Yoma 85: Life and Death

Talking Talmud

More on pikuach nefesh. The case of the person who is buried under a collapsed building. Painful, today, in the context of the ongoing search in Surfside, Florida. The discussion becomes a more abstract, yet very practical discussion of how we know when a person is alive. Which brings is to the development of a fetus and the question of the beginning of life in utero. And yet, the conditions may differ for pikuach nefesh. The structure of the first half of the daf is a bit unusual,as well. Also, the new and final mishnah of Yoma. Returning us to korbanot for the needs of atonement, and the role of Yom Kippur in that. Including the many ways that atonement takes effect. But you can't game the system - to plan on sinning, and having Yom Kippur atone for him. There are ways that the day takes care of atonement, and yet, for some sins, teshuvah is a critical element. But even teshuvah doesn't provide atonement without Yom Kippur.