Bechoros Daf 45

The Daf continues the Mumim that can disqualify a Kohen from the Avodah. It discusses abnormalities of the legs and feet, including knees or ankles knocking together, bow-leggedness, abnormal heels and unusually flat or broad feet.

The Gemara discusses overlapping or fused fingers and toes, as well as an extra finger. Whether an extra finger is significant depends on factors such as whether it contains a bone and whether it grows in line with the normal fingers.

The Mishnah discusses someone with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – 24 digits altogether. Rebbi Yehudah considers him Kosher. This leads to an interesting question: is an extra functioning finger necessarily a Mum, or could it actually be considered an advantage?

The Daf then moves into Tumah. An extra finger can sometimes transmit Tumah through Maga – touching – and Masa – carrying – without transmitting through Ohel. The Gemara compares this to an Etzem K’Se’orah, a small bone which transmits Tumah through touching and carrying but not through Ohel.

The standard Halachic count of the human body is 248 limbs/bones. Rov Minyan is therefore 125, while Rov Binyan refers to the major bones forming most of the body’s structure. We follow the normal human count even if a particular person has extra bones.

The students of Rebbi Yishmael examined the remains of a woman and found 252 bones rather than 248. The Gemara explains that a woman has four additional structures connected with childbirth. The Daf then returns to the person described in Tanach with 24 symmetrical digits, discussing whether his extra fingers represented a Mum or an additional physical advantage.

Iliui mishmas Imi morosi Ruth bas Harav Menachem Mendel