Talking Talmud

Cases of disqualification of kohanim from doing the Temple service for all kinds of eye blemishes, from blindness to pale spots on the eyes or excess tears -- and how they are derived from the verses in Leviticus. Also, mishnayot! 1 - Blemishes that are unsightly physical blemishes, including eyes and other parts of the face. Plus, an assessment of Moshe's height -- based on that of the Tabernacle, so perhaps he was 10 amot high, which would have been too tall, and indeed a blemish of disproportion. 2- Additional blemishes - if a man has breasts that distend like those of a woman; if his stomach or navel protrudes; if he has occasional epileptic seizures; and more. Plus, Torah scholars should not worry about urinating in public -- it's a health concern, as compared to drinking water in public, which was considered uncouth. With examples of the Torah scholars who, indeed, urinated in public. 3 - A kohen who has no testicles, or only one - those are blemishes that get in the way of working in the Temple. But maybe tis is only if the testicles were crushed?

Blemishes that disqualify kohanim from doing the Temple service -- derived from the verses in Leviticus. There are 3 categories of blemishes -- 1. appear in kohanim and animals; 2. appear in kohanim and not animals. 3. rabbinic disqualifications, especially as "mar'it ayin," in terms of unusual appearances. Including, for example, baldness, where some degree of hair loss is acceptable, but not entirely. Connecting blemishes of a person and those of an animal, even though we often distinguish between humans and animals -- as found in a gezerah shavah from the words in the Torah's verses. Also, why does the Torah provide all of the cases it does? If a blemish is disqualifying, why would listing the details be necessary to begin with? Plus, 2 mishnayot! 1 - Eyebrow blemishes, when it comes to kohanim. 2. Eye placement or eye health blemishes, also when it comes to kohanim.

With regard to an animal that is an androgynos, with both male and female sexual organs, is not considered for a first-born status, because it's not uniquely male. With editorial comments, as it were, made about the baraita that establishes these standards. Also, a tannaitic dispute on a tumtum (human) -- if this person betroths a woman, we accept the kiddushin, because the tumtum might be male. And if a man betroths a tumtum -- also, we accept the kiddushin, because the person might be female. What if the tumtum is male, but also sterile? One who is sterile has different standing with regard to the marital rules -- in terms of yibum, for example.

Beginning with a couple of mishnayot -- on a calf whose tail doesn't reach down to the upper leg joint, which is considered to be a blemish. Imagine a camel to help picture the join on the animal, which is more pronounced on the camel. Also, blemishes in a first-born that don't lead to slaughtering outside of the Temple -- with a decently long list, including, eventually, the tumtum and androgynous in the context of animals, and not people. Also, delving into the question of the tumtum with hidden genitals, where the gender is not known, as compared to an androgynous, who truly has both male and female genitals, which couldn't be slaughtered in the Temple, in the case of error. Also, note phenomena that may be treated as a blemish, but maybe it's only a physical cut, and not a real and lasting blemish. Plus, the application of the categories of tumtum and androgynous to the animals. Also, Rabbi Yishmael's opinion on this serious blemish -- in contrast to the other sages, who focus on how it isn't necessarily a blemish.

There are 7 mishnayot on this daf! (though we'll save the last one for tomorrow). 1 - On testicles and the nature of testicular blemishes. 2 - On the fact that blemishes are not how things are supposed to be; for example, an animal that should have 4 legs, but instead has 3 or 5. 3 - On blemishes that are not immediately discernible. 4 - On the jaw of a first-born animal, where the lower jaw juts out farther than the upper jaw, and how that's a blemish. 5 - On extra cartilage in the ear, and how that's a blemish. 6 - A list of blemished animals, whether in the eye or the leg or the mouth/jaw or the ear or the testicles... and whether these blemishes are discernible.