Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Sotah 31 - Shabbat April 29, 8 Iyar Apr 28, 2023

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Rabbi Yehoshua said in the Mishna that when it said "lo" in a verse about Iyov (Job), it was spelled with a vav and explained as having a vav, not with an alef which would have had the opposite meaning. Why was there even reason to think that it was spelled with a vav and read with an alef? Why did Rabbi Yehoshua believe that Iyov worshipped God out of love and not fear? What is the difference in the reward between one who worships out of love or out of fear? From where is this derived? One witness, even one who is generally not accepted in court, can be believed to say that the woman who was warned and went in the room alone with that man actually has relations. The woman would then not be able to drink the sotah water to prove her innocence. Why is one witness believed? Why are two needed to prove that they were in the room alone? What is the case if there was contradictory testimony regarding her having slept with the man – in which cases would she drink and in which cases not? How does this work with Ulla's statement that in cases where one witness is believed, one witness is considered like two. Ulla and Rabbi Chiya each understand read the Mishna differently.

Sotah 30 - April 28, 7 Iyar Apr 28, 2023

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Study Guide Sotah 30

Today's daf is sponsored by Geri Goldstein Guedalia and Harris Guedalia in honor of Eliraz Levant on his bar mitzvah Shabbat, Acharei Mot/Kedoshim. "We are so proud of you!" Today's daf is sponsored by Raquel Lifshutz Pilzer and Jen Lifshutz Lankin in loving memory of their brother, Avigdor Chai Abraham, Z"L, on his second yartzeit. "Your incredible strength, bravery and laugh will always be with us. You are always in our hearts and on our minds. We miss you dearly and hope to continue to learn in your merit, and make you proud."

The Gemara tries to answer the difficulty raised by Rabbi Yochanan in refuting the kal vachomer from which Rabbi Yosi learned that a third-degree impurity can pass on impurity and create fourth-degree impurity in sacrificial items, but without success. Rav Asi said in the name of Rav that there are five rabbis who all held that an item with second-degree impurity does pass on impurity to create third-degree impurity in non-sacred items (chulin). The Gemara cites five sources in which we see the opinions of each of the rabbis and explains how we can learn what they hold about non-sacred items not becoming impure at the level of third-degree. How did the people sing with Moses in the splitting of the sea? A braita states three options - either they answered each line of Moshe by reciting the chorus, or Moshe sang and they repeated everything he said, or Moshe started and they joined in and sang everything along with him. There is a midrash that the babies also saw the presence of God at the splitting of the sea and sang along with everyone.

Sotah 29 - April 27 - 6 Iyar Apr 27, 2023

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Study Guide Sotah 29

The Gemara continues and explains the dispute between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva in the drasha on the verses about with whom can she not have relations and what else is the sotah prohibited to do? There is another source for the rule that a doubt regarding impurity is treated strictly only if there is a person involved who theoretically could have known if it was impure. Why do we need two sources for this? Where did Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai learn that a second vessel defiles a third if not from the verse of Rabbi Akiva? He learned it from a kal vachomer from a tvul yom. If so, why did he fear that others would reject this? On what basis would they reject it? From where do we derive that there is a fourth degree of impurity in sacrificial items? Rabbi Yosi learns it from a kal vachomer from a mechusar kipurim. Rabbi Yochanan raises a difficulty with the kal vachomer.

Sotah 28 - Yom Haazmaut - April 26, 5 Iyar Apr 26, 2023

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Today's daf is sponsored by Laura Shechter in honor of her daughter, Kayla. "Behatzlacha to all of the contestants competing today in the Chidon HaTanach, most especially to Kayla. The learning we have done together as a family because of your commitment has brought us all so much joy. Kayla, you are our champion always. Mazal tov!"

When the Mishna said that the man also dies when the woman drinks the sotah water, it could not be referring to her husband because if the husband has done wrongdoing, the sotah water doesn't work to kill the woman. From where is this derived? From here they conclude it is the adulterer who will die when the sotah drinks the water. Is this derived from the word "and they came (referring to the waters)" which appears twice or because of the addition of the "and"? They conclude that Rabbi Akiva derives it from "and" and then proceed to explain the six drashot that Rabbi Akiva learns from the three mentions of "and they came" – as each one coming to teach two things. Rebbi doesn't derive anything from "and" and therefore derives only three things from the fact that the same words appear three times. From where does he derive that the man gets punished as well? A braita is brought explaining what Rabbi Akiva learns from the three verses that say "and the woman was impure." Rabbi Yishmael raises a question against Rabbi Akiva, although the Gemara will later have to explain the question as it is not very clear. He also shows how we derive that the sotah is forbidden to her husband until she drinks the water and proves her innocence. He then makes a kal vachomer argument from sotah to a sheretz that a sheretz should also be forbidden even in a case of doubt. However, this is limited to cases that are similar to sotah – where the doubt is in the private domain and theoretically there is someone who knows whether or not it became impure.

Sotah 27 - Yom HaZikaron - April 25, 4 Iyar Apr 25, 2023

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Today's daf is dedicated to the memory of the fallen soldiers that were killed protecting the State of Israel and in memory of those that were killed in terrorist attacks and died by Kiddush Hashem.

Today's daf is sponsored by Jeanne Yael Klempner in loving memory of her father, Michael Cohen, Elimelech HaCohen ben Shlomo v'Malka, who passed away a month ago on the 4th of Nissan. "Dad, thank you for inspiring my love of learning Torah. I wish I'd been able to share my daf yomi journey with you over the last few difficult years of your life, but I take comfort in knowing you'd be proud of it."

Today's daf is sponsored by Judy Schwartz in loving memory of her nephew Larry Gerber, Lipa Chaim ben Yisrael Hakohen z"l, on his shloshim. "He was a wonderful, generous man who did much good for the world, passed away too young, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him."

Is it worse to marry a woman rumored to have committed adultery or the daughter of that woman? Is there an assumption that the daughter of such a woman is likely conceived from the husband or not? What is the basis of the debate between Rabbi Yosi and the rabbis about whether a husband can have his wife drink the sotah water if the court did the kinui in a case where he was temporarily incapacitated? The words 'wife' and 'husband' are juxtaposed in the verse and this is used to teach that the criteria for men are the same as for women and vice-versa. What laws are derived from this juxtaposition? The fifth chapter begins by deriving from a verse that just as the woman who committed adultery is killed by the sotah water, the man who had relations with her dies as well in the same manner. And just as she is forbidden to her husband, she is forbidden to the man under suspicion as well. There are two different manners in which this can be derived from the text - one by Rabbi Akiva and the other by Rabbi Yehoshua. The Mishna continues to list various other drashot by Rabbi Akiva and one by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Horkanus. The topics vary from an impure item of a second-degree being able to pass on impurity to create a third-degree of impurity, the area around the Levite cities, how the Jews sang with Moshe at the splitting of the Red Sea, and did Iyov worship God out of love or fear.

Sotah 26 - April 24, 3 Iyar Apr 24, 2023

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Today's daf is sponsored by Goody and Eric Weil in loving memory of the beloved Rav Dov Shabtai ben Yehoshua Leib and Ethel Greenstone after a short illness. 'He inspired so many of the women and men of his family to learn daf yomi. Many are part of the Hadran community that embraces them today and learns in his honor. Yehi Zichro Baruch!"

Rabbi Elazar ruled in cases of a man who married a woman who can't have children that since he can have another wife, he is permitted to marry her, in which case, she can also be brought to drink the sotah water. Rav Nachman limits his opinion to a woman who at some point was able to have children, as an aylonit for sure cannot become a sotah. A difficulty is raised against Rav Nachman from a braita. Rav Nachman explains that there is a tannaitic debate about this based on the understanding of how to explain the verse "she shall be clean and will be able to retain seed." What are the different ways to understand this verse? The Gemara delves into many of the other cases mentioned in the braita that was quoted and explains them. The same is then done to the cases mentioned in our Mishna, such as the wife of a kohen or a eunuch. Each time the Gemara explains why it was necessary to explain the law in the braita/Mishna as it seems at first glance that it would be obvious. The Mishna excluded one who is a minor and one who is not a man from laws of kinui (one does not warn a wife about going into a room alone with them). What is "one who is not a man?" Three possibilities are raised, the first two (one who is impotent and a gentile) are rejected. The conclusion is that it means an animal as engaging in bestiality is not considered 'znut' (licentiousness).

Sotah 25 - April 23, 2 Iyar Apr 23, 2023

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Study Guide Sotah 25

The week's learning is sponsored by the Greenstone Family in loving memory of their dear husband, father and grandfather, Dov Shabtai Ben Yehoshua Lev. "Saba was a dedicated and committed learner of Torah. The fact that he was consistent in his learning speaks to his devotion to the study of Torah, and it's clear that he instilled that same passion in his children and grandchildren. Saba was always so proud to see his many of his children and grandchildren learn Daf Yomi."

Today's daf is sponsored by Shelly and Avi Yonitzman in loving memory of Albert Kobny and wishing long life to Sarina Kovny.

A woman who behaves in a manner that is considered a breach of the marriage contract (dat yehudit), loses her ketuba. But is this only if she is warned or not? Three different sections of our Mishna are each brought to try to prove that she needs warning. The first two are rejected but the third is conclusive. If a wife violated dat yehudit but the husband doesn't care and wants to stay married to her, can he? They try to answer this question from a case in our Mishna, but that answer is rejected. If a husband warned his wife not to go into a room alone with another man (kinui), can he change his mind and rescind the warning? They try to answer the question from our Mishna and another Mishna in Sotah, but both are rejected. They find the answer in a braita, one can rescind the kinui. However, there is a debate about whether that can be done only before she is found in the room alone with the man (setira), or even after that. The Gemara strengthens the position of the opinion that it cannot be rescinded after setira. In the Mishna, Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel disagree regarding a case of a sotah whose husband died before she drinks the water. Does she lose her ketuba money or not? The debate is based on whether one views a document that is meant to be collected as if it was already collected. If one views it as collected, then the woman gets her ketuba money as the burden of proof lies on the husband. If not, it is the reverse. There is another debate in the Mishna regarding a woman who can not have children - can she be brought to be a sotah? Is the husband forbidden to marry her in the first place? Rabbi Elazar holds that since he can have another wife, he is permitted to marry her, in which case, she can also be brought to drink the sotah water. Rav Nachman limits his opinion to a woman who at some point was able to have children, as an aylonit for sure cannot become a sotah based on a drasha from the verses of the sotah.

Sotah 24 - 2nd Day Rosh Chodesh Iyar - Shabbat April 22, 1 Iyar Apr 21, 2023

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Study Guide Sotah 24

This is the daf for Shabbat. For Friday's daf please click here.

Today's daf is sponsored by David and Mitzi Geffen in loving memory of David's father, Dr. Abraham Geffen, on his 8th yahrzeit. "The youngest of the 8 children of Rav Tuvia and Sara Hene Geffen of Atlanta, he was devoted to his wife Ethel, parents and siblings, children, extended family and synagogue community and was a dedicated physician."

Today's daf is sponsored by Pnina Grossman in honor of her mother, Naomi Grossman's birthday! "Happy birthday, Mommy! We're lucky and proud to have a cool and learned mother and mother-in-law like you!"

A woman who is betrothed or waiting for levirate marriage does not drink the sotah water, but could be accused of being alone with a man (kinui and setira) and would lose her ketuba money. The same would be true if the marriage was forbidden from the start, such as a forbidden marriage for a priest, i.e. with a divorcee. The Mishna lists a number of other cases, some of which are a subject of debate about whether she can drink the water or whether she does or doesn't lose her ketuba money. There are some cases where the court can intervene and do the kinui in place of the man, in a case where he is incapable. The Gemara first deals with the case of betrothal and levirate marriage and explains that the Mishna follows Rabbi Yonatan's position as he disagrees with Rabbi Yoshiya who holds that a woman waiting for levirate marriage can drink the sotah water. What is the source in the Torah for each of their opinions and on what logic is each opinion based? The Gemara questions both of their opinions as they both say there is a verse to exclude a betrothed woman from drinking the sotah water, however, this can be learned from a different verse entirely. How is this resolved?

Sotah 23 - 1st Day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar - April 21, 30 Nissan Apr 21, 2023

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Study Guide Sotah 23

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran zoom family in loving memory of the beloved father of their dear Hadran learner and friend, Adina Hagege - HaRav Dov Shabtai ben Yehoshua Lev v'Etel z"l. "May his family be comforted among aveilei Zion v'Yerushalayim. Through his kind, wise and constantly thoughtful daughter, it is evident that R' Greenstone was a special person who transmitted his values as heritage. Yehi Zichro Baruch."

Today's daf is sponsored by Rochel Cheifetz in loving memory of her mother, Chana Cohen, Chana bat Rav Moshe and Tzipora Mashbaum, on her 2nd yahrzeit. "A model to generations of Mashbaum and Cohen families with her grace, modesty, inspiration for the importance of family, and exuberant and unconditional love. Mommy, you are greatly missed by us all."

Today's daf is sponsored by Yael Asher in memory of her husband Shlomo Chaim Asher ben Luna Sol z"l.

In which situations is the meal offering of the sotah burned in the beit hadeshen and not able to be sacrificed? One of the examples is when the sotah is married to a kohen, as it is partially his sacrifice and the meal offering of a kohen is meant to be burned entirely on the altar. However, since it is partially hers, the remainder is meant to be eaten. Therefore, after they burn the kometz, the remainder is left to be burned in the beit hadeshen. The same is true even if she is the daughter of a kohen as the law is different for male and female kohanim. The Mishna lists other laws where we distinguish between men and women who are kohanim. They also list cases in the law where there are differences between men and women (non kohanim). The Gemara will later bring sources for each of these differences. A braita is quoted that differs from the Mishna as it says the remainder of the meal offering of one married to a kohen gets burned on the altar after the kometz is taken and burned. The Gemara brings two different ways to explain this braita.

Sotah 22 - April 20, 29 Nissan Apr 20, 2023

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Today's daf is sponsored by Dianne Kuchar in loving memory of her father, Moshe ben Avraham and her husband Dennis, Shimon Avraham ben Yisrael Moshe. "I find myself midway between the two yahrtzeits of the most significant men in my life, my dad and my Dennis. Dad would have been so proud of my learning, Dennis WAS very proud. We still can't believe he is gone."

The sages frowned upon one who learned Torah and memorized mishnayot but did not serve Torah scholars. This is understood as one who recited them without understanding them. Different sages categorized them as other types of people in society that were not to be relied upon. Who is considered an am haaretz? The Gemara defines the other two terms that Rabbi Yehoshua brought in the Mishna - isha prusha and makot perushim. These, as well as others who are also viewed as those who destroy the world, are defined as those who pretend to be righteous but it is just a cover for their true nature which is evil or one who does good things but for ulterior motives, such as learning or doing mitzvot in order to receive a reward. Abaye and Rava disagreed with the latter statement as one who learns Torah or does mitzvot not for their own sake will ultimately do them for their own sake and therefore it is recommended to learn Torah even if it is done for ulterior motives. Rabbi Shimon doesn't think that a woman's merits will delay her death, as it will weaken the power of the waters to scare those who are guilty and it will cause innocent women to be perceived as guilty even after drinking the water. Rebbi holds that the woman's merits can delay her death but she will not get pregnant and her health slowly deteriorates until she dies as a sotah. If the meal offering becomes impure, what is done with it? It depends on if it was before or after it was sanctified in a holy vessel.

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