The Mishnah on Qordiaqos Syndrome
About This Entry
The concept of mental disease or disability was important to the rabbis for its legal and halakhic ramifications. In particular, the condition named qordiaqos, which probably had both physical and psychological manifestations, had many halakhic implications regarding a person’s ability to fulfill legal obligations or to act as a reliable witness. For discussions this mishnah, see The Palestinian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome and The Babylonian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome.
Hebrew
If someone was seized with qordiaqos, and he said, “Write a writ of divorce for my wife!” [it is as if] he said nothing. If he said [first], “Write a writ of divorce for my wife!” and then qordiaqos seized him, and he restated, “Do not write [the writ of divorce]!”—his last words [mean] nothing.
Credits
m. Gittin 7:1, trans. Markham J. Geller and Lennart Lehmhaus, publication forthcoming. Copyright Markham J. Geller and Lennart Lehmhaus. Used with permission of the translators.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
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The Babylonian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome
b. Gittin 67b
The Babylonian Talmud explores the medical and demonic origins of Qordiaqos syndrome, suggesting it may be a severe reaction to new wine.
The Palestinian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome
y. Gittin 7:1, 48c
y. Gittin 7:1, 48c on Qordiaqos syndrome. This Palestinian Talmud passage examines mental impairment, medical confusion, and legal fitness in antiquity.
Female Anatomy
b. Bekhorot 45a
Tsafdina’ Illness
b. Avodah Zarah 28a–b
The Palestinian Talmud on Mental Impairment
y. Terumot 1:1, 40b
The Babylonian Talmud on Mental Impairment
b. Ḥagigah 3b–4a
The concept of mental disease or disability was important to the rabbis for its legal and halakhic ramifications. In particular, the condition named qordiaqos, which probably had both physical and psychological manifestations, had many halakhic implications regarding a person’s ability to fulfill legal obligations or to act as a reliable witness. For discussions this mishnah, see The Palestinian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome and The Babylonian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome.
Related Guide
Ancient Rabbinic Medical Concepts and Taxonomies
You may also like
The Babylonian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome
b. Gittin 67b
The Babylonian Talmud explores the medical and demonic origins of Qordiaqos syndrome, suggesting it may be a severe reaction to new wine.
The Palestinian Talmud on Qordiaqos Syndrome
y. Gittin 7:1, 48c
y. Gittin 7:1, 48c on Qordiaqos syndrome. This Palestinian Talmud passage examines mental impairment, medical confusion, and legal fitness in antiquity.
Female Anatomy
b. Bekhorot 45a
Tsafdina’ Illness
b. Avodah Zarah 28a–b
The Palestinian Talmud on Mental Impairment
y. Terumot 1:1, 40b
The Babylonian Talmud on Mental Impairment
b. Ḥagigah 3b–4a