Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Moed Katan 25 - February 6, 5 Adar I Feb 06, 2022

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The Mishna establishes that only family members tear kriya, remove their shirt off their shoulder and partake in the meal immediately following the burial called the seudat havraa. Some explain this Mishna is referring to one who died on chol hamoed. The Gemara raises a number of questions from cases where others tear kriya and as well as keep other mourning practices, such as when a chacham dies or an upright person or one who is present when the person dies. Several stories are brought of the death of rabbis and the reactions of others to their death. When Rav Safra died, the sages did not tear kriya, however Abaye rebuked them. When Rav Huna died and Rav Chisda died, they wanted to put a sefer Torah on the bier, but it was deemed inappropriate. Rav Huna's bier was too wide to fit through the door - what options did they have and which did they choose? Rav Huna's body was brought to Israel and only some rabbis went out after his coffin - why? When Rav Chaga went to bury him next to Rabbi Chiya, a strange incident happened. Several other stories are brought of incidents or strange events in nature that occurred when certain rabbis died or eulogies that were recited for them.

Moed Katan 24 - Shabbat February 5 Feb 04, 2022

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Shmuel held there are no laws of mourning on Shabbat. The rabbis said that Shmuel held that a mourner who engages in sexual relations is liable for death at the hands of God. Rav Papa questions this as it merely says one can't do it, but never says anything about the death penalty. He corrects them by saying that one who cuts one's hair and doesn't rend one's garments is liable to the death penalty as can be derived from verses in the Torah when Nadav and Avihu died. Rav Papa's son quotes Masechet Avel Rabati that tells the story of a mourner who engaged in sexual relations and was killed by a pig. Which mourning practices can be observed on Shabbat and which cannot? A distinction is made between private and public. Rav and Shmuel debate which are private and which are public. Shmuel also held that rending one's garments is only performed upon hearing of the person's death but not the next day. If so, why did Shmuel rend 13 different garments when Rav died? What are the other exceptions to the rule? Is one permitted to fix the clothing that one tore? On Shabbat one either changes out of the torn garments or moves the tear to the back. Rava says that one can wear the torn garment in its regular way in one's house. Rav Yosef covered his head in his house in the way of the mourners. Both of these are considered keeping mourning practices in private which are permitted on Shabbat. According to Rav Gidel bar Menashia, Shmuel ruled like Rabban Gamliel in the Mishna who held that all the holidays including Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur override shiva. Some say that his ruling was issued about infant burial. How many people need to bury the infant? An infant under 30 days is carried out by hand, over 30 days is put in a small coffin, over a year in a regular coffin, and according to Rabbi Akiva only if the child is two or has a body the size of a two-year-old. At thirty days a shura is done and the blessing of mourners and there is shiva. There is a debate regarding at what stage the community joins the funeral and the child is eulogized. It is regarding that debate that Rav Gidel passed down Shmuel's psak. If one sat a day of shiva before Shavuot, when Shavuot ends, the mourner is considered at day fourteen as the holiday counts it as if shiva happened before and the one day of holiday counts as an additional seven days. The same is true for Rosh Hashana. Sukkot counts as 21 as Shmini Atzeret adds another 7. Kriya, revealing one's shoulder after tearing and the meal called the seudat havraa are only for the actual mourners.

Moed Katan 23 - February 4, 3 Adar 1 Feb 04, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 23

Today's daf is dedicated by Debbie Gevir and her husband Yossi, in memory of Shimon ben Feiga Rayzel and Chaim Aryeh who passed away just as last Shabbat ended. "My uncle Shimmy was brilliant and talented with a strong love for Judaism, classical music, boating...and a great zest for life. He chose a different path than his orthodox family, becoming a prominent Reform Rabbi. He and his wife Judy -שתיבדל לחיים ארוכים always remained ever so respectful loving and close to his parents, sister- my mother, and to us. I already miss you, Uncle Shimmy and will always treasure the time we spent together throughout my life."

Today's daf is sponsored by Amy Goldstein in loving memory of her father, Melvyn Sydney Goldstein, on his 2nd yahrzeit. "We miss him. He was taken from us too swiftly. May his neshama have an aliyah."

What are the rules of mourning for the community when a nasi dies? When a mourner finishes shiva, what are the stages one goes through week by week gradually getting life back to normal? How long after one's wife dies can one remarry? On what does it depend? One doesn't wear ironed clothes during shloshim. What clothes are included/not included in this prohibition? There is a debate about whether private mourning practices can be observed on Shabbat. How does each one prove his opinion from the wording of the Mishna? Is this debate between Amoraim also a tannaitic debate between the rabbis and Rabban Gamliel?

Moed Katan 22 - February 3, 2 Adar 1 Feb 03, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 22

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Today's daf is sponsored by Carol Robinson and Art Gould in gratitude to Hashem and Carol's medical team, and to the caring group of their Hadran Zoom friends. "After three months of scans, medical procedures and two surgeries, Carol has been declared - B"H - cancer free!".

Today's daf is sponsored by Tzippy and Mark Wolkenfeld to celebrate the birth and Brit Milah of their grandson born to Hannah and Jacob Finkel.

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran Zoom Family in loving memory of Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker and Leah Goldford's fathers. "With deep sadness, we dedicate today's learning to our dear friends, Stacey Goodstein Amshakar and Leah Goldford. We learn in memory of Stacey's father, Jack Goodstein. And we learn in memory of Leah's father, Moshe ben Bunia Bracha Bella. Our recent learning, so centered around the laws of mourning, highlighted for us the sensitivity with which the amoraim established mourning practices, to help us as we navigate the difficulties of loss. And, yet, even with all the well-stated customs and laws, the sadness of losing a loved one is overwhelming. Stacey and Leah, we stand in silence with you, virtually holding your hands, and offering our comfort. With much love and prayer for better times, your Hadran Zoom Family."

The Gemara continues its discussion of situations where some family members may potentially sit shiva for a different number of days or the same amount of days but a different set of days. On what does it depend? According to Rava, in a case where the mourners do not go as far as the burial, the shiva starts when they turn away from the funeral procession to go back into the city to their homes. Rabbi Shimon holds that if the mourner lived nearby but joined the other mourners on the last day of shiva, they would count shiva with the other mourners. However, this is only if there are still people visiting the mourners. It was passed down that Rabbi Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan that we hold like Rabbi Shimon on this issue and like Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel on a treifa issue. But did he really say that? Several distinctions are made between customs for mourning for one's parents or for others, such as rushing/not rushing the burial, working, removing one's garment from one's shoulders, cutting hair after the shloshim period ends, going to a simcha after the shloshim, how much and where to tear, which garments need to be torn, from where to tear, can the tear be fixed and how, and does one tear by hand or with a scissor. A nasi is treated the same as one's parent. What are the differences in the laws regarding a nasi, talmid chacham, and the head of the court (av beit din) who die?

Moed Katan 21 - Rosh Chodesh Adar 1, February 2, 1 Adar I Feb 02, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 21

This month's shiurim are dedicated by Ruth Rotenberg in loving memory of her daughter Tanielle Miller, a"h, on her 17th yahrzeit and David Ze'ev Rotenberg on his recent passing. "Today we celebrate and commemorate Tanielle's short and powerful life. She loved learning, Israel, and doing chessed. We are grateful to family and friends who have shared how they bring Tanielle's essence into their lives as an inspiration. David Ze'ev Rotenberg exuded warmth and love and was so proud to be living in Israel with his family around him. Thank you to Rabbanit Michelle Farber for making daf so inspiring and meaningful on a daily basis."

This month's shiurim are dedicated by Sharon Bartel and David Form in honor of their daughter Mia's Bat Mitzvah and her siyum of Seder Moed. "We are so proud of you and are impressed by your amazing accomplishment. Thank you for giving your family and friends something wonderful to celebrate."

Rav Ashi questions Ameimar on the fact that he stood while tearing kriya - did you derive this from Job 1:20 where Job stood when he tore kriya, as also in the chalitza ceremony, it says one stands and says "I am not interested in marrying her" and yet, one is not required there to stand. Ameimar distinguishes between the two references. Rami bar Chama also derives it from Job, however, a different question is raised against it and it is learned in the end from King David. Could it be he was acting stringently and not according to the law? A braita lists what is forbidden to a mourner. Even though a mourner can't learn Torah, if the community needs him, he can teach, like Rabbi Yosi in Tzipori. One cannot teach in that situation directly through a translator. Why? Can one wear tefillin during shiva? What is the tannaitic debate regarding this? What verses are used to probe each opinion? Once it is permitted to wear them, even if new people come who don't know what day of shiva it is, can he can leave on the tefillin or does he need to remove them? This is also a subject of debate. According to who does Ulla hold? The Gemara tries to better understand what he holds. Rava holds that after the first day one can wear tefillin. How does that work with his psak about mourning before Yom Tov - that one needs three days in order for the holiday to cancel the mourning period? Other laws of mourning become more lenient after the first three days. In what way? One cannot greet others in the first three days. If so, how did Rabbi Akiva do that on the first day after his sons' death? The Gemara brings a number of different sources that discuss different time frames for a mourner greeting others and others greeting the mourner and tries to reconcile the differences between them. After a certain amount of time passes - a year for a loss of a parent and thirty days for a loss of a different relative - it is not appropriate to console the mourner as it reopens the wound. But one can mention it gently without being explicit about it. If one relative finds out about the death a bit later than the other relatives, does that person count their own count of seven days or with the others? On what factors does it depend?

Moed Katan 20 - Rosh Chodesh Adar 1, February 1, 29 Shvat Feb 01, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 20

Today's learning is dedicated to Rabbanit Michelle Farber by the thousands of students around the world in honor of your birthday… בת חמישים לעצה. In Masechet Shabbat, you taught us that מֵילָתָא אַלָּבֵישַׁיְיהוּ יַקִּירָא. Fine wool is precious to she who wears it. That is, a student loves the teachings of her teacher. Rabbanit Michelle, we are honored and lucky to learn from you daily, we treasure and love all of your teaching. May we grow in learning with you from year to year for many more years to come. Happy Birthday!

According to Raba, if one is buried on the holiday, shiva starts after, but shloshim starts after the burial. Abaye raises a question on Raba from two different tannaitic sources. One is answered but the other difficulty remains. In the Tosefta, there is a tannaitic debate between Rabbi Eliezer and the rabbis regarding how many days of mourning does one need to observe before the holiday for shiva to be canceled by the holiday - three days or one hour? Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel also debated this issue. Amoraim also debate according to which opinion do we rule. Mourning being seven days is derived from the holidays that last seven days. Why is it not derived from Shavuot which is one day? One who hears about a relative who died a while ago, does one sit shiva for a week and observe shloshim or does one only observe one day of mourning. This is also a debate among tannaim. Is a distinction made between a parent who died and other relatives for whom one generally sits shiva? What is considered 'a while ago' - shemua rechoka? What if it was within the time when one heard but it was a day of the holiday when one can't sit shiva and when the holiday ends it is beyond the designated time? What if it was Shabbat? Does one tear kriya in a case of shemua rechoka? Can you have kriya in a case where there aren't seven days of shiva? Are the two inherently connected? For which relatives do people sit shiva? It is learned from people that a kohen cannot become impure to; however, two additional cases were added - siblings who share the same mother (not father) and one's sister who is married. There is a tannitic debate regarding shiva for relatives of those relatives. Is it only when in the presence of the relative? What does one do when one's in-laws die? What is the difference between that case and one where one's brother-in-law dies? Ameimar stood while tearing kriya when his son was sitting shiva.

Moed Katan 19 - January 31, 29 Shvat Jan 31, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Carol Robinson and Arthur Gould in loving memory of Carol's mother, Irma Robinson, Hudda Bat Moshe, z"l. "Today is her 7th yahrzeit. Irma moved from New Haven to Chicago to marry Lou and build a rich life there including lifelong friends, work she loved at a nearby high school library and active participation in her synagogue. She lived with Alzheimer's for seven years with dignity and strength and never forgot Carol or her sister. She would be proud of Carol studying daf yomi."

One cannot write a promissory note on chol hamoed unless the borrower is not trustworthy or the scribe needs money for food. One cannot write sifrei Torah, tefillin and mezuzot. Rabbi Yehuda disagrees and permits one to write tefillin and mezuzot for oneself and to spin thread to make techelet threads for his tzitzit. A braita brings a few different opinions about how one could write tefillin and mezuzot for others as well. When spinning the wool, does one need to make a change and if so, how much of a change? In what situations does the holiday cancel shiva or shloshim? Does this apply to all holidays including Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? Does the one day of Shavuot also work like the week-long holidays of Sukkot and Pesach? When the holidays cancel shloshim, it is entirely canceled? On all of these issues there are different opinions. Abba Shaul holds (against the rabbis) that the seventh day counts both as shiva and as shloshim as part of the day is considered like a whole day. The relevance would be if the eighth day was a holiday. Then since shloshim began on day 7, the holiday cancels shloshim. The rabbis agree that one can shave on the seventh if the holiday comes out on the 9th day and the day before the holiday was Shabbat. Do we hold like Abba Shaul or the rabbis for shiva and for shloshim? From where do we learn the concept of shloshim? If one is buried on the holiday, shiva starts after, but when does shloshim start (since laws of shloshim are the same as chol hamoed – i.e. no shaving)?

Moed Katan 18 - January 30, 28 Shvat Jan 30, 2022

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This week's learning is sponsored by Jay Levine in honor of Rabbi Nicki Greninger, on the occasion of her son Oren's Bar Mitzvah. "Thank you for deepening my learning, sharing my enthusiasm for Daf Yomi, and bringing me back into Talmud study." Today's daf is sponsored by Arnold Shuster in loving memory of his mother Devorah Shuster. "Both her children attended Maimonides School and she was a firm believer that both boys and girls get a good education in Talmud and all limudei kodesh. Today's daf is sponsored by Carol Robinson and Art Gould in loving memory of Art's mother Shirley, Sarah bat Avraham v'Ziche Reicha z"l. "Today is her 8th yahrzeit. She was a life-long learner and a striver; a woman born before her time. She sewed, she made mosaics; she was always busy with something. She lives on in the tallitot and quilts she made for so many members of her family and her synagogue. Art sleeps every night under an official Shirley Gould quilt."

Can one cut one's nails on the holiday or when in mourning? Shmuel was lenient but his brother was not. When his brother sat shiva and Shmuel questioned him on it, his brother said, "If this happened to you, you would also not cut your nails!" Soon after, Shmuel became a mourner and Shmuel blamed his brother for bringing the situation upon him by the power of suggestion as is learned from Abraham's words to his servants when arriving at the place for the binding of Isaac. Is there a difference between cutting fingernails and toenails? Can one use scissors or only one's fingers or teeth? Does one need to bury fingernails? Why or why not? In what situation can one shave one's mustache while in mourning? If one who only has one garment can do laundry on chol hamoed, why was that not listed in the Mishna? Flax clothes can be washed as they are easy to launder. What types of documents can be written on chol hamoed? All of the ones that are permitted are because there is a concern for a loss. Shmuel says that one can betroth a woman on chol hamoed to ensure that someone else doesn't come along and betroth her instead. The Gemara tries to support Shmuel's statement from various tannaitic sources, including our Mishna, that lists documents of betrothal. Or does the Mishna not permit the betrothal itself, just the writing of the monetary commitment of the two sides after the betrothal? Is Shmuel really concerned that someone else may betroth her? Didn't Shmuel say that matches between men and women are decreed by God? Shmuel's statement is reinterpreted. One who is suspected of wrongdoing must be somehow connected to what they are suspected of as there is no baseless suspicion. Is that really true? The Gemara raises several questions against this assumption. As a result, they bring a number of exceptions to this rule.

Moed Katan 17 - Shabbat January 29, 27 Shvat Jan 28, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Carol Robinson and Art Gould in loving memory of Art's father Joseph, Yosef ben Shlomo Shabtai v'Rachel z"l. "Today is his 23nd yahrtzeit. Joe was an ordinary man of extraordinary dignity, decency and dedication. After WWII he worked for the INS welcoming immigrants to membership in America. I miss him and wish we had had more time together."

The Gemara discusses excommunication of one who did not treat a Torah scholar with respect. What should the course of action be for Torah scholar for whom there were rumors spread of inappropriate behavior. Rav Yehuda deliberated and was advised to excommunicate him. Upon Rav Yehuda's death, the Torah scholar asked the rabbis to repeal the excommunication. After looking into the issue, Rabbi Yehuda Nesia wanted to remove it, but Rav Shmuel bar Nachmani argued against him and convinced him not to. When the Torah scholar left the beit midrash, he got stung in his private parts by a hornet and died. Even in burial, they were unable to bury him with the pious people but did bury him with the judges. Why? In Rav Shmuel bar Nachmani's argument, he brought the case of Rebbi's maidservant who excommunicated someone for beating his older child, as it is modeling for him violent behavior. There is a debate regarding Torah scholars who sin, whether or not they should receive a public excommunication. Rav Papa would administer lashes to a Torah scholar instead of excommunicated him. Is excommunication something that permanently leaves a stain on a person or once it is removed, it is totally gone? A Torah scholar was bullied by someone but was to scared to excommunicate him as he was worried he would beat him up. What did he do instead? A leper can shave on chol hamoed - in what circumstances? A braita states that a kohen and a mourner can shave during the holiday - in what situation are each of these cases referring to? Can one cut one's nails on the holiday or when in mourning?

Moed Katan 16 - January 28, 26 Shvat Jan 28, 2022

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One gets excommunicated if one refuses a subpoena to the court. Rava explains various details of a subpoena to court. Who sends it? What details need to be there? Some of these laws are derived from the story of Korach. From where do we derive that someone can be excommunicated for not showing up to court and that we publicize their sins? That and other related issues are derived from verses in the Song of Deborah (Shoftim 5:23). An excommunicated person's possessions are rendered ownerless. What else can be done to him/her? A story is told of a butcher who was excommunicated for acting brazen with a rabbi. Once they made peace, they wanted to undo the excommunication. There was a deliberation about whether or not that could be done. A distinction is made between one who is excommunicated over a monetary issue and disrespect for a Torah scholar. One could be excommunicated to a particular section of people but not to everyone - how? If one excommunicated someone and dies, can the excommunication be repealed by another? What is the standard amount of time for nidui and nezifa? What was the difference between the custom in Israel and Babylonia regarding this? Nezifa in Israel is seven days. However, this is difficult as in a story with Rebbi and Rabbi Chiya, it is thirty days. Rebbi decreed that teaching should only go on in the beit midrash. Rabbi Chiya taught Torah in the marketplace. They engage in a debate but Rebbi wins and Rabbi Chiya puts himself in nezifa. Nezifa in Babylonia is one day. This is proven from a story of Shmuel and Mar Ukva and another story of a woman who partially blocked the road when a Torah scholar was passing. A third story on this same topic relates to verses in Shmuel 2 Chapter 22 and 23 regarding songs of King David. After the story is told, the Gemara delves into verses from those chapters and explains them.

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