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Psychology of the Daf Yomi
Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R The Daf Yomi through a Psychological Lens.
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Badusa Business: When Brilliance Goes Too Far Zevachim 100 Psychology of the Daf
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December 23rd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis uses an interesting phrase to reject an opinion of Rav Ashi, “badusa,” which we can translate as “made up.” The connotation is stronger than mistaken, as the root is likely B-D-A (see Melachim I 12:33), but it also may mean “outside,” that is, a teaching that is outside of the accepted chain of transmission. Perhaps a student made a mistake and misquoted Rav Ashi (Shita Mekubetzes Bava Metzia 71b). Some therefo …
Piece and Quiet and Whole Zevachim 99 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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December 22nd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the principle that an Onan (a mourner who has not yet buried a relative and is in the intense early stages of grief and its preoccupations) cannot bring a shelamim sacrifice.
The Gemara’s proof text is a play on words from shelamim, which means whole or at peace:
“Rabbi Shimon says: The offering is called shelamim to teach that when a person is whole (shalem), i.e., in a state of contentment, he brings …
Stain Power: When Subjectivity Soaks Through Zevachim 98 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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December 21st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses how various stains and substances on clothing cause a disqualification in the purification immersion because they act as a barrier between the water and the garment. While such an issue ought to be factual—i.e., does the water penetrate or not, or how much water must penetrate—instead, they are based on subjective human experience. Therefore, blood and fat stains are considered a barrier, but for a butcher wh …
Knife to Meet You: The Akeidahs Cutting Insight Zevachim 97 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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December 19th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a proof text that a knife must be used to slaughter the Olah sacrifice:
“Slaughtering may be performed only with a knife and not with a sharp stone or reed. The Gemara asks: And with regard to a burnt offering itself, from where do we derive that it must be slaughtered with a knife? This is learned from that which is written: ‘And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son’ (Be …
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Just Zevachim 96 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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December 19th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph mentions the miraculous process by which shards of earthenware vessels were absorbed in their place, which we discussed yesterday in one context. There were a number of similar “absorption” miracles in the Temple, as explained in the Gemara Yoma (21a):
“Shards of earthenware vessels were swallowed in the earth in their places, and there was no need to dispose of them. The shards of those vessels were miraculously …
Breaking News: The Case of the Suspicious Clay Oven Zevachim 95 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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December 18th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a technical rule regarding the requirement to shatter the earthenware vessel in which the meat from the sacrifice was cooked. Is it based on the absorption and retention of the material, or a divine decree applying to any earthenware vessel in which sacrificial meat is cooked, regardless of absorption? The difference would be a case where the meat was cooked while suspended in a clay oven in such a manner that no …
Torn Between Two Commands Zevachim 94 Psychology of the Daf
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December 17th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a procedural dilemma: We have learned the rule that a garment that has blood of a sin offering sprayed on it must be laundered in the Temple courtyard. What do we do if the garment left the premises and became impure? On the one hand, it is forbidden to bring an impure vessel into the courtyard; on the other hand, there is a directive to cleanse the blood from the garment only in the Temple courtyard. The resolut …
A Shattered Vessel and a Whole Lot of Soul Zevachim 93 Psychology of the Daf
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December 16th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the laws of the vessels in which the meat of sin offerings was cooked. A copper vessel is scoured and rinsed in the grounds of the Temple courtyard, while an earthenware vessel must be shattered.
Kli Yakkar (Vayikra 6:21) adds a symbolic dimension. While this rule applies to many sacrifices, the sin offering is the source text. The Kli Yakkar reads significance in this, seeing a special emphasis and message to …
Stains of the Soul: Laundering With Teshuva Energy Zevachim 92 Psychology of the Daf
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December 15th, 2025

Our Mishna and Gemara on Amud Aleph discuss the principle of blood from a chattas offering that was designated for sprinkling on the altar but ended up on an article of clothing. The garment must be laundered within the Temple courtyard to remove the blood.
What is the significance of the power of this blood? Toras HaOlah (III:35) says that the blood that is sprinkled represents the penitence for the sin. This is considered exceedingly powerfu …
A Time to Declare : When Moed Beats Shabbos Zevachim 91
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December 14th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph continues its discussion of what takes precedence — the more holy (mekudash) sacrifice or the one that is brought more often (tadir)?The Gemara attempts to bring a proof from the beraisa which rules that the Musaf sacrifices of Shabbos precede the Musaf sacrifices of Rosh Chodesh. If we are to assume the Musfei Rosh Chodesh are more sanctified than the Musfei Shabbos, but the Musfei Shabbos are tadir (frequent and conti …
Getting Your Goat Or Let it Stew Zevachim 90 Psychology of the Daf
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December 12th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses what sacrifice takes precedence — the more holy (mekudash) sacrifice or the one that is brought more often (tadir)? For example, what gets sprinkled first: the blood from the daily Tamid sacrifice or the blood from a chattas?
Mei Shiloach (I, Mishpatim 5) relates this to the idea of what middah, what character trait, is more appropriate: patience or zealotry. Tadir — consistent and continuous action — re …
Slow and Steady, Easy Does It Zevachim 89 Psychology of the Daf
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December 12th, 2025

Our Gemara discusses the principle that an offering that is more sacred takes precedence over one that is less sacred. This rule seems to conflict with a different rule, that one proceeds in the order of lesser sanctity to greater sanctity, as known most famously for Beis Hillel’s reason that the Chanuka lights go from 1–8 and not 8–1 (Shabbos 21a). How do we know when to apply each principle?Rav Kook (Orach Mishpat 3) explains that when de …
Sound Advice: When Silence Speaks Louder Zevachim 88 Psychology of the Daf
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December 11th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us that the cloak (me’il) of the Cohen Gadol atones for l’shon hara, hurtful speech. The noise made by the bells on its hem is a reminder of the power of sound and speech, appropriate or inappropriate.The verse (Shemos 28:33 and Rashi) tells us that the golden bells on the cloak were placed between two “pomegranates” of blue, purple, and crimson yarns. L’Levi Amar comments that the pomegranates represent qu …
Time and Space Warps in Chazal Zevachim 87 Psychology of the Daf
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December 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the principle that “There is no disqualification of limbs that are left overnight at the top of the altar.” If a limb was left overnight at the top of the altar, the priest may burn it forever — i.e., no matter how much time has passed.Is this rule just a halachic technicality or a sign of something even more spectacular? Tzofnas Pa’aneach (Beshalach 16:33) notes that the jar of Manna which was preserved …
Ram-ifications of a Reconstituted Ram Zevachim 86 Psychology of the Daf
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December 9th, 2025

Our Gemara continues the discussion that “The tendons and the horns and the hooves among those items that are sacrificed on the altar are brought along with the sacrifice, but only when attached.”We noted that there was a question that resulted from this sacrificial rule in regard to the Ram that was sacrificed at the Akeidah. Rashi (Shemos 19:13), quoting Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer (31), informs us that the ram’s horn that was sounded at Mount …
The Echo of the Rams Horn zevachim 85 Psychology of the Daf
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December 8th, 2025

Continuing our deliberations of the past few dappim regarding what gets placed on the altar and what can remain there, the Gemara discusses the status of lesser body parts such as tendons, horns, and hooves:
“The tendons and the horns and the hooves among those items that are sacrificed on the altar are brought along with the sacrifice, but only when attached.”
We see that the horns of a typical Olah sacrifice will be burned on the alta …
Once in Holiness, Always in Reach Zevachim 84 Psychology of the Daf
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December 12th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses Rabbi Shimon’s position that an invalidated sacrifice, such as one that was slaughtered at night, since it only became disqualified once it was already in a sanctified place — that is, once its service and worship function had already begun — it too is not taken off the altar if it was erroneously put on. This would be in contradistinction to a disqualification that occurred prior, such as an animal that w …
The Humble Steps Toward Leadership Zevachim 83 Psychology of the Daf
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December 5th, 2025

The Mishna on amud aleph teaches:Certain unfit items, once they have been placed on the altar, are nevertheless sacrificed and not to be removed. The mishna teaches: The altar sanctifies only items that are suited to it. The tanna’im disagree as to the definition of “suited for the altar.”Rabbi Yehoshua says: Any item that is suited to be consumed by the fire (ishim) on the altar, e.g., burnt offerings and the sacrificial portions of other …
There is No Express Elevator to Teshuva Zevachim 82 Psychology of the Daf
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December 5th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the rule that regular chattas sin offerings and asham sacrifices whose blood is brought into the sanctuary become invalidated. This is in contradistinction to the specific chattas sacrifices whose blood is sprinkled inside the sanctuary, such as the offerings on Yom Kippur and the offerings for certain communal sins.Sefer Daf al Daf explains this as a beautiful metaphor. After repenting, the sinner may presumptu …
The Blood Never Forgets Its Identity Zevachim 81 Psychology of the Daf
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December 4th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph states a principle that the blood of offerings does not nullify each other even when mixed. If the blood of a firstborn offering was mixed with blood of other sacrificial animals, the blood shall be sacrificed together, as the blood of firstborn offerings is not nullified.
Similar to the Sefas Emes (Acharei Mos) that we discussed on dappim 75 and 76, even mitzvos and rituals of lesser holiness occupy their own distinct …
Better to Err by Doing… or by Not Doing? Zevachim 80
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December 3rd, 2025

Our Mishna and Gemara on Amud Aleph discuss a dispute regarding what procedure is appropriate when the blood of an offering that is to be placed on the altar with four placements was mixed with the blood of an offering that is to be placed on the altar with one placement. Do you place the mixed blood on all four corners, or perhaps on only one? Potentially, each choice has a problem. If you place the blood on all four corners, one sacrifice will …
Non-Existence Can Really Mess up Your Plans for the Weekend Zevachim 79
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December 2nd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the famous practice of Hillel the Elder, which we read in the Haggadah:“When eating the Paschal offering, matza, and bitter herbs on the first night of Passover, he would wrap them all at once and eat them together, because it is stated with regard to the Paschal offering: ‘They shall eat it with matzos and bitter herbs’ (Numbers 9:11), which indicates that these three foods should be eaten together.”The …
The Kosher and the Unkosher in Relationships Zevachim 78 Psychology of the Daf
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December 1st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the idea that two different prohibitions might alternately join with a permitted substance to nullify a different forbidden substance. In other words, two different prohibited substances can each join with the majority of permitted material to nullify the other.
The Rosh (Shu”t klal 20, article 2) says that even though our Gemara was discussing halachos that pertain to sacrifices, there is a modern-day appl …
Schrodingers Korban: When Probability Meets Psak Zevachim 77 Psychology of the Daf
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November 30th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discussed the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer:In a case where limbs of burnt offerings fit for sacrifice were intermingled with limbs of blemished burnt offerings, Rabbi Eliezer says: Although all the limbs are unfit for sacrifice, if the head of one of them was sacrificed, all the heads shall be sacrificed, as the head that was sacrificed is assumed to have been that of the unfit animal in the mixture.Yet, as some kind of insura …
Thanksgiving is Timeless Zevachim 76 Psychology of the Daf
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November 28th, 2025

The Gemara on this daf continues its discussion of mevi’in kodshim l’beis hapisul—one may not limit the time of the consumption of an offering, causing the sacrificial animals to enter the status of unfitness prematurely.For example, if an Asham guilt offering was intermingled with a Shelamim peace offering. The potential problem is that the Asham is consumed in one day and the subsequent evening, while the Shelamim for two days with the ev …
Holy Timing: Dont Rush the Shelamim Experience Zevachim 75 Psychology of the Daf
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November 28th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the concept of ein mevi’in kodshim l’beis hapisul—one may not limit the time of the consumption of an offering, causing the sacrificial animals to enter the status of unfitness prematurely.
For example, if an Asham guilt offering was intermingled with a Shelamim peace offering, the potential problem is that the Asham is consumed in one day, while the Shelamim for two days. While technically one could pla …
Why Averos Are not Nullified by Mitzvos Zevachim 74 Psychology of the Daf
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November 22nd, 2025

Continuing our discussion about nullification and exceptions to the rule, our Gemara on Amud Beis references the principle of something that potentially can be permitted. The idea is that an item that gets blended in a majority, which ordinarily should be nullified, if it is something that could eventually be permitted, the nullification process does not work. A classic example is an egg laid on Yom Tov, which is muktzah; even if it gets mixed in …
Fixed Income: The Return on Kviyas Ittim Zevachim 73
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November 26th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the halachic principle of kavuah—an item that is fixed and stationary, thus not subject to nullification. Most Torah prohibitions allow the majority to annul the minority, and the prohibited substance or item is discounted. Yet there are certain objects or situations where the solidity and fixedness interfere with nullification. This is known as kol kavuah k’mechtsa al mechtsa—any item that is fixed is not …
Census and Sensibility Zevachim 72 Psychology of the Daf
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November 25th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the special rules that apply to items that are counted (davar shebeminyan), that is, sold and valued by each item instead of volume. For example, one buys cheese by the pound but danishes by the unit. When an item is valued to the extent that it is seen as an individual unit, it may not be subject to nullification. A piece of unkosher cheese that gets mixed into a much larger quantity of kosher may be subject to …
Ox-ford University Studying the Mind of a Beast Zevachim 71 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 24th, 2025

Our Mishna on Amud Aleph discusses the animal who killed a person, whose ordinary fate is to be put to death. Why is the animal put to death? After all, does an animal have intelligence and awareness that make it liable for its actions?There is an interesting verse (Bereishis 9:5):
“However, of the blood of your souls, I will demand an account; from the hand of every beast will I demand it. From the hand of man, even from the hand of man’s …
Abandoned Corpses and Buried Potential Zevachim 70 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 23rd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis refers to the ritual of the unidentified corpse. If an apparent murder victim is found near a city, the elders of the closest city must undergo an atonement ritual. There is some presumptive guilt for fostering a callous disregard for life or care for fellow Jews; otherwise, the crime would not have happened here. There would be no murderer, or someone would have quickly offered him shelter and lodging. Part of the ri …
The Universe is a Giant Kal V’chomer Zevachim 69 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 21st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the source for the famous rule of dayo by Kal V’chomer.A Kal V’chomer is the first of the thirteen rules used to derive halachos from the Torah, as per the famous beraisa of Rabbi Yishmael that we recite in the daily morning liturgy. A Kal V’chomer is a logical inference where if a law applies in a lighter situation, surely it must apply in a more severe situation. For example, if speeding incurs a $150 fin …
Shear Confusion and Nested Problems Zevachim 68 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 21st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph comments on the consequences whereby various questions in the circumstances of oaths and dedication can cause an obligation for one bird sacrifice to turn into an obligation for seven:
“Rabbi Yehoshua said that there is a parable that explains this situation: This is what people say about a sheep: When it is alive it makes one sound, and when it is dead it makes seven sounds. Its two horns become trumpets, its two sh …
Birds of a Feather Atone Together Zevachim 67 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 20th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses some of the rules for the bird sacrifices (called kinnim or nests because they come in pairs) of a woman after childbirth (yoledes). The majority of sacrifices brought in the Temple were animals, and usually bird sacrifices were allowed for certain required sacrifices when the person was of lesser financial means.
There are a number of unique situations where the bird sacrifice is universally required — rich …
Live and Let Die Al Kiddush Hashem Zevachim 66 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 19th, 2025

Our Gemara on the top of Amud Aleph discusses how to relate to certain ambiguous phrases in the Torah. For example, if the Torah states “one shall not…”, depending on context, it might mean “he is not required” or it may mean “he is not allowed.” Regarding the Olah bird offering, it states: “‘But shall not separate it’ (Leviticus 5:8)? It means that the priest does not have to separate it, but not that it is prohibited to …
A Thumbnail Sketch Regarding Reasons for the Mitzvos Zevachim 65 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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November 18th, 2025

Our Gemara on this daf discusses the unique manner in which the bird sacrifice is slaughtered. Unlike every other kosher animal and bird, and even unlike a non-sacrificial bird, the slaughter must be done with the cohen’s thumbnail. While it is similar to slaughtering with a knife in that it severs the windpipe and the esophagus, but it must be done from the back of the neck, severing the back of the neck first. Ironically, what would render a …
The Head and the Heart: Disassociation and Sin Zevachim 64 Psychology of the Daf
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November 17th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis described the process of slaughtering the olah bird offering. One difference between the olah bird offering and the chattas bird offering is that the head of the olah is fully severed, while the chattas bird’s head is not fully separated.
Shem Mishmuel (Vayikra 6) offers a compelling psychological explanation for this difference between the chattas bird and the olah. We have a tradition that the function of the olah i …
In the Most Hidden of the Most Hidden 63 Psychology of the Daf
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November 16th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses an unlikely scenario where the Temple courtyard was under siege by invaders and the cohanim were forced to take shelter in the Temple. In such a case, they are permitted to eat the sacrificial meat in the sanctuary, and even in the Holy of Holies (Ramban, Bamidbar 18:10).Imagine this doomsday scene: the remnants of a massacred group, hiding in the Temple and somehow reverently eating from the sacrifices. The par …
Ashes of Sacrificed Self Zevachim 62 Psychology of the Daf
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November 14th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes the process by which the returnees who were building the Second Temple determined the location of the altar. According to Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa: they saw a vision of the ashes of Yitschok that were placed in that location. (According to tradition, the Akeida took place in the same spot as the future altar.)
There is one glaring problem with this aggadah. What are Yitschok’s ashes? He was never sacrifice …
Spiritual Plateaus and New Horizons Zevachim 61 Psychology of the Daf
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November 14th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the status of sacrificial food which becomes invalidated if it leaves the confines of the courtyard. What if the partitions of the courtyard are taken down or dismantled, such as when the Mishkan would prepare for travel? So long as the altar was still in place, the removal of the partitions was not considered as if the food is no longer within the boundaries of the courtyard. The Gemara provides a proof text:“ …
Constructive Conflict Zevachim 60 Psychology of the Daf
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November 13th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis records a reaction of Rabbi Yirmiya to a suggested legal argument from a Babylonian scholar: “Foolish Babylonians! Because they dwell in a dark land, they state halachos that are dim.”
Such a statement about the relative dimness of the Babylonian scholars versus those from Israel is particularly ironic, since Rabbi Yirmiya himself originally emigrated from Babylonia. Abaye and Rava in Kesuvos (75a) make this exact p …
The Pintele Yid Zevachim 59 Psychology of the Daf
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November 12th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the dimensions of the altar:“Rabbi Yehuda says: It is stated here that the altar built in the time of Moses was: ‘Square’ (Exodus 27:1), and it is stated there, in Ezekiel’s prophetic description of the altar, that it is: ‘Square’ (Ezekiel 43:16). Just as, there, in Ezekiel’s vision, he was measuring the distance in each direction from its center, so too here, the verse was measuring the altar that …
Cover Ups and Fig Leaves Zevachim 58 Psychology of the Daf
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November 11th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph mentions that the second arrangement of wood on the altar was made from the wood of a fig tree, which was used to produce the charcoals for the incense. Rashi states this wood was used because “through it man was repaired in that they (Adam and Chavah) fashioned loin belts (to cover their nakedness).” This is based on the verse in Bereishis (3:7).The Gemara Berachos (40a) offers various opinions regarding what species …
Procrastination Nation Zevachim 57 Psychology of the Daf
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November 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses one of the Rabbis’ interesting practices regarding mitzvos whose deadline was the end of the night. The Paschal offering must be consumed by midnight, though technically it can be eaten all night (according to Rabbi Akiva). Similarly, Berachos (2a) explains that one has the entire evening to recite Shema, but the Rabbis required it by midnight. The reason offered is that by making an earlier deadline, a person …
It is All About the Base Zevachim 56 Psychology of the Daf
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November 9th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the laws of the firstborn offering, the animal tithe offering, and the Paschal offering:“Their slaughter is anywhere in the Temple courtyard, and their blood requires one placement, provided that the priest places it so that the blood goes on the base of the altar.”These offerings do not require sprinkling the blood on the altar’s corners, likely because they are not for explicit sins. Yet, there is one min …
Thank You, Next Day Zevachim 55 Psychology of the Daf
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November 7th, 2025

Our Mishna on Amud Aleph discusses the rule of the thanksgiving offering: it can only be eaten on the day and subsequent evening of its offering. A thanksgiving sacrifice is brought in response to an event where a person was in mortal danger and saved. This one-day time window is different from other shelamim, which allow an additional day.
The Abravanel (Tzav) explains that since the owner has only one day to eat all that meat, he will invite …
Building the World Within Zevachim 54 Psychology of the Daf
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November 7th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes Dovid HaMelech and Shmuel’s process for determining the proper area to build the Temple:
“Rava taught: What is the meaning of that which is written concerning David: ‘And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying: Behold, David is at Naioth [beNayot] in Ramah’ (I Samuel 19:18–19)? But what does Naioth have to do with Ramah? They are in two distinct places. Rather, this mean …
Holy Envy: When Coveting Is Kosher Zevachim 53 Psychology of the Daf
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November 6th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis relates an aggadah about how Binyamin (the tribe—or his spirit) agonized over a small portion of their land that had part of the altar on it, which also was encroached upon by the Tribe of Judah:“A strip of land emerged from the portion of Judah and entered into the portion of Benjamin, and the southeast corner of the base was on that strip. And the tribe of Benjamin the righteous would agonize over it every day, desir …
Loss and Found: Child Death and Parental Grieving Zevachim 52 Psychology of the Daf
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November 5th, 2025

Our Mishna on Amud Beis discusses the sin offering brought on Rosh Chodesh. We have discussed in other articles various reasons for this sin offering and what it atones for. The Levush (OC 422) offers a different reason that I had not seen before. He says it provides specific atonement and protection that children should not die of askara, a disease that was a major cause of infant mortality. Mateh Moshe (524) says this is hinted at in the Musaf …
Mitzvos, Aveiros and Free Passes Zevachim 51 Psychology of the Daf
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November 4th, 2025

Tosafos on Amud Aleph (“Asher Pesach”) discusses the principle of Ein Ma’avirin Al Hamitzvos — one does not pass over a mitzvah. A daily example of this principle is when starting to pray: the talis should be donned first, and then the tefilin, so as to elevate in holiness (Shulchan Aruch 25:1). Yet, if his hands pass over the tefilin first, he is not allowed to bypass them and must put them on first before the Talis (Mishna Berura ibid:3 …
Thank G-d, I am Guilty: The Psychology of Gomel Zevachim 50 Psychology of the Daf
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November 3rd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the thanksgiving offering, noting that since it is voluntary, maaser sheni can be used. While one should bring a thanksgiving sacrifice, it is apparently not as obligatory as a chattas or other ritual requirement.There is an equivalency between the Todah sacrifice and the Gomel blessing said after miraculous salvation—one substitutes for the other (see Rashi Vayikra 17:12; Rashi Ksav Yad Menachos 79b; Rosh Ber …
White Out: When Impurity Turns Inside Out Zevachim 49 Psychology of the Daf
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November 2nd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses an unusual halacha regarding tzaraas, based on the verse:“Then the priest shall look; and behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce the one who has the mark pure; it is all turned white—he is pure” (Vayikra 13:13).Why should tzaraas that spreads over the entire body result in purity? One would think it indicates corruption beyond repair.
The Gemara Sanhedrin (97a) uses this hal …
Cold Front: The Northern Exposure of the Yetzer Hara Zevachim 48 Psychology of the Daf
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October 31st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis notes that while most sin offerings are slaughtered to the north (tzafon) of the Altar, the chattas Nachshon—the sacrifices offered by the princes during the inauguration of the Mishkan—is not. Rashi explains that this is because the chattas Nachshon was not for any particular sin.Though Rashi does not explain why, we see a link between the North side of the Temple courtyard and sin offerings. How does the North come t …
Mindless Offerings: Study on Autopilot Zevachim 47 Psychology of the Daf
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October 31st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the principle of misasek (performing an act without any awareness that one is doing so) as it applies to sacrifices. If one slaughtered an offering without intending to perform the act of slaughter at all, but rather inadvertently while occupied with other matters, the offering is disqualified.A sacrifice, by definition, is a devotional act toward God; therefore, it’s logical that if the sacrifice—or any asp …
When the Holy Charge Is Discharged Zevachim 46 Psychology of the Daf
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October 30th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph explains a general rule regarding the sanctification of sacrificial material and when it is subject to me’ilah (being violated when used for a profane, secular purpose or benefit). The Gemara declares: “There is no item whose mitzvah has been performed that is still subject to the prohibition of misusing consecrated property.”The idea is that sacrificial material remains in a sacred state up until the time the ritua …
Torah for its Own Sake Zevachim 45 Psychology of the Daf
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October 29th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph records that Rava objects to the issuance of a halachic ruling about sacrifices that would only become relevant once the Beis HaMikdash is rebuilt in the times of Mashiach.Abaye asks incredulously: If that is a concern, let the tanna not teach all the halachos of the slaughter of sacrificial animals, as it is entirely a halacha for the messianic period! Rather, one studies these halachos to delve into Torah and receive re …
Cultivating the Sacred Routine Zevachim 44 Psychology of the Daf
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October 28th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses some of the qualities of the Cohen Godol’s daily mincha offering. Unlike most meal offerings, no portion is consumed by the Cohen, as it is fully offered as a sacrifice.Sefer Hachinuch (137) explains a possible reason for this uniqueness. If the Cohen were to eat from it, it would feel more routine—part of his daily eating habit—and would lose its sense of being a special devotional act.I wonder, if so, wh …
Everyone Together Under the Law Zevachim 40
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October 27th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the log of oil offered by the metzora (a log is a Biblical measure approximately equal to six eggs; see Bartenura, Mishnah Eduyos 1:2). This was one of the eight subsidies of sacred foods given to the kohanim.
Continuing the theme from yesterday’s daf and blogpost zavachim 42, the Maaseh Rokeach (Seder Moed, Yoma) explains that the eight sprinklings of blood in the Holy of Holies from the kohen gadol’s bu …
Everyone Together Under the Law Zevachim 43
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October 27th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the log of oil offered by the metzora (a log is a Biblical measure approximately equal to six eggs; see Bartenura, Mishnah Eduyos 1:2). This was one of the eight subsidies of sacred foods given to the kohanim.
Continuing the theme from yesterday’s daf and blogpost zavachim 42, the Maaseh Rokeach (Seder Moed, Yoma) explains that the eight sprinklings of blood in the Holy of Holies from the kohen gadol’s bu …
Endearing Distinctions Zevachim 42
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October 26th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis relates a dispute about the total number of blood sprinklings from the bull and goat during the Yom Kippur service—43, 47, or 48—in the various sections of the sanctuary and the altar. The difference depends on whether the High Priest mixes the blood of the bull and goat before placing it on the corners of the inner altar, or places each separately. The additional 48th sprinkling depends on whether the pouring of the b …
Loving Distance Zevachim 41
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October 24th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis compares the chattas of the Kohen Gadol and the chattas of the congregation. Certain differences in how the ritual is described in the Torah imply messages about the nature of the sin and the status of the sinner:“The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: For what reason are the diaphragm and the two kidneys stated with regard to the bull for an unwitting sin of the anointed priest, and they are not explicitly stated with reg …
Cloud Cover Zevachim 40
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October 24th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a halachic requirement for inner sin offerings, such as those brought on Yom Kippur whose blood is sprinkled in the Holy of Holies: if there is a breach in the roof, the service may not be performed.Likkutei Halakhos (Yoreh Deah, Laws of Vows 4) notes that the Succah recalls the Clouds of Glory—the Shekhina that enveloped the Jewish people in the wilderness. This is the same “cloud” that greets the Cohen G …
The Sin of the New Level Zevachim 39
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October 23rd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis deduces that the chattas sacrifice of the festivals and Rosh Chodesh is not for a specific transgression. Though it atones for inadvertent defilement while entering the Beis HaMikdash or eating sacrificial meat in impurity, this is not a specific, known sin (Rosh Hashanah 4b).Kedushas Levi (Likkutim, Parashas Vayera) offers a fascinating peshat, also addressing the difficult aggadah of Avraham taking counsel from Mamreh be …
Holy Whip: Penance in the Kodesh HaKodashim Zevachim 38
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October 22nd, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes the motion of sprinkling the blood in the Holy of Holies during the Yom Kippur service: the sprinkling was “like a matzlif.” The Gemara explains that Rav Yehuda demonstrated with his hand—it means like one who whips, striking not repeatedly in one place but one lash beneath the other.
The word matzlif alludes to a process similar to lashes with a whip. According to Hon Ashir (Mishnah Yoma 5:3), this is …
Totafos and the Tongues of the World Zevachim 37
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October 21st, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis offers a scriptural source for the four compartments in the tefillin that rest on the head. The Torah uses the word “Totafos,” an unusual term, perhaps translated as a front piece of jewelry, though it lacks a clear etymology. Our Gemara, quoting Rabbi Akiva, sees it as a composite of two words meaning “two,” in two exotic languages. “Tat” in the language of Katfei means two, and “Pat” in the language of Af …
Gem of Habit Zevachim 36
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October 11th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis uses an interesting phrase to describe a teaching that Rav Dimi bar Chinenah preserved regarding sacrificial laws: “Margelah Be-Pumei.”
Rashi (Sanhedrin 50b and Berachos 17a) explains that it comes from the root R-G-L, similar to regular or habit, meaning it was a teaching that he worked to say over many times in order to remember, because it was outside of the regular beraisa chain.
This phrase appears regarding …
Sealed the Deal with Zeal Zevachim 35
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R
October 11th, 2025


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Twin Peaks Zevachim 34
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October 11th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes the metaphysical procedural link between the twin sacrifices on Yom Kippur—the Azazel scapegoat and the chattas goat whose blood is sprinkled in the Holy of Holies. According to Rabbi Yehuda, if the blood of the goat sacrificed to God spilled from the cup before it was sprinkled, the scapegoat is left to die. Similarly, if the scapegoat died, the blood of the goat sacrificed to God should be spilled, and two ot …
Do Not Delay: Pray Today Zevachim 33
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R
October 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a principle that the placing of the hands (semicha) on the sacrifice must be immediately followed by the slaughter.
This is not the only situation in Halacha where one action must immediately follow another. The Gemara Berachos (42a) lists three such pairs:There are three pairs that immediately follow each other: Immediately following placing hands on the head of a sacrifice is its slaughter; immediately foll …
A Halachic EZ Pass? Zevachim 32
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R
October 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses an interesting halachic process. Ordinarily, one who is ritually impure due to a seminal emission is forbidden to enter the Temple courtyard until after he immerses in the mikvah and nightfall arrives. However, if he is a metzora, he is permitted to partially enter prior to the evening.
How does this work? After the purification rituals, the metzora is still forbidden to enter the Temple courtyard until after …
Head and Shoulders Below the Rest Zevachim 31
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R
October 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a verse that describes the ignoble demise of Queen Izevel (II Kings 9:10): “And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel.”
She was generally recognized as an idolatrous, wicked, and cruel woman, who murdered prophets and devised a treacherous plot of false witnesses to appropriate a section of land from innocent householders (I Kings 18:4 and I Kings ch. 21). Yet, despite this, Pirkei De-Rabbi El …
The High Standards of Ancient Scholarship Zevachim 30
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R
October 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on amud beis describes an interlude where the sage Levi asked a question of his master, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, in a particular way that was multivalent. It is hard to get into the lomdishe particulars, but I'll explain it in terms of process. There were three possible scenarios going from more obviously valid to less obvious, with only the most obvious scenario taught explicitly to Levi. Of course, Levi could have asked about the remaini …
The Power of Repair Attempts Zevachim 29 Psychology of the Daf
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October 13th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph, within the context of of a discussion of various thoughts or actions that could invalidate a sacrifice, wonders if a sacrifice that is delayed also becomes invalidated. What is a delayed sacrifice? If one pledges to offer a sacrifice, it is forbidden to delay past three festivals (Rosh Hashanah 4a.) Although the Gemara rules it is not invalidated, Tosafos finds the question itself difficult. Tosafos wonders why should th …
It is the Thought that Counts Zevachim 28 Psychology of the Daf
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October 12th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis continues to discuss the prohibition of improper intentions that can invalidate the sacrifice when thought during the essential services of the sacrifice, such as the slaughtering or sprinkling of the blood. The two basic categories of invalidating intentions are to eat or offer the sacrifice beyond its allowed time, such as from the shelamim sacrifice on day three, or out of its location, such as on non-consecrated g …
Is a Kvetchy Davening Tircha Detzibbura? Zevachim 27 Psychology of the Daf
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October 10th, 2025

Our Gemara on this daf discusses the improper intentions that can invalidate a sacrifice when thought during the essential services of the sacrifice, such as the slaughtering or sprinkling of the blood. The two basic categories of invalidating intentions are to eat the sacrifice beyond its allowed time, such as the meat from the shelamim  sacrifice on day three, or out of its location, such as on non-consecrated grounds outside the wall …
Ramping Up Your Efforts Zevachim 26 Psychology of the Daf
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October 9th, 2025

Our Gemara on this daf discusses a dispute regarding if the sprinkling of the blood on the ramp of the altar counts as if it was sprinkled on the altar. The simplest explanation of this dispute is whether the ramp is a separate entity, or part of the altar itself.
What is the spiritual significance of this, and for that matter, what is the significance of the ramp itself? The verse states (Shemos 20:23):
“Do not ascend my altar by st …
Slach lanu, Mchal lanu, Kapper lanu Zevachim 25 Psychology of the Daf
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October 5th, 2025

Our Gemara on amud aleph references the bowls in the Temple which are used to collect the sacrificial blood, as kafurei zahav, golden bowls, based on the verse in Ezra (1:10). In a play on words they also derive that the lip of the bowls can be used to wipe the sacrificial knife clean, as the root of the Hebrew word kafurei (K-F-R) implies to clean.
The word Hebrew word “kapper” has some interesting etymological roots and is most often ass …
Do Not Let Your Stuff Get in the Way Zevachim 24 Psychology of the Daf
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October 5th, 2025

Our Gemara on amud aleph discusses the requirement that there be no barriers between the priests and the Temple floor, or their hands with the holy utensils. They must perform the service barefooted, and have direct contact. What is the psychological significance of this requirement?
Rav Hirsch (Shemos 3:5) comments on this in relation to Moshe being told to remove his shoes at the burning bush:
“Understand the high destiny of the gr …
Possessed by Possessions Zevachim 23 Psychology of the Daf
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October 5th, 2025

Our gemara on amud aleph discusses the requirement of the Pesach sacrifice to be slaughtered and eaten only from those who registered as part of a group who share in that sacrifice. What is the psychological significance of such a requirement?
The Benei Yisaschar (Nisan 4:4) observes that the Paschal sacrifice takes place in the Spring season, an offering of sheep or goats, a hallmark of material wealth and success, at a time when those who ha …
Does the Cohen Make the Cut? Zevachim 22 Psychology of the Daf Yomi
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October 6th, 2025

Our Gemara on Amud Beis identifies an uncircumcised cohen as unfit for service in the Temple. Rashi says this refers to a person whose brothers died from circumcision, so it is unsafe for him to undergo it. Tosafos (Rabbenu Tam) here and in Yevamos (70a) disagrees. If it is unsafe for him to have a circumcision, he is not penalized. Rabbenu Tam says our Gemara’s case of an unfit uncircumcised cohen refers to one who is technically healthy enoug …
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