About this episode
Today's daf is sponsored by Debbie Gevir to commemorate the 3rd Yarzheit of her dear father, Joseph Gindsberg on the 17th of Cheshvan. "Amongst his many unique qualities, my father had a love for language and a particular expertise in using it to enhance Torah reading and liturgical practice. I am sure he would be proud to know that my Aramaic is improving daily by learning daf yomi with Rabbanit Michelle Farber, and my wonderful hevrutot! Yehi zichro Baruch." Any by Sylvia Simmons in memory of her grandmother Rachel Wohl (Rachel Leah bat Avraham Mordechai) on her yahrzeit today. And anonymously in memory of the Rav Shach, Elazar Menachem Man ben Ezriel. From where do we know that the year for taking tithes of grains, grapes and olives is determined based on when they have reached a third of their growth? Rabbi Yirmiya questions how can the rabbis know exactly when a fruit has reached a third. Rabbi Zeira gets upset with him and insists that the rabbis can be precise in their measurements. Rabbi Yirmiya is convinced by Rabbi Zeira's answer and brings an example from the Omer sacrifice the first year the Jews were in the land of Israel and proves from there that they must have been precise about determining that the food had not reached a third of its growth the previous year when it was owned by gentiles. However, his proof is rejected as it is possible that food had not even reached a quarter of its growth before the new year had started. The proof brought earlier regarding the grains, grapes, and olives that the determining date is when they have reached a third of their growth, is rejected and a different proof text is brought. A Mishna from Shviit 2:7 establishes that rice, millet and other items are considered shmita produce if they took root during the shmita year. However, this doesn't seem to match what we have learned that trees go by when they budded, grains, grapes and olives when they reach a third. and vegetables by when they are cut. The time of taking root is a rabbinic law to prevent issues like one taking truma and maaser from produce that took root the previous year on produce that too root this year. Why can't they use a different solution - mix it all together and take tithes from the mixture and likely there will be some percentage of this year's produce and some from last and that should cover what is needed to be taken for both years (this process is called bila ), as Rabbi Shimon Shezuri had suggested. Shmuel is quoted as saying that we rule like Rabbi Shimon Shezura. However, he is also quoted as saying we do not allow bila , other than for liquids. brings three different statements of Shmuel regarding this issue and they seem to contradict each other. A third statement of Shmuel is brought to resolve the contradiction, however, it is not yet clear how it resolves it.