Beitza 27a-b

1- We spoke about the laws Bechor.

Our Gemara discusses the reluctance of some בכור experts to rule regarding a מום on Yom Tov, and that we don’t necessarily take owner’s (Kohen’s) word for it, and he may have to bring proof and or witnesses that he didn’t cause the Mum. We also learned the source of the prohibition of – גרמא – causing the mum.

Now these experts lived in בבל so it would seem obvious that בכור laws apply in Chutz L’Oretz.

 

As an introduction to next week, we introduced the special prohibition of burning impure kodshim on Yom Tov, from a גזירת הכתוב.

 

גרסאות ברמב”ם  2

 

We spoke about the Rambam where he seems to write that the laws of Bechor do not apply outside of Eretz Yisroel!

 

Many Rishonim argued on the Rambam bringing proof from many places in Shas, including our Gemara as one source, that this mitzvah does indeed apply in  חוץ לארץ.

 

We mentioned the Kesef Mishna who writes that the manuscripts of the Rambam these ראשונים possessed was in error. See here as well.

 

3- Mentioned the various manuscripts of the Ramban and the authoritative one that the Rambam kept in his possession that he edited as needed.

One famous correction, which originally raised much controversy against the Rambam, was his take on the meaning of דברי סופרים

Good read on this topic.

http://asif.co.il/download/kitvey-et/gulot/gulot1/06(2).pdf

 

4- We spoke about the fact that once a Bechor is born the YIsroel needs to take care of it only for a limited time. Thereafter the Kohen must accept it and take care of it until it becomes a בעל מום.  

 

הכהן מוכרח לקבלו.

http://beta.hebrewbooks.org/tursa.aspx?a=yd_x6852

5- We reviewed the Alter Rebbe’s ‘sale document’ of the בכור to a goy and the story of the מום in the ear of a Bechor in Liadi!

סדר מכירת חמץ לבהמה המבכרת

http://beta.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=25074&st=&pgnum=469

6- We related the question posed decades ago to Reb Moshe Feinstein as to why he joined the מחלוקת in regard to artificial insemination. His response was based on the story with Rav, who was given Semicha by Rebbi, but excluded Semicha to rule in cases of a Bechor.

The point being that once a person has the knowledge and Smicha ‘sitting on the fence’ is not an option.