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)

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Shabbat 4 - Space and Intention

More of moving objects across boundaries on Shabbat: public to private or the reverse.

One of the issues involves throwing - an object which comes to rest in the opposing space is considered as if handed (a forbidden action). What if it is tossed from a private to a private but over a public space (or vice versa)? "Rabbi holds him liable; but the Sages exempt him."

How high above the space (less than 10 handbreadths) matters, and intention matters. A general principle:

"All who are liable to sin-offerings are liable only if the beginning and end [of the forbidden action] are unwitting."

If you are a bad shot (oops!) looks like you may get a pass.
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