Welcome to #DafReactions Zevachim 45: Out of Time
הִלְכְתָא לִמְשִׁיחָא?! אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, כֹּל שְׁחִיטַת קֳדָשִׁים לָא לִתְנֵי – הִלְכְתָא לִמְשִׁיחָא הוּא! אֶלָּא דְּרוֹשׁ וְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר; הָכָא נָמֵי, דְּרוֹשׁ וְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר. הָכִי קָאָמֵינָא לָךְ: הִלְכְתָא לְמָה לִי? לִישָּׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲלָכָה קָאָמֵינָא.
Does one issue a halakha for the messianic period, when the Temple will be rebuilt? Abaye said to him: If that is so, that such halakhot are not taught, let the tanna not teach all the halakhot of the slaughter of sacrificial animals, i.e., tractate Zevaḥim, as it is entirely a halakha for the messianic period. Rather, one studies these halakhot due to the principle of: Study Torah and receive reward, i.e., one is rewarded for the study of Torah regardless of its practical applicability. Here too, study Torah and receive reward. Rava said to him: This is what I am saying to you: Why do I need a practical ruling of halakha? According to another version, which presents the same answer in different terms, Rava said to him: I spoke in reference to the ruling of halakha, as it is puzzling that a halakhic ruling is given in this case.
What you just saw is part of The Daf Reactions Project, where I share my daily practice of studying the Babylonian Talmud (Daf Yomi) from the viewpoint of a formerly Orthodox, now secular, Millennial feminist.
I'm Miriam Anzovin—a Jewish nerd, storyteller, and artist. My passion is putting this ancient discourse in direct communication with modern internet culture, pop culture, and current events.
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