Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Tuesday's Thoughts On the Daf - Nazir 19

During the Daf Yomi's journey (or should I say sprint) through shas there are many opportunities to observe the different types of grammar and terms that were used by the Amoraim found in each tractate. Sometimes terms that are used in one capacity in one mesechta are used differently in another. Nazir 18 and 19 are prime examples of this rule.

On Nazir 18b, the Gemara uses the term "Gufa" which usually connotes a return to a text that was previously discussed. However, on 18b, the word "Gufa" is used in conjunction with a return to a prior discussion, despite the fact that the text had never been previously cited in conjunction with the discussion. This point is made by Tosafos D'H "Is" who comments on the usual use of "Gufa" and how some versions of Nazir do not contain the "Gufa" word here because the use of the term is not appropriate in connection with the discussion. Of course the Bach also takes out the word "Gufa" but without the scholarly explanation contained in the Tosafos.

Another example of the difference in terms can be found on Nazir 19b. The Mishna contains a dispute about how long a period of nezirus must be kept in Israel by a person who took a vow of nezirus outside of Israel and then came to Israel after completing the observance of the nezirus period in the diaspora. Following this discussion, the gemara on Nazir 19b starts with the phrase "kitani reisha", which normally means "we learn in the first part of the Mishna." Tosafos D'H "Kitani" (found on Nazir 20a) states that there was no reason to state the term "kitani reisha" here and that it is just another example of how the language of Nazir is meshuna (different).

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