KESUVOS 25 (3 Av) - dedicated l'Iluy Nishmas Reb Aharon Dovid ben Elimelech Shmuel Kornfeld (Muncasz/Israel/New York), who passed away on 3 Av 5761, by his daughter Diane Koenigsberg and her husband Dr. Andy Koenigsberg. May his love for Torah and for Eretz Yisrael continue in all of his descendants.

[25a - 48 lines; 25b - 35 lines]

1)[line 16]במורם מן הקדשיםB'MURAM MIN HA'KODASHIM (CHAZEH V'SHOK)

(a)The chest and the hind leg of the Shelamim (peace offering) were waved in a prescribed manner and were then given as a gift to the Kohanim, as described in Vayikra (7:28-36). They may not be eaten by non-Kohanim, but both male and female members of the households of Kohanim may eat them.

(b)If a Bas Kohen marries a non-Kohen she may no longer eat from the Chazeh v'Shok. Even if her husband divorces her or dies, she may not eat the Chazeh v'Shok.

2)[line 17]חלהCHALAH

Whenever a person kneads a dough made from one of the five species of grain (wheat, barley, oats, rye, or spelt), he must separate a small portion to be given to the Kohen, as specified in Bamidbar 15:17-21. This portion is called Chalah. The requirement to separate Chalah with a Berachah only applies to a dough made from the volume of 43.2 Beitzim of flour (about 10 1/2 cups or 2.48 liters). An amount about half that much requires Chalah to be separated without a Berachah. A baker must separate 1/48 of his dough as Chalah, while a normal homeowner must separate 1/24.

3)[line 18]בסוריאB'SURIYAH- in Syria, an area which was captured by David ha'Melech. There is a Machlokes whether or not it was annexed to Eretz Yisrael, since its capture was considered a Kibush Yachid, a private capture. According to those who are of the opinion that Kibush Yachid is considered a Kibush, the obligation to separate Chalah applies there mid'Oraisa.

4)[line 18]מתנותMATANOS (MATNOS KEHUNAH)

(a)There are twenty-four gifts that non-Kohanim are required to give to Kohanim. Among these are the Zero'a, Lechayayim, and Keivah of a Kosher animal.

(b)When one slaughters an ox, sheep, or goat that are not Kodshim (consecrated to the Beis ha'Mikdash), he must give its Zero'a, Lechayayim, and Keivah to a Kohen (Devarim 18:3). The Zero'a includes the two upper bones of the right foreleg, from the knee until the top of the shoulder blade. The Lechayayim consists of the lower jaw, which extends from the joint where it is attached to the upper jaw until the thyroid cartilage, including the tongue. The Keivah is the maw along with its Chelev (surrounding fat), though Kohanim customarily allow the owner of an animal to keep the Chelev.

(c)Although one must give the Zero'a, Lechayayim and Keivah to a Kohen, they may be eaten by a non-Kohen.

5)[line 18]בכרכיןKERAKIN- big cities

6)[line 24]וכדאפיך להוUCHEDE'APICH LEHU- he reversed their decision

7)[line 28]וחילוק גרנותV'CHILUK GERANOS- and the distribution of a portion of Terumah at the threshing floor

8)[line 29]אלכסנדריאALEKSANDERIYA- Alexandria, Egypt

9)[line 41]ז' שכיבשו וז' שחילקוSHEVA SHE'KIVSHU V'SHEVA SHE'CHILKU

(a)It took seven years for the Jewish people under Yehoshua, to conquer Eretz Yisrael. It took another seven years to divide it amongst the tribes.

(b)Since regarding Chalah the Torah uses the word "b'Vo'achem" (when you come) and not the usual "Ki Tavo'u" when it describes entering the land of Israel, Chalah differs from the other Mitzvos that apply to the Land. The other Mitzvos took effect only after the seven years of conquest and the seven years of apportionment. Chalah, however, was separated as soon as they entered the Land.

10)[last line]וכי אסקינהו עזראV'CHI ASKINHU EZRA- and when Ezra brought them up (from Bavel to Eretz Yisrael)

25b----------------------------------------25b

11)[line 1]לאו כולהו סלוקLAV KULHU SALUK- not all of Bnei Yisrael went up [with Ezra from Bavel to Eretz Yisrael]

12)[line 6]מוחזקני בזהMUCHZEKANI B'ZEH- I know through Chazakah that this man is [a Kohen]

13)[line 24]חזייה לר''א בישותCHAZYEI L'REBBI ELAZAR BISHUS- he looked upon Rebbi Elazar with disdain (because Rebbi Elazar had not said over his words in the name of Rebbi Yochanan and consequently Reish Lakish had not accepted them)

14)[line 24]דבר נפחאD'VAR NAFCHA- the son of a blackshmith (i.e. Rav Yochanan; see Rashi Sanhedrin 95b)

15)[line 27]תסתייםTISTAYEIM- may we conclude as such...

16)[line 33]תסתייםTISTAYEIM- you may correctly conclude as such