Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Moed Katan 15 - January 27, 25 Shvat Jan 27, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Terri Krivosha and Rabbi Hayim Herring in honor of the birth of their granddaughter Orly Nessa, named after Terri's father Nahum Meir. "May she bring light to the world as her Saba Raba did."

Today's daf is sponsored by Catriella Freedman in loving memory of her father, Zvi Stein, on his 3rd Yahrzeit on Shabbat. "You taught us (in Yiddish) that you can't dance at every wedding, so learning אין מעברין שמחה לשמחה took on special meaning: be present and approach each moment with gratitude and joy."

Today's daf is sponsored by the Tannenbaum family in loving memory of בריינא ברכה בת אריה יעקב ורינה Bryna Greenberg, a dear friend to so many, a model of a אהבת התורה, a young woman who was plucked away from us a few days ago at too young of an age. The juxtaposition of simcha & aveilut in Moed Katan feels particularly poignant at this time. May our learning be a zechut & aliyah for her neshama. Yehi Zichra Baruch.

The Gemara does through 13 different issues and tries to determine whether they are forbidden/relevant for a mourner, one who excommunicated and a leper. Issues such as laundry, work, readning one's garment, learning Torah, sexual relations, shoes, etc. Answers are brought from the Tanach or tannitic sources.

Moed Katan 14 - January 26, 24 Shvat Jan 26, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Sondria Atkin in loving memory of her grandmother, Rochel bat Harry on her 39th yahrzeit.

Who is permitted to shave or launder during chol hamoed? Why it is forbidden to shave on chol hamoed? Rabbi Zeira asked: If due to circumstances beyond his's control, he was not able to shave before the holiday, would he be permitted to shave on chol hamoed – should we say it wasn't his fault or should we worry that others may not know that it wasn't his fault and may learn from there that one could shave on chol hamoed? Abaye says, how can we distinguish between different people – if some cannot shave, then all cannot shave. Rav Ashi had a different version of Rabbi Zeira's question and the answer that was given. The Mishna permits one who was abroad to shave on chol hamoed. The Mishna does not agree with Rabbi Yehuda who says one who was abroad did not leave with permission and therefore cannot shave. Rava limits the debate between the rabbis and Rabbi Yehuda to a case where one left to make a profit. A question is raised on Rava from a braita and is resolved. Shmuel taught that a child born on the holiday can get his hair cut on the holiday if it is needed. An inference is made and a question is raised against the inference. Rav Ashi resolves the issue. A different version of Shmuel's statement and the ensuing discussion is brought. Mourning practices do not take place on the holiday whether or not they began before the holiday or after. Are excommunication laws practiced on the holiday? Rav Yosef brings a source to derive an answer but Abaye has a retort. Abaye brings our Mishna to answer the question, but Rava rejects his proof. Does a leper have to keep all the laws of distancing on the holiday? Abaye tries to prove it from our Mishna, but the proof is rejected. Rava brings his own source to find an answer.

Moed Katan 13 - January 25, 23 Shvat Jan 25, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 13

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Today's daf is sponsored by Ruth Rotenberg in loving memory of her daughter Tanielle Miller, on her 17th yahrzeit. "Today we celebrate and commemorate Tanielle's short and powerful life. She loved learning, Israel, and doing chessed."

Today's daf is sponsored by Harriet Hartman in loving memory of her parents' yahrzeits this week, Fruma bat Ester (Florence) and Baruch ben Hinda (Bernard) Stillman. "They always encouraged me to follow my dreams and believed I could do whatever I put my mind to. They would have supported my learning whole-heartedly, and my dad would have joined with me."

Today's daf is sponsored by Judy (Esther Judith) Tydor Schwartz in loving memory of her grandmother Esther Laufer Tydor (Esther bat Sinai and Chaya Laufer) who lost her life in the Lodz ghetto on 23 Shevat 5701 (1941).

Today's daf is sponsored by Beki and Rina Baumel in loving memory of their grandmother Shirly on her yahrzeit. "She was a pioneer of women's advanced education, a true adventurer and a devoted friend. Baba, we love you and miss you."

Today's daf is sponsored by Helen Lewis in honor of her daughter Miriam Kunin's birthday! "Happy birthday to my wonderful daughter Miriam Kunin and thank you to all her teachers at Machon Pardes, Drisha and Hadar and all her chavruta partners across the world for helping her to learn Torah with such enthusiasm and joy."

If one pushes off one's work to chol hamoed, one cannot benefit from the work that was done. But if one dies, are the heirs penalized as well? Is the penalty on the person or on the possessions? Comparisons are made to other cases to arrive at an answer. If one prepared the land in the shmita year, can one plant after the shmita year? On what does it depend? One can purchase houses, slaves and animals if they are needed for the holiday or if the seller needs money to buy food. According to this one can sell items on chol hamoed if one needs money for food, but can one also work if one needs money for food? Sources are brought, including our Mishna, to try to answer the question. One cannot move items from house to house but can move items from a house to the courtyard as less effort is required. One cannot pick up items from a craftsman unless one is concerned they will be stolen from there, in which case, they can bring it to the nearest courtyard. A braita is brought which says one can bring to and bring home items from a craftsman. How can one resolve the contradiction? What can one do to protect figs that are drying, from the rains? Sellers can sell items needed for the holiday, provided they do it privately. Trapping, threshing and grinding can be done also in private for the holiday. Rabbi Yosi said they are being strict. To what was he referring? Rav Huna permitted spice sellers to sell in a normal manner. How could this be? In what situations is one allowed to shave on chol hamoed?

Moed Katan 12 - January 24, 22 Shvat Jan 24, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Judith Weil in loving memory of Rabbi Simcha Krauss who passed away this past Thursday. "A gadol hador who believed history will judge us on the issue of Agunot and so devoted his life and extraordinary knowledge and abilities to ameliorate their plight. Yehi zichro baruch."

Today's daf is sponsored anonymously to show love and support for women undergoing IVF.

If gentiles do work for a Jew on Yom Tov or Shabbat as a contract worker (one who gets paid for the job not per hour), they can do it only if the property is outside of techum Shabbat as otherwise people will think the Jew hired them as day workers on Shabbat. This is only if there is no other city right nearby that is inhabited by Jews. But on chol hamoed, since Jews can travel beyond the techum, it is forbidden even outside the techum. Several cases are brought where rabbis were stringent as they felt that since others look up to them, they have to keep to a higher standard. Several times the Gemara brings this to explain why someone was stringent when the halakha permitted it. If one gets paid for work on chol hamoed, then that work should not be done. One can give items to a gentile worker who is working as a contract worker in order for it to be returned after the holiday. One cannot mate animals on chol hamoed but can put them in an enclosed area, hoping they will mate. One cannot enclose animals in a field in order to fertilize the field on Shabbat, Yom Tov or chol hamoed. If one has a gentile shepherd, one cannot send the gentile any gentile workers to help. If the gentile works for the week/month/year, then one can send him workers to help. The Mishna brings a parallel case to the previous Mishna regarding a wine press instead of an olive press. Why are both necessary? Rav said that laws of chol hamoed are so complicated as the cases are very specific and it is hard to know what general rules can be learned from them. They are also compared to laws of Shabbat as many things are permitted and yet forbidden. A number of rabbis harvested their fields even though it says in a braita that one cannot deal with crops that are attached to the ground. How is this resolved? One can grind for the purposes of the holiday. Can one "pretend" that one needs more even if one does not really? What if there just happens to be extra? One can cut a palm tree even if one only needs the sawdust, however Abaye cursed anyone who did this. A story regarding Rav Ashi who did this is brought in the Gemara. One can bring in fruits to protect from theft and other items to protect from getting ruined, as long as one did not delay this in order to do it specifically on the holiday. This, however can only be done privately, which means during the day and not at night. Why is daytime considered more private?

Moed Katan 11 - January 23, 21 Shvat Jan 23, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 11

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This week's learning is sponsored by Michael Gordon in honor of his wife Avigail and daughter Tzipora's shared Hebrew birthday. "I am continually inspired by both of you."

This week's daf is sponsored by Tina Senders Lamm in loving memory of her mother, Peppy Senders, Pesha Rivka bat Gershon Ha'Cohen u'Bina, whose 18th yahrzeit will be on Shabbat. "She was wise, giving and compassionate. All who knew her, loved her."

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More examples are brought of items that can be built/fixed as they are not considered work of a craftsman. If it is a matter of financial loss, even something that is considered work of a craftsman is permitted, as long as one did not push it off to be done on the holiday. One can preserve food only if it will be eaten on the holiday. A contradiction is brought between the Mishna that permitted fixing hinges and other parts of doors/locks and a Mishna in Maaser Sheni 5:15 that mentions Yochanan the Kohen Gadol who forbade hammering even in a case of financial loss, as it made a lot of noise and those who heard would not know whether or not it was a case of financial loss. There are several suggestions made to resolve the contradiction. There is a tannatic debate regarding issues with financial loss whether or not work can be done in its usual manner or does one need to do it in an unusual manner? A case is brought where they permitted preserving fish for after the holiday. Why? Rav mentions a number of tips he got from Ada the fisherman regarding fish preparation. If one turned over one's olives and they were ready for pressing and then one became a mourner or couldn't finish the process for some other reason and then the holiday came, one would be able on the holiday to put a beam over them to begin pressing them and finish after the holiday. That is Rabbi Yehuda's opinion, but Rabbo Yosi permits one to finish the process entirely. Two different versions of the Mishna are brought, each explaining differently the mourner and whether the mourner can work or not if there is a financial loss at stake. Are the laws of mourning the same as chol hamoed? A braita is brought to prove the opinion that one cannot work when one is in mourning. A few opinions are brought in the braita which delineate what work should one find others to do, what work can one do oneself and what work can't be done at all, even by others.

Moed Katan 10 - Shabbat January 22, 20 Shvat Jan 21, 2022

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In what ways is one allowed to sew on chol hamoed? What is the difference between how a regular person can sew and an expert? What is the test for determining if one is an expert? What actions regarding putting a bed together are permitted according to the different opinions? There are two opinions in the Mishna and the Gemara brings two different ways of understanding the two different opinions. Three questions are raised on one of the explanations. One can set up an oven or millstone on chol hamoed. Rabbi Yehuda does not permit "mechabshin" the millstone from the start – what is that? Two interpretations are brought. There is a debate about whether or not it is permitted and in what situation? And in which case is it not permitted? A number of other actions are raised by amoraim regarding actions that are permitted/forbidden on chol hamoed – some regarding dealing with animals, millstones, and building benches, troughs and other things. Rava lists a whole bunch of actions that can be permitted or forbidden depending on for what purpose it is done. One cannot do business transactions on chol hamoed unless there is a loss incurred. The Gemara brings two stories – one of someone who waited until after the holiday to sell something and was rewarded by selling for double the price and another who didn't wait as there was a potential financial loss.

Moed Katan 9 - January 21, 19 Shvat Jan 21, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 9

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Today's daf is sponsored by Adina Polak in loving memory of Shlomit Bat Bessi.

Today's daf is sponsored by Leah Goldford in loving memory of her mother-in-law, Joyce Goldford, Zissel Pessel Bat Eliyahu Mordechai Ha-levi on her 11th yahrzeit. "Her motto was: "if you don't have anything good to say, say nothing." This wasn't a mere expression but the way she lived her life. Always having something nice to say with her soft voice, mild manner and beautiful smile, no Lashon hara ever came out of her mouth. I miss her and hold the sweet memories of her in my heart. I hope I have internalized her lessons and passed them on to my children and grandchildren. May her neshama have an Aliya and her memory be for a blessing."

Today's daf is sponsored by Gabrielle & Daniel Altman in loving memory of Hon, Myriam Altman z"l. "She was a trailblazer for women's equality, who would have been immensely proud of her 6 family members who are learning the Daf, and probably would have been learning it herself."

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What is the source that one cannot mix two smachot? They try to derive it from the verses in Kings 1 Chapter 8 that describe the sanctification of the Temple that took place in the seven days before the holiday. The proof is rejected and in the end, they learn it from a different part of the verse. When the Temple was dedicated, they did not celebrate Yom Kippur that year. They permitted it based on a kal vachomer from Shabbat and the Tabernacle. Why couldn't they have also fasted and also celebrated the Temple sanctification? From where do we derive that Shabbat is overridden by the Tabernacle? A different source is brought to prove that the sanctification of the Temple overrode Yom Kippur. How do we know that they didn't celebrate Yom Kippur that year? How do we know that God approved of this? Why does the verse there describe all the good that God did for King David? When King Solomon tried to bring in the Ark, the gates of the Holy of Holies stick to each other and wouldn't open? Only when he prayed and eventually asked for mercy on the merits of David, then the gates opened and it became clear that David was forgiven for his sin with Batsheva. Stories are told of students who went to be blessed by rabbis and received blessings that sounded more like curses, but in the end, others explained it to them in a positive manner. What types of makeup are women allowed to use on chol hamoed? Do the same rules apply to younger women and older women? The Gemara brings a braita that shows Rabbi Yehuda's stringency regarding putting lime on one's skin to be more limited than it appeared in the Mishna. Does Rabbi Yehuda really hold that one can do something now that is uncomfortable as long as on the holiday one will be happy from the results of that initial action? It seems to contradict his opinion elsewhere on a different topic. What types of depilatory creams did women use?

Moed Katan 8 - January 20, 18 Shvat Jan 20, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 8

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Today's daf is sponsored by Shira Eliaser in honor of Ellen Jaffe Cogan's birthday. "Happy birthday to a lifelong Torah learner, a devoted Jewish woman, and a very special Bubbie. With love from her children and grandchildren too."

Today's daf is sponsored by Judy & David Gilberg in loving memory of Judy's sister, Hanna Cohn, Chana Sara Bat Meir Tuvyan v'Eshkah, on her 20th yahrzeit.

There were two different opinions about which verse teaches us that a person, clothing or house is not leprous until it is pronounced by the kohen to be leprous. Why does each not use the verse that the other brought? How does Rabbi Yehuda derive it from the verse "and on the day…"? Abaye and Rava each understand it differently and this affects whether or not they derive that the kohen must rule on a leprous mark during the day from this verse or from a different verse, which affects the derivations of other details of a leper as well. Can one do likut atzamot (collection of bones for burial after the flesh has disintegrated) on chol hamoed? Is it considered a happy occasion or one that stirs up sad emotions? One cannot bring a eulogizer to encourage others to be sad along with him/her if it is within thirty days of the holiday. What is the reason for this? One cannot dig burial crypts or graves on chol hamoed. But one can dig a water ditch (for what use?) and make a coffin. Do the boards for the coffin need to be ready before the holiday? One cannot get married or perform yibum (levirate marriage), but one can remarry one who he divorced. A woman can put on makeup but Rabbi Yehuda doesn't think she should put on lime because it will cause her discomfort. The Mishna lists some laws about other types of work that will be dealt with more in-depth in the Gemara. Why can't one get married on chol hamoed? One answer is that one cannot mix one happiness with another. The second answer is that one will ignore the mitzva to be happy on the holiday as one will be busy being happy with one's spouse. A third answer is because of the hard work involved in preparing for a wedding. A fourth answer is that one may push off the wedding until the holiday so that one can combine the wedding and holiday feasts and this will cause a delay in fulfilling the mitzva to procreate.

Moed Katan 7 - January 19, 17 Shvat Jan 19, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 7

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Today's daf is sponsored by Rochelle Sobel, in loving memory of her husband, Dr. Solomon (Sol) Sobel, Shalom ben HaRav Dov v'Chaya, on the occasion of his fourth Yahrzeit. "Sol was a lifelong learner who loved studying Daf Yomi, medicine, and anything else that interested his children and grandchildren. We miss you every day. Your wisdom, your kindness, and your gentle guidance. Yehi Zichro Baruch."

Today's daf is sponsored by Miriam Adler in honor of Rabbanit Michelle and Hadran.

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran Zoom family for a refuah shleima for Rachel Ophira bar Nechama Leah Esther, Emma's daughter. "Emma, your daughter, Rachel, is in our thoughts and prayers and we dedicate today's learning to her full and speedy recovery. With lots of love from your Hadran Zoom family."

What is considered a typical way of trapping a mole or mouse and what is atypical? In what situations can one trap it in a usual manner? Why? In what way can one fix a broken wall on chol hamoed? Rav Chisda said that a wall of a garden has to be fixed in an unusual manner but a wall of a courtyard can be fixed in a usual manner as there is a concern for a loss as robbers can get in. A source is brought to first prove that Rav Chisda is correct; however, it is rejected. A different version brings the source to challenge Rav Chisda but a response to the challenge is brought. In the end, our Mishna provides support for Rav Chisda. Can a kohen check a person who has a leprous mark on chol hamoed? Rabbi Meir says one can check in order to be lenient but if the determination is that the person is a leper, the kohen does not say anything. Rabbi Yosi says that the kohen can't choose to either be lenient or silent, but one must say either yes or no, and therefore doesn't permit a kohen to look at all at a potentially leprous mark on chol hamoed. In which stage of leprosy do they agree and in which stage do they disagree? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi held like Rabbi Meir in a particular stage and like Rabbi Yosi in a different one but two different versions are brought as to which stage he held like which opinion. What is the logic behind each option? Is a leper who is determined definitively to be leper permitted to be with their spouse? The premise of the Mishna is that until a kohen pronounces the person a leper, the person is not a leper. From there is this derived? Two different verses are brought. What is the practical difference between them?

Moed Katan 6 - January 18, 16 Shvat Jan 18, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 6

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Today's daf is sponsored by Sara Berelowitz in honor of her son Tani Sterman who passed the bar exam!

Today's daf is sponsored by Shira Hannah Fischer in honor of Rabbanit Michelle Farber and all the amazing women learning every day.

Today's daf is sponsored by Debbie Aschheim & Robert Weiss (NYC) For a refuah shleima for Jackie Bitensky - Yaacova Ariella Bat Fruma. "Jackie: Your very recent FB posts embody what Rabbi Abbahu taught on yesterday's (Tu b'Shevat) daf (Moed Katan 5a/Michelle Farber at 27:30 minutes) and provide an opportunity for the public to pray for mercy and healing on your behalf. May the prayers of multitudes, including those of the Hadran family, result in your speedy and complete recovery. Refuah shlema."

Rabbi Yehuda says that one doesn't assume a field had a body buried there that was plowed unless an elder or a Torah scholar says so. What do we learn from this about Torah scholars? If graves were marked by rocks and limestone, what can one learn from the particular formation about where the graves are located? The Mishna states that chol hamoed was a time when they would send messengers from the court to uproot diverse kinds that were growing in people's fields that they themselves did not uproot. The Mishna in Shekalim says it was done on the 15th of Adar. What is each one referring to? Why specifically was this done on chol hamoed? What is the measurement for a diverse kind that needs to be uprooted? When the representative of the court come, what do they do? How did this change over time and why? The Mishna discusses debates between Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov and the rabbis regarding certain watering issues - one can make a channel from one tree to another but not in a way that the whole field (a field that is usually sustained by rainwater) will get watered or is this also permitted? If a field is not used to being watered, does that mean that one cannot water is on chol hamoed as this may be defined as no financial loss? Rav Yehuda holds that even if one cannot water the whole field, if the field was moist but dried up, one can water it as it will be a loss. Can one sprinkle water on a field on chol hamoed? In the shmita year? Is it permissible to trap moles and mice so they don't ruin the fields? On what does it depend?

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