About this episode
Today's daf is sponsored by Jessica Jobanek and Harold Kingsberg in celebration of the second birthday of their beloved son Shmuel Meir (Sammy). "We love you and learn from you every day." Rabba bar bar Chana tells stories about when an Arab showed him the people who died in the desert ( dor hamidbar ), Mount Sinai, and the earth where Korach and his followers were killed. Each place seemed to have magical powers associated with it. More stories are told about unique creatures that were seen by people when traveling on boats. After mentioning the tanin in a story, the Gemara digresses to discuss what kind of creature was the tanin . Some identify it as the leviathan. They also discuss the unusual power and the limitations of these and other gigantic or unique creatures.