10
votes
How to kill Kosher grasshoppers
They don't need any particular sort of killing. (Okay there's also a concept of bal teshaktzu, "don't do gross things", that would include swallowing a live insect, but from a kosher ...
- 131k
7
votes
What does איברא mean?
Here is Jastrow on Eivara (a limb), and Ivra (to be sure). He says that the latter comes from A-V-R, which is a lashon of strength in Aramaic.
- 20.9k
6
votes
Why are Tzaddikim protected from improper foods?
This question is addressed in Einei Shmuel, a commentary on Aggadic passages:
וכתבו התו' דהיינו דווקא במידי דאכילה ואמר מורי ז"ל הטעם דמה שמשמרין מאכילת איסור דווקא דהלא באמת שוגג אין כאן איסור ...
- 49.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Is there ever a rule not to place certain words on separate lines in a Sefer Torah?
Yes, that custom still exists. The most famous example is the toponym בית-אל.
The Arukh HaShulchan (YD 275:24) lists the following examples, though surely there are some variant customs out there:
...
- 97.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Who is "Mar" ("The Master") in the Bavli?
Welcome to Mi Yodeya, great to have you learning with us and spread Torah! Great question!
According to this article it can mean that it is, as Robev mentions, referring to something that has been ...
- 8,810
5
votes
Who is "Mar" ("The Master") in the Bavli?
Amar Mar in the gemarra is a reference to a previous speaker. It is a form of honorific. If you see Amar Mar, it means the gemarra is quoting an earlier phrase. If you look earlier, you'll see who it'...
- 19.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Where is Moshe in the Torah?
Rashi (there) addresses your question. He explains that it asks for a hint that references him before he came:
ועוד זה שאלו ממנו - מנין למשה רמז קודם שבא שסופו לבא
This is clearly the ...
- 35.4k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the etymological definition of הגיס?
Rashi (Beitzah 34a) says that it means to stir (literally overturn) with a spoon:
מגיס - מנער בכף, שקורין קומיבר"א
Rashi (Shabbos 18a) explains similarly that it means to overturn.
מגיס - מהפך ...
- 20.9k
4
votes
Question on discrepancy between Rambam and Gemara
See Kessef Mishneh ad loc. who explains that this is a specific rule which applies to the first shearings (reishit hagez), derived from the word תתן used in Devarim 18:4.
- 41.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Why is melika - not shechita - done on the bird korban?
The Sefer HaChinuch writes regarding the prohibition of removing the head of the Chatas Haof (Mitzva 124) the folllowing:
(Source from Sefaria.org)
וענין המליקה והאזהרה שלא יבדיל גם זה מפרטי הקרבן ...
- 4,245
3
votes
Accepted
How to kill Kosher grasshoppers
Rambam הלכות שחיטה פרק א
ד: דגים וחגבים--אינן צריכין שחיטה, אלא אסיפתן היא המתרת אותן: הרי הוא אומר "הצאן ובקר יישחט להם, ומצא להם; אם את כל דגי הים ייאסף להם, ומצא להם" (במדבר יא,כב), אסיפת דגים ...
- 42.8k
3
votes
Accepted
What does איברא mean?
Here is what Sokoloff records in his dictionary of Babylonian Aramaic:
To answer the etymological question, therefore, the word comes from Middle Iranian.
- 3,556
2
votes
Why is myrrh the allusion to Mordechai?
One answer 1 is based on a Midrash 2, which expounds the verse: מי יתן טהור מטמא, who will bring out purity from the impure 3. The Midrash brings many examples of such a concept, such as Avraham, who ...
- 19.6k
2
votes
Why does Rashi explain "למאי נפקא מינה" on חולין דף ח ע״א?
From my own understanding of Rashi:
The Gemara chose to express the initial question by saying "Do we judge" this wound as a "blow" or "burn"??
As soon as the Gemara says "Do we judge", then the ...
- 10.7k
2
votes
To shake milk that fell in a meat pot
Yes the different versions show lechaora a machloket regarding the definition of Bitul Isur Lechatechilla.
טיפת חלב שנפלה על החתיכה, אם יש בה בנותן טעם באותה חתיכה, אסור.
ניער את הקדרה, אם יש בה ...
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2
votes
What does איברא mean?
Marcus Jastrow says the word means "indeed" or "to be sure".
Everytime you have a question concerning Talmudic vocabulary, it would be a good idea to check Jastrow first. A physical copy is a great ...
- 18.5k
1
vote
Why is myrrh the allusion to Mordechai?
according to some ....
mordechai was like a ketoeress
which is infinite and powerful
to break all opponents
hence...this ingredient is found in the ketoeress
to show this power he had
maharal in ...
- 420
1
vote
Accepted
Shiluach HaKan and Megillah Character Sources
Rashi says that the previous questioner had asked "If a man had a bird nest on his head, is it obligated in shiluach hakan?" After receiving the answer from Rav Masna, he continued to ask more ...
- 10.7k
1
vote
Where is Moshe in the Torah?
The Gemara seems to not just want an appearance of a name, but how the person's name is rooted in the Torah in a way that shows on that character's essence.
Esther represents the hiding of Hashem's ...
- 10.7k
1
vote
How do we know that penguins are non-kosher?
From here
Regarding birds, the situation is much more complex. The Torah lists twenty-four species that are non-kosher. All others are acceptable. Thus, in theory, if a person knew the precise ...
- 33.4k
1
vote
Is slaughtering the chick at the same time as removing it from the nest a possible loophole in the law about sending away the mother bird?
It's exactly as you explained. The situation is that the person started cutting, but since he only manged to cut "מיעוט סימנים" - they aren't kosher yet (only if he continues to cut until "רוב סימנים")...
- 3,835
1
vote
Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa understood "Ain od mivado" to also exclude the powers of cishuf, what is the source of this?
The Rambam explains that the ideology behind sorcery is idolatry. They are believing that there are other powers that can be placated or coerced to fulfill your desires.
The Gemara there, in Chulin ...
- 4,988
1
vote
Understanding the Gemara and Ramban on the four one-siman animals
It seems to me that despite Double AA's saying that Min in the Torah is very narrow, according to Pirkei D'rav Eliezer, it is very broad:
Hence thou mayest learn that there were 366 kinds of cattle ...
- 225
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