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Our Gemara on Amud Beis refers to an Amora who they considered to have an unreliable memory and confused the Mishnayos and beraisos he quoted. It is interesting that he was regarded with some degree of deference as a sage, despite this major shortcoming. There is no explanation in the commentaries aside from brief statements by Rashi and Shita Mekubetzes who seem to confirm that he was a respected Sage who confused his teachings, and was oddly to …
Our Gemara on Amud Beis mentions the famous Yalta, who was Rav Nachman’s wife and the Nasi’s daughter (see Rashi Gittin 67a). Although ordinarily it’s forbidden to travel on a litter on Yom Tov because it is too conspicuous and resembles weekday activity, they permitted Yalta to be carried this way. She was given this dispensation possibly because she was engaged in community service or that in this regard she had the status of …
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph uses an interesting idiom. Abaye tells Rav Yosef, in response to his asking of what practical significance is his question, “Gemara Gemor, Zamorta Tehey? Shall the Gemara be as a song?” Meaning, even when there is no practical difference, understanding the Gemara in its depth is important, as it is not merely a song.
Pri Tzaddik (VaYikra 6:1) notes that they used to study in sing song in order to promote memor …
Our Gemara records that the rabbis were unhappy with Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah who did not rebuke his neighbor for allowing his cow to wear a strap between its horns on Shabbos, as they considered it forbidden. The Chiddushei Chasam Sofer Chulin 142a uses this Gemara to explain another Gemara in Chagigah 3a:
The sages asked whose turn it was this Shabbos to teach halakha to the masses. When they heard it was Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah’s …
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph asks whether it is permitted to extinguish a lamp on Yom Tov in order to have marital relations. What is the reason that it is considered important to extinguish the lamp before engaging in marital relations? It is considered to be improper and immodest to engage in sexual intercourse where the private parts of the body can be seen. This is codified in Shulkhan Arukh EH 25:5 and OH 240. This prohibition natura …
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph records an interesting idiom used by Rav Huna in response to a question he did not want to answer. He told the person, “Look, a raven flies in the sky.” Rashi tells us that it was meant to distract the petitioner, presumably in the hopes that he would leave him alone as he was exhausted at that time from giving shiur and Torah study. Rabbenu Chananel explains that it was actually a criticism, suggesting …
