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Dedicated to our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel and to the brave men and women of the IDF.
With my (Fred’s) apologies for not sending this out earlier, here is a brief recap of the final chapter of Chagigah . . . Which is also the final chapter of Seder Moed. We are making wonderful progress!
As we’ve previously discussed, the taharah (ritual purity) of holier items was, not surprisingly, stricter than those enacted to protect less holy items.
1-3. These Mishnahs lists eleven instances in which rules enacted for kodesh (sacrificial foods and substances) are stricter than those enacted for terumah (a lesser level of holiness). You won’t be tested, but as you look at these cases — as is often the case when the Mishnah delineates a number of scenarios — consider how they differ from each other and what each new case adds to the specific discussion.
4-6 In classic Mishnaic form, the next three Mishnahs deal with the opposite scenario — situations in which the rules of terumah are more stringent than the rules for kodesh. These cases deal with the trustworthiness of a “amei Haaretz” (people who are considered ignorant of — and thus generally careless about — the laws of tumah. (These folks are contrasted against Chaverim, people who were considered to be stringent about these laws.). The general idea is that any food, beverage touched by an am haaretz is considered tamah unless it fits within certain specific exceptions which these Mishnahs will discuss.
7-8. The Mishnah concludes with the discussion of the treatment of wine or dough that is left over after one of the Three Fesitvals, as well as the process for restoring the
Temple Courtyard to a state of taharah post-Chag.
YASHER KOACH TO EVERYONE FOR FINISHING ANOTHER TRACTATE.
On a personal note, I am finishing Seder Moed (I got a running start ahead of our group), which is dedicated to the memory of my father Yehezkeil Ben Yitzchak HaLevi, z’lt and my Rebbe, Rabbi Simcha Ullman, z’l.
We will now turn to the Seder of Nashim, starting with the Tractate of Yevamos. You will recognize laws discussed in the Torah (such as the law of yibum, as well as the underpinning of many of the laws which we are familiar in the areas of marriage and divorce). Much more to follow!
Kol Tov!
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