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)

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Eruvin 82 – Giving Consent

A new chapter of Mishnah (chapter 8) begins on this page. The first Mishnah here describes the process of declaring a shittuf (partnership) which extends the Shabbat boundaries beyond the 2000 cubit limit of a town. The owner of a container of foodstuffs (jar of wine or fruit, for example) which is to be held in common sets it down as says:

“BEHOLD THIS IS FOR ALL THE INHABITANTS OF MY TOWN, FOR ANY ONE WHO MAY DESIRE TO GO TO A HOUSE OF MOURNING OR TO A HOUSE OF FEASTING”.

With this declaration, the Mishnah continues:

ANY ONE WHO ACCEPTED [TO RELY ON THE ‘ERUB] WHILE IT WAS YET DAY (Friday) IS PERMITTED [TO ENJOY ITS BENEFITS]

From this, two things are understood. One is that the travel extension can only apply for those performing a religious action (comforting the bereaved or celebrating with bride and groom). The second is that the extension has to be accepted by the user.

The discussion then centers on those who may not be able to “accept” – for example a child.

R. Assi said: A child of the age of six may go out by the ‘erub of his mother.

There is a great deal of discussion about the age of a dependent child – mostly focusing on ages younger than six. How is “dependent” defined? Is it age or ability? But that is not all:

Our Rabbis taught: A man may prepare all ‘erub for his son or daughter, if they are minors, and for his Canaanite bondman or bondwoman, either with, or without their consent. He may not, however, prepare an ‘erub for his Hebrew manservant or maidservant, nor for his grownup son or daughter, nor for his wife, except with their consent.

Those who are free and able to give their consent, must be allowed to do so.

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