Talking Talmud

Closing the 7th chapter... On a strange situation where the difficult status grandson permits the grandmother to eat terumah, but the kohen gadol grandson disqualifies her, bringing some emotion into the scenarios. Chapter 8: An uncircumcised kohen cannot eat terumah, nor those who are ritually impure. A kohen who has injuries to his genitalia, but after circumcision, can eat from terumah, but they do not permit their wives from eating terumah, because they aren't supposed to be marrying Jewish women. Though the nature of this disqualification is not entirely clear at this time. Plus, a deeper dive on gezerah shavah.

Those kohanim whose progeny are to be disqualified from eating terumah will disqualify their mother - according to R. Yosei. The machloket here pertains to how many generations after conversion the newcomers from select nations must wait to be considered full Jews (nations that have less than ideal history with Bnei Yisrael, as it happens). Plus, a very long mishnah of cases of sexual liaisons by kohanim with women that do not permit her to eat from terumah. And a myriad of cases in this vein.

About that 9-year-and-one-day-old boy, in the case when he has questionable status - his child cannot marry into the kehunah (with some machloket on the issue). The question of converts from various nations is a prominent concern here. Also, linking of halakhot to various verses, with different methods for doing so, specifically the explication of the "vav" in the verse.

A new mishnah - a bat Yisrael whose husband is a kohen, and he dies while she is pregnant - a case that raises all kinds of questions about the status that the pregnancy itself changes or doesn't. For example, who can eat terumah may be dependent on the phenomenon of her pregnancy. Which leads into a discussion of the pregnancy, and its impact. Plus, a second mishnah - on the forbidden relationship with the kohen, but from the male side, and the impact shifts to a question of yibum (and still terumah, of course).

Chapter 7! And a new mishnah: Who can't eat terumah, even once married to a kohen? Plus, defining nichsei m'log and nichsei tzon barzel. And the real-life ramifications of these properties coming into a marriage. Plus, the story of nichsei tzon barzel that weren't returned to the wife (widow) after all - but why not?

More on p'ru ur'vu... A man is commanded in this mitzvah, and women are not, according to the Tanna Kama, but R. Yochanan ben Beroka says women are obligated too. Which means the Gemara needs to figure out why his position is not upheld by halakhah. Plus, reading the text of the Torah without vowels. And the the Gemara tries to line up R. Yochanan with the opinion of R. Yochanan ben Beroka, but R. Ami and R. Asi gently indicate that he did not agree. Plus, actual questions of divorce for the sake of the woman having children that came before the various sages that initially suggest she has the mitzvah after all, but then the Gemara explains her desire for children in ways that need not rely on a mitzvah for children.

More aggadah - familiar interpretations of Genesis, for example...where Avraham takes Hagar to wife after 10 years of no children with Sarah. The man's obligation of p'ru ur'vu becomes an issue only when he has not had any children for lo those long 10 years. She can remarry too though; it might not be her issue. Also, the Gemara's cases of problematic circumstances that don't require "chazakah" to avoid. Plus, the medical issues potentially pertaining to brit milah. Also, the prayers of Rivka and Yitzchak for children, and the famous interpretation about their lineage. Plus, the rationale of suffering for the righteous - in that God wants their prayers. Also, the sterility caused by R. Huna's lectures!

A daf of aggadah...5 statements of R. Eliezer, including about the creation of Woman, and Adam's extreme means of recognizing her as his mate. Also, a statement if theodicy, perhaps, that the tribulations that other nations have caused Bnei Yisrael as a negative model for them. Plus, some characterizations of the sages and their wives. Also, decrees that seem to be against Jewish celebration of Babylonian holidays, with specific cause and event of bad things... Which is not a comfortable approach nowadays.

Be fruitful and multiply - 2 interesting aggadot involving R. Yochanan. Do children born prior to one's conversion to Judaism count for the mitzvah? Also, recall R. Yochanan's 10 sons who died.... Plus, R. Akiva on learning Torah in one's old age, as compared to doing so in your youth. And what happened to his own students.

4 mishnayot! Practical details about kohanim and whom they can marry. For example, a kohen who is betrothed a widow, and is later appointed to be the kohen gadol, he's fine, they can marry. Plus, a story to make the point: R. Yehoshua ben Gamla. Also, how the kohen gadol cannot do yibum, only chalitzah. Also, the case of the aiylonit and the kohen gadol and the mitzvah of p'ru ur'vu. Plus, the kohen gadol is actually not supposed to marry too young of a girl. Also, a man may not disregard the mitzvah of being fruitful and multiplying when he gets married - unless he already has children. The details of which, are of course, disputed by Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai.