Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Sukkah 55 - August 31, 23 Elul Aug 31, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by David Tannor in honor of his wife, Naomi Shamah Esses. "I am so proud of you for having started and staying with daf yomi. B"H may we merit to share many more anniversaries together, ever increasing our study of Torah and basking in its light." And for the yahrzeit of Yisrael Meir ben Aryeh Zev ha-Kohen, Rabbi Yisrael Meir ha-Kohen Kagan Chofetz Chaim which will be tomorrow.The gemara raises three questions against Rabbi Acha Bar Hanina's position, that when there are several additional sacrifices, nine blasts are blown for each one. One is resolved, however the others remain difficult. But if Rabbi Acha relied on a verse and a braita, then how can one say that his opinion is difficult? The braita must be understood in a different manner. What do you say in the prayer abroad on the intermediary days of the holiday as it is unclear which day it actually is? Three opinions are presented in the Gemara - either skipping the second day or the seventh day or saying two every day. How was the sacrificial work on Sukkot divided into shifts by the mishmarot kehuna, the priestly groups? Every day the division was different because the number of bull offerings dropped every day by one. Rebbi and the rabbis disagree about the lottery for the bull on Shemini Atzeret - is it clear that the mishna holds by Rebbi or can it also be explained according to the rabbis? The seventy bulls sacrificed on the Sukkot are representative of the seventy nations and the one bull on Shmini Atzeret is representative of the Jewish people - and the Gemara brings a parable foo this idea. What priestly gifts were distributed to each shift on holidays and which gifts were intended only for that week's shift? Where is this learned from?

Sukkah 54 - August 30, 22 Elul Aug 30, 2021

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Study Guide Sukkah 54

The gemara compares the mishna that mentions the 48 trumpet blasts (according to Rabbi Yehuda's opinion) with a previous mishna that seemed to have a different calculation of the blasts. The mishna is attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaacov who held that three of the blasts were done at the altar ceremony (at the time of the placing of the willow branch, according to Rashi). The earlier mishna held that there were no blasts at the altar ceremony, and instead, blasts were sounded during the procession "at the tenth step." What is the rationale for this debate? Rabbi Acha bar Hanina holds that each musaf sacrifice engenders its own set of nine blasts. If this is the case, then our mishna which cites the case of Friday afternoon chol hamoed as the case where one has 48 blasts is problematic for there are other cases (such as Shabbat of chol hamoed) where one might also blow 48 because of the extra musaf blasts. Rabbi Zeira initially suggests that on Shabbat there were no blasts for the opening of the gates (which would mean there weren't 48 blasts on Shabbat) but Rava rejects this for two reasons and notes that using the Shabbat case in the mishna would have advantages. Because of this, Rava suggests another explanation - that on Shabbat there were no blasts at the filling of the water as the water was filled the previous day. The gemara then notes a third case where there were 48 blasts, when Rosh Hashana fell on Shabbat, and ultimately comes to the conclusion that the example provides in our mishna was one of a few possible examples that could have been provided (tanna ve-shi'yer). What other case was left out? The gemara notes that the number 48 is not a maximum number of blasts because on the Passover holiday, there may have been more blasts in the temple - since the Passover sacrifice was offered in three groups and Hallel was recited by each group three times accompanied by blasts. This added another 27 blasts (3x3x3), thought Rabbi Yehuda held that the third group usually finished the sacrifice at the beginning of Hallel (thus engendering only 21 blasts). Together with the 3 blasts for the opening of the gates and the 18 for the daily sacrifices and the extra ones for the musaf, one might get to 51 or even 57 blasts, if the eve of Passover came out on a Shabbat. In order to save the integrity of the mishna (which said the maximum was 48), the gemara claims that the mishna was only talking about regular years and not atypical ones. This launches the gemara into a discussion whether it is possible to have the first day of Sukkot come out on a Friday, since such a year would also have Yom Kippur come out on a Sunday. This is a more fundamental debate between the rabbis and Acherim regarding whether the rabbis used a fixed calendar of days or fiddled with the calendar annually.

Sukkah 53 - August 29, 21 Elul Aug 29, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Elaine Hochberg in honor of Arie Hochberg. You are a constant support in my journey of learning. Thank you for the encouragement and the joy.

What are the words of praise that would be said at the Simchat Bat Hashoeva? What would Hillel say to encourage people to keep in the way of God? Hillel, R. Yochanan, and also a story about King Solomon talk about how a person's feet lead him to the place he desires or to the place he is supposed to reach, sometimes against his will. There are stories about certain rabbis who are known to make special bows and knew how to juggle things like fire, knives, glasses full of wine, and eggs. The joy of the Simchat Bat Hashoeva lasted all night until the early morning when time the water was drawn from the Shiloach. They did not sleep all night- how was that possible? The fifteen stairs in the Temple corresponded to the fifteen chapters of Psalms that David sang in order to push back the waters of the depths that rose up to destroy the world when David dug the shitin, drainpipes. When the priests went down the stairs and blew the trumpets on the tenth step, Rabbi Yirmia asks: tenth from above or below? In the verse from Ezekiel that they would say at the ceremony, "Their backs to the temple of the Lord?" - what is the meaning of that? How could they say, "We are to God and to God our eyes" - it sounds like they are praying to two Gods? Blasts in the temple - There were between 21 and 48 trumpet blasts in the Temple - depending on the day. The mishna lists how many blasts were blown each day and for what purpose. On Sukkot on Friday afternoon, there would be 48. There is a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda and the sages how to count blasts - is every tekia/terua/tekia considered one or three blasts?

Sukkah 52 - Shabbat August 28, 20 Elul Aug 27, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Judy Shapiro for the 8th yahrzeit of her mother Deera Tychman, Tzvia Bracha bat Mordechai v'Chaya Tova. "I hope my mother's neshama is uplifted by my study of Torah and Daf Yomi."

How did they build a new structure for separating the men and women? Doesn't the Temple have to be built exactly the way it was handed down by tradition? The rabbis derived it from a verse in Zacharia which describes how the people will separate from each other during a great funeral that will be held in the future. Whose funeral? It is either the Meshaich who descends from Joseph or the evil inclination. Why would there be a funeral when God will "kill" the evil inclination? The gemara brings many statements regarding the evil inclination - how strong is it and how does it strengthen over time, by what names is it called, who has a bigger one, how often does it appear? Learning Torah is an antidote. God helps us also to overcome it. How are the four craftsmen described in Zecharia? Who are the seven shepherds and eight princes described in Micha? The gemara delves into the description in the mishna of the children of the kohanim who lit the lamps - how much oil did each of them carry?

Sukkah 51 - August 27, 19 Elul Aug 27, 2021

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Study Guide Sukkah 51

Today's daf is sponsored by Shulamit Tyberg-Isaacs in honor of her daughter, Dr. Shifra Tyberg. "Happy birthday! May your life continue to be enriched by your Torah study and may the blessings continue. With much love, Mommy and Kim." And in memory of Pinchas Mordechai ben Reuven Moshe who passed away tragically this week, by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Moshe and Jeanne Klempner. "Pinny was a tzaddik with a pure soul, who lived a life of Torah, chesed and mitzvot with absolute joy."

Is the central dimension of the 'singing" in the temple performed by the person singing or is it the instrument? The gemara quotes the mishna Arakhin, Chapter 2, Mishnah 4, which focuses on the lineage of the people who sang during the temple service, and seeks to determine from this that there is a tannitic debate regarding what the main dimension of the signing is. Ultimately, the gemara rejects this line of reasoning and explains the controversy is simply a historical one with some legal ramifications regarding lineage. Rav Yosef (on Sukkah 50b) had suggested that the dispute between Rabbi Yossi Bar Yehuda and the sages relates to the flute played during the sacrificial sacrifices and not the flute of the Simchat Beit Hashoeva. In his theory, no one would claim that a flute could be used at a Simchat Bet Hashoeva on Shabbat. Rabbi Yirmiya bar Abba holds the opposite: The dispute is only about the "singing" of Simchat Bat Hashoeva, but as regards the "signing" at the time of a sacrifice, instruments could be used on Shabbat according to all. In order to support his opinion, the gemara brings a braita which in effect challenges both assumptions latent in Rabbi Yosef's statement. In concluding this discussion, the gemara seeks proof texts (from the Book of Chronicles) for each of the two positions. The next mishna describes the drama of the Simchat Bet Hashoeva ceremony with the words "one who has not seen the joy of the joy of the Simchat Bet Hashoeva has never seen joy." Candelabras were lit by children of kohanim, Levites stood on the steps playing musical instruments played and people would dance with torches. There were temporary structures placed in the temple for the Simchat Bet Hashoeva and two kohanim held a procession in which they blew trumpets as they exited the Temple. The gemara begins by describing other instances where the words "One who has not seen the... of... has not seen..." The structures described in the mishna that were built for the Simchat Beit Hashoeva were meant to separate men and women. The gemara describes the changes regarding these structures over time.

Sukkah 50 - August 26, 18 Elul Aug 26, 2021

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Study Guide Sukkah 50

Today's daf is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the 4th yahrzeit of her father, Hershel Tzvi Shlomo Chaim ben Pesach and Dina Sara. When Judi was growing up in Pennsylvania, her family joked that it always rained on Sukkot. Her father passed away in Florida during Hurricane Irma. So it seems particularly fitting to remember him while learning Masechet Sukkah (even though it is not the rainy season in Israel). And for the yahrzeit of the Maharal, Judah Loew ben Bezalel.

The water libations override Shabbat, but there is one difference - the water is collected in a vessel that is not sanctified so that it will not be disqualified overnight. Why? After all, without intention, the vessel does not sanctify its contents so one should be able to put it in the vessel with the intent that it only becomes sanctified the following day! And there is a requisite amount so if there were to put a larger amount in the vessel, it would not become sanctified as the vessel only sanctifies when the proper amount is in it. Three possible answers are brought. If the water is left uncovered, it is invalid. Why is it not possible to take out the snake venom in a strainer? Is it because the mishna doesn't hold like Rabbi Nechemiah who claims that venom can be removed by a strainer? The mishna mentions the playing of the flute in the Shoeva Celebration. Is the wording in the mishna "Shoeva celebration" or "Important celebration"?? Why would this event be called by these names? They used to play the flute in the temple during the Simchat Beit Hashoeva for five or six days because they do not play it on Yom Tov and Shabbat. This opinion is not agreed upon by everyone - Rabbi Yossi Bar Yehuda thinks that it also overrides Shabbat. However, Rav Yosef holds that his opinion and the debate between him and the rabbis concerns the flute that accompanied the daily sacrifice (12 days a year, including Sukkot) and not the flute of the Simchat Beit Hashoeva which clearly would not override Shabbat. The debate is whether the main part of the music is the singing or the instruments. He tries to prove that this is the root of their debate by bringing a different debate of Rabbi Yosi bar Yehuda regarding wooden utensils – can they be used for sanctified utensils in the Temple or not – and tries to learn it from the wooden flute of Moshe. The gemara rejects his proof as it is possible to understand that the controversy there stems from another matter (two other possibilities are raised).

Sukkah 49 - August 25, 17 Elul Aug 25, 2021

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Study Guide Sukkah 49

Today's daf is sponsored by Amy Cohn on the yahrzeit of her father Rav Dov Chaim ben Zeev z"l "who taught all his five daughters Talmud and the love of Torah. "Abballe: Since I started doing daf yomi with Rabanit Michelle I am reminded of many of your teachings and feel your presence." And a refuah shleima for Ashira bat Ilana Shoshana who is undergoing surgery today and Gavriel Moshe Ben Tzivia. And refuah shleima to Barel Achiya ben Nitza.

The shitin, drainpipes that were under the altar where the libation would be poured into, were already created in the creation of the world by God or by man? What verses imply that they were created in the six days of creation? To those who hold it was made by God, it descended into the depths of the earth. To Rabbi Elazar bar Tzadok who held it was manmade, it has a floor. There was a marble tablet that cover up a hole in the ground where the wine would stop. Occasionally a young kohen would clean out coagulated wine that remained there and would be taken out and burned in sanctity. Why did it need to be burned? The mishna states that laws of meila do not apply to the libations once it is in the drainpipe. Is this mishna stated according to Rabbi Elazar bar Tzadok or the rabbis? According to Reish Lakish they stopped up the drainpipes when they poured the wine to make it overflow to show satiation. Drashot are brought on the verses from the Song of Songs 7:2 that was quoted earlier as referring to the drainpipes. Now it is explained to relate to the pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the holidays. Another braita learns from this verse the importance of learning Torah with humility. Rabbi Elazar brings a drasha from another verse, teaching the same concept and he then brings several other drashot explaining the significance of going act of kindness, charity, justice, etc. He says that acts of kindness are more important than charity – why? What are the differences between then? He also explains what is meant by Torat chesed – two versions of what he said are brought.

Sukkah 48 - 16 Elul, August 24 Aug 24, 2021

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Study Guide Sukkah 48

Today's daf is sponsored by Dr. Daniel and Sara Berelowitz in honor of the marriage of Shevi Berelowitz to Jacob Namrow today. And by Mendel Rosbi in honor of his wife Chana Shacham-Rosbi on the occasion of her 35th birthday and her becoming a Yoetzet Halacha.

There is a braita to strengthen the opinion that we say shehechiyanu on Shemini Atzeret - there it is written that Shemini Atzeret is different in six ways and the acronym is Pz"r Ksh"v – P-payis- lottery, Z-zman - shehechiyanu, R-regel-holiday, K-karban - sacrifice, S-shir - song and B-bracha. One says Hallel and is required to fulfill the mitzva of simcha, eating sacrificial meat, on all eight days. How do you learn that there is an obligation of simcha even on Shmini Atzeret? What do you do on the seventh day of Sukkot after one has finished eating the last meal? Why? If one has no place inside one's house to eat and needs the sukkah to eat on Shmini Atzeret, what does on do to make it clear that he/she is not sitting there to observe the mitzva of sitting in a sukkah? What difference is there in this matter between the people of Eretz Yisrael and the people living abroad? How would they do the water libations on Sukkot? From where did they bring the water? How much water did they bring? What route would the kohen take? Where would he pour the water? The one who poured the water would raise his hands because once there was a case where the kohen was a Sadducee and instead of pouring the water on the altar, he poured the water on his feet because the Sadducees claimed that there is no mitzvah of water libations. In response, the people stoned him with etrogs. What would they do differently on Shabbat? The gemara brings up an argument between two heretics whose names were "Sasson" and "Simcha". Each one brought verses with their name to show that he is better than the other. There is another dialogue between a heretic named Sasson and Rabbi Avahu. In the Temple, the kohanim would always turn to the right except for three instances and one of them is the water libations. Why? According to Rabbi Yehuda, the vessels on the altar into which the water and wine were poured were blackened - why? Why were the holes in the cups where the water and wine were poured of different sizes? Does the mishna that describes it follow the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda or the rabbis? The gemara tells a more detailed version of the story of the Sadducee who poured the water on his feet and tells that on that day the corner of the altar was damaged by the pelting and there fixed it with salt so that an altar would not appear damaged.

Sukkah 47 - August 23, 15 Elul Aug 23, 2021

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Outside of Israel where the eighth day of the holiday is possibly the seventh (as they didn't know exactly when the new moon was declared in Israel), do you sit in the Sukkah? There is a debate between Rabbi Yochanan and Rav. There are two different versions brought – each one understands differently - what exactly is the controversy over? Is it regarding sitting in the sukkah or making the blessing? And each one version concludes with the decision of Rav Yosef. The gemara concludes that one sits in the sukkah and does not make a blessing. Rabbi Yochanan says that we say shehechiyanu on Shmini Atzeret, the eighth day of the holiday as it is a separate holiday. The gemara brings four opinions explaining how we see that it is different (One is a list of laws that are different and the others derive from verses in the Torah). Why is it not similar to the seventh of Pesach that differs from the first day of Pesach, yet we do not say shehechiyanu? The gemara tries to prove Rabbi Yochanan's opinion from a braita but it is rejected. The gemara discusses the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda regarding the requirement to stay overnight in Jerusalem on Shmini Atzeret (that was mentioned in the braita) and question it from another source. When they answer the question, they try to prove the answer from a mishna in Bikurim, but the proof is rejected. In the end, they say that there is a dispute among amoraim as to whether or not to say shehechiyanu on Shmini Atzeret but they rule that one should say it.

Sukkah 46 - August 22, 14 Elul Aug 22, 2021

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Study Guide Sukkah 46

Today's daf is sponsored by Dodi Lamm in memory of her sister Judy Young, Yehudis Leiba bat Shprintza A'HS. "My sister's whole life revolved around teaching Torah, being mekarev the disenchanted, and dedicating herself to her beautiful family. She had an abundance of energy and radiated that love of life to all those she encountered far and wide. Her motto was, 'how can I make Hashem proud of me?' We were all proud of her." And by Mark and Debbie Ziering in memory of Mark's mother, Lea bat Mazalta and Yosef on her yahrzeit. "Lea was a dignified woman who raised her family dedicated to the values of modesty and commitment to Judaism."

The gemara brings a difficulty from the Tosefta on the opinion of Rabbi Yochanan (according to Rabba Bar Bar Hanna) who held that one makes a blessing the sukkah all seven days and the lulav only one day. The Tosefta says the reverse. The gemara answers that regarding lulav, the Tosefta was referring to when the Temple was around and Rabbi yochanan was referring to after the Temple was dstroyed. Regarding sukkah, they say that there is a tanaitic dispute on the issue and they bring a braita regarding tefillin. Rabbi Yochanan holds like the other tanna. Various amoraim disagree regarding the lulav blessing on all other days (excluding the first day). Rav held that he blesses all seven days - some people learn this from his opinion on Hanukkah and some say that he said this directly about the lulav. In the Tosefta quoted above, it says that one should make a shehechiyanu when building the sukkah and when binding the lulav. Another braita is brought regarding shehechiyanu on building the sukkah. And Rav Kahana's practice is brought that he would say it with Kiddush. When one has to do several mitzvot, does one make one blessing on all or separate blessings for each? Usually, an empty vessel can accept contents and a full one cannot but with Torah and mitzvot, it is the opposite. Only those who have learned, can hold more. And only who reviews can one hold more. There is a controversy between Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish: At what point can one benefit from one's etrog? How is our mishna used to question each opinion? Rabbi Zeira did not allow people to give a lulav to a child before performing the mitzvah on the first day because it is possible to give a gift to a child but the child is not able to return it as their action of passing on ownership is not considered in halakha. When can you enjoy lulav abroad when the eighth day is potentially also the seventh?

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