Talking Talmud

Beginning with a couple of mishnayot -- on a calf whose tail doesn't reach down to the upper leg joint, which is considered to be a blemish. Imagine a camel to help picture the join on the animal, which is more pronounced on the camel. Also, blemishes in a first-born that don't lead to slaughtering outside of the Temple -- with a decently long list, including, eventually, the tumtum and androgynous in the context of animals, and not people. Also, delving into the question of the tumtum with hidden genitals, where the gender is not known, as compared to an androgynous, who truly has both male and female genitals, which couldn't be slaughtered in the Temple, in the case of error. Also, note phenomena that may be treated as a blemish, but maybe it's only a physical cut, and not a real and lasting blemish. Plus, the application of the categories of tumtum and androgynous to the animals. Also, Rabbi Yishmael's opinion on this serious blemish -- in contrast to the other sages, who focus on how it isn't necessarily a blemish.

There are 7 mishnayot on this daf! (though we'll save the last one for tomorrow). 1 - On testicles and the nature of testicular blemishes. 2 - On the fact that blemishes are not how things are supposed to be; for example, an animal that should have 4 legs, but instead has 3 or 5. 3 - On blemishes that are not immediately discernible. 4 - On the jaw of a first-born animal, where the lower jaw juts out farther than the upper jaw, and how that's a blemish. 5 - On extra cartilage in the ear, and how that's a blemish. 6 - A list of blemished animals, whether in the eye or the leg or the mouth/jaw or the ear or the testicles... and whether these blemishes are discernible.

3 mishnayot! Rabbi Hanina bar Antignos on various blemish, specifically the pale spots that constitute a blemish. Note the requirement of an even amount of time between checking the blemish. Also, determining the timing of the impurity of a blemish. Plus, a list of possible, fairly minor blemishes -- including on the outer part of the lip. 2 - On the gums and whether the external gums are significant for the blemishes, with the new ones hidden away, as it were. Note - the phenomenon of the double teeth. 3 - Misshapen genitals, and also when it comes to already consecrated animals, not just the first-borns. Also, the potential of blemishes in an animal's tail.

Determining the capacity of an earthenware vessel to become impure on both its inside and outside -- as long as it's a receptacle, with a "middle," such as it was, with sides that form a middle to contain something (in contrast to a platter). Also, 2 mishnayot: 1 - Blemishes in an animal's eye, such as cataracts. Also, the case of the "hilazon nahash" -- is that one animal or two? And the kohen who determines status and teaches others to determine status. 2 - Checking the animal for the blemish, whether it disappears or will become permanent, especially when considering the eye blemishes,

Finishing chapter 5 and starting chapter 6, with a mishnah in each chapter, and attention to the requirement of an experts to sign off on a first-born animal's status as "blemished" (and what can be done with it afterwards), as well as the various blemishes and their implications, as we embark on a new chapter that focuses on blemishes, and -- to be careful -- not treyfot.