Our daf begins with the Gemara that analyzes yesterday's Mishna. Yesterday we learned a complex new Mishna regarding food. A condition was placed upon food to determine whether or not it might be forbidden. That food might be called lachullin. In the Gemara the rabbis first attempt to understand the meaning of the word lachullin. They assume that the word is in fact two words: la, meaning not, and chullin, meaning not non-sacred, otherwise described as consecrated. So the conditional term is something that is not consecrated, similar to an offering.
Who might have authored this Mishna? Perhaps Rabbi Meir; perhaps Rabbi Yehuda. The rabbis deconstruct the language and the possible meanings of the Mishna. Rabbi Meir might have authored the text for a number of reasons, but there is a difficulty. He does not believe that one can infer a negative statement from a positive statement. There is a general principle that stating that rabbis do not contradict themselves. Even over long periods of time, the rabbis are held to static philosophies, opinions, and perspectives.
The Gemara shares complex reasoning about being forbidden or permitted to eat which food depending on one's understandings of the conditions placed upon that food.
Today's daf was a great example of the complex literary analysis that is part of our ancient religious tradition.
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