What is Talmud Tweets?

What is Talmud Tweets? A short, personal take on a page of Talmud - every day!

For several years now, I have been following the tradition of "Daf Yomi" - reading a set page of Talmud daily. With the start of a new 7 1/2 year cycle, I thought I would share a taste of what the Talmud offers, with a bit of personal commentary included. The idea is not to give a scholarly explanation. Rather, it is for those new to Talmud to give a little taste - a tweet, as it were - of the richness of this text and dialogue it contains. The Talmud is a window into a style of thinking as well as the world as it changed over the centuries of its compilation.

These are not literal "tweets" - I don't limit myself to 140 characters. Rather, these are intended to be short, quick takes - focusing in on one part of a much richer discussion. Hopefully, I will pique your interest. As Hillel says: "Go and study it!" (Shabbat 31a)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Shabbat 76 - Animal Feedstock

The Mishnah describes a minimum amount of animal feed which if carried outside on Shabbat constitutes a violation of the Shabbat laws:

ONE WHO CARRIES OUT A COW'S MOUTHFUL OF STRAW, A CAMEL'S MOUTHFUL OF PEA-STALKS [‘EZAH], A LAMB'S MOUTHFUL OF EARS OF CORN, A GOAT'S MOUTHFUL OF HERBS, MOIST GARLIC OR ONION LEAVES TO THE SIZE OF A DRIED FIG, [OR] A GOAT'S MOUTHFUL OF DRY [LEAVES], [IS CULPABLE].

What is interesting is that the amount is specific to the animal - what is considered a "mouthful" varies with the species. Rather than just specifying a universal standard (say a bale of hay), the rabbis require one to be thoughtful of the specific needs of the animal.

Not, of course that the animals are to go hungry on Shabbat! To the contrary, the Torah requires that one's livestock rest on Shabbat as well. Their needs have to be met before Shabbat with enough food to last the day.

Take care of your charges. And give them a Shabbat.
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