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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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Labor of Love Chulin 72
Author:
July 10th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses Torah and rabbinic rulings regarding the circumstances that a midwife would be rendered impure should she come in contact with a dead fetus while it is still within the mother. Technically speaking, according to Torah law, so long as it is within the mother, it does not radiate the impurity of a corpse. However, since it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the moment of birth, there is a rabbinic ruling that the …
The Man Makes His Clothes Chulin 71
Author:
July 10th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a unique aspect of ritual impurity relating to a house that has been declared “leprous” (as described in Vayikra 14:35). Vessels, clothes, and utensils which are brought into such a house are rendered impure immediately. However, a person does not become ritually impure until he remains in the home for the amount of time that it takes to consume a half loaf of bread. Apparently, some aspect of dwelling is req …
Ark Angels: Docility by Necessity Versus True Change Chulin 70
Author:
July 9th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis notes that in the linguistics of the biblical text, there are times where the word for wild animal (chaya) can also be connoted within the word for domesticated cattle (bahema). And, of course, based on context, there are times where the words chaya and bahema are more specific and limited to wild animal versus domesticated cattle.
In the story of the flood we find discrepant verses that refer to the animals which were …
The Whole Megillah: One Mitzvah and the Sanctification That Spreads Chulin 69
Author:
July 8th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph references the halacha whereby if one dedicates a limb of an animal to be an olah, the sanctification spreads and the entire animal becomes an olah.
The idea that sanctification can spread automatically from one limb to the whole entity is understood to be true in a larger sense as well, that a spiritual awakening can take root in a small way and then expand. The Chasam Sofer (V’zos Haberacha 3) uses this to explain …
Face Value: The Divine Image in Human Features Chulin 68
Author:
July 7th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses at what point during labor is a human or animal fetus considered birthed so as to be considered the firstborn? In further discussion, the Gemara asserts that one cannot derive the Halachos of human birth from animal birth, as a human has a face (partzuf), which is so distinct that it might be considered birthed as soon as the head exits the womb.
Anyone who has been around animals knows that animals have face …
Disgusting Is a Matter of Perspective Chulin 67
Author:
July 6th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a practice of Ravina. Technically, worms that gestate inside the fish are kosher. Still, seeing them might be disgusting. So Ravina instructed his mother: “Conceal the fish’s worms inside it so I cannot see them, and I will eat the fish.”
This might not be merely an aesthetic matter, but it is a Torah prohibition to engage in something that feels disgusting, subjectively or objectively. Let’s take a cl …
Fishing for Truth Chulin 66
Author:
July 5th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis noted that though the signs of a kosher fish are fins and scales, in fact every fish that has scales also has fins. The Gemara then asks, if so, why did the Torah bother to write fins and scales? Why not just write every kosher fish has scales and that would be sufficient? The Gemara answers:
“It is written: ‘…To make Torah great and glorious’ (Isaiah 42:21). God consequently expanded some aspects of the Torah m …
Wing and a Prayer: Rav Pappah’s Harmonizing Legacy Chulin 65
Author:
July 3rd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph has a ruling by Rav Pappah that integrates the opinion of two sages regarding the wings of the kosher grasshoppers:
“Any grasshopper that has four legs, and four wings, and two additional jumping legs, and whose wings cover most of its body, is kosher. The Gemara asks: What is considered most of its body? Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Most of its length. And some say that he said: Most of its circumference. Rav Papp …
Eggselent Behavior Chulin 64
Author:
July 3rd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes the features of eggs from kosher birds versus eggs from non-kosher birds:
“Any egg that narrows at the top and is rounded, so that one of its ends is rounded (kad) and the other one of its ends is pointed (chad), is kosher. If both of its ends are rounded or both of its ends are pointed, they are non-kosher.”
Likkutei Halachos (Y.D., Laws of Eggs 2 and 4) discusses the secret meaning contained within t …
A Strange Bird and Messianic Aspirations Chulin 63
Author:
July 2nd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes a legendary bird, that if it shrieks in a particular manner, indicates that the Messiah is coming:
“Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Why is it called the raḥam? Because when the raḥam comes to Eretz Yisrael, mercy [raḥamim] comes to the world, as it appears at the beginning of the rainy season. Rav Beivai bar Abaye said: And it is a sign of rain only when it sits on something and makes a sherakrak sound. And it …
Din and Bear It: The Hidden Math of Heavenly Judgment Chulin 62
Author:
July 1st, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph questions the practice of the people of Kefar Temarta, who ate the zarzir bird even though it was deemed as non-kosher. The response was that their practice was without basis in tradition and “They too will be accountable in judgment in the future.”
Presumably, the future the Gemara is referring to is the afterlife, where a person is judged for his sins. The phrase in Hebrew was “Liten es ha-din.” This phrase i …
Raven Lunatic: Making Peace With the Necessary Shell Chulin 61
Author:
June 30th, 2026

Our Gemara discusses the fact that a Raven possesses two features of kosher birds, though still not kosher. There are animals that have some qualities of kosher, but still do not have all of them. Nothing God does is without purpose or design, so the mystics will find meaning in the Raven’s partial qualifications.Rav Tzaddok (Kometz Hamincha 2:24) says the evil and good forces often are superficially similar because the evil is like the shell o …
The Moons Complaint and the Sin We Inherited Chulin 60
Author:
June 29th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the strange and cryptic aggadah regarding the diminishment of the moon. As the story goes, at the dawn of creation, the moon slyly suggests to God that it does not make sense that two kings share the same crown. In other words, he was hinting that the sun and the moon together should not be equal, and between the lines lobbying that he should be the superior one. In response to this impudence, God shrank the moon …
Kindness to the Clan: The Chasidah’s Conditional Charity Chulin 59
Author:
June 21st, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the signs of a -kosher bird: “Any bird that claws its prey and eats it is non-kosher.”Ramban (Vayikra 11:13) famously remarks that the quality of cruelty that is involved in being a bird of prey is what renders the animal non-kosher. Eating such animals will somehow transfer this quality into the soul, and therefore we must abstain.
Sefer Daf al Daf quotes a question on this Ramban. The Gemara (63a) discu …
The Power of Lenient: Why Playing It Safe Isn’t Always Pious Chulin 58
Author:
June 26th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph references a famous Talmudic legal dictum: “Koach D’Heteirah Adif,” the power of leniency is considered legally and morally superior. That is, if it is at all possible, finding a legitimate leniency is admirable, and also a worthy motivator and object of study.The Shalah (Aseres HaDibros, Shevuos, Ner Mitzvah) explains and expands on this idea beautifully. It is worth quoting him directly, as it reveals an important …
The Ant, the Angels, and the Difference Between Doubt and Wonder Chulin 57
Author:
June 19th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses how Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta earned the title “Researcher of Matters.” Having learned the verses in Mishle (6:6-8): “Go to the ant, you lazy one; consider her ways, and be wise; which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her bread in the summer,” Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta actually went out to study ants and see if indeed they really had no king ordering them around.
Tosafos here raises an i …
Knowing Your Role: The Order That Works Chulin 56
Author:
June 25th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis remarks on the complexity of the human organs, and how they were designed by God to function in a particular sequence and hierarchy. When this is disrupted, sometimes even in minor ways, catastrophic dysfunction may follow. The observation was particularly pointed in regard to the intestines which seem lengthy and convoluted, but must follow a particular system, and if that system is tangled or changed, the body is in dang …
The Wound That Won’t Heal: When Harm Has a Human Hand Chulin 55
Author:
June 24th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes a distinction regarding a lung that is found to be shriveled. If it became shriveled due to natural causes, such as the animal was frightened from thunder or lightning, it is not a tereifa. However, if it became shriveled from fright caused by the hand of man, such as the animal saw someone slaughter another animal, it is tereifa.Sefer Daf al Daf on our Gemara quotes the Chidushei Hari”m that this teaching supp …
Chasing Peace, Not Winning the War Chulin 54
Author:
June 23rd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis reflects on the great deference for a mitzvah at the time that it is performed. Workers are not obligated to stand up before a sage so as not to disrupt their productivity, yet when the Bikkurim fruits pass by they do stand. The emphasis is on the mitzvah while performing it, that is to say, the moment of fulfillment has a particular holiness that is different than its idea or related preparations.
As great as a mitzvah …
The Power of Departure Chulin 53
Author:
June 22nd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph continues to discuss various elements of animal instinct and psychology, which, as we discussed on yesterday’s daf, are aspects of animal psychology that can be true for humans as well, to the extent that they can be dominated by animal instincts. Additionally, as we discussed in the previous daf, according to the tradition of tereifos, certain predatory animals inject a venomous poison from their claws. Therefore, cert …
Feeding the Beast—or Taming It? Chulin 52
Author:
June 21st, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses an interesting aspect of animal psychology, which, as we shall see, is true for humans as well, to the extent that they can be dominated by animal instincts. As it says in Koheles (3:19), “There is no difference between man and beast.”According to the tradition of tereifos, certain predatory animals inject a venomous poison from their claws. Therefore, certain small punctures can still render an animal a tere …
Sheepish Aggression Chulin 51
Author:
June 19th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses an interesting case of animal anatomy and human psychology. By way of introduction, one of the forms of injury that can render an animal tereifa is risuk eyvarim, an internal shattering of the limbs, which we suspect occurs if an animal experiences certain impacts or sudden falls. Obviously, animals are quite resilient, and therefore the Halacha has numerous conditions under which we assume that the animal is fi …
Making the Rounds Chulin 50
Author:
June 19th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a process of comparing perforations in the intestines to determine if the perforation happened prior to death or after, which makes a difference as to whether the animal is a tereifa or not. The Hebrew word used for “compare” is “makif”.Usually the word makif means to encircle, such as in the prohibition to round the corners of the temple hairs, as in (Vayikra 19:27): “Do not round (sakifu) the corners …
Blessings in the Pipeline Chulin 49
Author:
June 18th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph raises the question: If the kohanim bless the people, who blesses the kohanim? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak’s answer is that it comes from God’s promise to Abraham: “And I will bless them that bless you” (Genesis 12:3). All who bless the Jewish people are blessed themselves.
Be’er Mayyim Chaim (Shemos 25:2) explains this as an almost mechanistic function. Since you give the blessing, the Godly flow is channeled …
Breath of Freedom Chulin 47
Author:
June 16th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the anatomy of the lung and its five lobes. Later, the Gemara on 49a notes that the lungs bring light to the eyes.As we often observe in Psychology of the Daf, to the mystic, a natural physical or anatomical phenomenon is meaningful in spiritual dimensions as well, since the physical world is a lower-form reflection of a deeper truth. The process of lungs filling up with air that gives a good feeling, or the sen …
Stand Your Ground or Run? Lessons for Crisis and Courage Chulin 46
Author:
June 15th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph records an incident that occurred between the sages Rav Yosef, Rabbah and Rav Zeira, who discussed the Halachos of what part of the liver must remain connected:
“A certain occupying Royal army came to Pumbedita, and Rabba and Rav Yosef fled the city, whereupon Rabbi Zeira met them. Rabbi Zeira said to them: Refugees, hear this halakha: The olive-bulk that the Sages said must remain of the liver so the animal will rem …
You Are What You Eat: The Meaning of Matter Chulin 42
Author:
June 11th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a verse (Vayikra 11:2) which is the introduction to the Torah’s list of kosher and non-kosher animals:
“These are the living things (chaya) which you may eat among all the beasts (beheima).”
Hebrew can be ambiguous. “Living things” can be read as “life things.” In addition, the Zohar (Shemini 41a) notes the discrepancy between the beginning of the verse. It starts with wild animals (chaya) and e …
Against the Stars: Miracles, Fate, and the Witness Protection Program of the Soul Chulin 43
Author:
June 12th, 2026

Chulin 43
Against the Stars: Miracles, Fate, and the Witness Protection Program of the Soul
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses whether a perforated gallbladder renders an animal into a tereifa or not. There is a general rule that an animal who is a tereifa will not live past one year. The Gemara uses a verse in Iyov (16:13) where he describes his gallbladder spilling out as result of being pierced by arrows, and yet we know Iyov continued t …
Against the Stars: Miracles, Fate, and the Witness Protection Program of the Soul Chulin 43
Author:
June 12th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses whether a perforated gallbladder renders an animal into a tereifa or not. There is a general rule that an animal who is a tereifa will not live past one year. The Gemara uses a verse in Iyov (16:13) where he describes his gallbladder spilling out as result of being pierced by arrows, and yet we know Iyov continued to live. This should prove that a perforated gallbladder is not a tereifa. However, the Gemara rebu …
The Shamirs Edge: Technology, Humility, and Solomons Downfall Chulin 41
Author:
June 10th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis continues the discussion from the previous daf regarding potentially idolatrous practices that can turn a slaughter into a pagan sacrifice, or give the appearance of such. Our Gemara mentions an entity known as the “Ministering Angel of the Sea.” As we discussed on yesterday’s daf, Judaism has traditions about these entities, and acknowledging their existence is not idolatrous; though treating them as a deity is forb …
Do Away With the Middleman: Channeling or Praying Chulin 40
Author:
June 9th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses various idolatrous intentions that constitute slaughter as pagan sacrifice and forbidden. One such example is slaughtering for “Michoel the great ministering angel.”
This is an intriguing point. It is not as if Judaism does not believe in the entity. Michoel the great ministering angel is one of the few angels mentioned by name in Tanach (Daniel 10:13), and serves as an interlocutor on behalf of Israel (s …
Prayer with Backbone Chulin 45
Author:
June 15th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses how a severed spinal cord renders the animal a tereifah. The Baal Hatanya (Likkutei Torah Balak 3) observes that the spinal cord is not counted as one of the 248 limbs in the body according to Talmudic medical tradition. Yet, despite it not being a specific limb, it serves a vital purpose as a conduit of the life force from the brain to the rest of the parts of the body. Therefore, even though it is not a limb, i …
Eyes in Your Head: The Light of Truth and the Wisdom of Self Honesty Chulin 44
Author:
June 12th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a verse in Koheles (2:14): “The wise have their eyes in their head whereas the fools walk in darkness.” The unwise person is metaphorically represented as a fool in darkness. Why this metaphor? Darkness is something that blocks the person from seeing reality. Just like in the darkness, one cannot see obstacles that are truly there; in a certain state of mind one cannot see the truth that’s right in front of h …
Tower of Ambition: Intent, Action, and the Sins of Technology Chulin 39
Author:
June 8th, 2026

Tosafos on Amud Aleph (“Retzono Lomar”) draws a distinction between an idolatrous thought that remains as thought only, even as expressed as an intention, such as, “I will worship such and such…” — though forbidden, is not punishable by earthly court. However, an idolatrous thought and intention which is carried through via an action which supports it, is punishable. Therefore if one declares he will sprinkle blood or make some other …
Born Ready: Creation, Maturity, and the Age of the Universe Chulin 38
Author:
June 7th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the law that a sacrifice cannot be brought from an animal that is less than eight days old. Merafsin Igra asks: the Rambam (Bais HaBechira 2:2) records a tradition that Adam brought a sacrifice the day he was created. But how could this be a kosher sacrifice, since by definition it could not have been eight days old? He answers that this restriction only applies to an animal born from a mother. As the verse says …
You Are What You Eat: Kashrus, Humanity, and the Rambams Blunt Truth Chulin 37
Author:
June 5th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis relates the prophet Yechezkel’s reaction to a draconian directive he received from God to eat bread baked over human dung (Yechezkel 4:14.) “Ah, Lord God, my soul has not become impure; and from my youth until now I have not eaten an unslaughtered carcass or a tereifa, and no piggul flesh came into my mouth.” Yechezkel’s argument is that since he was exceedingly careful about his kashrus, he should be spared from s …
Wait for Eliyahu: When Halacha Defers to a Higher Era Chulin 36
Author:
June 5th, 2026

Rashi on Amud Aleph (“Tolin”) speaks of a halachic question that the Gemara decides will wait until “Eliyahu Hanavi comes and answers the question.” The Maharitz Chayes on our Gemara raises a question. Rashi himself in Shabbos (108a, “mai”) states that we do not look to Eliyahu to resolve halachic questions, as “the Torah is not in heaven (Bava Metzia 59b).” We only use Eliyahu to resolve practical factual questions. (Also see end …
Above the Fray: Purity, Dignity, and the Sages Quiet Authority Chulin 35
Author:
June 4th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the stringencies of purity that a Talmid Chacham, particularly one who takes the vows of becoming a chaver (as outlined in Bechoros 30b), must observe. They consider the clothes of an am ha’aretz (non-learned person) to be at the level of impurity of a zav. In fact there were many additional levels, such as those who ate Terumah, those who ate maaser sheini, and those who ate Kodashim, with each level consider …
Mixed Feelings: The Etymology of Tears, Torah, and Terumah Chulin 34
Author:
June 3rd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis uses dema to describe sacred terumah that is mixed with profane food. This word, dema, has a mysterious etymology. The Gemara Temurah (4a) indicates that the word dema comes from a verse (Shemos 22:28) that uses a word with a similar root in the context of harvested produce. Rashi (Temurah 4a) says Terumah is called dema because it can be nullified by mixing, and dema means to mix. Interestingly, Rashi on Chumash (ibid) sa …
The Brothers Defense: Nationalism, Halacha, and the Limits of Righteous Rationale Chulin 33
Author:
June 2nd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph explains a legalism that ends up creating a more stringent halacha for gentiles than Jews. Both Jew and gentile are prohibited from eating flesh or organs harvested from an animal while it is alive. While we cannot know the reasons for the commandments, some are more obvious than others. In the days before modern refrigeration, a method to keep meat fresh was to keep the rest of the animal alive. However, this is cruel an …
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