Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Megillah 10 - December 22, 18 Tevet Dec 22, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Cheryl and Avi Savitsky in loving memory of Cheryl's father Dr. Steven F. Stein, Shimon Feibush ben Yisrael Yitzchak HaKohen on his 38th yahrzeit.

Today's daf is also sponsored by Ann Goldhirsch for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Nechah bat Leah.

What are the differences and similarities between Shilo and Jerusalem? One of the differences is that one can sacrifice in bamot after the destruction of the Tabernacle but not after the Temple is built in Jerusalem. However, Rabbi Yitzchak said that sacrifices were brought in Egypt at the Temple of Onais, Beit Chonyo, as the Temple was for worship of God, not idols, and the sanctity of the building of the First Temple was just for that time but once it was destroyed, the sanctity was gone and so was the prohibition to sacrifice outside the Temple. This is proven by a verse in the Torah. But Rava insists that Rabbi Yitzchak retracted this statement as it is clear that once the Jews built the Temple in Jerusalem, even after its destruction, one is not allowed to sacrifice in bamot. The issue of the sanctity remaining after the destruction of the First Temple is a subject of tannaitic debate. First the Gemara tries to prove that from a Mishna in Eduyot. However, it is not conclusive as it is not clear that they disagree on that issue. Two contradictory sources are brought, both in the name of Rabbi Yishmael son of Rabbi Yosi – one saying the first sanctity was only temporary and the other saying it was forever. This is resolved by saying that either there is a debate among tannaim about what Rabbi Yishmael son of Rabbi Yosi held, or one source lists his name by mistake and it was said in the name of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Yosi. A long list of drashot on the Megillah is brought. When the Megillah starts with the word "Vayehi" "And it was…," that is foreshadowing that something bad will happen, as appear in many other places in the Tanach. After several verses are brought, others that have the same language but are not introductions to something bad happening and the Gemara then responds by saying that when it says "And it was in the time of…," then it is an indicator of something bad about to happen. Rabbi Levi passed down traditions about a number of verses: Amotz, Isaiah's father, was the bother of Amatzia the King of Judea. This is derived from Tamar as she was promised that kings and prophets would descend from her. Another tradition he passed down was that the Ark didn't take up any space in the Holy of Holies as the room was 20x20 cubits and there were ten cubits between the Ark and the walls. A list of drashot are brought that different rabbis would start with when teaching the Megillah.

Megillah 9 - December 21, 17 Tevet Dec 21, 2021

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Study Guide Megillah 9

Today's daf is sponsored by Suri Stern in loving memory of her father Ruby Davis, Harav Reuvain ben Harav Chaim. "He was the first gabbai in the White Shul in Far Rockaway and completed Shas many times over and transmitted his ahvavat habriyot to his family."

Can holy books be written in any language? According to the Mishna they can be, however tefillin and mezuzot can only be written in Ashurit script. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says that holy books can only be written in Greek. The Gemara infers that all these things make one's hands impure (according to a rabbinic decree) and all are sewn with animal sinews. A contradiction to our Mishna is brought from a braita that states that holy books must be written in Ashurit script as well. Five answers are brought to resolve the contradiction. Questions are raised against each of the answers. Rabbi Yehuda explains Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel's opinion about Greek to be relating only to the Torah and because of the story of Ptolemy who took 72 elders and told them to translate the Torah into Greek. According to the story, each one of them was placed in a separate room and yet each of them translated in the exact same way. Regarding some verses, they each deliberately distorted certain passages in order to protect the integrity of the Jewish faith. From where can one derive from the Torah that it can be translated into Greek? A Kohen Gadol who is anointed with the special oil is different from one who was not anointed but became a Kohen Gadol by wearing the Kohen Gadol's eight garments in that only he can bring a communal sin offering. A Kohen Gadol who is no longer a Kohen Gadol differs from a regular Kohen Gadol only in that he doesn't perform the Yom Kippur service and doesn't bring the daily mincha offering that the Kohen Gadol brings. Some disagree and say that even one who becomes a Kohen Gadol from wearing the garments can bring a communal sin offering. Rabbi Yosi disagrees with the end of the Mishna and holds that one who is no longer a Kohen Gadol can no longer work in The temple. What offerings could be brought on a small individual bama, a place meant for bringing sacrifices) and which ones could be brought on a large bama? Which were not able to be brought on a bama at all. What are the differences between the Tabernacle in Shilo and the Temple in Jerusalem?

Megillah 8 - December 20, 16 Tevet Dec 20, 2021

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Study Guide Megillah 8

Today's daf is sponsored by Yehudit Cohen in loving memory of Yitzchak Eitan ben Yehudit Shulamit.

The only difference between the one who vows not to benefit from another and one who vows not to benefit from one's food is walking within the other's territory and borrowing vessels that are not used for food preparation. Is walking through someone else's property considered a benefit, even if it doesn't bother the owner? The difference between vows of a neder and vows of a nedava and alms is in the matter of responsibility - if an animal is dead, stolen, or lost - does the one who made the vow need to bring another animal. A neder is when one says "I accept upon myself" and a nedava is when one says, "This animal will be brought." The differences between a zav who sees two discharges and a zav who sees three discharges are in the matter of bringing a sacrifice, but for other things - level of impurity and counting seven clean ones - both are the same. How does one learn these laws from the verses on the Torah in Vayikra chapter 15? The only difference between a quarantined leper (metzora musgar) who was determined not to be a leper and an absolute leper (metzora muchlat, who was determined to have leprosy) is that the musgar does not have to let his hair grow long or tear his clothes. As for the process of purification, only the muchlat needs to shave all his hair and bring the birds. From where in the verses are there laws derived?

Megillah 7 - December 19, 15 Tevet Dec 19, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Norman Eliaser in honor of his wife, Shira Eliaser, on her birthday! "Happy birthday to Shira - my wife, favorite chevruta, and favorite teacher!"

Today's daf is sponsored by Becki Goldstein in loving memory of her father Yoel Ben Meir Fromm. "He was a lone Holocaust survivor who although arriving in Canada with no family or emotional support at the age of 19, still believed that Hakol le tova. He dedicated his life to Torah and Gmilut Chasadim. Any advice he gave was always spiced with examples of Midrashim and Aggadot. He challenged my thirst for learning by encouraging my independent thinking. I miss his music, his nigunim, zmirot and his stories. He was my guiding light. Yehi zichru baruch."

There were questions raised about Megillat Esther - should it be written down? If so, should it be included in the canonization of the Tanach? What other books were a subject of debate whether or not to be included? Was the Megillah said with Ruach HaKodesh, inspired by the Divine Spirit? What verses can be used to prove this? Is there a way to understand each of these verses in a different manner? How many Mishloach Manot and Matanot l'Evyonim is one required to give on Purim? Stories are told of Abaye who delivered mishloach manot for Raba and his reactions both to what Raba was sending and to Meri bar Mar who returned mishloach manot to Raba. When Abaye brought the mishloach manot to Meri, Meri offered him food and even though Abaye had left Raba's house and wasn't hungry, he ate a lot of food there. One can derive from here either that poor people are hungry and they don't even realize it or that there's always room for dessert!! There were two rabbis (brothers) who would exchange meals each year, presumably, to fulfill their obligation of mishloach manot. Rava says that one is obligated to drink on Purim until one no longer knows the difference between cursing Haman and blessing Mordechai. A story is brought of Raba and Rabbi Zeira who ate together and got drunk and Raba "slaughtered" Rabbi Zeira. The next day, he prayed for mercy and brought him back to life. The following year, he invited him again to eat together and Rabbi Zeira declined, saying that one cannot rely on miracles. Purim seudah must be eaten during the day. The next Mishna begins a set of mishnayot that compare two different things, as the previous Mishna compared Adar 1 to Adar 2. The only difference between Shabbat and Yom Tov is that on Yom Tov one is allowed to prepare food. The Gemara derives from the Mishna that one is not allowed to prepare items that facilitate the preparation of food, in which case it does not hold like Rabbi Yehuda who permits that. The only difference between Shabbat and Yom Kippur is that Shabbat is punishable by the court and Yom Kippur is punishable by God, karet. The Gemara derives from here that if there was an obligation from the melacha performed on Yom Kippur to pay someone for damages, one would be exempt on both cases based on the law of kim lei b'deraba minai, one gets only the harsher punishment, just as on Shabbat. This is in accordance with Rabbi Nechunia ben HaKane. According to the Mishna is Makkot, Rabbi Hanania ben Gamliel holds that if one receives lashes for a karet obligation in the event that there are witnesses and the person was warned, one is exempt from karet. Rabbi Yochanan claims that others disagree with him. Does this fit in with our Mishna?

Megillah 6 - Shabbat December 18, 14 Tevet Dec 17, 2021

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Is the city Reket mentioned in Joshua 19:35 referring to Tiberias or is Chamat? Perhaps Rakat is Tzipori? What about Kineret? Rabbi Yochanan and Rava disagree about the identification of these cities. Zeira said that Kitron is Tzipori. However, since Kitron is in Zevulun's land and Zevulun complained that they were not given good land, how could this be? Or is it just that the grass is always greener on the other side? Ekron is the city of Caesaria. It was a Roman stronghold. It is not possible for the Romans and the Jews to both be well established at the same time or both be destroyed at the same time – two different verses are brought to prove this. Drashot are brought on verses explaining conversations between Yitzchak and Yaakov with God about Esau, which is the father of Edom, from who the Romans are descended. If one says one is successful without hard work or works hard but is not successful, do not believe them. However, if one says one worked hard and was successful, that is to be believed. Is this only regarding Torah and only some type of Torah learning? Why? Can one provoke evildoers? Or should one stay away? On what does it depend? If there are two months of Adar, when do we read the Megillah – in the first month or the second? If one holds the second month and one reads it in the first and only after that, it was decided to add another month, does one need to read it again? What about other mitzvot like the four parshiot?

Megillah 5 - December 17, 13 Tevet Dec 17, 2021

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Study Guide Megillah 5

Today's daf is sponsored by Naomi and Adam Ferziger in honor of the engagement of their daughter Avital (a former student of Michelle's) to Sefi Becker. Mazal tov!

Is it necessary to have ten people when reading the Megillah? Does it matter if it is read on time or not? What counts as a big city for determining the date for reading the Megillah? In the cases where the date of reading the Megillah is changed, it is only pushed earlier but other things such as Tisha B'Av which falls on Shabbat, and the chagiga sacrifice and Hakhel that fall on Shabbat get pushed offs. Why? Is it forbidden to work on Purim? Does it just depend on the custom of the place where one lives? Is Tiberias considered a walled city from the days of Joshua or not? What is the unique issue of Tiberias?

Megillah 4 - December 16, 12 Tevet Dec 16, 2021

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Study Guide Megillah 4

Today's daf is sponsored by Catriella Freedman in loving memory of her mother 5th Yahrzeit, Gerda Stein, Freida bat Fruma. "She died in Eretz Yisrael, the place she firmly believed was her spiritual home. I think of you every day and always hear your encouragement to pursue the intellectual and thoughtful life".

The daf is also sponsored by Julie Mendelsohn in honor of her son who was sworn in as an Israeli air force officer today. "As usual the daf speaks to life. Not only are you now a "captain of the Army of G-d" but throughout your course you never gave up on your learning, your tefillah and your Torah lifestyle. During all of the hard training, you got up even earlier to pray, spent your free time on Shabbat learning, and were a great example for all of the other soldiers in your unit. I am so proud of you and wish you a safe and meaningful service."

There are four other laws of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi regarding Purim (in addition to the four mentioned at the end of Megillah 3): a list of a few cities that were walled from the time of Joshua, women are obligated in reading the Megillah as they too were part of the miracle, when Purim that falls on Shabbat, the Megillah should be studied, and the Megillah should be read both at night and in the morning. Rabbi Chanina explains why people in the villages can read on an earlier day - the rabbis were lenient with them in order to allow them to bring food and drink to the people in the cities. The Gemara asks several questions on this and reinterprets his statement to read "The rabbis were lenient with them since they brought food and drink" - meaning as a reward to them for doing this, they wanted to make their lives easier by allowing them to read it earlier on a day when they normally went to the city. If Purim falls on Friday, when do the different types of cities read the Megillah? The Mishna brings one opinion which matched Rebbi and Rabbi Yosi's opinion, however, there are two other opinions. What is the basis for each opinion? Why do we not read the Megillah on Shabbat? Two answers are brought - either so we don't accidentally carry in the public domain (as in Lulav and Shofar) or because we give charity at the same time as we read the Megillah and we can't do that on Shabbat.

Megillah 3 - December 15, 11 Tevet Dec 15, 2021

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Study Guide Megilla 3

Today's daf is sponsored by Joel Silberstein in loving memory of Mazal Tov bat Shalom.

Several statements made in the name of either Rabbi Yirmia or Rabbi Chia bar Abba are brought. One related to the letters in the Hebrew alphabet that have a different form when they appear at the end of a word. Was that established by the Prophets? Or earlier? Another explained who first translated the Torah and the Prophets into Aramaic. Unkelos the covert translated the Torah and Yonatan ben Uziel did the Prophets. The earth shook when the Prophets were translated. Why? And why not when the Torah was translated? Why weren't the Writings translated? How could it be Unkelos was the first to translate the Torah when it appears already in a drasha on a verse from Nechemia that it was already translated then? Another statement from Rabbi Yirmia or Rabbi Chia bar Abba relates to a verse in Daniel where he saw something that other people with him did not and yet they were frightened and he was not. What exactly transpired there? What can we learn from it? From the words "mishpacha u'mishpacha" in the Megillah, we derive that families of kohanim, Levites and maamadot leave their jobs to hear Megillah. A hierarchy of mitzvot are discussed - what precedes what in terms of importance? A met mitzva, one who has died and there is no one to bury him/her. overrides everything, even a negative commandment, as human dignity overrides everything. Rabbi Yehushua ben Levi brings several statements defining what is considered a "big city" or "walled city."

Megillah 2 - December 14, 10 Tevet Dec 14, 2021

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Study Guide Megillah 2

This month's learning is sponsored by Jordana and Kalman Schoor on behalf of their daughter Daria Esther who is completing Masechet Megilla in honor of her Bat Mitzva this month. "Daria attended the Hadran siyum and there is no doubt that her attendance inspired her to learn each chapter with a different family member and begin her journey into the world of Gemara learning." Mazal tov!

Today's daf is sponsored by Jessica Shklar on behalf of her sister, Ruth Leah Kahan's birthday "Happy Birthday to a Hadran stalwart, Ruth Leah Kahan, from her sister Jessica, who loves sharing daf yomi with you from across the ocean."

Today's daf is sponsored by Sharon Russ and family, in loving memory of her father, David ben Avraham and Naomi, on his fourth yahrzeit. "May his memory be a blessing and his Neshama have an Aliya."

On what days is it possible to read the Megillah? On what does it depend? Why is the law different for those who live in villages and why are they allowed to read it earlier than the dates specified in the Megillah? Where in the Megillah can one find an allusion to this? Is there an opinion that one is not allowed to read the Megillah before the 14th? From where do we know that walled cities read on the 15th and is it walled cities from the time of Yehoshua or from the time of Achashvarosh and the Purim story?

Introduction to Masechet Megillah with Dr. Ayelet Hoffman Libson Dec 13, 2021

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