Introducing Rabbi Nehunya ben HaKana TB Megillah 8 (who is really on daf 7b)

If you like tangents, you'll love studying the next few dappim. We learned the difference between Adar I and Adar II on daf TB Megillah 6b using specific language in the Mishnah "The difference between the first Adar and the second Adar with regard to the mitzvot that are performed during those months is only that the reading of the Megilla and distributing gifts to the poor are performed in the second Adar and not in the first Adar. אֵין בֵּין אֲדָר הָרִאשׁוֹן לַאֲדָר הַשֵּׁנִי אֶלָּא קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִילָּה וּמַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים.-" (Sefaria.org translation)Including this Mishnah there will be 13 mishnayot discussing a variety of topics using the formula "there's no difference between ...except אֵין בֵּין ... אֶלָּא." in order to facilitate memorization. Today's daf TB Megilah 8 includes the topics concerning vows, sacrificial pledges and gifts, zavim (men who have discharges), and metzoraim (people who have different kinds of skin disease). Admittedly they are not topics relevant to modern life.

Consequently, I would like to introduce to you another tanna, Rabbi Neḥunya ben HaKana. He was a tanna during the time of the destruction of the Second Temple. By all appearances he was a student of Rabban Yokhanan ben Zakkai. Little of his halakhic opinions are preserved; however there are several aggadic statements quoted in his name. The most famous one is is prayer entering the bet midrash, the study hall. “Rabbi Neḥunya ben Hakana would recite a brief prayer upon his entrance into the study hall and upon his exit. They said to him: The study hall is not a dangerous place that would warrant a prayer when entering and exiting, so what room is there for this prayer? He said to them: Upon my entrance, I pray that no mishap will transpire caused by me in the study hall. And upon my exit, I give thanks for my portion.” (Mishnah Berakhot 4:2, Sefaria.org translation) He is credited with the creation of the principle “מִכְּ֒לָל וּפְרָט- A rule followed by a detail.” When a rule is followed by a detail, the details limits the scope of the rule to those details. His greatest student Rabbi Yishmael continued to expound this principle and Rabbi Yishmael's 13 principles to expound the Torah can be found in every traditional prayer book right before Psalm 30.