The Importance of a Secret
This Gemara tells over several teachings in the names of the סבי דפומבדיתא
Who are the סבי דפומבדיתא, the Elders of Pumbeditha?
סנהדרין י״ז, ב
סבי דפומבדיתא רב יהודה ורב עינא
The phrase: The Elders of Pumbedita, is referring to Rav Yehuda and Rav Eina
The Gemara Chagigah 13a tells us an interesting story about the סבי דפומבדיתא
רב יוסף …
It’s What is Brought that Counts
This section of the Gemara discusses a scenario where the ladder or wall giving access was built out of wood from an Asheira Tree. Since an Asheira tree is idolatrous, It is forbidden to derive benefit from the wood. There are many times in the Gemara where this form of idolatry is mentioned. Let us take a closer look to understand the Asheira phenomenon and what was the nature of its prohibition :
The first …
Eruvin 77
This Gemara mentions a סולם המצרי, literally an Egyptian Ladder, which according to the Talmud’s definition is a small ladder which has less than four rungs. What is this Egyptian ladder? Were the Egyptians midgets?
The term comes up in only one other place in the Talmud, and that is in Mishna Bava Basra 3:6
סֻלָּם הַמִּצְרִי אֵין לוֹ חֲזָקָה, וְלַצּוֹרִי יֶשׁ לוֹ חֲ …
An Empty Vessel Makes a Loud Noise
סְתָם גּוֹי, אִי אִיתָא דְּאוֹגַר — מִיפְעָא פָּעֵי.
The Gemara answers: This is not so, as a typical gentile, if he had rented out his domain, he would chatter about it, and everyone would know. If he has not talked about it, everyone will assume that he did not rent out his domain.
This is an unusual statement, made about 3 times in shas. How is this princi …
