{"id":10182,"date":"2006-08-15T23:42:01","date_gmt":"2006-08-15T23:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/production.ou.org\/life\/other\/masechet_yoma_7278\/"},"modified":"2015-10-21T14:40:41","modified_gmt":"2015-10-21T19:40:41","slug":"masechet_yoma_7278","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/torah\/masechet_yoma_7278\/","title":{"rendered":"Masechet Yoma 72a-78b"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>The Coming Week&#8217;s Daf Yomi by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This essay is based upon the insights and chidushim (original ideas) of Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, as published in the Hebrew version of the Steinsaltz Edition of the Talmud.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This month&#8217;s Steinsaltz Daf Yomi is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Alan Harris, The Lewy Family Foundation, and Marilyn and Edward Kaplan<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 72a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\"> Gemara<\/a> on this <em>daf <\/em>discusses the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kipa.co.il\/upload\/magazine\/CTLG50.JPG\">bigdei kehuna<\/a><\/em> &#8211; the special uniform worn by the priests who are involved in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/bc.htm#beithamikdash\">Temple<\/a> service &#8211; and particularly the respect and honor that these clothing deserve. The <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/a.htm#amora\">amora<\/a><\/em> Rahava quotes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=626&amp;letter=J\">Rav Yehuda<\/a> as ruling that someone who tears the <em>bigdei kehuna<\/em> has transgressed a negative commandment and will receive <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=795&amp;letter=C\">malkot<\/a><\/em>. This ruling is based on the passage (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/s.htm#shemot\">Shemot<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0228.htm#32\">28:32<\/a>), which commands that the openings in the priestly clothing be hemmed so that they will not tear.<\/p>\n<p>The <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sefer_ha-Chinuch\">Sefer\u00a0<\/a><\/em><span style=\"color: #0000ee;\"><i><u>Hachinuch<\/u><\/i><\/span>\u00a0explains the prohibition as stemming from the heightened respect that needs to be shown to the priestly uniform, both by <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/jl.htm#kohen\">kohanim<\/a><\/em> and by the general population. Some commentaries distinguish between the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.daat.ac.il\/daat\/tanach\/mishkan\/28.htm\">me&#8217;il<\/a> <\/em>(outer garment) &#8211; where the prohibition applies to any tear &#8211; and the other <em>bigdei kehunah<\/em>, where the only prohibition is when the tear was made in a destructive manner.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=943&amp;letter=A\">Rav Aha bar Yaakov<\/a> objects to this ruling, arguing that the passage is merely recommending a method of stitching that will ensure well-made clothing that will not tear easily. According to him, it should not be seen as a negative commandment to tear the garment, but a positive commandment to sew it well. The Gemara responds that the passage does not say &#8220;&#8230;so that it will not tear,&#8221; but rather &#8220;it should not be torn,&#8221; which is understood to be a statement that establishes tearing <em>bigdei kehuna<\/em> as a negative commandment.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=24&amp;letter=G#102\">Rabbi Moshe Galanti<\/a> points out in his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/s.htm#sefer\">S<em>efer<\/em><\/a> <em>Korban Chagigah<\/em> that it is unusual for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/content.asp?id=50\">Talmudic<\/a> sages to interpret a passage that is clearly an explanation of a commandment and understand it to be a prohibition. For example, when the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/torah.htm\">Torah<\/a> commands a Jewish king to refrain from marrying too many wives, concluding &#8220;and his heart will not be swayed,&#8221; it is not understood as a separate prohibition, forbidding the king from turning away; rather, it is interpreted as an explanation of why too many wives is a bad thing. One suggestion put forward by the commentaries (see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/rashi.htm\">Rashi<\/a> on the Torah) is that this case is unique because the Torah repeats the same words in both the commandment to make the <em>bigdei kehuna<\/em> and the description of the fulfillment of that commandment. It is difficult to accept that the Torah would give the same explanation twice, particularly in the case where the Torah is describing<br \/>\nthat the garments were being made. Thus it is understood to be teaching a law, rather than simply offering an explanation.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 73a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The eighth <em>perek <\/em>of <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/m.htm#masechet\">Masechet<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/DafYomi_details.asp?id=282\">Yoma<\/a><\/em> begins on today&#8217;s <em>daf<\/em>. In contrast to the rest of the <em>masechet<\/em>, this final chapter deals with the commandments of <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/yz.htm#yomkippur\">Yom Kippur<\/a> <\/em>that apply to every Jewish person, not specifically to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=721&amp;letter=H\">High Priest<\/a> serving in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/bc.htm#beithamikdash\">Temple<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are two commandments that apply to all Jews on <em>Yom Kippur<\/em>: the prohibition of <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/chagim\/shabbat\/concept.htm\">melachah<\/a><\/em>, and the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/m.htm#mitzvah\">mitzvah<\/a><\/em> of <em>inuy<\/em> &#8211; to create a sense of suffering or oppression, as defined by the Sages. We are familiar with the prohibition against work from our study of the rules and regulations of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/s.htm#shabbat\">Shabbat<\/a>, and, in fact, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\">Gemara<\/a> learns that <em>melacha<\/em> is forbidden on <em>Yom Kippur<\/em> in a similar manner to the prohibition on <em>Shabbat<\/em>. <em>Inuy<\/em>, on the other hand, has no clear parallels in the realm of <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#halachah\">halakha<\/a><\/em>, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/torah.htm\">Torah<\/a> does not make clear what exactly must be done to fulfill this <em>mitzvah<\/em>. Do we simply refrain from pleasurable activities, or are we obligated to perform specific acts that bring with them a certain level of suffering?<\/p>\n<p>The first <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/m.htm#mishna\">Mishnah<\/a> in the <em>perek<\/em> enumerates five pleasurable activities that are forbidden as a result of this <em>mitzvah<\/em>. They are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Eating and drinking<\/li>\n<li>Washing<\/li>\n<li>Anointing<\/li>\n<li>Wearing shoes<\/li>\n<li>Sexual relations<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>There is a difference of opinion between the commentaries regarding the level of these prohibitions. According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/rabbis\/rambam.htm\">Rambam<\/a>, they are all Biblically forbidden, while the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=1930&amp;letter=A\">Rosh<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=276&amp;letter=T#1056\">Tosafot Yeshanim<\/a> understand that only eating and drinking are forbidden by the Torah, while the other <em>inuyim<\/em> are Rabbinic in origin.<\/p>\n<p>Included in the Mishnah are some exceptions to the rule. For example, a Jewish king and a newly married bride are permitted to wash their faces. According to the reasoning of the Rosh and Tosafot Yeshanim, it is fairly easy to accept these exceptions. Given that the obligation is Rabbinic, the Rabbis apparently chose not to apply the prohibition in these particular cases when they established the law. It is more difficult to explain the Rambam&#8217;s position, however.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=309&amp;letter=N\">Ran<\/a> suggests that this is an example of a case where the Torah presents a commandment, but leaves it to the Sages to determine how exactly that <em>mitzvah <\/em>should be fulfilled. In our case, the Torah commanded that people reach a level of <em>inuy<\/em>, but left it to the Rabbinic leaders to decide how that state should be reached.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 74a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/m.htm#mishna\">Mishnah<\/a> (73b) taught that in order to be held liable for eating or drinking on <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/yz.htm#yomkippur\">Yom Kippur<\/a>,<\/em> one must consume a certain amount of food or drink. What if one eats less than that amount &#8211; is it still forbidden by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/torah.htm\">Torah<\/a>, or is it permitted by the Torah (i.e. such eating is not significant as far as <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#halachah\">halakha<\/a><\/em> is concerned) and only forbidden on a Rabbinic level? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=357&amp;letter=J\">Rabbi Yochanan<\/a> believes that eating less than the full amount is still forbidden by the Torah (although there will be no punishment for having done so); <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=757&amp;letter=S\">Resh Lakish<\/a> believes that it is permitted by the Torah.<\/p>\n<p>Rabbi Yohanan presents a <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=247&amp;letter=B\">baraita<\/a><\/em> that challenges Resh Lakish&#8217;s position. The <em>baraita <\/em>teaches that <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=60&amp;letter=F\">cheilev<\/a><\/em> &#8211; forbidden fats &#8211; cannot be eaten, even in a case where there is no punishment, like a case of a <em>koy<\/em> (a type of animal) or eating less than a full amount, which is based on the passage that says <em>kol helev<\/em> (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/tw.htm#vayikra\">Vayikra<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0307.htm#23\">7:23<\/a>) &#8211; any <em>cheilev<\/em>. Resh Lakish responds by saying that the law is Rabbinic in origin and the passage quoted is merely an <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=2018&amp;letter=A\">asmakhta<\/a><\/em> &#8211; a support used by the Rabbis for their rule.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>koy<\/em> discussed here is an animal that is not clearly defined as either a <em>behemah<\/em> (a domesticated animal) or a <em>chayah<\/em> (a wild animal). The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\">Gemara<\/a> in <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=957&amp;letter=H\">Chullin<\/a><\/em> discusses the difference between wild and domesticated animals in some detail. While it is clear that cattle (cows, sheep, goats) are domesticated animals, some of their close relatives are considered wild animals, and it is often difficult to draw a clear line of demarcation between, for example, a wild and a domesticated goat. On occasion, wild animals that are closely related to cattle are herded and raised together with domesticated ones. Those animals would fall into the halakhic quandary of the <em>koy<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Given the unclear status of such animals, there are a number of laws that may or may not apply to them, like our case of <em>helev<\/em> (which is only forbidden in <em>behemot<\/em> \u2013 see Vayikra <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0307.htm#22\">7:22-25<\/a>), the case of <em>kisuy ha-dam<\/em> (covering the blood of an animal that is slaughtered, which applies only to a <em>hayah<\/em> \u2013 see Vayikra <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0317.htm#13\">17:13<\/a>), etc.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 75a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In trying to determine the definition of <em>inuy<\/em> (suffering), the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\">Gemara<\/a> turns to the passages in <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/tanakh.htm\">Tanach<\/a><\/em> where the term is used. For example, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/torah.htm\">Torah<\/a> describes the act of feeding <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=147&amp;letter=M\">manna<\/a> to the Jewish people in the desert as a type of <em>inuy<\/em> (see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#devarim\">Devarim<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0508.htm#3\"> 8:3<\/a>). This allows the Gemara to segue into a discussion of the bread and meat eaten by the Israelites in their travels through the desert &#8211; the &#8220;bread&#8221; being manna and the &#8220;meat&#8221; being <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=2&amp;letter=Q\">slav<\/a>, <\/em>usually translated as quail.<\/p>\n<p>Many descriptions of manna are given. For example, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=1033&amp;letter=A\">Rabbi Akiva<\/a> interprets the passage in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/tw.htm#tehilim\">Tehillim<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt2678.htm#24\">78:24-25<\/a> as teaching that the manna was the food of angels. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=280&amp;letter=I\">Rabbi Yishmael<\/a> objected to this explanation, arguing that spiritual beings cannot be perceived as eating food. He explains the <em>pasuk<\/em>\u00a0in Tehillim as meaning that the manna was the perfect food &#8211; it was completely absorbed by the body with absolutely no waste (i.e. no need for excretion). It can be assumed that Rabbi Akiva agrees that the heavenly angels did not eat as human beings do, and he was speaking metaphorically that the manna was a manifestation of a supreme level of spirituality, similar to the makeup of angels. Rabbi Yishmael objects even to the metaphor which may be misunderstood. \u00a0(For more on the differences between angels and human beings, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/essay_details.asp?id=34\">click here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>As far as the <em>slav<\/em> is concerned, Rav Chanin bar Rava teaches that there are four separate birds called <em>slav<\/em>. We cannot identify each of these birds with certainty, but it appears that they are all members of the pheasant family of birds, which are similar to chickens. The birds mentioned in the Gemara are variously identified as <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alectoris\">Alectoris<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Francolin\">Francolinus<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ammoperdix\">Ammoperdix<\/a><\/em> and <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Phasianus\">Phasianus<\/a>,<\/em> all of which have similar body structures and make up a natural family. The pheasant (<em>Phasianus<\/em>) is raised as poultry in many places. Standard quail &#8211; <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coturnix\">Coturnix coturnix<\/a><\/em> &#8211; is the smallest of the birds related to the chicken. \u00a0Due to its short neck and legs, it appears fatter and rounder than other related birds, even though the fat in its body changes, particularly after a lengthy migration. Migration patterns take these birds from Europe to Africa in large flock, and many birds fall from the sky due to exhaustion on the shores of the Mediterranean. Some types of quail remain in Israel and its environs for nesting.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 76a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Still in the midst of a discussion of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=147&amp;letter=M\">manna<\/a> that the Jewish people ate in the desert, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\">Gemara<\/a> quotes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=160&amp;letter=E\">Rabbi Elazar ha-Moda&#8217;i<\/a> as claiming that when the manna fell for the Jewish people it piled 60 <em>amot<\/em> (<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cubit\">cubits<\/a>) high. This teaching was rejected out-of-hand by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=66&amp;letter=T\">Rabbi Tarfon<\/a>, who admonished Rabbi Elazar ha-Moda&#8217;i to refrain from making such exaggerated claims. In response, Rabbi Elazar ha-Moda&#8217;i presented his logic:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=218&amp;letter=F\">Flood<\/a> story, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/torah.htm\">Torah<\/a> records that the waters reached 15 cubits above the tops of the mountains (see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/bc.htm#bereshit\">Bereshit<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0107.htm#20\"> 7:20<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>God is more generous when offering reward than he is when presenting<br \/>\npunishment (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/rashi.htm\">Rashi<\/a> points out that there is a 500:1 ration of positive to negative, based on the passages describing the 2000-generation reward that God promises to those who love Him and follow His commandments, in contrast with the four-generation punishment with which evil people are threatened \u2013 see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/s.htm#shemot\">Shmot<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0220.htm#5\"> 20:5-6<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>In the Flood story, we are told that the openings to the heavens opened (Bereshit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt0107.htm#11\">7:11<\/a>), while regarding the manna we learn that &#8220;the doors of heaven were opened&#8221; (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/tw.htm#tehilim\">Tehillim<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mechon-mamre.org\/p\/pt\/pt2678.htm#23\"> 78:23-24<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>A door has four openings (or windows), and the passage in Tehillim refers to &#8220;doors&#8221; in the plural, which we will assume is a minimum of two, giving us eight openings. 8 (openings through which the manna fell) x 15 (cubits worth of rain, which fell through the opening during the flood) = 60 <em>amot<\/em> of manna.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Rabbi Elazar ha-Moda&#8217;i was one of the Sages in the generation after the destruction of the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Second_Temple\">Second Temple<\/a>. He was, apparently, one of the youngest students of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=362&amp;letter=J\">Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai<\/a> and he lived a long life. The vast majority of his statements that appear in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/content.asp?id=50\">Talmud<\/a> are <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aggadah\">aggadic<\/a> in nature. We find many times that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=52&amp;letter=G\">Rabban Gamliel<\/a> &#8211; who enjoyed his homilies &#8211; would comment that &#8220;we still need Moda&#8217;i&#8221;, i.e. his commentary and observations.<\/p>\n<p>As is clear from his name, Rabbi Elazar ha-Moda&#8217;i was a resident of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Modi'in\">Modi&#8217;in<\/a>. Tradition has it that he was <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=237&amp;letter=B\">Bar Kochba<\/a>&#8216;s uncle and that he died during the siege of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/bc.htm#beitar\">Beitar<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 77a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/m.htm#mishna\">Mishnah<\/a> at the beginning of the <em>perek <\/em>(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/DafYomi_details.asp?Id=354\">73b<\/a>) enumerated five specific activities that are forbidden on <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/yz.htm#yomkippur\">Yom Kippur<\/a><\/em> in order to fulfill <em>inuy<\/em> &#8211; the commandment to reach a sense of suffering or oppression. Therefore, most of these activities are forbidden only if they are done for pleasure. Thus, the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=247&amp;letter=B\">baraita<\/a><\/em> on our <em>daf<\/em>\u00a0 teaches that someone who is dirty is allowed to wash himself and someone who has sores on his body can anoint them with oil. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=731&amp;letter=S\">Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel<\/a> is quoted as teaching that a woman who needs to feed her children can wash one hand so that she can give them food.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>baraita<\/em> continues with a story about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=549&amp;letter=S\">Shamai ha-Zaken<\/a>, who did not want to feed his child on <em>Yom Kippur<\/em>, and the Sages ordered him to wash both hands and feed him.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the commentaries explain that Shamai ha-Zaken was reluctant to rely on the &#8220;leniency&#8221; and wash his hand. The Sages ruled that he should therefore wash both his hands, because they wanted to emphasize that, in this case, there was no prohibition at all. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/rabbis\/ritva.htm\">Ritva<\/a> points out that there are several similar cases in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/content.asp?id=50\">Talmud<\/a>, where the Sages went beyond the letter of the law in order to emphasize the correct ruling. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=405&amp;letter=J\">Rabbeinu Yehonatan<\/a> understands this case differently. He argues that Shamai ha-Zaken was concerned lest he touch the food with his unwashed hand, so he refrained from feeding his children entirely. The Sages reacted to this by permitting him to wash both hands.<\/p>\n<p>What was the great concern about touching food?<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\">Gemara<\/a> quotes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=120&amp;letter=A\">Abayye<\/a> as explaining that the Sages were afraid of <em>shivta<\/em>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/rashi.htm\">Rashi<\/a> explains that <em>shivta<\/em> is a <em>ru&#8217;ach ra&#8217;ah<\/em> &#8211; an evil spirit. According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Responsa\">responsa<\/a> literature from the period of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gaon\">Geonim<\/a>, <em>shivta<\/em> was a disease that affected mainly babies and younger children. From the descriptions that appear in the Gemara it seems likely that it is some type of contagious infection that can be carried by dirty hands.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Yoma 78a-b<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today, it is commonplace that someone who wants to rule in questions of Jewish law first study the material and then go to be tested in order to be &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=119&amp;letter=O\">ordained<\/a>&#8221; as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=30&amp;letter=R\">Rabbi<\/a>, that is, receive <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Semicha\">semikha<\/a><\/em> [lit. &#8220;resting of the hands&#8221;] or permission to rule from a prominent Rabbi. This system stems from the time of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinsaltz.org\/dynamic\/content.asp?id=50\">Talmud<\/a>, when a student would turn to the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=77&amp;letter=N\">Nasi<\/a><\/em> for permission to rule.<\/p>\n<p>There were <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Semicha#Types_of_Semicha\">three areas of study<\/a>, each of which required specific approval that would<br \/>\nallow the candidate to be accepted as one who could rule in each type of case:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><em>Yoreh<\/em> &#8211; issues of ritual law<\/li>\n<li><em>Yadin<\/em> &#8211; monetary cases<\/li>\n<li><em>Yatir<\/em> <em>bechorot<\/em> &#8211; rules of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=1131&amp;letter=B\">blemishes<\/a> in animals that would allow a first-born animal to be used by a <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/jl.htm#kohen\">kohen<\/a><\/em> rather than be sacrificed on the altar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The first two categories are still in use, referred to today as &#8220;<em>Yoreh Yoreh<\/em>&#8221; and &#8220;<em>Yadin Yadin<\/em>.&#8221; The third category fell into disuse after the destruction of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/bc.htm#beithamikdash\">Temple<\/a>, although it has become common practice to avoid situations where an animal will have a first-born by selling a pregnant animal to a non-Jew, so that no such questions will arise.<\/p>\n<p>Our <em>daf<\/em>\u00a0discusses whether Rabbi Yossi ben Zimra would be permitted to rule regarding a blemish in a first-born animal, given that he was a <em>kohen<\/em> and had a vested interest in the matter. From the discussion that takes place, it appears that this story happens during the time that the <em>Nasi <\/em>was the second <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=603&amp;letter=J\">Rabbi Yehuda Nesia<\/a>. By that time, the position of <em>Nasi<\/em> was inherited, and the person who held the title was not necessarily a great <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/torah.htm\">Torah<\/a> Sage. The actual religious leadership fell to the heads of the academies &#8211; the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rosh_yeshiva\">Roshei Yeshiva<\/a><\/em>. Nevertheless, a number of ceremonial responsibilities remained in the hands of the <em>Nasi<\/em>, one of them being the approval of new Rabbis and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewishencyclopedia.com\/view.jsp?artid=688&amp;letter=J\">judges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The discussion in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/about\/judaism\/di.htm#gemara\">Gemara<\/a> of whether a Sage who is already teaching in the academy needs to receive permission from the <em>Nasi<\/em> in order to rule is an indication of the tension that existed between the Sages and the house of the <em>Nasi<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><em>In addition to his monumental translation and commentary on the Talmud, Rabbi Steinsaltz has authored dozens of books and hundreds of articles on a variety of topics, both Jewish and secular. For more information about Rabbi Steinsaltz&#8217;s groundbreaking work in Jewish education, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-admin\/www.steinsaltz.org\">www.steinsaltz.org<\/a> or contact the Aleph Society at 212-840-1166.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Coming Week&#8217;s Daf Yomi by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz This essay is based upon the insights and chidushim (original ideas) of Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, as published in the Hebrew version of the Steinsaltz Edition of the Talmud. This month&#8217;s Steinsaltz Daf Yomi is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Alan Harris, The Lewy Family<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":40890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-torah","series-steinsaltz-daf-yomi"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Masechet Yoma 72a-78b - OU Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Coming Week&#039;s Daf Yomi (Yoma 72a-78b) by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, based upon the insights &amp; chidushim published in the Steinsaltz Edition of the Talmud\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/torah\/masechet_yoma_7278\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Masechet Yoma 72a-78b - OU Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Coming Week&#039;s Daf Yomi (Yoma 72a-78b) by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, based upon the insights &amp; chidushim published in the Steinsaltz Edition of the Talmud\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/torah\/masechet_yoma_7278\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OU Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2006-08-15T23:42:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2015-10-21T19:40:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/files\/YomKippur.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1376\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"908\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/torah\/masechet_yoma_7278\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/torah\/masechet_yoma_7278\/\",\"name\":\"Masechet Yoma 72a-78b - 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