Talking Talmud

A person who is still half a slave and half freed, as done by the master... Can he aquire himself for himself? What about when a master gives his property to two slaves? Can they free each other? 2 beraitot establish a dispute on the issues. Also, what are the limitations on the case of the slave - specifically, of course, terumah.

2 mishnayot: 1. A slave whose owner uses him as a payment of debt to another person, but then is freed before he functions as that payment. What happens?? A tikkun olam decree to keep the peace - and ensure that the slave remains free. Plus, rereading the mishnah by the Gemara - in two ways (by Rav and Ulla). 2. A slave who is half-freed and half-slave... an in-between status that is not easily resolved. How should this person function? It's a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, and - unusually - Beit Shammai is upheld by Beit Hillel, for the sake of the good of this person.

When a slave-owner's conduct has impact on the slave's status. To what extent can a man free a female slave in order to marry her? Plus, the stories of R. Dimi, who traveled between Israel and Babylonia - to address the case where heirs are pushed to free the slaves if their benefactor. Also, a slave owned by 2 people, one of whom frees his half of the slave, but the other owner does not go along with freeing him. To the extent that he transfers his ownership to a minor - rather than free his half of the slave. And then that minor, presumably a younger child, is prevailed upon (via jangling coins) to give up the ownership. Plus, the formulations of the statement that one is freeing a slave - several versions are all acceptable. Also, what happens when a master and a slave dispute whether the master indeed freed the slave? And how valuable an admission in court counts - like 100 witnesses.

When one renounces ownership of a slave, the slave goes free, but still needs a get shichrur, bill of manumission - and then he can marry a Jewish woman. Plus, what happens when a death leaves slaves without clear owners. Also, why there is a "get" for divorce and also a "get" to free a slave.

An uncomfortable daf, given our modern sensibilities regarding slavery. Note that the Amoraim themselves owned slaves; it wasn't just a biblical practice. Note also, these are "avadim Canaanim," non-Jews who come to live among Jews, and are required to keep some Jewish practices (or perhaps shouldn't be kept as a slave). Some stories, and the halakhic positions that emerge from them. Plus, what if freeing one's slaves violates a Torah commandment? How do we understand the freeing of a slave to make a minyan?

The daf continues to discuss Prozbul and how it relates to a plant in a pot. Then we have a new Mishnah which continues with the topic of loans and Shmeitah.

The daf discusses everything and anything you want to know about the Prozbul.

A disagreement between Shmuel and Rav widow’s taking an oath or a vow to collect her Ketubah followed by a series of stories illustrating this Halacha. The daf ends with a clarification of the Mishnah.

The daf shares a series of stories when the rabbis needed to help make sure a Get was given and received. Amud has 2 mishnayot. The first Mishnah discussed the importance of names in the Get. The second Mishnah takes us back to Nedarim and Ketubot

The daf describes why Rabban Gamliel need to make a takana for Tikkun Olam. What does Tikkun Olam mean in the world of the Talmud.