Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

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

Zevachim 21: כִּיּוֹר שֶׁלֹּא שִׁקְּעוֹ מִבָּעֶרֶב

jyungar October 5, 2025

For the source text click/tap here: Zevachim 21

To download, click/tap here: PDF

As we learned on yesterday’s daf there was a daily requirement for the kohanim to begin their day of Temple service with ritual washing of the hands and feet every morning.

The Gemara on our daf asks whether it would suffice if a kohen bathed his hands and feet in the basin of the kiyor, rather than using the water from the faucets. While the passage commanding the kohanim to wash says that Aharon and his sons should wash their hands and feet mimenu – from it, from the kiyor (see Shemot 30:19) – perhaps placing hands and feet into the kiyor would accomplish the same thing.

We explore the unique status of the laver and the way midrash derives women’s resistance and power from the mirrors plating it.

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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.​