Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Moed Katan 5 - January 17, 15 Shvat, Tu B'Shvat Jan 17, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by David and Mitzi Geffen in loving memory of Rabbanit Sara Hene Rabinowitz Geffen on her yahrzeit. "She and her husband Rav Tuvia Geffen, Rabbi of Shearith Israel in Atlanta, brought up their 8 children in a life of learning. Seven of her grandchildren live in Israel."

Today's daf is sponsored by Talia Kirshenbaum in honor of Arielle Frankston Morris. "Thank you for encouraging and inspiring us to jump back on the daf yomi bandwagon for Masechet Megillah. Tizki le'Mitzvot!"

Today's daf is sponsored by Vered Wexler in loving memory of her grandmother, Morti Margret Renta Sara Bat Lilu.

One can fix a water channel that is broken but can one dig a new one on chol hamoed if it is needed for the public? Rabbi Yaakov in the name of Rabbi Yochanan permits, however, a question is raised against him from a braita that clearly states that digging is not permitted. However, it is unclear if the braita is referring to a case where it is needed by the public or not. There are different ways to read the braita. Can our Mishna provide support for Rabbi Yochanan as well? Where is the source in the Torah for the need to make a sign on a grave for kohanim to know not to pass over there? There are many different verses brought to answer this question. Places that have impurity that can be imparted by a tent need marking but not ones that only pass on impurity through touching or carrying. One cannot place markers on chol hamoed if it is clear to all there is a grave there. But if there is a doubt, such as overhanging trees and rocks, and a beit hapras, then markers can be put up on chol hamoed. What are the cases of overhanging trees and rocks and a beit hapras? There are three cases that can be considered a beit hapras. Rav Papa thinks that not all cases of a beit hapras require markers. Which one does not? Why?

Megillah 32 - January 13, 11 Shvat Jan 16, 2022

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Siyum Masechet Megillah is sponsored by Sharon Goldberg in loving memory of her father, Yechezkel ben Yerachmiel, on the occasion of his yahrzeit on the 11th of Shevat. "He was a kind and gentle man, a devoted son and brother, and a wonderful father and grandfather. Yehi zichro baruch."

Siyum Masechet Megilah is sponsored by Rina and Tzachi Goldberg in loving memory of Chaim Schalom Ben Aharon Mendel Kurz on his 46th yahrzeit on the 26th of Shvat, and to Penina Bat Yechezkel Goldberg on her 13th yahrzeit on the 21st of Adar. "She shares a yahrzeit with her ancestor, the Noam Elimelech."

Siyum Masechet Megillah is sponsored by Sharon Russ and family in memory of her mother, Sima bat Estreya, who just had her Shloshim. "My mother was taken from us suddenly and tragically. She was born in the Old City of Jerusalem, in 1942. She faced many challenges in her life, including her visual disability from birth, and persevered with profound faith, strength, and determination. Although she wasn't given the opportunity to study past 8thgrade, she was extremely wise, and all gravitated to her to get advice, love and support. She was totally devoted to her family, giving unconditional love (tough love if necessary. As kids we called her the drill sergeant). She was adventurous and full of life and spread joy and happiness to all. She touched the lives of so many and will be sorely missed. May her neshama have an aliya."

Today's learning is sponsored by Emma and Richard Rinberg for a refuah shleima for their beloved daughter Rachel, Rachel Ophira bat Nechama Leah Esther.

What do you do to the Torah before and during the recitation of the blessings over the Torah? Does the Torah need to be covered during the blessing? If so, why? Who is chosen to be the one to roll the Torah? Is it considered a bigger honor than reading from the Torah? Can one rely on a voice one hears to help make a decision? What are two possible interpretations of a verse in Ezekiel 20:25 that God has given us "statutes that are not good and judgments whereby they shall not live"? From where do we learn that on each holiday a portion relating to that day should be read? The Gemara brings a braita that stresses the importance of learning on each holiday the laws connected with that holiday.

Download the text for the Siyum Masechet Megillah Ceremony.

Moed Katan 4 - January 16, 14 Shvat Jan 16, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 4

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This week's learning is sponsored by Debbie Pine and Mark Orenshein in loving memory of their father's Harry Pine, Noach Aharon ben Yaakov v'Devorah's 20th yahrzeit on Tu B'shvat and Herb Orenshein, Tzvi ben Yehuda v'Minna's shloshim, on the 19th Tevet. "Neither of our fathers had the benefit of a formal Jewish education and yet both of them were committed to providing that for us. They were proud of their families and our dedication to Torah-true Judaism. They would love our commitment to Daf Yomi and how we often learn the daf together. They would be especially appreciative of Rabbanit Michelle who has made the daf accessible to those didn't grow up learning gemara through her intentionally inclusive style of teaching. We miss them every day. Yehi zichram Baruch".

Today's daf is sponsored by Ronnie Rom in honor of her sister, Joanna Rom's 70th birthday. "Thank you for being my sister & may you go from strength to strength!"

Today's daf is dedicated by Becki Goldstein in memory of her mother Shoshana Rosa bat Shmuel and Minda Lea. My mother would be so proud and humbled to share this learning with all these special women men worldwide. A self-made woman who attained her high school diploma at the tender age of 70, she would strive all her life to deepen and expand her Torah learning and after she made aliyah she would encourage her children and grandchildren to share their store of knowledge with her. She thanked Hashem every day for the gift of being able to be here with us and we had the zchut to learn with her and from her and make many precious memories together. Yehi Zichra Baruch.

Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael differ on tosefet shviit (adding on time before and after the shmita year) whether it is a Torah law or a halakha l'Moshe mi'Sinai. Rabbi Akiva learns it from the verse "And one should rest from plowing and reaping." Rabbi Yishmael holds that the verse is referring to Shabbat and it is coming to teach that only actions that are optional are forbidden on Shabbat but if the reaping is for a mitzva, such as the Omer, it is permitted on Shabbat. Rabbi Yochanan's explanation of Rav Dimi's statement is explained according to Rabbi Akiva that tosefet is from the Torah and one would have thought one would get lashes, but Rabban Gamliel learned by a gezeira shava that there is no law of tosefet. Rav Ashi questions this and explains Rabban Gamliel differently – he held like Rabbi Yishmael and that it was only for a time when the Temple was in existence. Once it was destroyed, there was no longer a law of tosefet. Why can't a field be watered from a cistern filled with rainwater? Is it just because if we allow that, one may think it is permitted to use water drawn from a well. Or is it because the water level may drop to the point where one will need to draw it with a pail. A series of braitot are brought which have various cases of watering that are either permitted or forbidden. Comments of amoraim on each braita are brought. If the Mishna says one cannot dig circular ditches around a vine, why did Rav Yehuda allow the people of his city to do that? Why does Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria forbid digging a channel on the shmita year? Two answers are brought and questions are raised on each answer. One can fix a broken channel on Chol Hamoed. Under what circumstances?

Moed Katan 3 - Shabbat January 15, 13 Shvat Jan 14, 2022

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Today's daf is sponsored by Adam Plunka in loving memory of his grandfather, Harry Reuben Plunka, Yerachmiel Herschel Ben Yisrael, father of Stanley Plunka.

Today's daf is sponsored by Erica Kolatch in loving memory of her father Richard Glube, Hillel ben Yosef Calman on his 25th yahrzeit. "Learning the daf exemplifies my father's maxim, always try something new that interests you, it may lead to a lifelong love."

Today's daf is sponsored by Terri Krivosha and Rabbi Hayim Herring in loving memory of Terri's father, Judge Norman Krivosha, Nahum Mayer Ben Malka and Dovid on his first yahrtzeit. "Our dad was a lifelong learner and jurist who loved nothing better than a well-reasoned argument."

How is watering allowed on the shmita year in a case of a financial loss if it is a subcategory of planting or plowing? Abaye holds the Mishna is according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi who holds that shmita is only by rabbinic law nowadays. Rava's answer is that sub-categories are not forbidden by Torah law. Are they really not? What about a braita that derives many sub-categories from a verse in the Torah? Is plowing forbidden by Torah law and one would then receive lashes? Or not? Why would plowing be different than planting? Rav Dimi made a statement about an "addition" being possibly forbidden but the rabbis exempted. To what was he referring? Two possibilities are brought. Either he was referring to plowing on the shmita year or to tosefet shmita. From where is tosefet shmita derived? From when does it begin? And what changes were made to this law throughout the generations?

Moed Katan 2 - January 14, 12 Shvat Jan 14, 2022

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Study Guide Moed Katan 2

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Today's daf is sponsored by Blima Slutsky in loving memory of her father, Yitzhak Tzvi Ben Blima and Chaim Shimon.

Today's daf is sponsored by Gabrielle Altman in loving memory her friend, Naomi Rosen on her second yahrzeit, and a Refuah Shlemah for Miriam Aliza bat Shifra Chana.

Today's daf is sponsored in honor of Seth Farber's birthday from his brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Eve and Steven and Lynn, and their families.

Today's daf is dedicated in memory of the two soldiers killed two night ago in a terrible accident Rav Seren Ofek Aharon and Rav Seren Itamar Elcharar.

Can one water a field that needs irrigation on Chol Hamoed and in the Shmita year? On what does it depend? If there will be a financial loss, one can do actions that do not incur too much labor, or even if there is concern that one may end up having to do hard labor. However, not all agree with these rules. According to which tannaitic opinion is our Mishna? Watering is a sub-category of plowing or planting? Rava and Rav Yosef disagree on this issue. If it is a sub-category of their of those, how can the rabbis permit it to be done in the shmita year in a case of a financial loss if those actions are forbidden by Torah law?

Introduction to Moed Katan with Dr. Ayelet Hoffmann Libson Jan 13, 2022

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Megillah 31 - January 12, 10 Shvat Jan 12, 2022

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Study Guide Megillah 31

Today's daf is dedicated by Linda Freedman, Sheila Strulowitz, Gwen Lerner, her 9 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren for Thelma Pultman 95th birthday. "We wish you the happiest of birthdays and many more to come. All our love from your family. You have created a beautiful legacy."

The Mishna lists which Torah readings are said on different days of the year. A braita is quoted which also lists the Torah readings and adds the haftorah readings. The Gemara interjects to either explain parts that are unclear or update regarding a reading that may have changed from the time of the braita to the time of the amoraim. Why do we read about the creation of the world during the maamadot? Why do we not split the curses into more than one aliya? Is this the case for the curses in Vayikra and in Devarim? We generally read the curses in Vayikra before Shavuot and the ones in Devarim before Rosh Hashana - why? There is a tannatic debate about whether the readings on Shabbat afternoon, Mondays and Thursdays all pick up where the last one left off or whether we read the same for each - the beginning of the upcoming Torah portion.

Megillah 30 - January 11, 9 Shvat Jan 11, 2022

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Study Guide Megillah 30

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran zoom group in honor of Becki Goldstein's grandson, Amitai. "Amitai finished Shas Mishnayot this week. As Becki wrote: "To fill the void felt in Bavel after the destruction of the Temple they found comfort in their mikdash me'at - batei knessiot u'batei midrashot. And we, her Hadran Zoom family, take joy in seeing the comfort and pride passed on."

What is done if Parshat Shekalim falls out on the Parsha of Tetzave, which ends just before the beginning of Ki Tisa, which is the reading for Shekalim according to Shmuel? Abaye and Rabbi Yitzchak Nafcha each have different solutions and questions are raised and support texts are brought. If Rosh Chodesh Adar falls on Friday, Rav and Shmuel debate whether or not we read Parshat Shekalim on the preceding Shabbat or the following Shabbat. Texts are brought to question/prove the different opinions. They have a similar debate regarding Parshat Zachor when Purim falls on Friday. What is the root of their debate? What weeks are the other parshiot read? What is read each of the four weeks? Were the parshiot read instead of the weekly Torah portion or only instead of the maftir and haftorah? What Torah portion is read on each of the holidays?

Megillah 29 - January 10, 8 Shvat Jan 10, 2022

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Study Guide Megillah 29

Today's daf is sponsored by Blima Slutsky in loving memory of her mother Tina (Mazal) Bat Rina and David.

Today's daf is dedicated by Devorah Saban for the refuah shleima of Yosef Ezriel Ben Chaya Michal a young boy still in a come since the Meron tragedy who is having surgery today.

Today's daf is sponsored by Chaya Nissan in loving memory of Rav Shmuel Halevi Segel.

Today's daf is sponsored by Micki Kadosh in loving memory of Tal Aya bat Dafna Bahat.

One can stop learning Torah in order to go to a funeral or a wedding. Are there any limitations to this law? When the Jews went into exile, God went into exile with them. God's presence in Babylonia can be found either in the shul in Hutzel or Shaf V'yativ. Some stories are told of those who encountered the presence of God in these places. In the future, these shuls will be brought to Israel – from where is this derived? Where does the word kapandaria, meaning shortcut, come from? In what circumstances can one use a shul as a kapandaria? What cannot be done in a cemetery out of respect for the deceased? When are the four parshiot that lead up to Pesach read? Why is Parshat Shekalim read before or on Rosh Chodesh Adar? What section of the Torah is read? There is a debate regarding this matter – either the section on collecting the shekalim for building the Tabernacle or the section read on Rosh Chodesh about the daily, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh sacrifices, which were purchased from the shekalim that were collected. If the reading is the same as Rosh Chodesh, then how is the reading on Shabbat Parshat Shekalim different from the reading on a regular month when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbat? On Rosh Chodesh Adar that falls on Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Tevet that falls on Shabbat, one takes out three sifrei Torah.

Megillah 28 - January 9, 7 Shvat Jan 09, 2022

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Study Guide Megillah 28

This week's learning is sponsored by Elaine Hochberg in honor of Hadran and her husband, Aryeh. "Two years of Daf Yomi have been but a second filled with learning and delight. May we continue on this journey together and may it remain but a sweet second in our hearts and minds and on our lips."

Students asked various rabbis in what merit did they gain long life? If a shul is destroyed, the space where it once stood still has sanctity and cannot be used for certain things. One should also not pull out weeds so that others see and pray for the shul to be rebuilt. One has to treat a shul respectfully and not eat and drink there, eulogize people, and a number of other things. However, shuls in Babylonia were built with a stipulation that they may be used for other things. One still cannot use them for business dealings. In what cases can eulogies be done in a shul? One cannot be served by someone who is a Torah scholar unless it is one's student. One who studies halakha is promised a place in the World-to-Come.

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