Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Rosh Hashanah 26 - November 4, 29 Cheshvan Nov 04, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Becki Goldstein to celebrate her granddaughter Sarai's eight birthday and the anniversary of her parents Kobi and Rotem. "Born at week 25 at 890 grams Parshat Chaye Sara, rabbanim suggested to name her Sarai, a stronger name than Sara. So began weeks of tfilot across the globe for a refua shlaima while Sarai tested our emunah and won our hearts. I know that her guardian angel has always been Sara Imenu". Mazal tov!

This week's learning is sponsored by Terri Krivosha for a refuah shleima for Elisheva bat Ora.

If someone was witness to an event, can he be a judge in that case? It appears from the Mishna that one can. But how does this fit in with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva who holds that one cannot? Perhaps there is a distinction between murder cases (which is where Rabbi Akiva stated his opinion) and the sanctification of the new moon. Tana Kama holds that a horn of a cow cannot be used as a shofar but all other animals' horns can be used. He says it is because a horn of a cow is called a keren and not a shofar Rabbi Yossi disagrees, based on the verse "When the keren of the ram will sound" where shofar is also called a keren. His proof seems strong - if so, how would the sages respond to his claim? The gemara brings a possible explanation. Ulla and Abaye each bring an additional reason to explain the opinion of the Tana Kama, beyond what is already written in the Mishna. Ulla explains it is because of the sin of the golden calf, we do not want to use a shofar from the cow family so as not to have the "prosecutor become the advocate." The Gemara brings a series of difficulties on Ulla and answers them. Why did Abaye and Ulla bring an explanation to the sages when their reason was already mentioned in the Gemara? Where does the Gemara explain to us that when it is written in the word hayovel, from the verse mentioned in the Mishna, it means 'a ram.' From there, they digress from the subject and talk about many words that they did not know what they meant and they explained from where they learned the definition. The Mishnah brings two different opinions regarding the type of shofar (from an ibex and straight or from a ram and bent) that should be used for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur of the Jubilee year and for fast days. In the Temple on those days they also blew from trumpets. What was more central – shofar or trumpets? Levy brings an opinion that is slightly different from the two opinions in the Mishnah.

Rosh Hashanah 25 - November 3, 28 Cheshvan Nov 03, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Betsy Mehlman in memory of her beloved uncle Carl Feldman, Akiva ben Efraim vSarah, who passed away at the age of 93 last week. "A kind and loving person, Carl was dedicated to his family and the community. Always ready with a smile, he exemplified caring and compassion. May his memory be blessed."

There were a number of cases where the witnesses said something which didn't seem to be accurate, such as the moon was in the east in the morning and the west in the evening or the new moon was seen on the night of the thirtieth but not the thirty-first. In each case, there was a rabbi who claimed they were false witnesses but Rabban Gamliel ruled that they were valid. In the second case, Rabbi Yehoshua took sides with Rabbi Dosa ben Horkanus against Rabban Gamliel. Rabban Gamliel sent him to appear before him on the day that according to Rabbi Yehoshua would fall on Yom Kippur with his staff and money, in order to make a point that Rabban Gamliel's decision was binding on all. Rabbi Akiva offers Rabbi Yehoshua advice to listen to Rabban Gamliel as what's done is done and Rosh Chodesh was determined by the court, whether or not it is accurate. Rabbi Dosa advises him to listen, explaining the importance of listening to the judges of the time. Rabbi Yehoshua appears as requested and is praised by Rabban Gamliel praises him. The Gemara explains why Rabban Gamliel accepted the witnesses' testimony when the others would not. Other stories are told where there was confusion about whether or not the new moon was seen. A slightly different version of the end of the story with Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua appears in a braita that is brought. Another braita tells a slightly different version of the proof used by Rabbi Dosa to convince Rabbi Yehoshua to come before Rabban Gamliel as requested. The proof is from a verse comparing Moshe and Aharon to Shmuel, and another one comparing Shmuel to Gidon, Shimshon and Yiftach. Even though they were all not as great as Moshe, they are still compared to him as they were the leaders of their generation. The third chapter begins with a case where the witnesses came on day 30, but they didn't manage to say "mekudash" before the day ended. In this case, Rosh Chodesh is on the next day. If only the judges in the court saw the new moon or only three of the judges saw, two of the judges testify before the others, at least before three others. The Gemara explains that the Mishna is teaching us that even if one began dealing with the witnesses during the day, one cannot finish at night (unlike monetary law that can be). We also learn from the Mishna that in this issue, we cannot accept one judge who is an expert in place of three. From where are these laws derived in the Torah?

Rosh Hashanah 24 - November 2, 27 Cheshvan Nov 02, 2021

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Study Guide Rosh Hashanah 24

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Today's daf is sponsored by my parents, Robert and Paula Cohen, myself and my siblings in memory of my grandmother, Sonja Waschitz, Sarah bat Yitchak and Yenta Rachel z"l, whose first yahrzeit is today. "My grandmother was a beautiful woman who rebuilt her life a number of times - first by leaving her family behind in Vienna in 1939 to create a new life for herself in America - at age 14. She valued education, hard work and never complained. We miss you!"

Today's daf is also sponsored by Minna Felig and Naomi Ferziger "in loving memory of Grandpa Asher Anschel ben Shaul Yehezkel and Rivka "Baba" Greenfield z"l, on the occasion of his 56th yahrzeit. He and Grandma Etta sent their three daughters to the pioneering Shulamith School for Girls in Boro Park, where they learned Torah, Derekh Eretz, and Ivrit."

What were the questions they asked the witnesses? What were the "right" answers? What discrepancies between the two witnesses' testimony would disqualify them as witnesses and what discrepancy could be overlooked as the difference was not so great? Testimony that the new moon was seen reflected off of something would not be accepted. If one happened to notice the new moon and went to look more properly to testify and didn't see it anymore, one cannot testify. The court would declare the new month by saying "mekudash" and the people would repeat "mekudash" twice. From where is all this derived? There are four different opinions regarding whether this ceremony is done only on a 29-day month or on both a 29 and 30-day month, or only on a 30-day month, or on neither. Rabban Gamliel had different shapes of the moon that he would use to question the witnesses.

Rosh Hashanah 23 - November 1, 26 Cheshvan Nov 01, 2021

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Why were beacons only lit on 29 days months and not 30 day months? Why not the reverse? How many times of cedar trees are there? Some say four and some say ten. One of them is coral wood and a statement of Rav is brought to explain the complicated manner in which they would be able to get it out of the water. It was considered very valuable. All the trees the gentiles uprooted in Jerusalem will be returned by God - this is derived from the verse mentioned in which the different types of cedar were listed. Rabbi Yochanan makes a number of statements about the importance of Torah scholars teaching and not only learning. And another statement about the gentiles being punished for killing Torah scholars such as Rabbi Akiva. The places mentioned in the Mishna where they lit the beacons are identified. An alternative list is brought - how does that connect with the one in the Mishna? Two possibilities are brought to explain. The distance between the mountains is explained to be shorter than it was in the time of the Amoraim. How can that be? In order to incentivize people to come to testify about the new moon, a festive meal was made in the courtyard in Beit Yazek, which is where the Beit Din would question the witnesses. If they came on Shabbat, they would not be allowed to go home, and not even leave the courtyard. as they had left their techum. However, since this deterred witnesses from coming, Rabban Gamliel permitted them to walk 2,000 cubits in each direction. This was instituted as well for other groups of people who need to be incentivized, such as, a midwife, firefighter, and others. What was the etymology of the name Beit Yazek - did it have a positive connotation or a negative one? What questions were asked of the witnesses to ensure they were telling the truth? Once they had good witnesses, they would still somewhat question the others so as to make them feel that they didn't waste their time coming to testify.

Rosh Hashanah 23 - November 1, 26 Cheshvan Nov 01, 2021

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Rosh Hashanah 22 - October 31, 25 Cheshvan Oct 31, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Leah Brick "in honor of my son, Shua Brick, on the occasion of his Chag Hasmicha from Yeshiva University. I am always so proud of you."

There are two versions of the story in which witnesses were detained in Lod on Shabbat and told not to continue because many witnesses had come. According to the version in the Mishnah, Rabbi Akiva did it and Rabban Gamliel rebuked him. According to the braita, it was the mayor of Geder (named Zefar) and Rabban Gamliel removed him from office. Can a father and son join testify together about the new moon? There is a debate about this in the Mishna between Rabbi Shimon and Tana Kama. Rabbi Yossi brings a case that happened to strengthen the Tana Kama's opinion that we do not accept their testimony. Are freed slaves permitted – in the case brought in the Mishna there were two different opinions about it. Who else is disqualified to testify? The Mishnah brings a list of ineligible witnesses according to rabbinic law from the Mishna in Sanhedrin 24b such as the gamblers, those who loan with interest, etc. These witnesses can testify only in case that a woman can also testify. What are those cases? One can not only desecrate Shabbat to get to the court to testify but also others can come if he needs help or he can take sticks for protection or food as needed. Chapter two begins with the theme of the Baitusim who tried to disrupt the rabbis and bring in false witnesses who saw the moon. That is why on Shabbat they permitted them to bring a witness to testify to the credibility of a witness unknown who was unknown to the court. It follows from the Mishna that one witness can testify to his credibility but the Gemara explains that it definitely means two witnesses. But one witness can testify in the Diaspora that they declared in Israel that the month was on a certain date because it is something that will be revealed and there is a presumption that people do not lie about these things. It is told of a case in which the Beitusim tried to hire witnesses to lie about the testimony of the month, but failed because one of the witnesses told the court about it. At first, they would announce Rosh Chodesh by lighting beacons on certain mountain tops. But they stopped because the Cutim tried to disrupt them or and light beacons on the day they did not set as Rosh Chodesh (or possibly they did it not on purpose). So they then relied only on messengers. On which mountains were the beacons lit? There were beacons lit only in a month of twenty-nine days and not on a full month.

Rosh Hashanah 22 - October 31, 25 Cheshvan Oct 31, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Leah Brick "in honor of my son, Shua Brick, on the occasion of his Chag Hasmicha from Yeshiva University. I am always so proud of you."

Rosh Hashanah 21 - Shabbat October 30, 24 Cheshvan Oct 29, 2021

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Study Guide Rosh Hashanah 21

Whether or not one needs to keep two days of chag depends on whether or not messengers could reach there both in Nissan and in Tishrei. If in Tishrei there was not enough time to come, but in Nissan there was (due to many days in Tishrei where one cannot travel), even in Nissan one needs to keep two days of Pesach. Several stories/practices are told regarding Yom Kippur - what happens if they find out after Yom Kippur that they fasted on the wrong day? Rava would holds two days of fasting just to make sure, however, this was not the prevalent custom. On a year when the winter season will end by (or on) the 16th of Nissan, a leap year must be declared. How do those living on the sea determine when the holidays will be? Witnesses can desecrate Shabbat to testify about the new moon only on Nissan and Tishrei because of the holidays, so as not to delay the messengers. Messengers, however, cannot desecrate the Shabbat. From where is all this derived? In the time of the Temple, they could desecrate Shabbat every month because of the sacrifices for Rosh Chodesh. This was changed by Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai after the destruction. Witnesses can come on Shabbat even if the new moon was seen clearly. although some disagree and only permit them to come if it was not so clear.

Rosh Hashanah 20 - October 29, 23 Cheshvan Oct 29, 2021

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Study Guide Rosh Hashanah 20

Today's daf is sponsored by Diana Bloom "in loving memory of my Zeyde, Israel Marmurek Israel ben Manes, on the occasion of his yahrzeit on 17 Cheshvan."

The court in Israel sent a message to Mar Ukva in Babylonia that Nissan is always a 29 day month. They are two different version of Rav Nachman's reaction to this – whether he questioned it or tried to prove it from a Mishna on Rosh Hashanah 21 that states that witnesses can desecrate Shabbat to testify about the new moon for Nissan and Tishrei. In both versions, the Gemara rejects his question/proof. Ulla came to the Babylonians to tell them that they had added a day to Elul and had done it for them. Why was this good for them and why specifically to the Babylonians and not to the Israelis? Shmuel wanted to set a calendar for those in Babylonia but Abba, the father of Rabbi Simlai asked him if he knew the connection between when the molad is seen and when the new moon can be seen. When Shmuel answered that he did not, he was told that there must be other things he does not know. Rabbi Zeira explains the connection between the molad and the new moon. He also said that when we add an extra day abroad, it's always the day after the day assumed to be the holiday and not before.

Rosh Hashanah 19 - October 28, 22 Cheshvan Oct 28, 2021

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Study Guide Rosh Hashanah 19

There is a controversy over whether or not Megillat Taanit was canceled after the destruction of the Temple. Some amoraim raise a number of difficulties from tannaitic sources against the opinion of Rav and Rabbi Chanina that the Megillat Taanit was canceled. Through one of the sources brought, we learn that the Megillat Taanit forbade fasting and eulogies not only on the day of an event but also on the day before and after the event. This matter does not hold true for holidays and Sabbaths as the Sages needed to strengthen their own laws but not ones that were written in the Torah and also not to ones written in the Prophets, such as the fast days that were days of rejoicing in the time of the Temple. In response to the last question against Rav and Rabbi Chanina, the Gemara says that the issue was a source of debate among tannaim as well. The conclusion is that after the destruction, Megillat Taanit was canceled other than Purim and Hanukkah. Is Elul always a 29 day month? If so, why do messengers need to be sent in Tishrei? Is Adar always a 29 day month? If so, why do messengers need to be sent in Nissan? When there are two Adars, is it clear in advance how many days there will be in each month or not?

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