Shevuot 18 – The Proper Way To Withdraw

If one was cohabiting with a woman, and she told him "I have become a niddah" (that is, she sensed during the cohabitation that she has begun to menstruate), and he withdrew immediately (with a “live” organ [erection]) – he is liable to a sacrifice, since his exit is as pleasurable to him as his entry.

Therefore, as Abaye said, he is liable to two offerings. But, as Rava asked, how could it be two offerings? If he is a Sage, and he knows the rules, then he may liable to bring an offering for the entry, but as far as exit – he is doing it deliberately, and offerings are brought only for mistakes! And if he is an ignoramus, this is all one big mistake, and he brings one offering! Rava himself answered his question, explaining that we are dealing with an incomplete Sage, who does not know the prohibition to withdraw immediately, which makes it for him an unintentional mistake.

What should he do? He should "thrust his ten fingernails in the ground, like Joseph" (remain still until his organ becomes limp), and he is fortunate for having conquered his evil inclination.

Art: Le Verrou (The Bolt) by Jean-Honore Fragonard

Note to Eruvin 18 - Reincarnation of Manoach

"A man should not walk after a woman, and not even after his wife."

Regarding this, the Sages said that Manoach was an ignoramus since he "Followed his wife" when an angel invited them. However, Manoach could claim that he followed "The advice of his wife." 

To settle this, Manoach came back in reincarnation as Abba Chilkiya. People used to come to Abba Chilkiya to ask him to pray for rain. He and his wife would go to the roof of their house and pray, but the clouds would first appear on her side - just as the angel first came to the wife of Manoach. So Abba Chilkiya was proving that as Manoach, he followed "The advice of his wife." She also had an additional trait: when some ruffians appeared in their neighborhood and caused big trouble, Abba Chilkiya prayed that they die, whereas she prayed that they would reform - which they did.

Incidentally, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein would always let a woman in the door first.

Source:  "Gilgulei Neshamot" by Rabbi Menachem Meir of Fano.

Art: John Phillip (1817–1867) A Woman Praying

Sotah 22 – On falsehood

One who learned something about Torah but did not complete his education by learning the Talmud is called progressively an unlearned person, an ignoramus, one not trusted on any issue of kosher foods, and even an evil person. Why is all that? Because such people appear knowledgeable, but in reality, their opinions are not based on accurate knowledge.

Also despised are those who pretend to be modest and turn their eyes away from women, and as a result, they may bump into a wall or hit their foot against a stone, but it is all just a pretense. Evil is those who say, "Tell me how I can improve, and I will do it," which implies that they have already perfected themselves in their estimation.

King Yannai (who killed all members of the Sanhedrin) bequeathed this to his wife: not to be afraid of the Sages' vengeance because they are righteous and will not do wrong, and neither be afraid of the followers of King's Yannai sect, because they esteem her. She should only be scared of false people who pretend to be righteous like Pinchas, but their deeds are licentious as those of Zimri.

Art: Old Man Reading by Johannes Weiland

Bava Metzia 85 - Teaching Torah to Children (Finds)

Rabbi Tarfon used to take oaths, "May I bury my sons..." if something was false. After his death, Rebbi traveled to his locale and asked if he had any sons left. They told Rebbi that the son of Rabbi Tarfon's daughter was alive and that every harlot whose own price was two coins would hire him for eight. Rebbi told him, "If you repent, I will give you my daughter in marriage." He repented but did not marry her so that people would not say he repented just because of her.

Why did Rebbi go to such lengths to teach his friends' children? The one who teaches his fellow's son Torah merits to learn in the Heavenly Academy, and the one who teaches the son of an ignoramus can cancel decrees that God makes.

Art: The Three Candles by Marc Chagall

Shevuot 31 – Mnemonic: Defense, Ignoramus, Theft, Deceit

Occasionally the Talmud puts in mnemonics for those who are committing it to memory. They are also keys to a deeper meaning. This mnemonic is for the four of the thirteen teachings that can be derived from the phrase “Distance yourself from falsehood,” and here they are

* A judge should not defend his opinion about which he has doubts, merely to avoid embarrassment;
* He should not have an ignorant student assist him in judgment;
* He should not join another judge whom he knows to be a thief;
* If he has discerned that the witnesses are lying, he should not continue to judge, internally putting the blame on the witnesses;
* A student assisting a judge who sees an argument in favor of a poor man should not be silent about it;
* If a student sees his teacher making a mistake, he should not wait till the teacher concludes the judgment, for the student to demolish it and get honor;
* If a teacher tells his student “You know me, I won't lie. Someone owes me a maneh ($5,000), but I have only one witness – please be the second one” - the student should not be a witness;
* Six more...

Art: Andre Collin - Poor People

Niddah 33 – Cutheans' Purity

If a man emits seed, he becomes ritually impure for that day. In the same vein, if a woman had intercourse and later emitted the man's seed – as long as the seed is viable – she too becomes ritually impure for that day. We learn this from the giving of the Torah. Men were required to separate from their wives for three days in advance. Really, one day would be enough, but since seed remains alive in a woman's womb for three days, we learn from the law about a woman who emits man's seed.

Rami bar Chama asked, “What if a woman emits man's seed while she is counting her pure days, does it ruin her count?” Rava commented, “Because of Rami's sharpness, he asked a meaningless question.” However, the Talmud proves that the questions indeed had meaning.

Rav Pappa once came to the city of Tavach. He said, “If there is a smart scholar here, show him to me.” One elderly woman said, “We have a scholar, by the name of Rav Shmuel, and you should be like him.” Rav Pappa concluded, “If people bless me in his name, he must be truly a God-fearing person.”

Rav Shmuel slaughtered an ox for Rav Pappa, and then asked a question about Cutheans's purity that left Rav Pappa perplexed: why are their garments only doubtfully impure, while the garments of an ignoramus are definitely impure? Rav Pappa answered that we are dealing with a Cuthean Sage, but Rav Shmuel pointed out that from the rest of the story it did not look like that.

Art: Domenico Fetti - Portrait Of A Scholar