Talking Talmud

By Yardaena Osband & Anne GordonReligion & Spirituality Judaism

Talking Talmud episodes

August 16, 2023 Kiddushin 3: From Her Father's House to Her Husband's House
The use of "derekh" - ways - in the mishnah, and a probe into why this term and not another. With parallel cases with a "zav" and an "etrog." What do the explicit cases (3 and 2 ways that a woman comes in or out of marriage) come to exclude? Plus, an investigation into the money that is used for betrothal. And the move from under her father's auspices.
19 min
August 15, 2023 Kiddushin 2: Buying a Wife
Embarking on the new relationship, with the new tractate, as it is established by a transactional arrangements. The mishnah begins with the formal act of acquisition can be accomplished in one of three ways: money, contract, or sexual intercourse. The mishnah also outlines how she goes free from that bond too. Considering the rationale behind this kind of take on marriage, and the sense of it without the emotional side of things. The Gemara delves into the precise language of the mishnah, and the care with which the words were chosen and understood.
15 min
August 14, 2023 Gittin 90: When Not to Stay Married
A new mishnah on this last daf! Specifically, under what circumstances is a husband allowed to divorce his wife - of course, a machloket, this time, between Beit Shammai, Beit Hillel, and Rabbi Akiva (based on interpreting a verse). Plus, 4 ways to understand the word, "ki," in the biblical text. Also, ending the tractate with the full emotions of divorce - in sorrow and some measure or regret - a husband shouldn't continue to stay married to a wife he hates, but he then is hated by God (with a distinction between first and second marriages).
17 min
August 13, 2023 Gittin 89: The Moonlight Spinners
When rumours about a woman's conduct abound - when would she need to be divorced? How do we investigate rumors?
16 min
August 12, 2023 Gittin 88: Generation to Generation
More on signatures on a get on the wrong place. Plus, a verse referring to the Children of Israel being long in the world - 3 generations. Also, another aggadah - about the number of generations before the destruction of the Temple (based on the list of Jewish kings who did some form of idolatry), which is understood to be 7. Also, 2 mishnayot, one about when a forced get is acceptable and one about the strength of rumors with regard to betrothal or divorce.
15 min
August 11, 2023 Gittin 87: Signatures in Both Directions
More on a joint get, where the date per divorce may make the difference (a dispute between Resh Lakish and R. Yochanan). Plus, a new mishnah - what happens if the signatures of the witnesses are in both Hebrew and Greek, under different sides of the get, in different orders, because of the different directions of the languages (dispute between Rashi and Rambam). Also, another mishnah, where the witnesses sign on different locations of the get document. Among other possible confusions.
22 min
August 10, 2023 Gittin 86: Handwriting, Witnesses, and a Common Get
2 mishnayot bookend this daf, with some "end of the tractate" outlandish cases: 3 types of gittin that are not good, but they are good enough to prevent children from a future marriage from being mamzerim. Basically, when the text is lacking in some way. Plus, why witnesses sign a get - namely, to prevent the husband from denying the get, for example. Also, the Gemara attempts to determine when the husband's handwritten get suffices and when it does not. Also, 2 husbands sent 2 wives divorces via messengers, but they have the same names. Or even more... Now what?
17 min
August 09, 2023 Gittin 85: What IS a Get, Anyway?
A mishnah with the case of a husband who gives his wife a get with a stipulation that she will be divorced as long as you doesn't go on to marry someone she isn't allowed to marry anyway (her father, his father, and so on). Plus, a case of a husband who gives his wife a get with the stipulation that she doesn't marry someone where the marriage would take hold, but it's still prohibited (like a divorcee to a kohen). Also, a mishnah that delves into the essence of the get, and divorce altogether - the severance of the bond between the husband and wife.
16 min
August 08, 2023 Gittin 84: Absurd Conditions for Divorce
More other conditions that a husband might stipulate in a bill of divorce - for example, if he stipulates that she now marry another specific man -- then the divorce will take effect. But does that work? Or what if the condition is something that isn't humanly possible? Or on condition that she do a sin against the Torah? Also, what about when the condition is written into the get? Isn't that automatically a problem? It may actually depend on where in the get it's written (or said, for that matter) -- namely, it has to be stipulated after the "toref" of the get - the part with the people's names and the date and so on.

18 min
August 07, 2023 Gittin 83: In Rabbi Eliezer's Wake
After R. Eliezer died, 4 sages (Tannaim, of course) went to refute his statement with regard to divorce stipulations, each one in turn. Plus, all of the developments of the discussion in their wake, including issues of kehunah, and more, specifically because of concerns that the marital bond remained extant.
NOTE: In a first for Talking Talmud, rather than the usual conversation or tag-team, Yardaena is the sole voice here. Anne's phone died literally as she went to record. But Yardaena covered the material beautifully. Please God, we'll be back tomorrow and following, in our usual form.

12 min

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