Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Sukkah 45 - Shabbat August 21, 13 Elul Aug 20, 2021

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How was the mitzva of arava performed in the Temple? Where were the aravot taken from? What did they say at the ceremony? What did they do differently when the last day fell on Shabbat? Rabbi Yochanan ben Broka had a different tradition regarding the custom and instead of arava they used palm branches and placed them on the sides of the altar. What was the height of the aravot that were placed near the altar? Why? The gemara brings several different drashot on the verse "isru chag… on the corners of the altar" One of the drashot was said by Rabbi Yirmiah in the name of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the gemara quotes several statements made by Rabbi Yirmiah in the same of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. In some of them, R. Shimon Bar Yochai talks about his greatness and that of his son. He speaks of them as if there are no others like them and the gemara raises a question on this from other sources, including one that mentions the 36 righteous people in every generation. Do we make a bracha on a lulav every day of the holiday? What about Sukkah? What are the different opinions?

Sukkah 44 - August 20, 12 Elul Aug 20, 2021

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This week of learning is sponsored by Medinah Korn in memory of her dear mother, Rosalie Katchen, Shoshana Raizl bat Avraham Yehoshua ve-Baila Toiba, z"l, on her 21st yahrzeit. "Her kindness and grace, zest for life, delight in Torah study, and love for family and friends continue to inspire us every day. Yehi zichrah baruch."

As the gemara concluded, after the destruction of the Temple, the mitzva of lulav does not override Shabbat. If so, how can one explain the two mishnayot that seemed to contradict each other - one said they brought lulavim to the Temple Mount and the other to the synagogue. Why is the lulav taken all week to remember what was done in the Temple but the arava is not? The gemara brings up several possibilities but rejects some of them. Reish Lakish and Rabbi Yochanan disagree about priests with blemishes - whether they are allowed to enter the temple between the Ulam and the altar in order to perform the mitzva of arava by encircling the altar. There is controversy as to whether arava is an ordinance of the prophets or a custom of the prophets. This is difficult as we have learned that it is a mitzva from the Torah or at least a halachah for Moses from Sinai - so how can one say that it is an ordinance or custom from the prophets? What is the requisite amount needed for arava? There is controversy as to whether or not it is possible to fulfill the mitzva of arava but taking the lulav twice since the lulav includes arava branches. The gemara tells several stories about Aivu and Rabbi Elazar Bar Tzadok - one regarding the chavata of the arava (Rabbi Elazar struck the arava twice and did not make a blessing - proof that this is the custom of the prophets) and one regarding the payment to workers in the shemita year from shemita produce. Aivu said a halakha in the name of Rabbi Elazar that one should not go more than three parasangs on Friday so that he would not surprise the people of his house and they would have no food for him on Shabbat. Is it a problem only at home or even if one is going to a hotel?

Sukkah 43 - August 19, 11 Elul Aug 19, 2021

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Why does a lulav override Shabbat only when the first day falls on Shabbat? And why only in the time of the Temple? Does it override Shabbat in some places even after the time of the Temple? Why? The gemara brings a braita with a drasha from where it is derived that the lulav is taken even on Shabbat. However, based on a question, they conclude that the braita is only according to Rabbi Eliezer as it means that preparations for the lulav are permitted on Shabbat as per his approach in general. The gemara then tries to figure out what Rabbi Eliezer and the rabbis each derive from the different parts of the verse - including from where does each derive that lulav is only to be taken during the day? From where is it derived that Sukkah is a mitzva during both the day and the night? The mitzva of arava on the seventh day overrides Shabbat in the time of the Temple? Why only the seventh and why specifically the seventh? What about after the destruction of the Temple? Could the seventh ever fall on Shabbat? Rav Yosef holds that it doesn't override Shabbat after the destruction as the mitzva of arava is to place them around the altar and there is no altar. Abaye brings 3 sources to question Rav Yosef. The first two have resolutions but the third does not. Part of the discussion resolves around a debate among many (including Rav Yosef and Abaye) whether when they encircled the altar were they holding aravot or a lulav? In the end, the gemara concludes that after the Temple, arava does not override Shabbat as we no longer know exactly when the holiday is, as those in Babylonia were far from where the new moon was determined. And those in Israel keep the same law as to keep the laws the same everywhere. They then conclude that the same is true for lulav.

Sukkah 42 - August 18, 10 Elul Aug 18, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Tova and David Kestenbaum in honor of Tova's parents, Rabbi Dr. Israel and Rebecca Rivkin, who are making Aliyah today. "We, your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are anxiously awaiting your arrival in Israel, and wish you many more years of good health and nachat from all of us." And by Jeanne Klempner in honor of her father's 83rd birthday this week, his second bar mitzvah, and for his refuah shleima, Elimelech ben Malka.

According to Rabbi Yosi, one who makes a mistake and sins while performing a mitzva, is exempt from bringing a sin offering. In which cases does this rule apply? A woman can get a lulav from her husband or son and return it to the water on Shabbat. What is allowed on a Yom Tov and what about Chol Hamoed? Why does the mishna specifically talk about a woman? What does this come to teach us? A child who knows how to shake a lulav is obligated in the mitzva of lulav. When is a child obligated in other commandments? When can he be trusted to be careful regarding purity? When can he collect truma? When can his slaughter be trusted? How many days on Sukkot would they take a lulav, erect the arava around the altar, say Hallel, sit in a Sukkah, pour the water libations, play the flute? Regarding lulav and arava, it depends on when Shabbat falls that year. What would they do with everyone's lulavim in the temple for the first day of Sukkot? How is it different from the mishna that described what was done in the synagogue?

Sukkah 41 - August 17, 9 Elul Aug 17, 2021

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Rav Ashi limits the debate between Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yochanan regarding how one can transfer the sanctity of shmita fruits. At first, he says they are only debating the case of the fruits themselves but all would agree that money or an item that had kedusha sanctified by the fruits would be able to transfer sanctity to another item either by sale or by redemption, chilul. However, after a question is raised, he switches his opinion and says the debate is about items sanctified by the fruits, but all would agree regarding the fruits themselves that they can only transfer sanctity through a sale. In the days when the temple stood, they would take the lulav for seven days in the temple and outside the temple only one day. After the destruction of the temple, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai established that lulav be taken all seven days to remember what was done in the days the temple stood. He also instituted that the new wheat would be forbidden on the 16th of Nisan until the end of the day. Why was it forbidden all day? When the first day of Yom Tov falls on Shabbat in the times of the temple, everyone (even outside the temple) would take a lulav. They would all bring it to the synagogue. How would they ensure that they would have their own lulav? Rabban Gamliel came on a boat with some other rabbis and only he had a lulav that he bought for 1,000 zuz. After he took the lulav, he gave it to others as a gift so that they could use it and then give it back to him. Why did the story tell us that he bought it for so much money? To show how much he loved performing the mitzva. Ameimar would hold the lulav during prayers (the whole time). The gemara raises a question on this. How is it resolved? It is told about the people of Jerusalem that they held their lulavs all day, other than the times that it was not manageable, such as when they learned Torah.

Sukkah 40 - August 16, 8 Elul Aug 16, 2021

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The gemara concludes from the previous discussion that a lulav has sanctity of the shmita year, k'dushat shviit. A difficulty is raised - why should there be a k'dushat shviit in a lulav if it appears in a braita that leaves of a tree do not have k'dushat shviit if they are not collected for eating? The answer is that there is a difference between the trees who provide enjoyment after they are destroyed and the lulav whose enjoyment is at the same time as its destruction (same as produce that is eaten). There is controversy over this point about whether trees not collected for eating would have k'dushat shviit. For what needs can a k'dushat shviit fruit be used – how do Tana Kama and Rabbi Yossi disagree on this matter? Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yochanan disagree regarding passing on sanctification of shmita produce to other items – money, other foods, etc. Is it done only by a sale or also by redeeming it (like second tithes)? The gemara brings the reason behind each opinion and also braitot to support each opinion.

Sukkah 39 - August 15, 7 Elul Aug 15, 2021

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This week's learning is sponsored in memory of Fred Hochstadter, Ephraim Ben Baruch (yahrzeit on 8 Elul). "Dear Dad: We miss you very much and especially cherish our summer memories of spending time in Cape Cod. We are continuing the tradition and thinking of you. With lots of love, Adam, Carolyn, Michal, Josh, Benny, Izzy, Shim, Zoe and Yehuda."

There were various customs regarding which verses were doubled in Hallel. Abaye says that the blessing in Hallel that depended on the local custom of the place was the one recited at the end as the one at the beginning is obligatory as all in mitzvot the blessing is recited before performing the mitzva. According to the Mishnah, if one buys the four species in a shemita year, it is not possible to buy the etrog but the seller has to give it to the buyer as a gift. If the seller does not want to, one can buy it by absorbing the price in the price of the lulav, havla'ah. What is the problem with buying etrog in a shmita year? Apparently this halakha only refers to a buyer that is an am haaretz, because even in the ways that it is permitted to buy shmita produce, the sages forbade buying from an am haaretz. What is the reason? And why is it only an issue for the etrog and not the lulav?

Sukkah 38 - Shabbat August 14, 6 Elul Aug 13, 2021

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If one did not fulfill one's mitzva of taking a lulav in the morning, for how long can it be done? If one started eating, should one stop eating and take the lulav? Is it possible to fulfill one's obligation of Hallel if one doesn't know the words by having someone else read it for him? What difference does it make if the person reciting it for him is a man, or a woman, a Canaanite slave or a minor? Raba brings all kinds of customs of Hillel from which it is possible to learn different laws of the recitation of Hillel. One who hears one recite a blessing, it is as if one answered amen/recited it by oneself. From where is this learned?

Sukkah 38 - Shabbat August 14, 6 Elul Aug 13, 2021

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Sukkah 37 - August 13, 5 Elul Aug 13, 2021

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English Study Guide Sukkah 37

Today's daf is sponsored by Tali Brown Kozlowski "in honor of the first yahrzeit of my grandfather Harvey Brown, Chayim Eli Ben Yehuda Noach who was an avid learner, always found with a sefer in hand, even on the beach. And also in honor of the first yahrzeit of Rabbi David Moss father of Talia Moss and former Executive Director of Ohr Torah Stone. May their Neshamot have an Aliya."

Does one need to use s'chach from one of the arba minim? From a braita where there is a debate regarding this issue, one can derive that Rabbi Yehuda holds that other parts of the palm tree are considered the same type as lulav for purposes of using it for binding. How? Raba is considered in a number of situations regarding barriers between the person and the four minim as well as between the four minim themselves. In each case Rava disagrees and thinks there is no reason for concern. Can one smell an etrog or hadas used for the mitzva? On Shabbat is one allowed to smell each of them or is there concern they may rip it out of the ground/tree? Why do we take the lulav in the right hand and the etrog in the left? Why do we make the blessing "on taking the lulav" and not the other species? When in Hallel do we shake the lulav? How do we shake and why?

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