Talmud discussions for everyone - see what makes us Jewish!
Read the daily page, the daf yomi, and share a comment, or just read my quick comment and comment back to me. Discussion is the goal.
You can find an English translation of the entire Talmud here, and the Aramaic and Hebrew of the daily page, the daf yomi here.
My English translations are generally adapted from the Soncino translation of the Talmud, and my Torah quotes are adapted from the Schocken version of the Five Books of Moses, written by Everett Fox.
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 10:28AM In today’s page, or daf, on Bechorot 14a, the Talmud discusses the different categories for an object and the monetary value of that object once sold.
The money derived from an object is still connected to its source, according to the Talmud.
That’s right, from the Talmud’s perspective, there is no such thing as “money laundering”!
Text of Bechorot 14
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 2:33PM In today’s page, or daf, on Bechorot 13a, the Mishnah, the source text for the Talmud, discusses a number of cases where the Torah advises two different paths of commandments in a given situation.
The Mishnah sets up methods for determining priorities in these situations - after all, a law that doesn’t prescribe a single option causes confusion.
Text of Bechorot 13
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 1:57PM In yesterday’s page, or daf, on Bechorot 12b, the Talmud asserts the importance of not allowing a Kohen, a member of the priesthood, to oversee the redemption of his own tax collection.
In other words, we must have transparent oversight of the beneficiaries of public funds so that they are appropriately used.
Yes, government transparency has been an issue for a long time!
Text of Bechorot 12
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 8:03AM In today’s page, or daf, on Bechorot 11a, the Talmud teaches that given an indefinite law, generous, stingy, and average people will follow it according to their characters.
A good teaching about what to expect from people - unless making requirements explicit, people will act according to their character. We should not expect people to surprise us when it comes to expressions of their basic personalities.
Not a bad thing to keep in mind in the season of family gatherings...
Text of Bechorot 11
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 3:55PM Today’s Talmud Page: Bechorot 5 - November 19, 2011 / 22 Cheshvan 5772
In Saturday’s page, or daf, on Bechorot 5a-b, we find a detailed discussion of currency values, still something of relevance today, as Greece faces what might happen should it have to leave the European Union, and the Euro, behind.
There is no official option by which to do this, and the historical precedents are frightening - listen to Planet Money’s episode on dissolving currency here, for all the details.
The Talmud, always “current”!
Text of Bechorot 5