Gave a long shiur on masseches kinim last night. Once you understand the structure, the whole mesechta makes perfect sense and the mathematics is accurate and in a few cases quite deep. But overall the experience does not increase one's emunas chachamim. For the simple reason that certain rishonim made an absolute mess of the masechta. (I know that sounds truly arrogant, as if I were some Hartman type, but I'd be less than honest here if I didn't say what I feel very deeply on this topic. On the other hand, as will become clear in subsequent posts, I think humility is a far greater virtue than honesty. But indulge my honest arrogance just this once. The truth is that if this weren't anonymous, I'd probably never allow myself to publish such apikorsus.)