Commentary for Kiddushin 42:6
רבי אומר מה מרצע מיוחד של מתכת אף כל של מתכת ד"א המרצע להביא המרצע הגדול
Rabbi said: Just as an awl is specified, as being of metal, so must everything [used for this purpose] be of metal. Alternatively, [thou shalt take] the awl<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., translation; E.V. disregards the def. art. of the text.');"><sup>6</sup></span> is to teach<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'bring'.');"><sup>7</sup></span>
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
The first part of this baraita contains a few opinions as to what the awl used to bore the ear must be made out of—must it be from metal or can it be from other materials.
In the second part of the baraita, the rabbis argue over where on the ear a slave is bored. Evidently, a hole in the earlobe was considered a blemish while a hole in the upper part of the ear, on the cartilage was not. The reason to avoid “blemishing” the slave was that if he was a priest, he would not be able to return to serving as a priest with a permanent blemish. Thus the rabbis say that when boring, we must take into consideration his status after the Jubilee when he is no longer a priest.
In the second part of the baraita, the rabbis argue over where on the ear a slave is bored. Evidently, a hole in the earlobe was considered a blemish while a hole in the upper part of the ear, on the cartilage was not. The reason to avoid “blemishing” the slave was that if he was a priest, he would not be able to return to serving as a priest with a permanent blemish. Thus the rabbis say that when boring, we must take into consideration his status after the Jubilee when he is no longer a priest.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy