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ShareInspired by last weeks mention of the primordial tongs from #Biblical creation story, join me to revisit another Daf with a VERY unexpected use of tongs. ⚠️ please note, this episode contains body horror and reptiles, viewer discretion is advised! 😱🐍#dafyomi #talmud
הַאי אִיתְּתָא דְּחָזְיָא חִיוְיָא, וְלָא יָדְעָה אִי יָהֵיב דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ אִי לָא יָהֵיב דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ — תִּשְׁלַח מָאנַהּ וְתִשְׁדֵּי קַמֵּיהּ, אִי מִכְרַךְ בְּהוּ דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ, וְאִי לָא — לָא יָהֵיב דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ.
A woman who is seen by a snake and does not know whether it has directed his attention toward her or whether it has not directed his attention toward her, she should remove her garment and throw it before the snake. If the snake wraps itself in the garments, it is an indication that it has directed his attention toward her; and if not, it is an indication that it has not directed his attention toward her.
מַאי תַּקַּנְתֵּהּ תְּשַׁמֵּשׁ קַמֵּיהּ. אִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּתָקֵיף לֵיהּ יִצְרֵיהּ! אֶלָּא תִּשְׁקוֹל מִמַּזְּיַהּ וּמִטּוּפְרַהּ וְתִשְׁדֵּי בֵּיהּ, וְתֵימָא: ״דִּישְׁתָּנָא אֲנָא״. הַאי אִיתְּתָא דְּעָיֵיל בַּהּ חִיוְיָא, לִיפַסְּעוּהָ וְלוֹתְבוּהָ אַתַּרְתֵּי חָבְיָתָא, וְלַיְתֵי בִּישְׂרָא שַׁמִּינָה וְלִישְׁדֵּי אַגּוּמְרֵי, וְלַיְתֵי אַגָּנָא דְּתַחְלֵי וְחַמְרָא רֵיחְתָנָא וְלוֹתְבוּ הָתָם, וְלִיטְרוֹקִינְהוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, וְלִינְקוֹט צְבָתָא בִּידֵהּ, דְּכִי מוֹרַח רֵיחָא — נָפֵיק וְאָתֵי, וְלִישְׁקְלֵיהּ וְלִיקְלְיֵיהּ בְּנוּרָא, דְּאִי לָא — הָדַר עִילָּוַהּ.
What is her remedy so the snake will leave her alone? She should have relations with her husband before the snake. Some say: If she has relations in front of the snake, all the more so that its desire will become stronger. Rather, she should take from her hair and her nails and throw them at the snake, and say the following to it as an incantation: I am a menstruating woman [dishtana]. A woman whom a snake has entered, let them spread her legs and place her on two barrels, and let them bring fatty meat and throw it onto coals. And let them bring her a bowl of cress and fragrant wine and place them there and mix them together. And she should take tongs in her hand, as when the snake smells the fragrance it emerges. And then one should take the snake and burn it in the fire, as if it is not burned, it will come back onto her.
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.
These videos are my authentic reactions, with commentary that's both heartfelt and comedic, and always centers Jewish joy.
My profound gratitude to René Michel, for connecting all the Daf Reactions videos to Sefaria source sheets. To paraphrase Rabbi Tarfon in Pirkei Avot 2:16: It is not your responsibility to finish the work, but you should really try or René might have coded it already!!
You can find me @MiriamAnzovin on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, (and also in some people’s minds, where I live rent free.)
