The rabbis assert that a gezera shava, an analogy based on shared words, explains a number of teachings. Kemitza, the offering of three fingersful of barley flour, is based on "yad-yad", finger-finger. Chalitza, the marriage of a widow to her brother-in-law, is based on "regel-regel", foot-foot. When a slave chooses to stay with the master who then pierces his/her ear, "ozen-ozen", ear-ear, is the reference used.
Each of these is discussed and questioned. One of the points mentioned is whether or not the left hand can be used for kemitza.
The rabbis consider why blood spilled on the floor - not collected in a vessel - is patul, unfit because of a defect. This particularly unpleasant section discusses different types of blood, how that blood should be disposed of, and what should be done with the veins and arteries that hold the blood being collected.
The rabbis then consider the airspace, which is patul, and how it might affect a consecrated item that passes from one sanctified place to another. It might be blood being poured from a vessel to another vessel, for example. The rabbis go on to discuss other imperfections and their in-between status. Small blemishes might be the end of some offerings, but they might be salvageable with some creative thinking.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment