daf bit: Temurah 7

(Today's daf is 8 but doesn't summarize well.)

This tractate begins with a discussion of exchanging animals that have been consecrated for other animals. This is forbidden by the torah but, if done anyway, takes effect, so there is discussion of the details. The mishna teaches: kohanim are allowed to exchange animals that belong to them and so are Israelites, but priests cannot exchange a sin-offering or guilt-offering. Why not? Because those offerings belong to the one who brings them until they are slaughtered, so before then they do not belong to the kohein and therefore he can't exchange them for different animals. So what about firstlings, which kohanim take possession of earlier (without slaughter)? This is complicated and controversial. (7b mishna, 8 g'mara on firstlings)

I'm having trouble following the argument on 8. Sorry.

Shalom Hartman this summer

I just registered for the Shalom Hartman Institute summer program in Jerusalem (after confirming a sane refund policy in case the region goes pear-shaped in the meantime). My rabbi recommended this program a few years ago and I've been eying it every year, and this year the stars aligned (dates, interesting topic, timely responses to email queries). It sounds like a great experience and I'm excited to finally be going.

I'm also kind of nervous -- not about the program, and not about the Iran thing (I can always bail), but rather about being a solo international traveler. This will only be my second time off the continent and the first time I went with a tour group so I didn't have to personally arrange anything, and somebody was steering us in useful directions. Those of you who've done this "foreign travel" thing, this is your enthusiatic invitation to tell me anything you think I ought to know, no matter how big or small.

Whee! Eeek!