Talking Talmud

A story of an old man in Egypt who recounted what his ancestors had done to the Israelite ancestors, which leads to a presentation of Moshe's questioning God, who is then presented as a tad frustrated about that attitude - in contrast to the more accepting approach of the patriarchs. Also, a new, and final, mishnah! With the details of a city of idolaters - an "ir ha-nidachat." Including how the holy things of the city should be handled when the rest of it is being destroyed. And also what can be done in that area after the city itself has been destroyed.

The sin of Korach (who didn't have a portion in the World to Come)... including a focus (and blame) on the wife of Korach and the wife of On (who names Korach and his followers as holy people, and then entices them). Plus, a discussion of the power of the Leviim and Kohanim, and the famous dispute over techelet on a garment. These interpretations are midrashim that build out the biblical text. Also, a new mishnah about the exile of the 10 Tribes, Rabbi Akiva uncharacteristically maintains that they will never return, and various others disagree with him as to their capacity for return.

[Who's Who: Nachum Ish Gamzu] (He turned dirt into gold, after all!). The generation of the Tower of Bavel - and what they did so wrong that they lost their portion in the World to Come. Namely, what did they do in building that tower?! War? Idolatry? And the people of Sodom, and their terrible behavior that lost them their portion in the World to Come - specifically, how they became so inhospitable. Plus, how far they went in punishing those who were in the least bit charitable.

A new mishnah - it's very long - listing the groups of people who have no share in the World to Come. Such as, the generation of the flood (those who were not saved in Noah's ark). Likewise, the spies of the Book of Numbers. And many others. Where the biblical texts about each of these groups intimate that they are punished in the next world, and/or losing the World to Come. Plus, an investigation into the animals that Noah brought into the ark - 7 kosher animals and 2 non-kosher animals, "husband and wife." Including concerns about cross-breeding among the animals. With the ark itself perhaps determining which animals were worthy of joining the rescue.

A long discussion of the sins of King David... and yes, it's a long list. Largely, and perhaps unsurprisingly, related to issues of lust. (In contrast to other interpretations by the sages that he did not sin at all - in the same events). Also, Yehoshua ben Perahiah and his student Jesus - and their sojourn in Egypt (and travels back), when King Yannai was killing sages.

More on Balaam, and how was truly just so wicked, at least in the rabbinic literature. How bad was he in the Torah? Plus, he was a true prophet, regardless of the fact that he was wicked. The Gemara than describes just how wicked Balaam was, according to his ideas to entrap Jews and turn them from worship of God -- into the defecation worship of the Baal-Peor. Plus, how young Balaam was at his death, and why. Also, shifting focus to Do'eg Ha-Edomi, from the book of Samuel - a bit of an enemy of King David. Where God seems more willing to let Do'eg have a future and moments of not-wickedness than David himself. He seems to have known some Torah, in any case. But what he did that was so bad seems to be worked into the biblical narrative about him.

Why are the people of the Jerusalem perpetually backsliding (in their observance)? Jeremiah asks the question and the people provide a convincing answer - in that both those who repent and those who continue to do wrong (and those who are righteous) all end up in the same place. With interplay of biblical verses from different books. Plus, the concern that God has severed the ties with the Children of Israel/Jewish people, when not only was King David called God's servant, but so too was Nebuchadnezzar - with clever explanation as to why even this does not mean a severed tie from God to the Jewish people. Plus, being plagued by one's own evil inclination. Also, heretics and the rooster as a sign of God's wrath. Note: Don't curse the wicked - and take this capacity for wrong-doing with humility. Note: Balaam's story. Also, people should always to mitzvot, even if for the wrong reasons, because eventually, one will come to act for the right reasons.

An investigation and interpretation of verses from Eikhah/ Lamentations playing off the word "eikhah," as well as the alphabet, given the acrostics in the megillah of Eikhah. Plus, the example of two Jewish slaves who describe a camel and the circumstances under which it walks ahead (beyond their view): blind in one eye, two wineskins with oil and wine respectively, etc. -- and then are freed for being right. Also, who decided who is on the list of those who do not have a portion in the world to come? Anshei Knesset HaGedolah. Plus, the preparation for building the Temple - and also the messages from a bat kol, questioning the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah and their right to make such a list. Plus, the story of several of the people who the Gemara then says will indeed have a portion in the World to Come. And Anshei Knesset HaGedolah walk back their judgements of all these people who were to be excluded from the World to Come - and leaving it up to God.

Resh Lakish bounces off the wicked kings of Yehudah to talk about wickedness in general. With playing on the spelling of words as implying the way bad things happen in the world, with the letter "ayin." Plus, more on Menashe -- among several of the other wicked kings who didn't make it onto the list of those who don't have a portion in the World to Come. With a list of how many midrashic interpretations these wicked kings had learned -- that is, they learned more Torah than one might have expected. And idolatry and the killing of the prophet Isaiah.

An approach to the Golden Calf that blames God for giving the Israelites gold and silver upon their departure from Egypt -- because they suddenly had the means for the wrong-doing, instead of when they were poor. This raises questions, of course, about wealth and leisure, and its desirability. Also, Rabbi Abbahu would lecture on the topic of 3 wicked kings -- even after he gave it up for a time, he came back to it, on the grounds that they hadn't repented yet, after all. Plus, King Menashe's appearance to Abaye in a dream, with his teaching of halakhah (yes, in the dream), and his defense of his own worship of idolatry. Also, Achav -- another wicked king who is treated far more gently than one might expect. For example, the Gemara counts his good deeds as equal to his bad deeds. Even in the story of the revenge of Navot... But wasn't Achav the worst of the worst?