Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

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Shekalim 4 - March 25, 12 Nisan Mar 25, 2021

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Today's Daf is sponsored by Naomi Oxman in honor of her beloved father, Rabbi David Younger. "There is no doubt how much we would have enjoyed learning daf yomi together. Your wisdom continues to inspire me. With continued love, admiration and much appreciation." And by Ruth Winkleron on the occasion of getting vaccinated against Covid-19 three weeks ago. "May you all be healthy!" And by Eva Schweber in memory of her father Ken Schweber z"l.

Gentiles and Kutim (Samaritans/Shomronim) cannot bring a half-shekel to the temple. Nor can they bring obligatory sacrifices. Does the law of obligatory sacrifices apply only to the gentiles or only to the Kutim or to both? How does this relate to the controversy over Kutim – did they convert only out of fear and therefore not true converts or are they considered true converts? Gentiles cannot bring items for building in the Temple or for upkeep. Is it only at the time the Temple was built or even later. If later, is it just an important item or even insignificant items? Rabbi Meir and the sages disagree regarding the charge of the kalbon, an extra coin which was added to the half-shekel regarding the reason why it was brought? In which case are exemptions granted and in which case is one obligated more than one kalbon? What is the law about siblings who inherited from their father - when does it seem as if the estate is paying for them and it is viewed as a gift which is exempt from the kalbon and when is it viewed as if they are paying for themselves (and will be obligated to pay the kalbon? What is the connection between these different categories and the laws regarding partnerships that exempt one from tithing animals?

Shekalim 3 - March 24, 11 Nisan Mar 24, 2021

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Study Guide Shekalim 3

Today's Daf is sponsored by Jill Shames in memory of her mother, and teacher, Seena Baker, שפרה בת זאלה וברכה on her yahrzeit. "Mom, thank you for the love of learning you instilled in us and in so many, many others over the years." And by Josh Wilkenfeld "in honor of the Chevy Chase Parking Lot Hashkamah Minyan for providing a quality and efficient davening experience during these challenging times."

The gemara describes the need for the preparations they would do from mid-Adar and how exactly they set up markers on the graves. Originally the courts would send people to uproot diverse kinds if people didn't do it themselves. But over time, they changed their policy. How and why? Ultimately, they would make the fields hefker, ownerless. How did that resolve the issue? From where do we learn that the courts have the right to declare someone's possessions to be ownerless? Once they do that, the field is exempt from tithes. Can one declare a leap year in the shmita year or the year after shmita? Why would it be an issue? From the 25th of Adar, if people didn't give the half shekel, the court would take collateral from them. From which groups of people are they not allowed to demand collateral? Are kohanim allowed to give but not obligated or are they obligated? Why did kohanim think that they were not allowed to give the half-shekel? What are the rules regarding children? What is the difference in the law for those who have two hairs but are not yet aged 20 and those who do not yet have two hairs? The gemara brings a discussion between Rabbi Yehuda and the rabbis regarding different approaches to the kohanim and whether or not they are obligated or permitted to bring the half-shekel. Gentiles and Kutim cannot give a half-shekel. What are they allowed to bring to the Temple?

Shekalim 2 - March 23, 10 Nisan Mar 23, 2021

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Study Guide Shekalim 2

Masechet Shekalim is sponsored by Sarene Shanus and Harold Treiber in memory of their parents, "who taught us the value of learning and of being part of the Jewish community."

On the first of Adar, the court would announce about bringing the half-shekel to the temple for communal offerings and to remind people not to plant diverse kinds in close proximity. On the fifteenth of Adar they would read the megilla in walled cities, fix the roads and other preparations necessary after the winter for the upcoming holiday. They would also uproot diverse kinds if people hadn't done it themselves. We announce on the first of Adar so that the shekels will get to the Temple by the first of Nissan when we separate the money to buy all the communal offerings. Why was that done of the first of Nissan? When do we announce in a leap year? The gemara brings proofs from verses why people may not inherently do that right thing and will need reminding. There were 3 different types of donations to the tabernacle - from where is this derived and what were the differences between them? What are the differences between the first Adar and the second? What do we write on documents for Adar Rishon and Adar Sheni?

Pesachim 121 - Siyum, March 22, 9 Nisan Mar 22, 2021

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Today's siyum is sponsored by Lynn Horwitz for the 6th yartzeit of רחל יונינה בת ישראל יעקב ולאה רייזל which will be on the first night of Pesach, Leil HaSeder. "It seems fitting to sponsor this siyum in Rachel's memory as it was Rachel who inspired me to start daf yomi. When Rachel decided to go to Frisch for high school, to help her catch up to the boys who would be in her honors Talmud shiur, we arranged her to have a Sunday morning Talmud "boot camp". The Rebbi insisted that a parent attend as well so I joined her and together we learned basic gemara vocabulary and how to parse a sugya. While Rachel used these skills to hold her own in shiur, in an attempt to keep up with her growing knowledge of Torah, I began daf yomi, a cycle I completed with the help of Rabbanit Michelle Farber's podcast. While Rachel's years on this earth were short, her intense embrace of family, friend, nature and learning made a strong impression on and continues to inspire all who knew her. תנצבה And by Allison and Akiva Shapiro in honor of their daughter Meira's completion of Masechet Pesachim and dedication to daf yomi. And by Avigail Gordon in honor of her daughters. "Tzipora, whose love of learning and dedication to daf yomi inspired me to start this journey in the first place, and Adira, my Pesach baby, who got a headstart in her Talmud learning as she grew inside me. May your lives always be full of Torah learning and commitment, and may you continue to know and learn from and with inspirational female scholars like those in the Hadran community. It is my great honor to learn with them, and with you."

Why did the rabbis determine that meat that was pigul and notar, that was left beyond the time that was permitted to eat the meat, were to make hands that touched them impure? What were they trying to prevent? And what proportion is the requisite amount that is needed to transfer impurity? There was be a blessing for eating the meat of the Paschal sacrifice and for the chagiga sacrifice. Does a blessing on one of them exempt the other? And if so, which one? Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva disagree. What is the basis for the controversy? In the redemption of the firstborn son, pidyon haben, the father blesses the blessing on the redemption. Who blesses the blessing shehechiyanu - the priest who benefits because he receives money or the father who benefits from the observance of the mitzvah? It is ruled that the father of the son blesses that blessing also.

Pesachim 120 - March 21, 8 Nisan Mar 21, 2021

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Study Guide Pesachim 120

Today's Daf is sponsored by Sabina Weitzman in honor of her husband, Michael Camber, "a loving son and brother, husband and father – who encourages me in all things. I thank G-d for blessing me with the gift of this good man."

Is one forbidden to eat after matza? There are two different versions of what Shmuel said about this. The gemara brings out mishna and another braita to question/support each reading. According to the first version, the mishna is brought to question and the braita to support and the reverse for the second version. Each support/question is rejected as the source can be interpreted differently. Is the commandment to eat matza and maror after the destruction of the temple a Torah commandment or rabbinic? There is a debate on the matter regarding matza, while all agree that maror is rabbinic. Verses are brought to show the derivation of each opinion. If several members of the chabura (group of people eating the sacrifice together) fall asleep, can they continue to eat the sacrifice when they wake up? What if all of them fell asleep? Is there is difference between if they dozed or fell into a deep sleep? Until what time can one eat the meat of the Pesach sacrifice? Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria and Rabbi Akiva disagree - is it midnight or alot hashachar, dawn? Each derives the halacha from a different verse in the Torah and explains the other's verse in a different manner.

Pesachim 119 - Shabbat March 20, 6 Nisan Mar 19, 2021

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This is Shabbat's daf. For Friday's daf please click here.

Today's daf is sponsored by Tova and David Kestenbaum in memory of Tova's grandmother, Ida Rivkin, a"h (Chaya Chasha bat Zvi Zeev and Leah Yente). "She was a wonderful Bubby. I will always remember her for how she davened with tremendous Kavanah, 3 times a day. May she continue to be a "Meilitsat Yosher" for our family, klal Yisrael and the world."

From where did the Romans get their wealth? It originated from Joseph in Egypt - where did it go from there until it eventually got to the Romans? The verses from the end of Hallel are explained to be connected to when Shmuel went to choose David to be king in place of Shaul. The mishna in Sukka is brought regarding different customs of how Hallel was recited - were all or only some of the verses repeated? One cannot eat afikoman after eating the Pesach sacrifice. What is afikoman? What is the issue at stake? Can one also not eat after matza?

Pesachim 118 - March 19, 6 Nisan Mar 19, 2021

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Today's Daf is sponsored by Ellen Golub in memory of her brother, Richard Dennis Golub, Pesach Nahum ben Aryey Leib v'Leah, "on his 62nd yahrzeit. Yehi zichrono l'vracha." And by Rachel Leiser Levy "l'zecher nishmat Moshe b Betzalel v'Shprintza Pessel, my beloved father. Born in Berlin in 1931, Pesach, the holiday of liberation, was his favorite holiday and I know he'd be amazed at the work of Hadran and the learning being done by this wonderful community, especially in preparation for Pesach."

What is birkhat hashir that we say after Hallel? Rabbi Tarfon mentions that we say Hallel HaGadol. What is that? Some say we thank God with a different chapter of Psalms for the food of the meal. The gemara compares the difficulty of finding food to childbirth, redemption and the splitting of the sea. The gemara brings several explanations for words in Hallel that were recited by specific people at a particular moment such as, when Chania, Mishael and Azaria were thrown in a fiery furnace by Nevuchadnezar. Or possibly when Abraham was thrown in a fiery furnace by Nimrod. Each explanation explains why the words "God is true to his word" are said. What promise did God make that was fulfilled? Another explanation is brought that it was said by the fish in the sea as explained by a story in the gemara connecting the splitting of the sea and the Egyptians drowning with the drowning of Sisra's men in the book of Judges. The Romans are compared to the Egyptians and are seen in a much more negative light.

Pesachim 117 - March 18, 5 Nisan Mar 18, 2021

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The gemara brings a debate regarding various words in the Torah that end with "יה" - are they written as one word or two. What is the meaning of the word הללויה? Who is the writing/first recitation of Hallel attributed to? Was the book of Psalms written by David as personal prayers or prayers for the community? Many Psalms begin with introductory words - what is the meaning of each of the different words? What state of mind should one be in before getting a prophecy, teaching a halacha and having a good dream? The gemara brings a list of people/situations throughout Jewish history who said Hallel. In what situations does one say Hallel? The word הללויה appears sometimes at the beginning and sometimes at the end of a chapter of Psalms. The gemara mentions several of them and discusses whether they are meant to be the last word of the chapter or the beginning of the next. Why is the blessing of the redeemer of Israel sometimes used in the present tense and sometimes past tense? The gemara discusses other places where similar blessings end with different wording. The third cup is said on birkhat hamazon and the fourth on the end of Hallel. One can drink other wine between all the cups, other than the last two.

Pesachim 116 - March 17, 4 Nisan Mar 17, 2021

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What is the reason for dipping in charoset? Is it a mitzva or is it for some other reason? Why is charoset not liquidy? The second cup is poured at the seder and ten the section of telling the story begins. It begins with asking questions and the mishna brings questions that one asks "ma nishtana." It is unclear if all needs to ask those specific questions or if those are given for one who doesn't know how to ask. The structure is to begin with describing the disgrace and end with glory or praise. The gemara brings a debate regarding what this would be. Then we are to expound on the verses of "an Aramean sought to destroy my father" until the end of that section. What does one do if there are no children - who asks the questions? Did the content of the questions change over time? Could there be a case where there is no need to ask the questions? Rabban Gamliel says there are 3 things one is obligated to talk about at the seder - Pesach, Matza and Maror. The mishna continues to talk about the need to feel as if we ourselves were taken out of Egypt and therefore should praise God. Then one recites the first or first two paragraphs of Hallel (debate between Beit Shami and Beit Hillel) and recites a blessing about the redemption. Is a blind person obligated by Torah law to tell the story?

Pesachim 115 - March 16, 3 Nisan Mar 16, 2021

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If one eats the same vegetable for karpas and maror, when is the blessing "on eating maror" blessed? Is it possible or desirable to wrap matza and maror together for eating as they did in the temple? Did they really do that in the time of the temple? This has to do with the controversy over whether mitzvot nullify each other. How did we get to the practice we do today? Why wash hands before karpas? Does one need to wash hands again before maror also? Is it possible to fulfill one's obligation of matzah and maror if swallowed and not chewed? Do we place matza, maror and charoset in front of everyone at the seder? Why do we remove the table at the beginning of the seder? So that the children will ask. Why is matza called bread of "oni"?

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