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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Rhododaphne Oleander

Pesachim 39: Maror as Hirduf or Mad Honey?

jyungar December 30, 2020

For the source text click/tap here: Pesachim 39

To download, click/tap here:  PDF

Our Daf is in the process of identifying the species which is referred to as “מרור “(Ex 12:8) for fulfillment of the Torah’s mitzvah to consume it on Pesach.[1]

The Mishnah and Baraisa provide an extensive list of vegetables which qualify for this mitzvah. Among them is horseradish, romaine lettuce, endives, palm ivy or succory.

The Gemara then suggests an additional species, hirduf— a piece of wood (possibly oleander bush, an evergreen shrub, the type thrown into the water at Marah by Moshe to miraculously sweeten the water)—for consideration as maror.

This species is identified by Rashi as ruscus, however more likely the species of Rhododaphne Oleander and how Mad Honey stopped Pompey’s army.

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​