eruvin 68

when the warm water for the circumcision is spilt, Rava offers to throw out his possessions to help.

(in order to bring warm water from Rava's neighbouring courtyard, Rava removes his property from his space, renounces his rights in the domain and water can then be carried between the spaces. as no eruv was made before shabbat)

shabbat 137

drops of blood become stars in the heaven

"were it not for the drops from the blood of the covenant the heaven and earth would not be sustained"
from the blessing said at a brit milah

for english translation of this talmud page, see here

shabbat 135

we are all enslaved in one form or another.

if the mother is a slave then the baby is circumcised at 1 day
but if the mother is an eved hashem - slave to God, and accepted Sinai, then the baby is circumcised at 8 days.

(for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 134

who knows best?

Abaye learns from his mother how to care for a newborn.
whereas, R. Natan instructs mothers who come to him for guidance.

who is the expert?

(this page has a few instances of caring for a newborn. specifically around circumcision, and more generally. Abaye lists various things he learnt from his mother about caring for a newborn, including when to delay circumcision. R. Natan speaks of 2 instances where he advises to delay, the mother is nervous about circumcising her son as she has 2 other children who have died. The connection between mother and child does not always mean mother knows best. it depends on what the mother has been through... this drawing is based on the first photo of me holding my own newborn babe... I'm not sure I knew best.. for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 132

going round in circles

trying to derive the connection between brit milah and shabbat. can follow various paths but comes back to the number 8.

(the obligation of circumcision, brit milah, on the 8th day overrides prohibitions of shabbat. the discussion uses various methods to find a textual source, with words and comparisons to other commands. but the discussion circles back to the verses that say "on the 8th day." for english translation of this talmud page, see here)

shabbat 130

knives for a shabbat circumcision should be carried uncovered.

but wouldn't it be safer to always carry them covered, despite the political context

(this chapter discusses performing circumcision on shabbat. it begins with R. Eliezer saying that one should carry the knife uncovered on shabbat. but if it is dangerous to do so, because there is a decree banning circumcision, then one should carry the knife covered. for english translation of this page, see here)