Measurements, in Theory and in Practice

Bava Batra 23

On Bava Batra 23b, R. Yirmiyah gets thrown out of the beit midrash for questioning the standard measurement established for determining ownership of a fallen bird by offering a theoretical exception. In at least three other places in the Talmud Bavli, R. Yirmiyah is also found questioning legal measurements or standards by offering theoretical exceptions or outlier test cases. What is this questioning about, and what do R. Zeira’s answers teach us about rabbinic understanding of the halakhic system?

Dr. Elana Stein Hain – [email protected]