Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Chagigah 16 - February 25, 24 Adar 1 Feb 25, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Sigal Spitzer in honor of Abby Flamholz. "Happy big birthday! May this just be the beginning of your Talmud Torah journey!"

Today's daf is sponsored by Viti Rosenzweig Kuns for the refua shlema of Matityahi ben Rosa and Sarah bat Vita.

How was Rabbi Akiva able to see/identify God? Several verses are brought by various rabbis to try to answer this question. Comparisons are made between angels and demons, and angels and humans - in what ways are humans similar to angels and in what ways to animals? Why can't one ponder what happened before the creation? Two different explanations are brought to explain the line in the Mishna, whoever doesn't have concern for his/her Creator, better that he/she had never come into the world. Is it referring to one who looks at a rainbow (what is wrong with that?) or one who sins secretly. Not only should one not look at a rainbow, but also one should not look at a Nasi or at kohanim in the Temple when they are blessing the people. Do not believe the evil inclination if it tells you to sin and you will be pardoned. One who sins in private, who will testify against them that they sinned? Several answers are given. The Mishna brings the earliest debate that spanned all the generations of the zugot, the pairs, regarding whether or not one is allowed to do the mitzva of smicha, leaning on the animal on Yom Tov when offering the chagigah sacrifices. The last pair of rabbis was Hillel and Shamai - but before Shamia came there was Menachem, however, he was removed from his position - why? Rava and Abaye each bring a different explanation. The order the pairs are mentioned in the Mishna demonstrates which served as the Nasi and which as the Av Bet Din. However, there is a debate about one of the pairs - who held which position. A braita is brought which tries to be matched up with one of the opinions, but in the end it is inconclusive. The braita tells the story of Yehoshua ben Perachia who judged someone to death as an ed zomem (a type of false witness) incorrectly, in an attempt to make a point to the Saducees, and Shimon ben Shatach corrected him. From then on, he was only willing to rule in the presence of Shimon ben Shatach. Rabbi Yochanan proves from our Mishna that one should not take rabbinic ordinances lightly, such as using animals on Yom Tov/Shabbat. The Gemara tries to better understand why Rabbi Yochanan said that and what he really meant to say. Rami bar Hama infers from Rabbi Yochanan that smicha needs all one one's strength, The Gemara questions this by bringing a braita regarding the exemption of women from smicha and yet they permitted women to do it if they wanted to. If smicha is with all of one's strength, how could they have permitted women to "use" sanctified animals if they were actually not obligated?

Chagigah 15 - February 24, 23 Adar 1 Feb 24, 2022

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They asked Ben Zoma if it is possible for there to be a woman who is pregnant without having had sexual relations and therefore, could she marry a kohen gadol (who can only marry a virgin)? Another story is told of Ben Zoma who was pondering creation and Rabbi Yehoshua said that he had erred in his understanding. The Gemara brings various stories of Elisha ben Avuya, otherwise known as "Acher" who "entered the orchard" but ended up not believing in God. What led him to this? Rabbi Meir, his closest student, kept up his relationship with him even after he no longer believed in God and continued to learn Torah from him. How was he able to do this? Rabbi Meir constantly tries to encourage Acher to repent, but Acher says that it has been decreed in the heavens that even though all can repent, Acher is not able to repent. Even in Rabbi Meir's death, he tries to help Acher to get into the World to Come. Is he successful? Rabbi Yochanan tries as well. Is he successful?

Chagigah 14 - February 23, 22 Adar 1 Feb 23, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored Caroline Ben-Ari by in loving memory of her mother, Daphne Rhodes, Dafna Devora bat Avraham ve-Hana 5th yahrzeit. "Mum was a loving, vivacious woman with a great sense of humour, and was determined to be a better mother to her children than her own mother had been to her. Later in life, when she and Dad retired to Netanya, she indulged her love of singing and dramatics in the Netanya AACI Musical Theatre Group."

Today's daf is sponsored by Risa Tzohar in loving memory of her mother, Florence Wittels Rich, on her yahrzeit.

Today's daf is sponsored by Adira Sklar in honor of Rivka Yellin. "Happy 19th birthday! You have inspired me as well as so many others to start daf yomi and your burning passion for Talmud study is so pure and amazing to watch."

Verses in which God and angels are described are interpreted and contradictions are resolved. Isaiah prophesized about 18 curses that would befall the Jewish people. What were they? Even in the destruction, there were still honest people – how do we know that? More stories are brought of rabbis who understood the maase merkava. Who were they and where did they learn it from. Four entered into the Pardes – Ben Zoma, Ben Azai, Acher and Rabbi Akiva. What happened to each of them?

Chagigah 13 - February 22, 21 Adar 1 Feb 22, 2022

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This month's learning is sponsored by Maurice Heller in honor of Dena Heller. "Her exuberance for Daf Yomi is an inspiration. May she continue her learning for many years to come in good health."

The different firmaments of the heavens are discussed further. What parts of maase merkava can be learned? What parts can be outlined? To whom can this be taught? Can one teach Torah to a gentile? Stories are told of rabbis who wanted to learn/teach maase merkava but were not given the opportunity. They wanted to conceal the book of Ezekiel because of contradictions between the Torah and some of the verses in Ezekiel. But Chanania ben Chizkia sat in his attic for many hours until he was able to resolve the contradictions. A child tried to learn maase markava and a fire came out and burned him. This raised further issues regarding the book but again, Chanania convinced them not to be concerned. What is the meaning of chashmal in the description in the first chapter of Ezekiel? Some other terms in that chapter as well as some of the verses are explained. Why is the description of the vision in Ezekiel different from the parallel description of the vision of Isaiah? Contradictory verses in Ezekiel are raised and resolved. One of the faces of the chayot described in Ezekiel was a cherub – what is a cherub? The seraphim in Isaiah have 6 wings and in Ezekiel only 4. Why?

Chagigah 12 - February 21, 20 Adar 1 Feb 21, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Geula Zamist in honor of the marriage of her daughter, Rachel Zamist to Avi Lermer and with never-ending thanks and appreciation to Rabbanit Michelle.

Today's daf is sponsored by Leah Ackner in honor of her mother's 74th birthday!

Today's daf is sponsored by Marsha Levi to commemorate the shloshim of her mother Kitty Levi, Kayla bat Meir v' Machla.

The Gemara brings all kinds of drashot on the creation of the world. Ten things were created on the first day - what are they? Was light created on the first day or the fourth day? Several drashot are brought to explain that God created certain things on a grand scale and then reduced them. What are they and why did God reduce them? Beit Hillel, Beit Shamai and the sages disagree - was the sky created first or the earth or both at once? How do they each prove their position through both logic and verses? Rabbi Yossi described that the earth is supported by pillars, and pillars on the water, water on the mountains, mountains on the wind, wind on the storm, storm on the arms of God - all this is derived from verses. The sages explain that there are twelve pillars representative of the twelve tribes. Some say seven pillars and others say on one – a tzaddik. Are there two levels of firmaments in the heavens or seven? Reish Lakish holds that there are seven firmaments and explains what is held/done in each one.

Chagigah 11 - February 20, 19 Adar 1 Feb 20, 2022

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This week's learning is sponsored by Sivya Twersky in loving memory of her father Harav Pesach Zachariah Halevi ben Harav Reuven Halevi (Rabbi Pesach Levovitz) on his 10th yahrzeit that was on the 5th of Adar. "He was a lifelong Daf Yomi learner, a community rabbi for 57 years, an international Rabbinic leader, responsible for generations of Jewish souls. He was the patriarch of his family, he would be proud and somewhat bemused by both the female and male Daf Yomi learners amongst his children and grandchildren as well as the leadership role that his granddaughter, Shoshana Baker, has taken in the Hadran movement. May his neshama have an aliya in the zechut of their learning."

This week's learning is sponsored by Tuvia Hausdorff in loving memory of Moshe Aharon ben Eliezer Aryeh, Tuvia Levi ben David Meir, Tziona bat Sudia and Menucha bat Moshe Yechezkel.

Today's daf is sponsored by Susie Handelman in loving memory of her grandfather, Shmuel Ben Meir HaCohen (Katzin) Z"l. "He was a talmid hacham who immigrated to the US from Kovno in 1900 and died in 1936 before I was born. He would be in awe to know he has a granddaughter living in Jerusalem studying Talmud! May he hear from above and take pleasure from the sweet sounds of Rabanit Michelle and her students studying today's daf."

The Gemara finishes up the previous discussion regarding meila - what aspect of it is "like a mountain hanging by a hair"? A braita lists negaim and ohalot as also being in the category of few verses and many halakhot. Is that really so? The Mishna had listed several things that had verses to clearly rely upon in the Torah. This seem to imply that while they were more firmly based in the Torah than the previous sections, they still were not explicitly written in the Torah. The Gemara then questions each item on the list as they seem to be halakhot that were explicitly mentioned in the Torah. To answer the question, examples for each topic are brought that were not explicitly written in the Torah. The second chapter deals with topics that one needs to be cautious when teaching to others and should therefore limit the amount of students that one teaches it to. Topics include the forbidden sexual relationships, creation of the world, and maase merkava (in Ezekiel). One should also not delve into what is above, below, before and after. Where are these laws derived from?

Chagigah 10 - Shabbat February 19, 18 Adar 1 Feb 18, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Rena Strauss in gratitude to Rabbanit Michelle Farber for enhancing my learning and in honor of completing Moed Katan.

One who switches from learning halakha to learning Torah or possibly also to learning Mishna or leaves the Talmud of Israel for the Talmud of Babylonia is considered a person who "has no peace" based on a translation of a verse in Zecharia 8:10. The Mishna categorizes certain mitzvot into ones that have no basis in verses in the Torah (annulling vows), ones that have a loose basis (Shabbat, Chagigah, and me'ila) and ones that are firmly based in the Torah. First, the Gemara brings a braita that disagrees regarding annulments of vows. Several verses are brought to show the foundation in the Torah. Then Shmuel also brings a verse and Rava raises questions against all the tanaim's verses but not against Shmuel. The Gemara then analyzes why Shabbat, Chagigah and me'ila all appear in the second category.

Chagigah 9 - February 18, 17 Adar 1 Feb 18, 2022

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Study Guide Chagigah 9

Today's daf is sponsored by Anne Mirsky in loving memory of her mother, Rhoda Polachek z"l. "She supported Jewish education and many organizations in Israel and the United States."

Today's daf is sponsored by Bracha Stuart in loving memory of her dear brother, Aryeh Leib ben Simcha HaKohen (shlita) on his first yahrzeit which will be on Shabbat. May his neshama have an Aliya and his memory be for a blessing.

How does a make-up for a Chagigah sacrifice work? From where do we know that the Sukkot one can be made up even on Shmini Atzeret. The Gemara grapples with Rabbi Yochanan's approach to understanding the makeup of the Chagigah sacrifice based on other sugyot including a nazir and a zav. There are certain things that can't be rectified, such as, making up a Chagigah sacrifice once the holiday has ended. This is connected to a verse from Kohelet 1:15 that discussed things that can't be fixed and mixed opportunities. Other tanaim bring other examples that can be learned from this verse.

Chagigah 8 - February 17, 16 Adar 1 Feb 17, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Leah Shakdiel for the refuah shleima of Nili bat Esther and Moshe Tzvi.

Today's daf is sponsored by Meryl and Harold Sasnowitz in loving memory of their mothers, Mollie Pollack and Toby Sasnowitz yahrzeit. "They would have shepped much nachat from the family's commitment to Torah, and today's vort of their great-granddaughter (our granddaughter) Chavi Sommer to Zecharya Runge (Runge)."

Today's daf is sponsored by Amy Goldstein in loving memory of her mother.

Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel disagree regarding whether or not the chagigah can be bought from maaser sheni money or not. Ulla explains Beit Hillel to be referring to adding on to the unsanctified money spent on the sacrifice. Chizkiya and Rabbi Yochanan disagree about whether this can be done by adding maaser sheni money to unsanctified money to purchase the chagigah sacrifices or by or adding animals for chagigah sacrifices bought from maaser sheni money in addition to animals bought from unsanctified money (each one holds that one is permitted and the other is not). Braitot are brought to support each position. From where do we derive that in order to fulfill the mitzva of rejoicing on the holiday, one needs to bring animal sacrifices? Two different possibilities are brought. The Mishna distinguishes between different types of people with different financial means and different numbers of people in their family and how that affects whether they should bring more burnt offerings (for appearing) or more chagigah peace sacrifices. One who doesn't have a lot of money and has a lot of mouths to feed brings more peace offerings and few burnt offerings. But how does he have money even for the chagigah peace offerings? Rav Chisda explains that one can use one's maaser sheni money to get a bigger animal. Since he uses the example of adding money to get a bigger animal and not adding on additional animals, Rav Sheshet asks why he didn't give the option to add other animals since the rabbis permit that. The Gemara tries to understand this question in light of the debate between Rabbi Yochanan and Chizkiya but in the end, suggest that Rav Sheshet didn't agree fully with either of them as he permitted both adding money to buy an animal and adding more animals with maaser sheni money. If one separates ten animals and only brings five on the first day and five on the second day, is that permitted or not? There is a debate on this issue, but the Gemara explains that they do not actually disagree but are each describing a different situation.

Chagigah 7 - February 16, 15 Adar 1 Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Study Guide Chagigah 7

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran Zoom family in loving memory of Malcolm Minsk, father of their dear friend, Elisa Hartstein. "In the virtual Hadran Zoom room, you brought your father to life for us as you shared the beautiful story of his tireless activity on behalf of the Jewish community in Atlanta, and all with a charming Southern accent. His memory should be a comfort to you."

Today's daf is sponsored by Rachel Lopatin in honor of Shayna Lopatin. "With lots of love, Eema and Abba."

Today's daf is sponsored by the Levi family for a refuah shleima for Miriam bat Chana.

There are five things that have no requisite amount: peah, bikkurim, "appearing" at the temple, acts of loving-kindness, and Torah study. It is unclear from this Mishna if there is a maximum amount but there is a minimum and if there is no requisite amount for "appearance" means simply showing up at the Temple (particularly after the first day of the holiday) or if it means offering a sacrifice at the time of each "appearance." Reish Lakish, who at first believes you have to offer a sacrifice each time your return to the Temple throughout the holiday challenges Rabbi Yochanan (who believes that showing up is enough) with three sources that seem to indicate that you need to offer a sacrifice. Rabbi Yochanan suggests that each of these sources relates to the first day of the holiday only. After Rabbi Yochanan raises a question against Reish Lakish, the Gemara reformulates its understanding of the debate between them: All agree that one can come to the Temple as many times as one wishes throughout the holiday, even without bringing a sacrifice. The debate is whether or not one is allowed to bring as many sacrifices (olot reiya - burnt offerings of appearance) as one wants or is one only able to bring one. Rabbi Yochanan raises a difficulty against Reish Lakish according to this understanding but it is resolved. The Gemara concludes by attempting to define what the braita meant by "the people cannot appear partially." Some sacrifices (olot, burnt offerings) on the holidays must be purchased with unconsecrated money, while others (like shelamim, peace offerings) can be acquired with maaser sheni money. In an attempt to understand the nuances of which sacrifices can be brought on festivals, and which have to be purchased with unconsecrated money, the Gemara rereads (add words to) the Mishna, to make it comprehensible. The Mishna brings a debate between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel regarding the sacrifice on the first day of Pesach - why is that day unique?

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