The Weekly Daf #80
Makkos 16-22
Week of 20-26 Av 5755 / 16-22 August 1995
By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
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                             Split Personality

How is it possible to transgress the Torah prohibition against driving two
animals of different species even though you only drive one animal?
The answer lies in the peculiar split personality of an animal which has
been consecrated for sacrifice and then redeemed after developing a
disqualifying blemish.  Such an animal still retains some of its original
sanctity and although its flesh may be eaten it cannot be sheared of its
wool or used for labor.  It is therefore considered two species of animal
wrapped up in one and driving such an animal is considered a violation of
the ban on driving two animals of different species.
                                                                 Makkos 22a

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                               One Lash Less

A Jew who transgresses a Torah prohibition is punished with lashes.  How
many lashes?
The Torah mentions the number forty but the Sages interpreted this to mean
the number preceding forty and therefore rule that the number of lashes if
39.
How foolish are most people, exclaimed the Sage Rava, who stand up for a
Sefer Torah but not for a Torah scholar.  The Torah says forty lashes and
the Sages limited it to 39.
A similar proof of the power of the Sages could apparently have been
brought from the fifty days of counting the Omer which the Sages interpret
as 49.  But only the example of the lashes is cited because the true
greatness of the Sages to be appreciated by the masses is not in their
ability to make the Omer count one day less but in their ability to remove
one painful lash from a sinner.
                                                                 Makkos 22b
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