Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Sukkah 36 - August 12, 4 Elul Aug 12, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Emma Rinberg in memory of her beloved mum, Marjorie Glick, Miriam Chana bat Menachem Mendel and Rachel on the occasion of her stone setting and shloshim. "May her precious neshama glow brightly in the zechut of our learning together. And by Terri Krivosha for the refuah shleima of her dear friend Elisheva Bat Orah. And by the Hadran zoom group for a refuah shleima for Debbie Gevir, Devora Shulamit bat Yocheved Chana. 'Team Debbie''s tefilot, thoughts, and love are with you. May HaShem grant you a speedy and easy recovery.

Rabba asks if defects that cause an animal to be a treifa would also cause the etrog to be tannaitic source, but without success. What is a Cushi etrog and in which case would it be invalid and in which case would it be valid? The gemara compares a dispute in our mishnah regarding the unripe etrog with a dispute regarding tithing an unripe etrog. Will those disqualify it for Sukkot, also say that they are exempt from tithing and vice-versa, or not? The gemara brings two different versions regarding the law that Rav said about an etrog chewed by mice - according to one version, he says it is invalid, and according to the other, he says it is kosher. Both versions compare the case to Rabbi Hanina who ate an etrog and used it for the mitzva. The opinions of Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda regarding the minimum size of etrog are consistent with their opinions in another controversy regarding the carrying of stones for use in the bathroom on Shabbat. According to Rabbi Yehuda, one can bind a lulav only with something of the same type. So how did the people of Jerusalem bind their lulav's with gold bands? Rava says that according to Rabbi Yehuda, one can also bind the lulav with other parts of the palm tree, such as the fibers or the trunk.

Sukkah 35 - August 11, 3 Elul Aug 11, 2021

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How do you know that the "fruit of the hadar tree" mentioned in the Torah is an etrog? The gemara brings some answers. Why is an etrog of orla (fruits from the first three years of a tree) prohibited? Is it because it cannot be eaten or because it has no monetary value, meaning it is not considered the property of the owner (since it is prohibited to benefit from it)? All agree that it needs to be eaten but there is a debate regarding whether or not it also needs to be the financial property of the owner. The case where they would disagree is regarding the second tithe that is permissible to eat in Jerusalem, but there is a dispute between Rabbi Meir and the rabbis as to whether it is considered the property of God (R. Meir) or the property of its owner (rabbis). There are a few other laws that require it be considered the financial property of the owner and according to Rabbi Meir one would not be able to fulfill his mitzva of eating matza with second tithe produce and also would not be obligated to separate challa from a dough made from second tithe flour. From where are these laws derived? The gemara goes on to explain the reason for the other disqualifications for etrog mentioned in the mishna – from impure truma, pure truma, demai according to Beit Shamai, and second tithes in Jerusalem.

Sukkah 34 - August 10, 2 Elul Aug 10, 2021

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English Study Guide Sukkah 34

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In the times of the Temple they would surround the altar with aravot, willow branches. There is a debate whether this is derived from a verse or from a halacha l'Moshe m'Sinai. From where do we derive that a tzaftzafa cannot be used as a willow branch for the four minim. How can one tell the difference between an arava and a tzaftzafa? The rabbis list a number of words whose use changed after the destruction of the temple and they also explain what are the halakhic ramifications of those changes. One of the groups of words listed there are the arava and the chalfata (which is tzaftzafa) – what was once called chalfata became arava and what was once called arava is now chalfata. How much of each of the four species need to be taken? And how many of the hadasim need to be not cut off? There are several opinions in the mishna for both those questions and then gemara tries to explain the different opinions. Rav Yehuda says in the name of Shmuel that we hold like Rabbi Tarfon that all three hadasim branches can be cut off. The gemara tries to prove this by bringing a story that Shmuel told the hadas sellers that if they didn't drop the prices, he would publicly teach that the halakha is like Rabbi Tarfon. The gemara, however, rejects this proof. The mishna lists all the disqualifications of an etrog.

Sukkah 33 - August 9, 1 Elul, Rosh Chodesh Elul Aug 09, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Dina Hirshfeld-Becker in memory of her father Alan Hirshfeld, zichrono livracha, on his third yahrzeit that was last week (August 1). "He was a loving father and grandfather who was committed to his daughters learning Torah."

Can an Egyptian myrtle branch be used for the mitzva of hadas? If the leaves have fallen off, how many need to be left on in order to still be considered able to be used? If the top is cut off but something grows in its place, it can be used. But what if it grew on Yom Tov – do we say that once an object is rejected for a mitzva, it can no longer be used or not? Do we say this isn't the case only to be stringent but not to be lenient? Is there a difference between something that was not worthy in the beginning and became worthy and something that was worthy, then was rejected and then became worthy again? If the berries are more than the leaves, it is no good. But one can fix it. Can one fix it on Yom Tov? There is a debate regarding this manner in a case where one removed them on Yom Tov to eat and it is related to the debate regarding davar sheaino mitkaven on Shabbat (when one does a forbidden action but that was not one's intent). Why in this case is it not considered a psik reisha (a case where the melacha will definitely be performed)? How can one fix a binding of the lulav if it untied on Yom Tov? What are disqualifications for arava? In what case will it still be valid even if it is not exactly a willow of the brook?

Sukkah 32 - August 8, 30 Av, Rosh Chodesh Elul Aug 08, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Josh Waxman in memory of his father, Nahum Waxman, Nahum Gedalia ben Yirmiyahu and Faiga Mina who passed away a few days ago. Yehi Zichro Baruch.

The gemara brings a list of disqualifications of lulav and delves into them. How do we know that the verse in the Torah "branches of a date palm" refer to a lulav and not to a different part of the lulav? What is the minimum height needed for hadas, arava and lulav? Tana Kama holds three handbreadths for hadas and arava and four for lulav. Rabbi Tarfon says: A cubit that is 5 handbreadths. What does he mean by this? What disqualifies a hadas? How do we know that the verse "boughs of a dense-leaved tree" is referring to a hadas, a myrtle branch?

Sukkah 31 - Shabbat August 7, 29 Av Aug 06, 2021

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A stolen sukkah – can it be used? Rabbi Eliezer forbids and the rabbis permit. Rav Nachman limits the case in which they disagree – only in a case where one kicked another out of his sukkah, but all would agree if one stole wood and used it to build a sukkah, it would be permitted to use the sukkah and one would only need to return the value of the stolen wood. In the vein, the gemara bring a story of an elderly woman who came to Rav Nachman complaining that the Exilarch and the rabbis were sitting in a sukkah made of stolen wood of hers. When he ignored her, she continued to scream and he turned to the rabbis and said that she has no claim and all she can demand is the value of the wood. A braita is quoted that said "dry is disqualified by the rabbis but Rabbi Yehuda permits." What is the subject of the braita? Rava claims it is referring to a lulav, but an etrog needs to be beautiful, hadar. First the gemara questions by bringing seemingly contradictory sources: Does Rabbi Yehuda really not require that a lulav be beautiful? Then they question whether Rabbi Yehuda really requires that the etrog be beautiful. Eventually they reject Rava's claim as it seems clear the Rabbi Yehuda does not require hadar, beauty for lulav or etrog. The gemara then questions that assumption from various sources that could indicate that Rabbi Yehuda requires beauty by etrog. What is a lulav of ashera and a city of Jews that worshipped idols disqualified?

Sukkah 30 - August 6, 28 Av Aug 06, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Jennifer and Daniel Geretz in memory of Rachel "Chela" Geretz, ob"m, on the occasion of her second yahrtzeit.

The law that one cannot perform a mitzva through a transgression is learned from verses relating to sacrifices. From there, Rabbi Yochanan in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai learned that a stolen lulav is disqualified all the days of Sukkot. But Rabbi Yitzchak disagrees and holds that it is only disqualified for one day and because it is not considered one's own and the verse says "One should take for oneself on the first day" – from one's own. Due to the disqualification of a stolen lulav, Rav Huna suggested to those middlemen who buy from idol worshippers, who were known to steal land from others, to have the idol worshippers cut the myrtle branches to put on the lulav to ensure that the middlemen wouldn't be using stolen items. Since one who land is stolen from never gives up hope on getting back the land, stolen land is still considered owned by the original owner (no yeush) Therefore if they would cut it themselves, the owner would give up hopes of getting it back after it was cut and the middlemen would be considered to have stolen them. If it is cut by the idol worshipped, the theft happens in their hands and then when ownership rights are transferred to the middlemen, that is enough to have it no longer considered stolen property. The gemara raises a few questions on this – why would binding it not be considered a change through action and changing the name from myrtle to hoshana? If those would be considered significant changes, then also it would help to remove it from being considered stolen property.

Sukkah 29 - August 5, 27 Av Aug 05, 2021

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Today's shiur is dedicated by Natalie Taylor for the refuah shleima of two women whom I love very much: Bracha bat Rachel and Devora Shulamit bat Yocheved Chana. May both these amazing women have successful operations this week and an easy recovery.

What items should/should not be brought into the Sukkah? If it starts to rain, at what point can you leave and at what point do you need to come back to the Sukkah once the rain stops? If it rains on Sukkot, it is seen as a bad sign. The gemara explains the parable mentioned in the mishna. The gemara mentioned other natural phenomena that are seen as a bad sign from God, such as, solar and lunar eclipse. Several sources are brought which suggest the meaning behind those events. A stolen lulav or a dry one is disqualified. Also, one from an Ashera tree and a city whose inhabitants all worships idols (ir hanidachat) are disqualified. What are other potential issues regarding a lulav? The gemara assumes that the mishna is referring to all the days of the holiday. If a stolen sukkah is disqualified because the lulav has to be your own, that would only be relevant for the first day! Rabbi Yochanan explains that it is disqualified as one cannot fulfill a mitzva through means of a transgression.

Sukkah 28 - August 4, 26 Av Aug 04, 2021

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Today's daf is sponsored by Faye Schwartz "liluy nishmat avy, Moshe Schwartz, Yakov Moshe ben HaRav Chayim Klonymous on the 25th yahrzeit of his passing. My father was an ish tam who possessed tremendous emunah despite the many hardships he encountered throughout his lifetime. He was koveyah itim and managed to complete the daf yomi cycle multiple times notwithstanding his working long hours 6 days a week. He taught by example and imbued all of his children with a love of learning and the importance of gemilut chasadim." And by Debbie and Yossi Gevir in honor of the marriage of their son Eliav to Noia Pinhas, that will take place בע"ה this evening. "Dapim כ"ה and כ"ו that we learned this week contained quite a few references to the happiness and state of mind of the chatan as he approaches the impending marriage. These dapim and Rabbanit Michelle's explanations constituted a meaningful motif for me during this special time. Eliav, since you are such a bright and knowledgeable ben Torah, actually having chosen learning and teaching Torah as your vocation, it gave me particular joy to share these passages with you. May your marriage with Noia be a siman tov and mazal tov for all of us!"

Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus would not say anything he did not hear from his rabbi. Did he hear this law from his rabbi? What things did he learn from his rabbi, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, and how? Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was the smallest (in stature) of the students of Hillel and yet was great! Yonatan Ben Uziel was the greatest of his students. The dispute between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel over the matter of the minimum size of a sukkah appears in our mishna. Women, slaves and young ones are exempt from the sukkah. From where is this derived? First, that same word came to include women in the obligation to fast. They conclude that one is really derived from the verse and the other from a halacha l'Moshe b'Sinai. Why are these even necessary to exempt women from a sukkah and obligate on Yom Kippur - after all, a sukkah is a positive mitzva that is time-bound, so women are exempt and Yom Kippur is a negative mitzva of which women are bound by just as men are! The gemara brings answers to these questions. What is the law for minors? From what age/stage is one obligated to sit in a sukkah? A person is supposed to make his sukkah his permanent home and his apartment arai (temporary) for the Sukkot holiday. How does one observe this halacha?

Sukkah 27 - August 3, 25 Av Aug 03, 2021

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There are a number of issues upon which Rabbi Eliezer and the rabbis disagree. Is one obligated to eat 14 meals in the sukkah? Can one make up the first meal on Shmini Atzeret (or possibly on all other days of Sukkot) if one missed eating that meal in the sukkah? IF one can make it up, how is that done? Can one move from sukkah to sukkah during the holiday or does one need to eat in the same sukkah? Can one build a sukkah on Chol HaMoed? Can one fulfill one's obligation in someone else's sukkah? Can one leave one's house on the holiday or does one need to stay home and be happy with one's wife and family as per the verse in the Torah? The gemara looks for the reason for these laws and raises several questions against Rabbi Eliezer.

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