positive indication in his studies after five years will no longer see a productive result from those studies. Rabbi Yosei says that the period is three years, as it is stated with regard to Daniel and his cohort who instructed the king of Babylonia: “And they should be raised three years” (Daniel 1:5), “and he should teach them the books and the language of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).

וְאִידַּךְ – שָׁאנֵי לְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים, דְּקַלִּיל. וְאִידַּךְ – שָׁאנֵי הִלְכוֹת עֲבוֹדָה, דְּתַקִּיפִין.

The Gemara asks: And how does the other tanna explain the verses in Daniel? The Gemara answers: He holds that the verses in Daniel cannot be cited as a source for this principle because the language of the Chaldeans is different, as it is easy and can be learned in a shorter period. The Gemara asks: And how does the other tanna, Rabbi Yosei, explain the verses with regard to the Levites? The Gemara answers: He holds that the halakhot of Temple service are different, as they are difficult and require a longer period of study.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כֹּהֵן מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת עַד שֶׁיַּזְקִין – כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה, וּמוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בּוֹ. בֶּן לֵוִי מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים וְעַד בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה, וְשָׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בּוֹ. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד שֶׁבַּמִּדְבָּר, אֲבָל בְּשִׁילֹה וּבְבֵית עוֹלָמִים אֵין נִפְסָלִין אֶלָּא בְּקוֹל. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מַאי קְרָא?

The Sages taught in a baraita: A priest, from the time he reaches puberty and grows two pubic hairs until he ages, is fit for Temple service, and blemishes disqualify him. A Levite from the age of thirty until the age of fifty is fit for Temple service, and the passage of years disqualifies him. In what case is this statement said? It is said with regard to the Tent of Meeting of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. But with regard to Shiloh and in the eternal Temple, Levites are disqualified only due to a change in voice that renders them unable to recite the songs in the Temple with their brethren. Rabbi Yosei said: What is the verse from which this is derived?

״וַיְהִי כְאֶחָד לַמְחַצְּצרִים וְלַמְשֹׁרְרִים לְהַשְׁמִיעַ קוֹל אֶחָד״.

“It came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard” (II Chronicles 5:13). This indicates that the Levites must be capable of singing in one voice, and one who is unable to do so is unfit for service.

עַד שֶׁיַּזְקִין – עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַבִּי אִלְעָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: עַד שֶׁיְּרַתֵּת.

The baraita teaches that the priest is eligible for service until he ages. The Gemara asks: Until when, i.e., what is the definition of aging in this context? Rabbi Ela says that Rabbi Ḥanina says: Until his hands and feet begin to tremble.

תְּנַן הָתָם: בַּעַל קֶרִי שֶׁטָּבַל וְלֹא הֵטִיל מַיִם, לִכְשֶׁיָּטִיל – טָמֵא. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: בְּחוֹלֶה וּבְזָקֵן – טָמֵא, בְּיֶלֶד וּבְבָרִיא – טָהוֹר.

We learned in a mishna there (Mikvaot 8:4): With regard to one who experienced a seminal emission who then immersed in a ritual bath and did not urinate before immersing, when he urinates he is ritually impure, because residue of the semen remain in his body and was discharged with the urine, rendering him impure. Rabbi Yosei says: In the case of an ill person and an elderly person, he is ritually impure; in the case of a young person and a healthy person, he is ritually pure, as the semen was presumably discharged in its entirety at the outset.

יֶלֶד עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַבִּי אִלְעָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: כֹּל שֶׁעוֹמֵד עַל רַגְלוֹ אַחַת וְחוֹלֵץ מִנְעָלוֹ וְנוֹעֵל מִנְעָלוֹ. אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְהָיָה עוֹמֵד עַל רַגְלוֹ אַחַת וְחוֹלֵץ מִנְעָלוֹ וְנוֹעֵל מִנְעָלוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: חַמִּין וָשֶׁמֶן שֶׁסָּכַתְנִי אִמִּי בְּיַלְדוּתִי הֵן עָמְדוּ לִי בְּעֵת זִקְנוּתִי.

Until when is one considered a young person? Rabbi Ela says that Rabbi Ḥanina says: Anyone who is able to stand on one of his legs and remove his shoe or put on his shoe is considered young. They said about Rabbi Ḥanina that he was eighty years old and would stand on one of his legs and remove his shoe or put on his shoe. Rabbi Ḥanina says: The hot water and oil that my mother smeared on me in my youth benefited me in my old age.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נִתְמַלֵּא זְקָנוֹ, רָאוּי לֵיעָשׂוֹת שְׁלִיחַ צִיבּוּר, וְלֵירֵד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה, וְלִישָּׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. מֵאֵימָתַי כָּשֵׁר לָעֲבוֹדָה? מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: אוֹמֵר אֲנִי, עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים.

The Sages taught: If one’s beard is fully grown, he is fit to be appointed an emissary of the community for various matters, and to descend before the ark as a prayer leader, and to lift his hands for the Priestly Benediction. From when is a priest fit for Temple service? It is from the time he reaches puberty and grows two pubic hairs. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: I say that he is not fit for Temple service until he is twenty years of age.

אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעֲמִידוּ [אֶת] הַלְוִיִּם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה לְנַצֵּחַ עַל מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית ה׳״, וְאִידַּךְ – ״לְנַצֵּחַ״ שָׁאנֵי.

Rav Ḥisda said: What is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? The reason is as it is written: “And appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to oversee of the work of the House of the Lord” (Ezra 3:8). And what does the other tanna hold? He holds that to oversee is different and requires an older priest.

וְהָא הַאי קְרָא בִּלְוִיִּם כְּתִיב? כִּדְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מְקוֹמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ כֹּהֲנִים ״לְוִיִּם״, וְזֶה אֶחָד מֵהֶן: ״וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם בְּנֵי צָדוֹק״.

The Gemara asks: But what proof can be cited from this verse with regard to priests; isn’t that verse written with regard to Levites? The Gemara answers: It is understood in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: In twenty-four places in the Bible the priests are called Levites. And this is one of those verses: “And the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok” (Ezekiel 44:15). The verse in Ezra is another one of the verses.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״אִישׁ מִזַּרְעֲךָ לְדֹרֹתָם״, מִכָּאן אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: קָטָן פָּסוּל לַעֲבוֹדָה, וַאֲפִילּוּ תָּם. מֵאֵימָתַי כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה? מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת, אֲבָל אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים אֵין מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ לַעֲבוֹד עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים.

The Sages taught in a baraita with regard to the verse: “Any man of your descendants throughout their generations that has a blemish shall not approach to offer the bread of his God” (Leviticus 21:17); from here Rabbi Elazar says: A minor priest is unfit for Temple service, even if he is unblemished, as he is not a man. From when is he fit for service? From the time he reaches puberty and grows two pubic hairs. But his brethren the priests do not allow him to perform the service until he is twenty years of age.

אִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: הָא רַבִּי הִיא, וַאֲפִילּוּ פָּסוּל דְּרַבָּנַן לֵית לֵיהּ. וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: רַבִּי אִית לֵיהּ פָּסוּל מִדְּרַבָּנַן, וְהָא רַבָּנַן הִיא, וּלְכַתְּחִלָּה הוּא דְּלָא, אֲבָל דִּיעֲבַד – עֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה.

There are those who say: This is the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and he is of the opinion that there is no disqualification for one between puberty and twenty years of age even by rabbinic law. The other priests simply do not allow priests of that age to perform the Temple service ab initio. And there are those who say: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi is of the opinion that there is disqualification by rabbinic law in that case, and this statement in the baraita is the opinion of the Rabbis, and they hold that it is ab initio that one may not perform the service, but after the fact, his service is valid.

מַתְנִי׳ טָהוֹר בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ – טָמֵא בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים, טָהוֹר בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים – טָמֵא בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ.

MISHNA: That which is ritually pure in an earthenware vessel is ritually impure in all the other types of vessels; that which is ritually pure in all the other types of vessels is ritually impure in an earthenware vessel.

גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֲוִיר כְּלִי חֶרֶשׂ טָמֵא, וְגַבּוֹ טָהוֹר. אֲוִיר כׇּל הַכֵּלִים טָהוֹר, וְגַבָּן טָמֵא. נִמְצָא, טָהוֹר בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ טָמֵא בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים, טָהוֹר בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים טָמֵא בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ.

GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita explaining the mishna: If a primary source of ritual impurity fell into the airspace of an earthenware vessel the vessel is ritually impure, and if it fell on its outer side, the vessel is ritually pure. If a primary source of ritual impurity fell into the airspace of all the other types of vessels, the vessels are ritually pure, and if it fell on their outer side, they are ritually impure. It is found that that which is ritually pure in an earthenware vessel is ritually impure in all the other vessels, and that which is ritually pure in all the other vessels is ritually impure in an earthenware vessel.

מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״תּוֹכוֹ״, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע.

The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? It is as the Sages taught in a baraita based on the verse: “And every earthenware vessel into which [tokho] any of them falls, whatever is in it [tokho] shall be impure, and it you shall break” (Leviticus 11:33); if an impure item fell “in it [tokho],” and even in a case where the impure item did not come into contact with the vessel, the vessel becomes impure.

אַתָּה אוֹמֵר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נָגַע? רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן בֶּן אַבְטוּלְמוֹס אוֹמֵר: נֶאֱמַר ״תּוֹכוֹ״ לְטַמֵּא, וְנֶאֱמַר ״תּוֹכוֹ״ לִיטַּמֵּא, מָה ״תּוֹכוֹ״ הָאָמוּר לְטַמֵּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע, אַף ״תּוֹכוֹ״ הָאָמוּר לִיטַּמֵּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע.

The baraita continues: Do you say that it is impure even if the impure item did not come into contact with the vessel, or perhaps it is impure only if it did come into contact with the vessel? Rabbi Yonatan ben Avtolemos says: Tokho is stated with regard to transmitting impurity to food in its airspace, as it is stated: “Whatever is in it [tokho] shall be impure,” and tokho is stated with regard to becoming impure, as it is stated: “Into which [tokho] any of them falls”; just as in the case of tokho that is stated with regard to transmitting impurity to food in its airspace, the food is impure even if the impure item did not come into contact with the vessel, so too, in the case of tokho that is stated with regard to the vessel becoming impure, the vessel is impure even if the impure item did not come into contact with it.

וְהָתָם מְנָלַן? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: הַתּוֹרָה הֵעִידָה עַל כְּלִי חֶרֶס

The Gemara asks: And there, with regard to rendering food impure in its airspace, from where do we derive that the food becomes impure even if it did not come into contact with the impure vessel? Rabbi Yonatan said: The Torah testified about an earthenware vessel

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Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!

Lisa Lawrence
Lisa Lawrence

Neve Daniel, Israel

I read Ilana Kurshan’s “If All the Seas Were Ink” which inspired me. Then the Women’s Siyum in Jerusalem in 2020 convinced me, I knew I had to join! I have loved it- it’s been a constant in my life daily, many of the sugiyot connect to our lives. My family and friends all are so supportive. It’s incredible being part of this community and love how diverse it is! I am so excited to learn more!

Shira Jacobowitz
Shira Jacobowitz

Jerusalem, Israel

I have joined the community of daf yomi learners at the start of this cycle. I have studied in different ways – by reading the page, translating the page, attending a local shiur and listening to Rabbanit Farber’s podcasts, depending on circumstances and where I was at the time. The reactions have been positive throughout – with no exception!

Silke Goldberg
Silke Goldberg

Guildford, United Kingdom

After enthusing to my friend Ruth Kahan about how much I had enjoyed remote Jewish learning during the earlier part of the pandemic, she challenged me to join her in learning the daf yomi cycle. I had always wanted to do daf yomi but now had no excuse. The beginning was particularly hard as I had never studied Talmud but has become easier, as I have gained some familiarity with it.

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Susan Vishner

Brookline, United States

My husband learns Daf, my son learns Daf, my son-in-law learns Daf.
When I read about Hadran’s Siyyum HaShas 2 years ago, I thought- I can learn Daf too!
I had learned Gemara in Hillel HS in NJ, & I remembered loving it.
Rabbanit Michelle & Hadran have opened my eyes & expanding my learning so much in the past few years. We can now discuss Gemara as a family.
This was a life saver during Covid

Renee Braha
Renee Braha

Brooklyn, NY, United States

I decided to learn one masechet, Brachot, but quickly fell in love and never stopped! It has been great, everyone is always asking how it’s going and chering me on, and my students are always making sure I did the day’s daf.

Yafit Fishbach
Yafit Fishbach

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

I graduated college in December 2019 and received a set of shas as a present from my husband. With my long time dream of learning daf yomi, I had no idea that a new cycle was beginning just one month later, in January 2020. I have been learning the daf ever since with Michelle Farber… Through grad school, my first job, my first baby, and all the other incredible journeys over the past few years!
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Sigal Spitzer Flamholz

Bronx, United States

Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!

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Miriam Tannenbaum

אפרת, Israel

While vacationing in San Diego, Rabbi Leah Herz asked if I’d be interested in being in hevruta with her to learn Daf Yomi through Hadran. Why not? I had loved learning Gemara in college in 1971 but hadn’t returned. With the onset of covid, Daf Yomi and Rabbanit Michelle centered me each day. Thank-you for helping me grow and enter this amazing world of learning.
Meryll Page
Meryll Page

Minneapolis, MN, United States

A few years back, after reading Ilana Kurshan’s book, “If All The Seas Were Ink,” I began pondering the crazy, outlandish idea of beginning the Daf Yomi cycle. Beginning in December, 2019, a month before the previous cycle ended, I “auditioned” 30 different podcasts in 30 days, and ultimately chose to take the plunge with Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle. Such joy!

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Cindy Dolgin

HUNTINGTON, United States

I started learning on January 5, 2020. When I complete the 7+ year cycle I will be 70 years old. I had been intimidated by those who said that I needed to study Talmud in a traditional way with a chevruta, but I decided the learning was more important to me than the method. Thankful for Daf Yomi for Women helping me catch up when I fall behind, and also being able to celebrate with each Siyum!

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Pamela Elisheva

Bakersfield, United States

In early 2020, I began the process of a stem cell transplant. The required extreme isolation forced me to leave work and normal life but gave me time to delve into Jewish text study. I did not feel isolated. I began Daf Yomi at the start of this cycle, with family members joining me online from my hospital room. I’ve used my newly granted time to to engage, grow and connect through this learning.

Reena Slovin
Reena Slovin

Worcester, United States

When I began learning Daf Yomi at the beginning of the current cycle, I was preparing for an upcoming surgery and thought that learning the Daf would be something positive I could do each day during my recovery, even if I accomplished nothing else. I had no idea what a lifeline learning the Daf would turn out to be in so many ways.

Laura Shechter
Laura Shechter

Lexington, MA, United States

Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.

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Nancy Kolodny

Newton, United States

I learned Mishnayot more than twenty years ago and started with Gemara much later in life. Although I never managed to learn Daf Yomi consistently, I am learning since some years Gemara in depth and with much joy. Since last year I am studying at the International Halakha Scholars Program at the WIHL. I often listen to Rabbanit Farbers Gemara shiurim to understand better a specific sugyiah. I am grateful for the help and inspiration!

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I had no formal learning in Talmud until I began my studies in the Joint Program where in 1976 I was one of the few, if not the only, woman talmud major. It was superior training for law school and enabled me to approach my legal studies with a foundation . In 2018, I began daf yomi listening to Rabbanit MIchelle’s pod cast and my daily talmud studies are one of the highlights of my life.

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Minneapolis, United States

It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.

Joanna Rom
Joanna Rom

Northwest Washington, United States

Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!

Miriam Tannenbaum
Miriam Tannenbaum

אפרת, Israel

I started learning Daf Yomi to fill what I saw as a large gap in my Jewish education. I also hope to inspire my three daughters to ensure that they do not allow the same Talmud-sized gap to form in their own educations. I am so proud to be a part of the Hadran community, and I have loved learning so many of the stories and halachot that we have seen so far. I look forward to continuing!
Dora Chana Haar
Dora Chana Haar

Oceanside NY, United States

I started learning daf in January, 2020, being inspired by watching the Siyyum Hashas in Binyanei Haumah. I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep up with the task. When I went to school, Gemara was not an option. Fast forward to March, 2022, and each day starts with the daf. The challenge is now learning the intricacies of delving into the actual learning. Hadran community, thank you!

Rochel Cheifetz
Rochel Cheifetz

Riverdale, NY, United States

Chullin 24

אָמַר קְרָא ״וְשָׁחַט״ וְחוּקָּה: בִּשְׁחִיטָה אִין, בַּעֲרִיפָה לָא.

The Gemara answers that the verse states with regard to the red heifer: “And he shall slaughter it” (Numbers 19:3), and it mentions the term statute: “This is the statute of the Torah” (Numbers 19:2), indicating that with slaughter, yes, the red heifer is rendered fit; with breaking the neck, the red heifer is not rendered fit.

וְכֹל הֵיכָא דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ חוּקָּה, לָא דָּרְשִׁינַן קַל וָחוֹמֶר? וְהָא גַּבֵּי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ חוּקָּה, וְתַנְיָא: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״ – הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת.

The Gemara asks: And is it so that anywhere that statute is written with regard to a certain matter, we do not learn an a fortiori inference? But what about Yom Kippur, with regard to which statute is written: “And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you” (Leviticus 16:34), and nevertheless it is taught in a baraita: “And Aaron shall bring forward the goat upon which the lot came up for the Lord, and he shall offer it for a sin offering” (Leviticus 16:9). The verse indicates that the lottery renders the goat a sin offering, but a verbal designation of the goat with the status of a sin offering does not render it a sin offering.

שֶׁיָּכוֹל, וַהֲלֹא דִּין הוּא: וּמָה בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא קִדֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל, קִדֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, מְקוֹם שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת.

The baraita continues: A verse is necessary to teach this halakha, as one might have thought that the opposite conclusion is correct: Could this not be derived through an a fortiori inference: If in a case where the lottery does not sanctify the animal with a specific designation, such as in the case of two birds brought by a woman after childbirth, and nevertheless a verbal designation of that offering sanctifies it, in a case where the lottery sanctifies the animal on Yom Kippur, isn’t it logical that a verbal designation as a sin offering sanctifies it? Therefore, the verse states: “And render it a sin offering;” the lottery renders the goat a sin offering, but a verbal designation of a sin offering does not render the goat a sin offering.

טַעְמָא דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הָא לָאו הָכִי דָּרְשִׁינַן קַל וָחוֹמֶר!

The Gemara infers: The reason that the a fortiori inference is not learned is that the Merciful One writes: “And he shall offer it for a sin offering.” But otherwise we would learn an a fortiori inference, despite the fact that statute is written with regard to the Yom Kippur service.

מַיעֵט רַחֲמָנָא גַּבֵּי עֶגְלָה הָעֲרוּפָה, ״זֹאת״ בַּעֲרִיפָה, וְאֵין אַחֶרֶת בַּעֲרִיפָה.

The Gemara explains: Actually, one may learn an a fortiori inference even in a case where statute is written. Nevertheless, with regard to the heifer whose neck is broken, the Merciful One restricts the use of breaking the neck: “And all the Elders of that city…shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck is broken” (Deuteronomy 21:6). From the relative pronoun “whose” it is derived: This heifer is killed by breaking the neck, but no other, i.e., the red heifer, is killed by breaking the neck.

וּתְהֵא עֶגְלָה כְּשֵׁרָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה מִקַּל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה פָּרָה שֶׁלֹּא הוּכְשְׁרָה בַּעֲרִיפָה – כְּשֵׁרָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה, עֶגְלָה שֶׁכְּשֵׁרָה בַּעֲרִיפָה – אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁהוּכְשְׁרָה בִּשְׁחִיטָה? אָמַר קְרָא: ״וְעָרְפוּ הָעֶגְלָה״ – בַּעֲרִיפָה אִין, בִּשְׁחִיטָה לָא.

The Gemara challenges: And let it be derived that the heifer whose neck is broken is rendered fit with slaughter by means of an a fortiori inference: If a red heifer, which is not rendered fit with breaking the neck, is rendered fit with slaughter, then with regard to a heifer whose neck is broken, which is rendered fit with breaking the neck, isn’t it logical that it is rendered fit with slaughter? The Gemara responds that the verse states: “And shall break the neck of the heifer there in the valley” (Deuteronomy 21:4). The doubled reference to breaking the neck in the two verses indicates that by breaking the neck, yes, the heifer may be killed; by slaughter, the heifer may not be killed.

מַתְנִי׳ כָּשֵׁר בַּכֹּהֲנִים פָּסוּל בַּלְוִיִּם, כָּשֵׁר בַּלְוִיִּם פָּסוּל בַּכֹּהֲנִים.

MISHNA: There is an element with which priests remain fit and Levites are unfit, and there is also an element with which Levites remain fit and priests are unfit.

גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כֹּהֲנִים, בְּמוּמִין – פְּסוּלִים, בְּשָׁנִים – כְּשֵׁרִים. לְוִיִּם, בְּמוּמִין – כְּשֵׁרִים, בְּשָׁנִים – פְּסוּלִים. נִמְצָא כָּשֵׁר בַּכֹּהֲנִים – פָּסוּל בַּלְוִיִּם, כָּשֵׁר בַּלְוִיִּם – פָּסוּל בַּכֹּהֲנִים.

GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita in explanation of the mishna: Priests are rendered unfit for Temple service with the blemishes enumerated in the Torah (see Leviticus 21:16–23), but remain fit with the passage of years, as from the moment that they reach majority they are fit for service for the rest of their lives. Levites remain fit for Temple service with the blemishes enumerated in the Torah but are unfit with the passage of years, as they are fit for service only between the ages of thirty and fifty (see Numbers 4:47). It is found that there is an element with which priests remain fit and Levites are unfit, and there is an element with which Levites remain fit and priests are unfit.

מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמִבֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה יָשׁוּב״, לָמַדְנוּ לַלְוִיִּם שֶׁהַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם. יָכוֹל מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם? וְדִין הוּא: וּמָה כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁאֵין הַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶן, מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶן – לְוִיִּם שֶׁהַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיְּהוּ מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – זֹאת לַלְוִיִּם, וְאֵין אַחֶרֶת לַלְוִיִּם.

The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? The Gemara answers: It is as the Sages taught in a baraita: “This is that which pertains to the Levites” (Numbers 8:24); why must the verse state this? Since it is stated: “And from the age of fifty years he shall return from the service” (Numbers 8:25), we learned with regard to the Levites that the passage of years disqualifies them. One might have thought that blemishes disqualify them too. And ostensibly, it could be learned through logical inference: If priests, with regard to whom the passage of years does not disqualify them, blemishes disqualify them, then in the case of Levites, with regard to whom the passage of years disqualifies them, isn’t it logical that blemishes disqualify them? Therefore, the verse states: “This is that which pertains to the Levites,” from which it is derived: “This,” the passage of years, is a disqualification that pertains to the Levites, and there is no other disqualification that pertains to the Levites.

יָכוֹל יְהוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים פְּסוּלִין בְּשָׁנִים? וַהֲלֹא דִּין הוּא: וּמָה לְוִיִּם שֶׁאֵין מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם – שָׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם, כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁהַמּוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם – אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיְּהוּ שָׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – וְלֹא אֲשֶׁר לַכֹּהֲנִים.

One might have thought that priests would be disqualified with the passage of years. And ostensibly, could this not be derived through the following a fortiori inference: If Levites, with regard to whom blemishes do not disqualify them, the passage of years disqualifies them, then in the case of priests, with regard to whom blemishes disqualify them, isn’t it logical that the passage of years disqualifies them? Therefore, the verse states: “Which pertains to the Levites,” and not which pertains to the priests.

יָכוֹל אַף בְּשִׁילֹה וּבְבֵית עוֹלָמִים כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״לַעֲבֹד עֲבֹדַת עֲבוֹדָה וַעֲבֹדַת מַשָּׂא״, לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָעֲבוֹדָה בַּכָּתֵף.

One might have thought that the Levites were disqualified with the passage of years even in Shiloh, the permanent place of the Tabernacle, and in the eternal Temple. Therefore, the verse states: “To perform the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens” (Numbers 4:47), juxtaposing the two forms of Levite service to teach: I stated the disqualification of the passage of years only at a time when there is Levite service involving carrying the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״מִבֶּן חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה״, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר: ״מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים״, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר שְׁלֹשִׁים, שֶׁכְּבָר נֶאֱמַר חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים, שֶׁכְּבָר נֶאֱמַר שְׁלֹשִׁים. הָא כֵּיצַד? חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים לְתַלְמוּד, וּשְׁלֹשִׁים לַעֲבוֹדָה.

The baraita notes that one verse states: “From twenty-five years old and upward” (Numbers 8:24), and one verse states: “From thirty years old and upward” (Numbers 4:47). It is impossible to say thirty, as twenty-five is already stated, and it is impossible to say twenty-five, as thirty is already stated. How can these verses be reconciled? Twenty-five years old is the time for apprenticeship and thirty for service.

מִכָּאן לְתַלְמִיד שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה סִימָן יָפֶה בְּמִשְׁנָתוֹ חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים – שׁוּב אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּלְגַדְּלָם שָׁנִים שָׁלֹשׁ״, ״וּלְלַמְּדָם סֵפֶר וּלְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים״.

From here it is derived that a student who did not see a positive indication in his studies after five years will no longer see a productive result from those studies. Rabbi Yosei says that the period is three years, as it is stated with regard to Daniel and his cohort who instructed the king of Babylonia: “And they should be raised three years” (Daniel 1:5), “and he should teach them the books and the language of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).

וְאִידַּךְ – שָׁאנֵי לְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים, דְּקַלִּיל. וְאִידַּךְ – שָׁאנֵי הִלְכוֹת עֲבוֹדָה, דְּתַקִּיפִין.

The Gemara asks: And how does the other tanna explain the verses in Daniel? The Gemara answers: He holds that the verses in Daniel cannot be cited as a source for this principle because the language of the Chaldeans is different, as it is easy and can be learned in a shorter period. The Gemara asks: And how does the other tanna, Rabbi Yosei, explain the verses with regard to the Levites? The Gemara answers: He holds that the halakhot of Temple service are different, as they are difficult and require a longer period of study.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כֹּהֵן מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת עַד שֶׁיַּזְקִין – כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה, וּמוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בּוֹ. בֶּן לֵוִי מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים וְעַד בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה, וְשָׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בּוֹ. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד שֶׁבַּמִּדְבָּר, אֲבָל בְּשִׁילֹה וּבְבֵית עוֹלָמִים אֵין נִפְסָלִין אֶלָּא בְּקוֹל. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מַאי קְרָא?

The Sages taught in a baraita: A priest, from the time he reaches puberty and grows two pubic hairs until he ages, is fit for Temple service, and blemishes disqualify him. A Levite from the age of thirty until the age of fifty is fit for Temple service, and the passage of years disqualifies him. In what case is this statement said? It is said with regard to the Tent of Meeting of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. But with regard to Shiloh and in the eternal Temple, Levites are disqualified only due to a change in voice that renders them unable to recite the songs in the Temple with their brethren. Rabbi Yosei said: What is the verse from which this is derived?

״וַיְהִי כְאֶחָד לַמְחַצְּצרִים וְלַמְשֹׁרְרִים לְהַשְׁמִיעַ קוֹל אֶחָד״.

“It came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard” (II Chronicles 5:13). This indicates that the Levites must be capable of singing in one voice, and one who is unable to do so is unfit for service.

עַד שֶׁיַּזְקִין – עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַבִּי אִלְעָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: עַד שֶׁיְּרַתֵּת.

The baraita teaches that the priest is eligible for service until he ages. The Gemara asks: Until when, i.e., what is the definition of aging in this context? Rabbi Ela says that Rabbi Ḥanina says: Until his hands and feet begin to tremble.

תְּנַן הָתָם: בַּעַל קֶרִי שֶׁטָּבַל וְלֹא הֵטִיל מַיִם, לִכְשֶׁיָּטִיל – טָמֵא. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: בְּחוֹלֶה וּבְזָקֵן – טָמֵא, בְּיֶלֶד וּבְבָרִיא – טָהוֹר.

We learned in a mishna there (Mikvaot 8:4): With regard to one who experienced a seminal emission who then immersed in a ritual bath and did not urinate before immersing, when he urinates he is ritually impure, because residue of the semen remain in his body and was discharged with the urine, rendering him impure. Rabbi Yosei says: In the case of an ill person and an elderly person, he is ritually impure; in the case of a young person and a healthy person, he is ritually pure, as the semen was presumably discharged in its entirety at the outset.

יֶלֶד עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַבִּי אִלְעָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: כֹּל שֶׁעוֹמֵד עַל רַגְלוֹ אַחַת וְחוֹלֵץ מִנְעָלוֹ וְנוֹעֵל מִנְעָלוֹ. אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְהָיָה עוֹמֵד עַל רַגְלוֹ אַחַת וְחוֹלֵץ מִנְעָלוֹ וְנוֹעֵל מִנְעָלוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: חַמִּין וָשֶׁמֶן שֶׁסָּכַתְנִי אִמִּי בְּיַלְדוּתִי הֵן עָמְדוּ לִי בְּעֵת זִקְנוּתִי.

Until when is one considered a young person? Rabbi Ela says that Rabbi Ḥanina says: Anyone who is able to stand on one of his legs and remove his shoe or put on his shoe is considered young. They said about Rabbi Ḥanina that he was eighty years old and would stand on one of his legs and remove his shoe or put on his shoe. Rabbi Ḥanina says: The hot water and oil that my mother smeared on me in my youth benefited me in my old age.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נִתְמַלֵּא זְקָנוֹ, רָאוּי לֵיעָשׂוֹת שְׁלִיחַ צִיבּוּר, וְלֵירֵד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה, וְלִישָּׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. מֵאֵימָתַי כָּשֵׁר לָעֲבוֹדָה? מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: אוֹמֵר אֲנִי, עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים.

The Sages taught: If one’s beard is fully grown, he is fit to be appointed an emissary of the community for various matters, and to descend before the ark as a prayer leader, and to lift his hands for the Priestly Benediction. From when is a priest fit for Temple service? It is from the time he reaches puberty and grows two pubic hairs. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: I say that he is not fit for Temple service until he is twenty years of age.

אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעֲמִידוּ [אֶת] הַלְוִיִּם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה לְנַצֵּחַ עַל מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית ה׳״, וְאִידַּךְ – ״לְנַצֵּחַ״ שָׁאנֵי.

Rav Ḥisda said: What is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? The reason is as it is written: “And appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to oversee of the work of the House of the Lord” (Ezra 3:8). And what does the other tanna hold? He holds that to oversee is different and requires an older priest.

וְהָא הַאי קְרָא בִּלְוִיִּם כְּתִיב? כִּדְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מְקוֹמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ כֹּהֲנִים ״לְוִיִּם״, וְזֶה אֶחָד מֵהֶן: ״וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם בְּנֵי צָדוֹק״.

The Gemara asks: But what proof can be cited from this verse with regard to priests; isn’t that verse written with regard to Levites? The Gemara answers: It is understood in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: In twenty-four places in the Bible the priests are called Levites. And this is one of those verses: “And the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok” (Ezekiel 44:15). The verse in Ezra is another one of the verses.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״אִישׁ מִזַּרְעֲךָ לְדֹרֹתָם״, מִכָּאן אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: קָטָן פָּסוּל לַעֲבוֹדָה, וַאֲפִילּוּ תָּם. מֵאֵימָתַי כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה? מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת, אֲבָל אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים אֵין מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ לַעֲבוֹד עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים.

The Sages taught in a baraita with regard to the verse: “Any man of your descendants throughout their generations that has a blemish shall not approach to offer the bread of his God” (Leviticus 21:17); from here Rabbi Elazar says: A minor priest is unfit for Temple service, even if he is unblemished, as he is not a man. From when is he fit for service? From the time he reaches puberty and grows two pubic hairs. But his brethren the priests do not allow him to perform the service until he is twenty years of age.

אִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: הָא רַבִּי הִיא, וַאֲפִילּוּ פָּסוּל דְּרַבָּנַן לֵית לֵיהּ. וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: רַבִּי אִית לֵיהּ פָּסוּל מִדְּרַבָּנַן, וְהָא רַבָּנַן הִיא, וּלְכַתְּחִלָּה הוּא דְּלָא, אֲבָל דִּיעֲבַד – עֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה.

There are those who say: This is the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and he is of the opinion that there is no disqualification for one between puberty and twenty years of age even by rabbinic law. The other priests simply do not allow priests of that age to perform the Temple service ab initio. And there are those who say: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi is of the opinion that there is disqualification by rabbinic law in that case, and this statement in the baraita is the opinion of the Rabbis, and they hold that it is ab initio that one may not perform the service, but after the fact, his service is valid.

מַתְנִי׳ טָהוֹר בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ – טָמֵא בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים, טָהוֹר בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים – טָמֵא בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ.

MISHNA: That which is ritually pure in an earthenware vessel is ritually impure in all the other types of vessels; that which is ritually pure in all the other types of vessels is ritually impure in an earthenware vessel.

גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֲוִיר כְּלִי חֶרֶשׂ טָמֵא, וְגַבּוֹ טָהוֹר. אֲוִיר כׇּל הַכֵּלִים טָהוֹר, וְגַבָּן טָמֵא. נִמְצָא, טָהוֹר בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ טָמֵא בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים, טָהוֹר בְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים טָמֵא בִּכְלִי חֶרֶשׂ.

GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita explaining the mishna: If a primary source of ritual impurity fell into the airspace of an earthenware vessel the vessel is ritually impure, and if it fell on its outer side, the vessel is ritually pure. If a primary source of ritual impurity fell into the airspace of all the other types of vessels, the vessels are ritually pure, and if it fell on their outer side, they are ritually impure. It is found that that which is ritually pure in an earthenware vessel is ritually impure in all the other vessels, and that which is ritually pure in all the other vessels is ritually impure in an earthenware vessel.

מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״תּוֹכוֹ״, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע.

The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? It is as the Sages taught in a baraita based on the verse: “And every earthenware vessel into which [tokho] any of them falls, whatever is in it [tokho] shall be impure, and it you shall break” (Leviticus 11:33); if an impure item fell “in it [tokho],” and even in a case where the impure item did not come into contact with the vessel, the vessel becomes impure.

אַתָּה אוֹמֵר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נָגַע? רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן בֶּן אַבְטוּלְמוֹס אוֹמֵר: נֶאֱמַר ״תּוֹכוֹ״ לְטַמֵּא, וְנֶאֱמַר ״תּוֹכוֹ״ לִיטַּמֵּא, מָה ״תּוֹכוֹ״ הָאָמוּר לְטַמֵּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע, אַף ״תּוֹכוֹ״ הָאָמוּר לִיטַּמֵּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע.

The baraita continues: Do you say that it is impure even if the impure item did not come into contact with the vessel, or perhaps it is impure only if it did come into contact with the vessel? Rabbi Yonatan ben Avtolemos says: Tokho is stated with regard to transmitting impurity to food in its airspace, as it is stated: “Whatever is in it [tokho] shall be impure,” and tokho is stated with regard to becoming impure, as it is stated: “Into which [tokho] any of them falls”; just as in the case of tokho that is stated with regard to transmitting impurity to food in its airspace, the food is impure even if the impure item did not come into contact with the vessel, so too, in the case of tokho that is stated with regard to the vessel becoming impure, the vessel is impure even if the impure item did not come into contact with it.

וְהָתָם מְנָלַן? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: הַתּוֹרָה הֵעִידָה עַל כְּלִי חֶרֶס

The Gemara asks: And there, with regard to rendering food impure in its airspace, from where do we derive that the food becomes impure even if it did not come into contact with the impure vessel? Rabbi Yonatan said: The Torah testified about an earthenware vessel

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