daf bit: Bechorot 45

The rabbis are very concerned with who is qualified to serve as a kohein (priest) in the temple, beyond the requirement to be of that tribe. If the kohein isn't fit for service then his offerings might not be accepted by God, after all, and if he's doing it on behalf of the whole community then everyone is affected. A mishna on today's daf says that if one has equal strength in both hands Rabbi declares him unfit but the sages declare him fit. The g'mara says the same about left-handedness, either because of extreme weakness in the right hand or extreme strength in the left: one master forbids but the sages accept. (45a mishna, 45b g'mara)

This is a rare victory (in pre-modern times) for lefties and the ambidextrous. I approve. :-)

Shabbat is when now?

I had not previously heard that Samoa is moving across the international date line this week, meaning that they will go from 11:59PM Thursday to 12:00AM Saturday, skipping Friday. This raises an interesting question for any Jews living there -- when is Shabbat?

According to one answer there, now it'll be Sunday -- we count days, not secular designations.

(Testing mobile posting.)