Siman - Shabbos Daf 28

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The tachash

R’ Yosef says that the Targum translates the word tachash, he animal whose beautiful hide was used for the Mishkan, as sasgona (ססגונא), which R’ Yosef explains to mean that “it rejoices in the beauty of its many colors” (שש בגוונין הרבה) .

Later on in the Daf we learn tha tR’ Illa said in the name of Reish Lakish that R’ Meir used to say that the tachash that existed in the days of Moshe was a unique species, and the sages could not decide if it was a beheimah or a chayah. It had a single horn in its forehead and it presented itself to Moshe for the need of the hour for its hides to be used for the cover of the Mishkan, and afterwards it was hidden.

Since the tachash had a single horn on its head it can be determined that it was a kosher animal, based on the rule that any horned animal can be presumed to be kosher. (Niddah 51b)

Tefillin straps, parchments and boxes

A Baraisa was brought that stated that the only hide fit for the service of Heaven (מלאכת שמים) is the hide of a kosher animal. The Gemara clarifies that the “service of Heaven” is referring to tefillin and the Baraisa is coming to teach specifically that the straps of the tefillin must come from a kosher animal.

We also learn that the requirement for the parchments and tefillin boxes to come from kosher hides, is learned from the passuk about tefillin, למען תהיה תורת ה' בפיך – so that the Torah of Hashem will be in your mouth. The Gemara explains that the passuk is requiring that the parts of tefillin that have Torah written upon them must be from an animal that is permissible to be eaten – מן המותר בפיך – from that which is permissible in your mouth.

Folded cloth and tumah

The Gemara on the next Mishnah begins with an explanation of the dispute whether folded cloth that is three by three fingerbreadths is mekabel tumah:

-R’ Eliezer holds that folding the cloth alone does not negate its status as a garment and therefore can be makebel tumah..

- The Ritva explains that a garment will only lose its status if the change has a lasting impact on it.

-R’ Akiva holds that folding the cloth does serve to negate the cloth’s status as a garment and therefore it is no longer mekabel tumah.

Siman – Strong man. The big strongman, whose colorful pet unicorn stood loyally by his side, sold kosher tefillin straps on the side of the road, wrapped up carefully in pure folded cloth. Key Words – tachash, tefillin, folded cloth

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Rabbi Avraham Goldhar

Rabbi Avraham Goldhar has been designing and teaching Jewish literacy courses for over thirty years. His knowledge frameworks for Biblical mastery, Jewish History, Talmudic Law & Jewish Holidays enable students of all backgrounds to better integrate Jewish concepts and learn systematically. After serving as the Educational Director of Aish HaTorah New York, Avraham launched GoldharSchool.com, Home of Big Picture Jewish Education, featuring Jewish literacy content for schools and individuals. He is the developer of the Goldhar Method, a revolutionary learning system that integrates memory into the learning process and has trained over 80,000 students, teachers and professionals. He lectures internationally on the topic of academic mastery and the solutions required to raise the bar in education. Avraham learned in Aish HaTorah, Mir, and Chaim Berlin and received his ordination under the tutelage of Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovits in Jerusalem.