(Please include header and footer when redistributing this material.)
_________________________________________________________________
THE DAFYOMI DISCUSSION LIST
brought to you by Kollel Iyun Hadaf of Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE TO DISCUSS THE DAF WITH THE KOLLEL]
________________________________________________________________
Menachos 087a: Speaking around wine and incense
Robert Karr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> asked:
Why is is good to speak to basomemin and be quiet around wine?
Rob Karr
-----------
The Kollel replies:
It seems that the Gemara is simply telling us of a physical effect, perhaps
relating to the vibrations of the air caused by speech. Wine, which is a
liquid which is left to rest perfectly still in order that the dregs do not
become mixed with the wine, is perhaps adversely affected by such
vibrations, while Ketores, which is made through *grinding*, is
beneficially affected by them.
Aside from the physical affects, there might be allegorical allusions in
the Gemara's statement as well. See for instance, what we brought in Yosef
Da'as in the name of Rav Kook, Z'L.
Another allegorical allusion might be related to the fact that wine
represents sin that is brought about by involvement in the physical
pleasures (since it involves imbibing an intoxicating potion into the
body), see Sanhedrin 70a. Ketores, on the other hand, is a source of the
metaphysical pleasures of the soul (since the sense of smell involves
deriving pleasure from something that cannot be seen; the Gemara in
Berachos 25a, 43a, cites the Pasuk "Kol ha'*Neshamah* Tehalel Kah" to
describe the pleasures of smell).
We find in Chulin 89b that a person should use his mouth only for the study
of Torah; any use for non-Torah discussion is detrimental. Hence, speech is
damaging to "wine" (i.e. if used for physical purposes, it can only cause
damage), but it is helpful for "Ketores," i.e. the metaphysical.
Be well, Mordecai Kornfeld
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] with this text in the body of the message:
unsubscribe daf-discuss
