Bechoros Daf 44 בכורות דַף 44

The Mishnah on the previous Daf listed several blemishes of the eyes, and a Baraisa derives them: "בעינו" – in his eye teaches כל מה שבעינו – any blemish which is in his eye. This teaches that שתי עיניו למטה – if both his eyes are fixed below their normal position, שתי עיניו למעלה – both his eyes are fixed above, or one eye is above and one is below, ורואה את החדר ואת העלייה כאחת – or he views a ground-floor room and attic at once, או שמדבר עם חבירו ואחר אומר לי רואה – or he speaks with his friend and another person says, “He is looking at me.” Rava explains the need for the Torah's various terms about eye blemishes, and summarizes: כל מחמת כהיותא אתיא מאיש – any blemish of complete blindness is derived from “a man” (because "עור" – blind implies someone whose eyes are missing), מחסורייתא – vision impairment is derived from "דק" – “cataract,” מבלבליתא – mixing of the sections of the eye is derived from "תבלול", and משניותא – abnormal placement or focus of the eye are derived from "בעינו" – in his eye.

The next Mishnah states: עיניו גדולות כשל עגל – if his eyes are as large as a calf’s eyes, or as small as a goose’s eyes; גופו גדול מאבריו או קטן מאבריו – if his body is too large relative to his limbs, or too small relative to his limbs, or his nose is too large or small relative to his limbs, the Kohen is disqualified. If his ears are too small, or are דומות לספוג – similar to a sponge (i.e., shriveled and closed), or his upper lip protrudes over his lower lip, or vice versa, it is a מום. Rav says Moshe Rabbeinu was ten amos tall, because a passuk says he spread the אהל, i.e., the second cover, over the משכן, whose planks were ten amos tall. Since he reached the top of the משכן, he must have been ten amos tall. Rav Shimi bar Chiya thought this meant that Moshe’s body was ten times his own "אמה" (i.e., his own arm’s length), and asked: אם כן עשיתו למשה רבינו בעל מום – if so, you have made Moshe Rabbeinu into a blemished person, since his body would be so large relative to his arm! Rav explained he meant ten standard אמות used to measure the קרשים, and Moshe’s body was proportionate to his arm.

A Baraisa states: משתינין מים בפני רבים – [a talmid chochom] may urinate in public if needed, ואין שותין מים בפני רבים – but he may not drink water in public. Shmuel once needed to relieve himself at a public gathering, and a cloak was spread to give him privacy. However, his father offered him four hundred zuz to return and announce that one should not wait for privacy: although Shmuel, as a distinguished person, had this option, דלא אפשר ליה ליסתכן – one for whom this is not possible, should he endanger himself and risk becoming sterile?! Resh Lakish darshens: לא יהיה בך עקר ועקרה ובבהמתך – there will be no sterile male or sterile female among you and among your animals. אימתי לא יהיה בך עקר – when will there be no sterile male among you? בזמן ש"בבהמתך" – When you act like an animal among your animals and do not hesitate to relieve yourself. Rebbe Yehoshua ben Levi darshened it: you will not be barren מן התלמידים – of students, and “sterile female” means שלא תהא תפלתך עקורה לפני המקום – that your tefillah for children will not be barren before Hashem, if you make yourself “like an animal” and do not hesitate to relieve yourself.