Talking Talmud

More on the topic of sending an agent to do a sin - in this case, specifically, murder. With parallels to King David, in his efforts to hide his affair with Batsheva. Also, can a shaliach (agent) be a witness? Some key disputes flesh out the concerns.

How do we know shelichut (appointing an agent) works, with some pushback as to whether it should work at all. Plus, the idea of benefitting another person, and whether action taken on another's behalf is necessarily shelichut. Also, who is responsible for damages in the process of shelichut - the agent or the one who appoints an agent? Note the important principle that there's no agent for a sin, because the agent himself needs to heed God's instructions over and above those of the person who would appoint the shaliach.

A new chapter, with a new mishnah: Both men and women can betroth/be betrothed directly or via an agent. With investigation of these cases. Plus, the famous pronouncement that marriage is better than being alone, with the halakhic ramifications. Plus, discussion of a father betrothing his young (but not too young) daughter. Also, a discussion of agency in the context of betrothal, though it begins with a return to the discussion of an agent for divorce.

Starting with mitzvot that are done in this world, and the reward for them comes in the next world. Eg: Honoring your parents. Plus, the impact of how we handle our mitzvot in the environment around us, such as sending away the mother bird. Also, a new mishnah - those who learn Torah and refine their behavior won't come to sin too easily, while those who don't aren't even part of the community. Plus, another discussion of theodicy...

More on the discussion of orlah outside of the land of Israel, with some sharp disagreement by the sages. Plus, according to those who say there is orlah outside of Israel, how should it be treated? Also, when a couple of sages spot someone planting kilayim - and how they react to him. Also, a new mishnah! On the value of doing mitzvot, including the rewards that are known for them. And the challenge of watching one who should be getting long life die in the process of doing those mitzvot - and the conclusion that the key is the World to Come. Plus, the death of Hutzpit the Translator.

The Children of Israel were given several mitzvot at the time they entered the land, so the Gemara focuses on their experience just before this time. For example, how close to the land of Israel were they when they stopped eating the manna? It's not as obviously "40 years in the wilderness" as one might think. Plus, tracking the date via Moshe's death on the 7th of Adar. Plus, how it is known that he was born on the 7th of Adar too, and the righteous implications of that. Also, more on the mitzvot that were to be practiced in the land of Israel, and some select few that apply outside of the land too - specifically with regard to debts and relinquishing debts.

Mitzvot that depend on the land only apply in the land of Israel. Mitzvot that are not dependent on the land apply everywhere. But orlah and kilayim also apply everywhere. And R. Eliezer says "chadash" - and the question is whether he is being more machmir, in adding another mitzvah to the list, or swapping it out. What does "land-dependent" mean? Because not all of these mitzvot seem quite dependent on the land! Plus, a deep dive into R. Eliezer's position, and R. Akiva's question on him.

Rava and Abaye on Isi's position regarding women not making bald spots on their heads. Plus, the Jewish people as treated like children, in their relationship with God, as compared to when the relationship is there, but the epithet is not (depending on their loyalty). Also, a new mishnah - on how women, for the most part, did not participate in the actions connected to offering sacrifices, except for that connected to sotah and a female nazir.

And now, sources for why women are obligated in negative commandments, including 3 verses that teach different component parts.

How do we know that women are exempt from positive time-bound commandments? It's learned from tefillin, which is linked to learning Torah. Or tefillin could be linked to mezuzah - but that would make women obligated in tefillin! Also, delving into the mitzvah of Re'iyah, which is specifically for males - implying that women are obligated in other positive time-bound commandments. But maybe that's just Hakhel? Note that there's no middle ground between a women under her father's auspices or her husband's. But the original examples do seem to provide the source in the most simple (albeit complicated) manner.