Talking Talmud

A discussion about ma'aser in the context of perforated pots - where the perforation is in the land of Israel, but the pot is outside the land. What gives plants their primary nourishment - ground or air? We might have resolved the science of this by today, but they were figuring it all out, still. It becomes a real puzzle when to tithe, but the focus is definitely on the land of Israel. Also, the injunction against writing a divorce on a substance that invites forgery. Which brings us to 3 different stages of tanning animal hides, and each is measured to line up with carrying on Shabbat, and its measures.

A note on the viability of a courtyard "accepting" a bill of divorce on behalf of the woman being divorced. Also, the opinion against writing a get on living things, and the biblical support for this approach. Plus, the counter-use of the same verses for the opposite view. Also, a new mishnah on the get itself - can't be attached to the ground - and when it can be detached from the ground itself. Plus, all the details that go into it.

Chiseling or embossing the letters of a get - with the example of the kohen gadol's front piece. Can a get be written on gold, and let that count also as the ketubah? Also, figuring out Rava's position, his argument on himself, and the way a woman might give up the value of her ketubah for a get (not written on gold). Also, what about writing a get on a Canaanite slave's hand - now what?

A get can be written with any substance that lasts - and the mishnah provides a list of them. A get can be written on any substance too - with a dispute over whether that includes living creatures and (lehavdil) slaves. Plus, R. Yehudah, who took great pains to read and sign his own documents, even when he could have managed otherwise. Also, when confusion creeps in to the delivery of a get - depending on the shaliach, on a throwing by the husband, etc. Plus, a whole lot of unusual cases.

When does the counting period begin for a woman fromJ the time of her divorce until she can remarry... What about travel time? ie when the get is given or when it's written? Plus, a discussion of partial payment... of the ketubah. Also, when does the get need to be signed? Right when it was written? Or in the next day? 10 days later? Plus, what about group signing?

When two shlichim are used for a get. Plus metaphorical treatment of Persia, Rome, and Babylonia, and comparison of them insofar as who was good for the Jews. Also, a new mishnah and the requirement that a date must be included on documents, at writing and signing, which means the timing matters on a Jewish calendar in terms of the date switch at sundown. Also, Abaye and R. Yosef on issues of dates of the bills of divorce - even of the get isn't good, for some of these issues, a future child is not a mamzer. And the application of "lechathilah" and "bedieved" makes a real difference. Plus, the case of a husband who cuts the date out of the divorce - but we're not worried about this kind of trickery.

More on needing two combining elements - in divorce, writing and signing - but other combinations in other arenas of halakhah. For example, two people dunking in a mikveh of exactly 40 se'ah. Also, the case of 2 people bringing the divorce from overseas - with more factors to potentially invalidate the divorce. Plus, when the rabbis jump in to protect all documents.

One who brings a bill of divorce from overseas, as a shaliach - various ways the get will end up invalid. With the attendant disputes and resolutions, including protecting other documents from a leniency that applies only in the case of divorce. Also, borrowing from other halakhic areas: how arenas combine or divide with legal partitions, as per eruvin. To what extent can the different arenas allow various parts of a scenario to combine.

The case of appointing a shaliach to deliver the funds to pay back a debt - with a dispute by Rav and Shmuel whether the person can call back the shaliach. Plus, the logical inference of "migo," or "since." Also, the story of R. Sheshet, his consignment cloaks, and R. Yosef bar Chama as the collector of funds. Also, the difference between "taking" and "acquiring." Plus, what happens if something happens to the sender or recipient along the way? A good deal of discretion in these matters was left to the shaliach.

A man appoints another man to be his shaliach to deliver either a divorce or a document that frees a slave... And then the man dies before the shaliach gets to the recipient(s), and there's no need to give the document - in contrast to one who owes money and is using a shaliach to deliver. Even after the man dies, the funds need to reach their designated recipient. So the Gemara attempts to apply the case to flesh out the details in a way that makes sense. Also, the case of the creditor, the debtor, and the creditor's creditor. And how timing can have impact on the transfer to pay back the loan. Can the debtor negotiate new terms? Why does this system work? Because it's already part of halakhah.