Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Chagigah 6 - February 15, 14 Adar 1 Feb 15, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Eva Schweber in loving memory of her father, Ken Schweber on his yahrzeit. "His Talmud study was the inspiration for me to study daf yomi. My daily learning makes me feel deeply connected to him and that is a daily blessing to me."

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

On the subject of Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel's debate regarding a child, how could a child so young have gotten to Jerusalem? It must be the mother brought the child as she is obligated in simcha, even though she does not need to go to the Temple, she does go to Jerusalem. If young children went with their mothers to Jerusalem, why did Chana stay at home with Shmuel? If a young lame or blind child obligated according to Beit Shamai since they anyway are carried by their fathers? In what situation is this question asked? What is the root of the debate between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel whether one should spend more money on the burnt offering of seeing or the peace offering of Chagigah. Each brings two arguments and explains why they don't agree with the other's claims. Part of the debate revolves around what type of burnt offerings were sacrificed at Har Sinai when the Torah was given - were they burnt offerings of seeing or burnt offerings of the Tamid sacrifice. Abaye mentions other tanaim who held like Beit Shamai and others who held like Beit Hillel regarding the identity of the burnt offering at Har Sinai. Their statements where this is evident are brought.

Chagigah 5 - February 14, 13 Adar 1 Feb 14, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Caroline Ben-Ari in honor of the birth of Maeve Ray Winestock, "the 'rainbow baby' of my niece Gabi and her husband Benji."

Rabbi Yochanan had a series of psukim that used to cause him to cry. If God is going to be incited to destroy us or if God doesn't trust his righteous ones (as the verses in Job seem to indicate) what hope does humanity have? Once Rabbi Yochanan saw a man picking unripe figs, and the man explained that this was a metaphor for God sometimes killing the righteous before they sin. Another time, a young scholar died and the comment was made that he could have lived. However, in that instance, he acted irreverently. Another verse that causes Rabbi Yochanan to cry relates to Malachi 3:5, which seemingly says that God judges man and testifies against him, and the continuation of this verse was explained by other amoraim. Rabbi Yochanan also cried when he recited the verse from Kohelet 12:14 that speaks about God judging us for inadvertent sins, not just deliberate ones. The verse speaks about "hidden things" which are interpreted as things that a person does (like spitting) that offend others. The final part of that verse says "whether good or bad" which means good acts that have a bad side to them. Some examples are giving charity in public (which creates embarrassment), giving charity to a woman (which suggests impropriety) or even sending meat to one's wife on Friday afternoon which hasn't had the sciatic nerve removed – which might cause her to forget to remove it. Rabbi Yochanan also cried at the verses which said that God punishes us with "evils" and "troubles." This doubling is interpreted as punishments that have mutually exclusive cures, or loans that come with burdensome payback plans. These verses also are explained to be referring to "hester panim" and financial burdens imposed by gentile regimes which the rabbis understood to be something every Jew must undergo. Rava, who seemingly had a great relationship with King Shapur and didn't suffer very much explains that in fact, people didn't know how he had to bribe King Shapur. "Hester panim" is counterbalanced by God continuing to protect us, and this was reflected in a public debate between Rabbi Yehoshua ben Hanania and a heretic in front of the Roman Caesar. There is a debate whether a man is accountable for frivolous conversations between himself and his wife during intimate moments, and Rav Kahana was so committed to learning from his teacher Rav, that he slept under his bed, until Rav reprimanded him. Though God hides Himself, there is a debate whether God cries for the Jews and for the Temple. In addition, God cries for bittul Torah. Various sages are lauded for their capacity to study Torah or see other sages even for a short time, highlighting the significance of every moment of Torah.

Chagigah 4 - February 13, 12 Adar 1 Feb 13, 2022

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Study Guide Chagigah 4

This week's learning is sponsored anonymously in honor of Rabbi Raymond Harari. "He has been teaching women Gemara for over 42 years (way before it was fashionable). May he be blessed with good health so that he may continue to inspire his students with the love of learning Talmud and Torah".

This week's learning is sponsored by Heather Stone for the refuah shleima of Robert Stone, Yehuda Leib ben Naftali HaLevi and Chaya.

From where do we derive the exemptions for women, a tumtum, an androgynous, and slaves from the mitzva of "seeing" God on the holidays? Why is a drasha needed to exclude each of them? That same verse is also explained to include children. How does that work with our Mishna that said children were excluded? From where is it derived that those who are sick, lame, blind, and elderly are also exempt? A braita states that an impure person and one who is uncircumcised is also exempt. From where is this derived? A list is brought of several verses that caused certain rabbis to cry when they read them – why?

Chagigah 3 - Shabbat February 12, 11 Adar 1 Feb 11, 2022

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Study Guide Chagigah 3

Today's daf is sponsored by Tracy Akner for a refuah shleima for Shifra Hadassah bat Chana and Shimon ben Tziporah.

The Gemara establishes that one who can hear but not speak and one who can speak but not hear is exempt from the mitzva of "seeing" – coming to the Temple and bringing holiday burnt offerings but obligated in the chagigah sacrifices. This exemption is derived by a gezeira shava from verses of Hakhel. How do we know that this person is also exempt from Hakhel? Rabbi Tanchum mentions other people who are exempt as well – one who is deaf in one ear, one who has one leg. Where are these derived from? A story is told (including within it a drasha about Hakhel) of rabbis who went to visit their rabbi, Rabbi Yehoshua, on the holiday and he wanted to know what drashot they heard in the Beit Midrash. At first, they are hesitant to say but after much coaxing, they tell him what they learned from Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria. The first drasha is why the children were also brought to Hakhel. The second drasha explains the unique 2-way relationship between God and the Jewish people. The third is an explanation of the verse in Kohelet 12:11 that compares the words of the rabbis to prodders and to nails. There is a beautiful description of the importance and beauty of learning Torah. The end of the verse refers to the multitude of different opinions among the rabbis. If that is the case, what is our job as a learner – how to make sense of it all? Why were those rabbis so hesitant to tell Rabbi Yehoshua the drashot they hear din the Beit Midrash? Their fear was due to a different story where someone was in a similar situation – went to visit Rabbi Eliezer - and after sharing what had happened in the Beit Midrash, Rabbi Eliezer prays that he be blinded and he is. Why?? The story ends with his vision restored. The Gemara goes back to analyzing the Mishna and asks how can we determine when someone is considered a shoteh and is exempt as well?

Chagigah 2 - February 11, 10 Adar 1 Feb 11, 2022

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Study Guide Chagigah 2

Masechet Chagigah is sponsored in honor of Debra Rappaport Rosen by her family on the occasion of her finishing Shas at the end of this Masechet. "We are in awe at her incredible achievement of finishing all of Shas! Her seven-plus years of dedication and focus set a remarkable example and serve as a bold inspiration to our family and to Jewish women around the world. Our dear grandmothers--Pearl Modlin, Francine Friedland, Golda Rappaport, Tova Rosen, and Roslyn Brickman--are looking down at you with immense pride. May you continue to go from Chayil to Chayil! All our love, Michael, Eytan, Danya, Azriel, and Amalya Rosen; Michael Rappaport; Wendy Gordon; and Rena and Mordecai Rosen."

Today's daf is sponsored by Margalit Frydman on behalf of her parents and parents-in-law.

Today's daf is sponsored by Sarah Galasko for the refuah shleima of Pesel Bayla bas Gitel.

Who is obligated in the mitzva of Aliya la'regel and who is exempt? A minor is excluded – who is considered a minor for this purpose? Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel debate this as well as what is the minimum amount of money required for the burnt offering for the holiday and for the chagigah offerings. The Mishna first states that all are obligated and then lists the exceptions to the rule. What does the word "all" come to include? Several answers are suggested and the Gemara raises difficulties with each option and then reinstates the first answer brought, that it is coming to include a Canaanite slave who is half slave/half free (he was owned by two owners and one freed him and the other did not). Another one who is exempt is someone who is deaf. Is it referring to someone who can't hear and can't speak or does the exemption also apply to one who either can't hear, but can speak or can't speak, but can hear?

Introduction to Masechet Chagigah Feb 10, 2022

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Moed Katan 29 - Siyum Masechet Moed Katan - February 10, 9 Adar 1 Feb 10, 2022

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Siyum Masechet Moed Katan is sponsored by Miriam Tannenbaum l'iluy nishmat Jack Zemsky, her father, Yaakov Yitzhak ben Moshe Nachum HaLevi and Miriam Esther z"l, whose 18th yahrzeit was yesterday, the 8th of Adar. "Our father's life, like Moed Katan encompassed both the twinning of and the dialectic between simcha & aveilut. In dealing with life's challenges, he both confronted them and chose to live a life of simcha. His service of Hashem was heavily influenced by those experiences and the teachings and simcha of Chassidut. Upon his passing in Chodesh Adar only days before Purim (that year), we felt it timely—as though he would have wanted the sadness to be somewhat muted at this joyous time of year. Yehi Zichro Baruch."

Siyum Masechet Moed Katan is sponsored by Sara Berelowitz in memory of her mother-in-law, Sarah Tyba bat David Shlomo z"l.

The mourner gets treated with respect and is seated at the head – this derived from a verse in Job? A groom also sits at the head – this is derived from a verse comparing a groom to a kohen, who also sits at the head. The moment of death is described using imagery showing how difficult the moment is. What words should one use when parting with the dead? What words should be used when parting with one who is alive? These are derived from verses with God and Avraham, and Yitro and Moshe. The verse "Go from strength to strength" is explained in two different ways at the end of the Masechet - either one who goes from the shul to the Beit Midrash and the reverse or Torah scholars in general and it relates to this world and the next.

HADRAN ALACH MASECHET MOED KATAN - Download the text for the completion of the masechet: The Hadran.

Moed Katan 28 - February 9, 8 Adar 1 Feb 09, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored anonymously to those who maintain the Hadran website. "During Megillah we got way behind. We started to double and triple up on dapim and are managing to celebrate Siyum Moed Katan with everyone! I wish to encourage others to not be discouraged if they get in a similar situation."

Today's daf is sponsored by Heather Stone for the refuah shlemah of Robert Stone, Yehuda Leib ben Naftali HaLevi v'Chaya, Heather Stone and Gwen Hermann's father.

Today's daf is sponsored by Samuel Ackerman in honor of Rachel Honeyman. "You are seen! So proud of everything you do."

A woman's body before burial should not be left out any longer than needed – out of respect. Is this law specifically referring to pregnant women or to all women? Rabbi Elazar who holds it refers to all women derives this law from Miriam as they learn that she was buried immediately after her death. He also holds that Miriam died through a "kiss from God" like Moshe. Also, her death atones for the sins of the people as is derived from the juxtaposition of her death to the laws of the red heifer. A braita brings names for those who die immediately and those who get sick and die after a day, two days, three days, etc. One who dies at age fifty is death from karet (a God-given punishment), fifty-two is the death of Shmuel the prophet and sixty is considered death in its proper time. What about seventy or eighty? Raba died young and had many calamities in his family and lived in poverty while Rav Chisda lived a long life, celebrated many weddings, and had a lot of wealth. After seeing Raba and Rav Chisda, Rava stated that life, children and sustenance are based on luck rather than merit. Stories are told of exchanges that happened on the death beds of Rava and Rav Nachman, including each of them appearing in a dream after their death upon request by another before their death to tell them what the moment of death was like. Each of these stories, in addition to a few others, mentions encounters with the angel of death. The Mishna discusses different methods women would use to mourn/lament and which ones are permitted on holidays/Rosh Chodesh. The Gemara mentions different lamentations that were recited by women in a place called Shechnatziv. When Rabbi Yishmael's two sons died, different rabbis came to give words of comfort. What did they each say? When one visits a mourner, one should not say anything until the mourner begins to speak. The mourner sits at the head – from where is this derived? A groom also sits at the head – this is derived from a kohen who also sits at the head.

Moed Katan 27 - February 8, 7 Adar 1 Feb 08, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Lisa Wolkenfeld for the continued refuah shleima of Yakira Leeba bat Sara Gita.

Today's daf is sponsored by Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker in loving memory of her father in law Eliyahu Ashtamker on the shloshim and her father Jack Goodstein. "My father-in-law brought his young family including my husband on aliyah from India in 1970. He was a well-known Chazan in the B'nei Israel community. My father Jack Goodstein whose shiva ends today, was a kind, warm, smiling, smart man who will be missed by all who knew him. May both their neshamot have an aliyah."

If someone left on a business trip and found out while away that a relative died, can he continue to do business? If so, in what manner? At what point do laws of mourning, such as turning over one's bed begin? The details of turning over beds is discussed - i.e. they are put back for Shabbat on Friday afternoon, which beds in the house need to be turned over and which do not. There are different types of beds - some need to be turned over and some need to be stood up on their sides. One such bed is called a dargash. There is a debate about what type of bed it is. Several questions are raised on Ulla's definition of the dargash, most are rejected but we are actually left with one difficulty and therefore an alternative is suggested. One can sweep and clean dishes in a mourner's house. What about putting spices and incense to use as air fresheners? People would bring food to the mourners for the seudat havraa. The weather people would bring it in fancy dishes and the poor in simple dishes. In order not to embarrass the poor, they instituted that only simple dishes would be permitted. A series of changes in mourning practices were instituted in order to protect the poor or others from embarrassment. For example, they used to show the body of the dead but since the poor had faces blackened from famine, they stopped this practice. Also burial shrouds became much simpler so as not to differentiate between rich and poor. Rabban Gamliel led the way on this and even in his own death was dressed in simple shrouds. Certain practices are different on chol hamoed and certain ones remain the same. For example, there is an attempt to limit eulogies. However, for a Talmud scholar, this is overridden. At what point should people visiting the mourners leave the house? A mourner or a sick person do not need to stand up in respect for the nasi. Mourners should eat food from others at the seudat havraa - from where is this derived? Until one is buried, the people of the city should not be working as they need to help deal with the burial. One should not mourn excessively over one's relative. A story is brought of a woman who mourned excessively over her son and was punished.

Moed Katan 26 - February 7, 6 Adar 1 Feb 07, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 26

Today's daf is sponsored by Erica Kolatch in loving memory of her mother's 6th yahrzeit, the Honorable Constance Glube, Chaya Rachel bat Shmuel z"l. "In later years she downplayed her brilliant career, but always lived by Tzedek Tzedek Tirdoff."

Today's daf is sponsored by Gitta and David Neufeld for the refuah shleima of Rachel bat Golda Mariam.

For what relationships/situations does one tear kriya and is not allowed to properly fix it after? What is the source that one needs to rend one's garment in each situation? If one has more than one situation that requires rending one's garments, in what cases can one add to a tear that is already there and in what cases does one have to make a new tear in a different place? What is the requisite amount for the tear and for the added tear? It is a subject of debate whether one is allowed to add onto a tear torn over the loss of one's parent. If one keeps adding to a tear, how far can one go before needing to start a new tear in a different place? Can one only add to the tear after the shiva or after the shloshim? This too is a subject of debate. What is the root of the debate? If one borrows clothes and their relative dies, under what circumstances can they rend their friend's garments? If one is sick, we do not tell them of the death of a close relative as it may negatively affect their health. A few other laws regarding rending garments, mourning practices and the seudat havraa are brought.

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