The Weekly Daf #70 
Sanhedrin 58-64
Week of 9-15 Sivan 5755 / 7-13 June 1995
By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions  
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                              Meat from Heaven

The Question:
   What is the law concerning a piece of meat which miraculously comes down
   from heaven -- is it permissible to eat it?

The Background:
  This question was asked in the Beis Midrash by Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta
  at the conclusion of a remarkable incident.  This sage had been walking
  along when suddenly confronted by two roaring, hungry lions.  "The lions
  cry out for game" he quoted the words of King David (Tehillim 104:21) and
  Heaven responded by raining down two slabs of meat.  One of them was
  consumed by the lions and they left behind the other.  It was this meat
  which Rabbi Shimon brought to the Beis Midrash and inquired about its
  kashrus.

The Ruling:
  "No impure food comes down from Heaven."
                                                              Sanhedrin 59b

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                              The Wicked Hand

"One who raises his hand to strike another," states the Sage Reish Lakish, 
"is considered a wicked man even if he does not actually hit him."

This is deduced from the words of admonition which Moshe Rabbeinu said to 
the man he saw threatening to strike another.  "He said to the wicked one," 
writes the Torah (Shmos 2:13) "why do you strike your neighbor."  Since he 
did not challenge him for actually striking the other person we conclude 
that he was labeled a wicked man for merely raising his hand to do so.
                                                              Sanhedrin 58b
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