Chagigah 1:8-2:1

Chagigah 1:8

The laws of absolving vows “hover in the air,” without textual support. The laws of Shabbos, the holiday offerings and misappropriation of Temple property (me’ilah) are like mountains suspended by a hair in that they have few textual references and many laws. Torts, the Temple service, ritual purity and impurity, and forbidden sexual relations all have significant textual bases. All of these are essentials of the Torah.

Chagigah 2:1

The laws of forbidden sexual relations may not be taught to three students, nor the Creation account to two students, nor the revelation of God’s “Chariot” to one student unless he is wise enough to understand its meaning on his own. Anyone who investigates four matters would be better off never having been created, namely: what is above the Heavens, what is below the Earth, what came before the world, and what will be after, in the end times. Anyone who lacks proper regard for God’s honor would also be better off never having been created.