Talking Talmud

After discussion of the tefillin shel yad - including which arm - the Gemara turns to what is received as an impossible case: for a person with two heads, which one gets the tefillin? But if a two-headed tefillin-wearer was an impossibility, what about a first-born male infant who needed a pidyon ha-ben? Would that be 5 sela'im or 10? Will such a baby make it to the 30-day mark when a pidyon ha-ben takes place? And if not, would he still need the redemption of the ceremony with the kohen? Also, moving on to tzitzit: fringes on a minimum of the 4 corners of a garment (is that one mitzvah or 4?). What about garments with other number of corners? What about wearing tzitzit at night?

If one who is in the process of laying tefillin makes the blessing on the arm, puts the "tefillin shel yad" on, and then speaks, interrupting himself before laying the "tefillin shel rosh," what must he do? Make a new blessing? A different blessing? Is he fresh outta luck? Also, what was the timing of laying tefillin - from when until when? Plus, the parallel between the laying of tefillin at night and on Shabbat (and yom tov). Also, the significance of the "sign" that is tefillin.

More on tefillin, of course. The base of the box of the tefillin, the letter Shin on the tefillin, the black straps, among other details - are all "halakhah le-Moshe mi-Sinai" (not subject to dispute). Plus, a story about a few people who wore tefillin that did not follow the basic rules (blue wool instead of black leather, for example), and they were somehow not rebuked accepted. Also, the case of tefillin that tore. And the fact that their sanctity protects them from being used for anything else. Plus, measurements for the straps of tefillin. Also, what about God's tefillin? And the knot thereof? And what they contain?

More on mezuzot and the entrances that need a mezuzah. What about a sidepost that doesn't need a mezuzah? Plus, how the mezuzah goes up on the right side. Also, tefillin! 4 passages in 4 sections of the tefillin boxes. Plus, the lettering of tefillin, and how all letters must be present, and not connect (as script connects). Plus, the derivation of "totafot" as indicating the 4 segments of tefillin.

More laws on mezuzot, specifically placement of the mezuzah on the doorjamb - the Gemara's basic example is of a door on a pivot, not hinges, in contrast to modern day doors. Also, what was one to do if the entrance around the door itself couldn't take nails, etc., to affix the mezuzah? With creative solutions, depending on the material of the doorjamb. Plus, the doorposts need to be there for more than just supporting a portico or rooftop.