Chagigah 17: Keep Your Goals Modest
Talking Talmud - A podcast by Yardaena Osband & Anne Gordon
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A new mishnah! With a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai (with some background on their disputes), over whether semichah - the laying of hands on the holiday. Beit Shammai says the fully burnt offerings can't be brought on the holiday anyway, because they aren't eaten. But when the festival of Shavuot falls out on Shabbat, and there is a korban olah (that is fully burnt), then when can you bring it? Since Shavuot doesn't have any Chol HaMoed! Note the historical context to the Shavuot debate - because the Sadducees insisted that every Shavuot fall out on Shabbat, where the sages did not. Plus, a mnemonic for 6 halakhic differences between Shemini Atzeret and Sukkot - with a focus here on tashlumin. Also, the life lesson: if you aim for too much, you won't achieve it, but if you keep your goals modest, you'll meet them - a principle learned in the context of the number of days of these holidays.