Talking Talmud

More on the measures of liquids - and how the "hin" measuring cup was made by Moses in the wilderness, and then it wasn't used. Plus, a new mishnah - on the quarter-log and its uses, including the ratios of oil to flour. Also, the measure for the menorah's cups, and the process of removing them to fill them.

A final mishnah for chapter 9: On sourcing the wine for libations in the Temple. With limitations on the practices that would damage or sour the wine. Also, the checked the wine for impurities. Plus, speech was understood to be detrimental for wine. And the first two mishnayot of chapter 10: Listing measuring vessels for dry goods, with 2 measures, and for wet, with 7 different measures.

On "shemen ha-mor" - the oil of myrrh, which a discussion of how Queen Esther beautified herself among the other girls in the beauty contest, until the king chose her to be queen. With the question of defining what this oil was used for (an anointing or a depilatory). Also, a new mishnah - with a focus on olives and the several harvests and various pressings of them, attesting to the various qualities of oil too. And another mishnah - 9 degrees of oil, where the top level would be just prohibitive for the grain-offerings, but were always taken for the menorah oil.

2 mishnayot! 1 - Which grain is not acceptable - in this case, specifically listed, but after the fact, the grain would be accepted if used. Plus, how one works the land to grow good grain - from sowing to plowing to timing. 2 - The olive trees in Tekoa were the main source of olive oil for the Temple. After that, the trees in Regev. And after that, any other olives were still kosher, as long as they weren't coming a fertilized grove or an irrigated grove, as above regarding grain.

Which barley is to be used for the omer offering? During a sabbatical/shemitah year, they couldn't plant, but they could collect the natural growth, which they did. That collection needed to be as for food, however, and not for fuel -- because shemitah produce could not be burned. But it wasn't quite burned either.... Also, a deep dive into "first fruits/bikkurim," and how they were to be brought from the 7 species from the land of Israel. Plus, refinement of the details of the bikkurim as brought, based on the verses, and also the basic growth and whether it was in a field or elsewhere, for example. But why weren't bikkurim offered for all fruits and not just the 7 species?

On the sanctification of the many kinds of offerings, including the absorption into the sanctity. Plus, leading into the Pesach sacrifice, and when it might be invalidated as the korban Pesach, but still work as a peace-offering. Also, beginning chapter 9! Grain, oil, and wine, as used in the Temple service - from the new mishnah specifying where the grain can come from. The best grain, and from the land of Israel were required for the omer offering and the 2 loaves of Shavuot, but for most grain-offerings, there was a great deal of flexibility.

The case of one who designates ma'aser sheni money towards a peace-offering, can that work? The Gemara delves into the level of sacredness of the various properties. Also, a new mishnah! One who takes an oath to bring a sacrifice... which leads us right into the Passover offering, in perfect timing. Really, on the question of what funds can be used to purchase the offering. Also, more on the purchase of the all mandatory offerings - which are bought with non-sacred funds.

More on the mnemonic and exchanging a korban todah -- what if the exchange and the original are confused? And then what if one dies? The mnemonic addresses the possible solutions. Also, when one takes a vow to bring a thanksgiving offering must also bring the loaves. But what if the formulation of the vow shifts the focus? But what money can he use for the offering? Sacred or "regular?

What if something happens to the animal designated for the thanksgiving sacrifice? The animal part of the sacrifice is the more significant part, where the loaves are ancillary to the offering. To the extent that even if the loaves were specifically designated, the loss is not considered too problematic. What if the loaves were designated first? Plus, back-up animals for the thanksgiving animals, and the question whether the back-ups requires the loaves to begin with. Also, should the surviving animals after a replacement is used or not used be offered on the altar or not? A mnemonic is used to make sense of challenges in the discussion.

A new mishnah - from the bottom of daf 78: What happens to the thanksgiving offering when there's an issue with the grain-offering part of it -- as compared to the animal part of it? Plus, the connection to the inauguration of Aaron and his sons as kohanim. With a focus on a dispute revolving around a blemished animal vs. the incorrect location for slaughtering, as issues that interfere. But is that even the right comparison? Plus, cataracts as the blemishes. Also, another mishnah: animal offerings together with libations - and the question of these accompaniments being problematic for whichever reason, and how they are left overnight to disqualify them. Note that replacement animals are sacrificed as well, just not as a thanksgiving sacrifice - once they've been designated to replace a korban todah.