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Beitzah 34

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Summary

Today’s daf is sponsored by Eran Bellin and Marcy Goldstein in memory of Rabbi David Eliach. He was a founding member of the Yeshivah of Flatbush and taught generations of students to love Torah and serious study. 

A chicken that was trampled or thrown against a wall but managed to stay alive for 24 hours, can be slaughtered, but it should be checked after slaughtering that it had not become a treifa. Is it possible to slaughter on in that case on a Yom Tov? Should there be a concern that if it is found to be treifa, the slaughtering would have been performed for no reason, like the tiles that were heated up that may explode? A braita is brought regarding Shabbat, describing a case where there are several actions that if done by different people – one brings the fire, another the wood, the pot, the spices, etc., if you fire is brought first, all are liable – some for making a fire and some for cooking. The one who brought the pot – for what is he/she liable? This must be a new cauldron and like the tiles, by putting it on the fire, it is hardening it and preparing it for use. If there is a new oven, they are not muktze because it is possible to store things inside them, however, there are actions that should not be done with them because it is considered as preparing it for its first use. There are ways to remove animal hair but if done in the way the tanners do, it is forbidden. Do not cut vegetables with the type of scissors that are used to cut things from the ground because it will look like it was taken from the ground. But it is possible to do things that are a lot of work such as baking in a really big oven or cooking vegetables that require a lot of cooking. The Gemara brings a few more braitot that record permitted/forbidden actions in connection with food preparation. You can go to the muktze (the roof where the fruit is dried) before Shabbat even if the fruits are not fully dried and say that you want to eat from there the next day if it is the shemita year when you do not have to tithe the fruits. The Gemara brings two Mishnas that discuss what determines one’s obligation to tithe the produce tithe – when the food is ready for use (gmar melacha), when it is brought into the courtyard, and also planning to eat them on Shabbat (because every meal on Shabbat is considered a meal, even if it is just a snack because of the verse “and you called Shabbat oneg“). Rava asks Rav Nachman – since bringing into the courtyard does not obligate one in tithes unless the fruit is ready for use, does Shabbat determine tithes only if the fruit is ready to be eaten? Rav Nachman says that Shabbat determines in any case. Mar Zotra tries to prove this from our Mishnah but the Gemara rejects his proof.

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Beitzah 34

שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְבׇדְקָן. וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְחׇסְמָן.

it is necessary to test them to ensure that they do not burst when heated. If they are heated for the first time on a Festival, he will be thereby testing them, which is a prohibited labor. And some say: Because it is necessary to harden them by overheating them the first time to make them fit for use, which is considered preparing a vessel for use and is prohibited on a Festival.

תְּנַן הָתָם: דְּרָסָהּ אוֹ שֶׁטְּרָפָהּ בַּכּוֹתֶל, אוֹ שֶׁרְצָצַתָּה בְּהֵמָה וּמְפַרְכֶּסֶת, וְשָׁהֲתָה מֵעֵת לְעֵת וּשְׁחָטָהּ — כְּשֵׁרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר יַנַּאי מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס: צְרִיכָה בְּדִיקָה.

In relation to the above, the Gemara cites the following teaching: We learned in a mishna there: If one trampled fowl with his foot, or threw it against a wall, or if an animal crushed it, and it is twitching but cannot stand; if the animal waited, i.e., remained alive, from the time of the injury until the same time twenty-four hours later, and he subsequently slaughtered it, it is kosher, provided no other defect is found in it that would have caused it to die within twelve months, which would render it a tereifa. Rabbi Elazar bar Yannai said in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Antigonus: It requires examination after slaughtering, to make sure it does not have a defect.

בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה מֵרַבִּי זֵירָא: מַהוּ לְשׇׁחְטָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב? מִי מַחְזְקִינַן רֵעוּתָא בְּיוֹם טוֹב, אוֹ לָא?

In relation to the same issue, Rabbi Yirmeya inquired of Rabbi Zeira: What is the halakha with regard to slaughtering it on a Festival? Do we assume on a Festival that it has a flaw or not? In other words, may one rely on the assumption that a typical chicken has no defect? Or perhaps, since there is concern with regard to this particular bird and it requires examination, one should refrain from slaughtering it lest it turn out to be a tereifa. If so, he will have performed labor for no purpose.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ, תְּנֵינָא: אֵין מְלַבְּנִין אֶת הָרְעָפִים לִצְלוֹת בָּהֶן. וַהֲוֵינַן בַּהּ: מַאי קָא עָבֵיד? וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הָכָא בִּרְעָפִים חֲדָשִׁים עָסְקִינַן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְבׇדְקָן.

He said to him in response: We already learned that one may not whiten tiles in order to roast on them. And we discussed it: What does he thereby do? And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Here we are dealing with new tiles, and the Sages prohibited heating them because one first needs to test them, and they might crack when heated. If they were heated for the first time on a Festival and cracked, it would show that they were unfit for use, in which case heating them would have been an unnecessary labor. This indicates that one may not take a chance on a Festival with regard to something that might be flawed, and therefore a possible tereifa should be similarly prohibited.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנַן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְחׇסְמָן מַתְנִינַן לַהּ.

He said to him: This is no proof; we learned that the reason for that halakha is because it is necessary to harden them in order to make them into proper vessels. Therefore, there is no connection between making a vessel and conducting an examination. Consequently, there is no reason to prohibit the slaughter of such a chicken on a Festival.

תַּנְיָא: אֶחָד מֵבִיא אֶת הָאוּר, וְאֶחָד מֵבִיא אֶת הָעֵצִים, וְאֶחָד שׁוֹפֵת אֶת הַקְּדֵרָה, וְאֶחָד מֵבִיא אֶת הַמַּיִם, וְאֶחָד נוֹתֵן בְּתוֹכוֹ תַּבְלִין, וְאֶחָד מֵגִיס — כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין. וְהָתַנְיָא: אַחֲרוֹן חַיָּיב וְכוּלָּן פְּטוּרִין! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּאַיְיתִי אוּר מֵעִיקָּרָא, הָא דְּאַיְיתִי אוּר לְבַסּוֹף.

It is taught in a baraita: It is possible for several people to perform a single act of cooking on Shabbat, and all will be liable. How so? One brings the fire, and one brings the wood, and one places the pot on the stove, and one brings the water for the pot, and one puts spices into the food, and one stirs the pot; they are all liable for cooking. The Gemara wonders at this: But wasn’t it taught in a different baraita that the last one is liable and all the rest are exempt? The Gemara responds: This is not difficult. This case, where all are liable, is referring to a situation in which he brought fire at the outset, and therefore each of them performed part of the act of cooking; that case, where only the last one is liable, is referring to a situation in which he brought fire at the end. In that case, none of the earlier people performed any aspect of cooking at all, as the labor of cooking begins only from when fire is brought.

בִּשְׁלָמָא כּוּלְּהוּ קָא עָבְדִי מַעֲשֶׂה, אֶלָּא שׁוֹפֵת אֶת הַקְּדֵרָה מַאי קָא עָבֵיד? אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: הָכָא בִּקְדֵרָה חֲדָשָׁה עָסְקִינַן, וּמִשּׁוּם לִבּוּן רְעָפִים נָגְעוּ בָּהּ.

The Gemara asks: Granted, all of them performed an action that constitutes a prohibited labor, and they are therefore partners in a prohibited act and the desecration of Shabbat. But the one who places the pot on the stove, what prohibited labor has he performed? Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Here we are dealing with a new pot, and due to whitening tiles they applied the same prohibition to it. This means that one is not liable for cooking the food in the pot but for strengthening the pot itself, as is the case with heating tiles.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: תַּנּוּר וְכִירַיִם חֲדָשִׁים — הֲרֵי הֵן כְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים הַנִּטָּלִין בֶּחָצֵר. אֲבָל אֵין סָכִין אוֹתָם שֶׁמֶן, וְאֵין טָשִׁין אוֹתָן בְּמַטְלִית, וְאֵין מְפִיגִין אוֹתָן בְּצוֹנֵן כְּדֵי לְחׇסְמָן, וְאִם בִּשְׁבִיל לֶאֱפוֹת — הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר.

§ The Sages taught in the Tosefta: New ovens and stoves are similar to all vessels that may be carried in a courtyard on a Festival, as one can place items on them. However, one may not anoint them with oil, nor rub them with a rag, nor cool them with cold liquids to harden them, as all these actions are considered preparing the vessel for use, which may not be done on a Festival. And if one did so in order to bake in the oven on the Festival itself, this is permitted.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מוֹלְגִין אֶת הָרֹאשׁ וְאֶת הָרַגְלַיִם וּמְהַבְהֲבִין אוֹתָן בָּאוּר, אֲבָל אֵין טוֹפְלִין אוֹתָם בְּחַרְסִית, וְלֹא בַּאֲדָמָה, וְלֹא בְּסִיד. וְאֵין גּוֹזְזִין אוֹתָן בְּמִסְפָּרַיִם.

§ The Sages taught in the Tosefta: During a Festival one may scald the head and the feet of a slaughtered animal with hot water in order to remove the hairs from them, and one may singe them in fire for this purpose, but one may not smear them with clay, nor earth, nor lime in order to remove the hairs because this involves great effort, and it appears as though he is processing the skin. And one may not shear those hairs with scissors, as it appears as though he is performing the labor of shearing in an effort to obtain the hairs themselves.

וְאֵין גּוֹזְזִין אֶת הַיָּרָק בַּתִּסְפּוֹרֶת שֶׁלּוֹ. אֲבָל מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַקּוּנְדָּס וְאֶת הָעַכָּבִיּוֹת, וּמַסִּיקִין וְאוֹפִין בְּפוּרְנִי, וּמְחַמִּין חַמִּין בְּאַנְטִיכִי, וְאֵין אוֹפִין בְּפוּרְנִי חֲדָשָׁה שֶׁמָּא תִּפָּחֵת.

Similarly, one may not trim the top of the leaves connected to the vegetable with its special shears, but one may prepare kundas and akaviyot, bitter vegetables that can be eaten only after extensive cooking, although this involves great effort. And one may kindle fire and bake in a large baker’s oven [purnei], and one may heat water in an antikhi, a kind of large urn, but one may not bake in a new baker’s oven lest it break. If the oven cracks when heated because it was not properly made, one will have performed unnecessary work on a Festival.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין נוֹפְחִין בְּמַפּוּחַ, אֲבָל נוֹפְחִין בִּשְׁפוֹפֶרֶת. וְאֵין מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַשַּׁפּוּד, וְאֵין מְחַדְּדִין אוֹתוֹ. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מְפַצְּעִין אֶת הַקָּנֶה לִצְלוֹת בּוֹ מָלִיחַ, אֲבָל מְפַצְּעִין אֶת הָאֱגוֹז בְּמַטְלִית, וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא תִּקָּרַע.

§ The Sages taught similarly in the Tosefta: One may not blow a fire with bellows, because this is the manner of a weekday activity, but one may blow a fire with a tube, in an unusual manner. And one may not mend a skewer nor sharpen it. The Sages further taught in the Tosefta: One may not break a reed in order to make a kind of skewer upon which to roast salted fish, but one may crack a nut covered with a rag, and there is no concern lest it tear, for even if this occurs, no prohibited labor has been performed.

מַתְנִי׳ וְעוֹד אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עוֹמֵד אָדָם עַל הַמּוּקְצֶה

MISHNA: And Rabbi Eliezer further stated the following leniency: A person may stand over objects in storage, such as produce that he has for some reason previously set aside from use,

עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, וְאוֹמֵר: מִכָּאן אֲנִי אוֹכֵל לְמָחָר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: עַד שֶׁיִּרְשׁוֹם וְיֹאמַר מִכָּאן וְעַד כָּאן.

on Shabbat eve during the Sabbatical Year, during which no tithes are separated, which means one may take fruit on the following day without the need for any corrective measure, and say: From here, from these fruits, I will eat tomorrow. And the Rabbis say: He may not eat unless he marks the pile of fruit the day before and explicitly says: From here to there I will take.

גְּמָ׳ תְּנַן הָתָם: תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁטָּמְנוּ תְּאֵנִים מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְשָׁכְחוּ וְלֹא עִשְּׂרוּ — לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת לֹא יֹאכְלוּ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עִשְּׂרוּ. וּתְנַן נָמֵי: הַמַּעֲבִיר תְּאֵנִים בַּחֲצֵרוֹ לְקַצּוֹת — בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵּיתוֹ אוֹכְלִין מֵהֶן עֲרַאי וּפְטוּרִים.

GEMARA: We learned in a mishna there: (Ma’asrot 4:2) Children who hid figs for themselves in a field on Shabbat eve in order to eat them on Shabbat, and they forgot and did not separate tithes, not only are they prohibited from eating them on Shabbat, for eating on Shabbat is always considered a fixed meal that obligates the produce in tithes, but even after the conclusion of Shabbat, they may not eat until they have separated tithes. And we also learned in a mishna: One who transfers figs in his courtyard in order to make them into dry figs, his children and the members of his household may in the meantime partake of them in a casual manner, and they are exempt from tithes. The fact that the fruit has reached his courtyard, as opposed to his house, is not enough to cause it to be liable for tithing.

בְּעָא מִנֵּיהּ רָבָא מֵרַב נַחְמָן: שַׁבָּת, מַהוּ שֶׁתִּקְבַּע מוּקְצֶה לְמַעֲשֵׂר בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ? מִי אָמְרִינַן, כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִיב: ״וְקָרָאתָ לַשַּׁבָּת עוֹנֶג״, קָבְעָה וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אוֹ דִלְמָא: בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ — קָבְעָה, בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ — לָא קָבְעָה?

Based on these two sources, Rava inquired of Rav Naḥman: With regard to Shabbat, what is the halakha in terms of whether it establishes an obligation to tithe food that has been muktze on Shabbat? Specifically, in the case of an item whose labor has not been completed, does the fact that the food is muktze on Shabbat give it the status of completely prepared food, or not? Do we say that since it is written: “And call Shabbat a delight” (Isaiah 58:13), this implies that any food one eats on Shabbat is considered a delight and not a casual meal, and therefore Shabbat establishes an obligation to tithe, as if the food were fully completed and fit to be eaten as a fixed meal, even for an item that has not had its labor completed? Or perhaps Shabbat establishes an obligation to tithe an item whose labor is completed, but regarding an item whose labor is not completed it does not establish an obligation to tithe?

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁבָּת קוֹבַעַת, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְאֵימָא שַׁבָּת דּוּמְיָא דְחָצֵר, מָה חָצֵר — אֵינָהּ קוֹבַעַת אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אַף שַׁבָּת — לֹא תִּקְבַּע אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: תַּלְמוּד עָרוּךְ הוּא בְּיָדֵינוּ שֶׁהַשַּׁבָּת קוֹבַעַת, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ.

Rav Naḥman said to Rava: Shabbat establishes the obligation for tithes, both with regard to an item whose work is completed and things whose work is not completed. Rava said to Rav Naḥman and challenged: But say that the law of Shabbat should be similar to that of a courtyard: Just as a courtyard establishes food placed inside it as a fixed meal with regard to tithes only when the work on an item is completed, so too, Shabbat should establish only an item whose work is completed as liable for tithing. Rav Naḥman said to Rava: I did not say this based on my own logic, which can be countered by logic of your own. Rather, we have it as an ordered teaching that Shabbat establishes both things whose work is completed and things whose work is not completed.

אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: אַף אֲנַן נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא, וְעוֹד אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עוֹמֵד אָדָם עַל הַמּוּקְצֶה עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית וְכוּ׳. טַעְמָא דִּשְׁבִיעִית — דְּלָאו בַּר עַשּׂוֹרֵי הוּא, הָא בִּשְׁאָר שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעַ — הָכִי נָמֵי דְּאָסוּר, מַאי טַעְמָא — לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּשַׁבָּת קָבְעָה?

Mar Zutra, son of Rav Naḥman, said: We, too, have learned in the mishna: And Rabbi Eliezer further stated that a person may stand over objects in the storage area on Shabbat eve during the Sabbatical Year and say: I will eat from here and here. The reason is that it is fruit of the Sabbatical Year, with regard to which one is not obligated to separate tithes. However, if it occurred in the other years of the Sabbatical cycle, so too, you will say that it is prohibited to eat them without separating tithes. What is the reason for this? Is it not because Shabbat establishes them with regard to tithes, and consequently they may not be eaten until tithes have been separated?

לָא, שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר: ״מִכָּאן אֲנִי אוֹכֵל לְמָחָר״ — קָבַע לֵיהּ עִלָּוֵיהּ. אִי הָכִי מַאי אִרְיָא שַׁבָּת, אֲפִילּוּ בְּחוֹל נָמֵי! הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּטֶבֶל מוּכָן הוּא אֵצֶל שַׁבָּת, שֶׁאִם עָבַר וְתִקְּנוֹ — מְתוּקָּן.

The Gemara refutes this: This is no proof, for there it is different: Since he said: From here I will eat tomorrow, he has immediately established for himself a meal with them, by stating his intention to eat the food as it is. The Gemara asks: If so, why does the mishna mention particularly Shabbat? Even if one said so on a weekday the same should also apply. Since he has set them aside for his meal, they are considered finished and are liable to tithes. The Gemara answers: This comes to teach us the following: One should not conclude that untithed produce is inherently muktze because one may not separate the tithes and eat it; rather, it is considered prepared with regard to Shabbat, in that if one transgressed the words of the Sages and corrected it by separating the tithes, it is considered corrected.

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It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.

Joanna Rom
Joanna Rom

Northwest Washington, United States

Michelle has been an inspiration for years, but I only really started this cycle after the moving and uplifting siyum in Jerusalem. It’s been an wonderful to learn and relearn the tenets of our religion and to understand how the extraordinary efforts of a band of people to preserve Judaism after the fall of the beit hamikdash is still bearing fruits today. I’m proud to be part of the chain!

Judith Weil
Judith Weil

Raanana, Israel

In January 2020, my chevruta suggested that we “up our game. Let’s do Daf Yomi” – and she sent me the Hadran link. I lost my job (and went freelance), there was a pandemic, and I am still opening the podcast with my breakfast coffee, or after Shabbat with popcorn. My Aramaic is improving. I will need a new bookcase, though.

Rhondda May
Rhondda May

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

תמיד רציתי. למדתי גמרא בבית ספר בטורונטו קנדה. עליתי ארצה ולמדתי שזה לא מקובל. הופתעתי.
יצאתי לגימלאות לפני שנתיים וזה מאפשר את המחוייבות לדף יומי.
עבורי ההתמדה בלימוד מעגן אותי בקשר שלי ליהדות. אני תמיד מחפשת ותמיד. מוצאת מקור לקשר. ללימוד חדש ומחדש. קשר עם נשים לומדות מעמיק את החוויה ומשמעותית מאוד.

Vitti Kones
Vitti Kones

מיתר, ישראל

As Jewish educator and as a woman, I’m mindful that Talmud has been kept from women for many centuries. Now that we are privileged to learn, and learning is so accessible, it’s my intent to complete Daf Yomi. I am so excited to keep learning with my Hadran community.

Sue Parker Gerson
Sue Parker Gerson

Denver, United States

I had no formal learning in Talmud until I began my studies in the Joint Program where in 1976 I was one of the few, if not the only, woman talmud major. It was superior training for law school and enabled me to approach my legal studies with a foundation . In 2018, I began daf yomi listening to Rabbanit MIchelle’s pod cast and my daily talmud studies are one of the highlights of my life.

Krivosha_Terri_Bio
Terri Krivosha

Minneapolis, United States

I started learning daf yomi at the beginning of this cycle. As the pandemic evolved, it’s been so helpful to me to have this discipline every morning to listen to the daf podcast after I’ve read the daf; learning about the relationships between the rabbis and the ways they were constructing our Jewish religion after the destruction of the Temple. I’m grateful to be on this journey!

Mona Fishbane
Mona Fishbane

Teaneck NJ, United States

I began my journey with Rabbanit Michelle more than five years ago. My friend came up with a great idea for about 15 of us to learn the daf and one of us would summarize weekly what we learned.
It was fun but after 2-3 months people began to leave. I have continued. Since the cycle began Again I have joined the Teaneck women.. I find it most rewarding in so many ways. Thank you

Dena Heller
Dena Heller

New Jersey, United States

I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!

Debbie Engelen-Eigles
Debbie Engelen-Eigles

Minnesota, United States

I tried Daf Yomi in the middle of the last cycle after realizing I could listen to Michelle’s shiurim online. It lasted all of 2 days! Then the new cycle started just days before my father’s first yahrzeit and my youngest daughter’s bat mitzvah. It seemed the right time for a new beginning. My family, friends, colleagues are immensely supportive!

Catriella-Freedman-jpeg
Catriella Freedman

Zichron Yaakov, Israel

It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.

Joanna Rom
Joanna Rom

Northwest Washington, United States

I started learning Gemara at the Yeshivah of Flatbush. And I resumed ‘ברוך ה decades later with Rabbanit Michele at Hadran. I started from Brachot and have had an exciting, rewarding experience throughout seder Moed!

Anne Mirsky (1)
Anne Mirsky

Maale Adumim, Israel

A beautiful world of Talmudic sages now fill my daily life with discussion and debate.
bringing alive our traditions and texts that has brought new meaning to my life.
I am a מגילת אסתר reader for women . the words in the Mishna of מסכת megillah 17a
הקורא את המגילה למפרע לא יצא were powerful to me.
I hope to have the zchut to complete the cycle for my 70th birthday.

Sheila Hauser
Sheila Hauser

Jerusalem, Israel

In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!

Beth Kissileff
Beth Kissileff

Pittsburgh, United States

I never thought I’d be able to do Daf Yomi till I saw the video of Hadran’s Siyum HaShas. Now, 2 years later, I’m about to participate in Siyum Seder Mo’ed with my Hadran community. It has been an incredible privilege to learn with Rabbanit Michelle and to get to know so many caring, talented and knowledgeable women. I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to learning Seder Nashim.

Caroline-Ben-Ari-Tapestry
Caroline Ben-Ari

Karmiel, Israel

I started learning daf in January, 2020, being inspired by watching the Siyyum Hashas in Binyanei Haumah. I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep up with the task. When I went to school, Gemara was not an option. Fast forward to March, 2022, and each day starts with the daf. The challenge is now learning the intricacies of delving into the actual learning. Hadran community, thank you!

Rochel Cheifetz
Rochel Cheifetz

Riverdale, NY, United States

I had never heard of Daf Yomi and after reading the book, The Weight of Ink, I explored more about it. I discovered that it was only 6 months before a whole new cycle started and I was determined to give it a try. I tried to get a friend to join me on the journey but after the first few weeks they all dropped it. I haven’t missed a day of reading and of listening to the podcast.

Anne Rubin
Anne Rubin

Elkins Park, United States

While vacationing in San Diego, Rabbi Leah Herz asked if I’d be interested in being in hevruta with her to learn Daf Yomi through Hadran. Why not? I had loved learning Gemara in college in 1971 but hadn’t returned. With the onset of covid, Daf Yomi and Rabbanit Michelle centered me each day. Thank-you for helping me grow and enter this amazing world of learning.
Meryll Page
Meryll Page

Minneapolis, MN, United States

In early January of 2020, I learned about Siyyum HaShas and Daf Yomi via Tablet Magazine’s brief daily podcast about the Daf. I found it compelling and fascinating. Soon I discovered Hadran; since then I have learned the Daf daily with Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber. The Daf has permeated my every hour, and has transformed and magnified my place within the Jewish Universe.

Lisa Berkelhammer
Lisa Berkelhammer

San Francisco, CA , United States

I’ve been studying Talmud since the ’90s, and decided to take on Daf Yomi two years ago. I wanted to attempt the challenge of a day-to-day, very Jewish activity. Some days are so interesting and some days are so boring. But I’m still here.
Sarene Shanus
Sarene Shanus

Mamaroneck, NY, United States

Beitzah 34

שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְבׇדְקָן. וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְחׇסְמָן.

it is necessary to test them to ensure that they do not burst when heated. If they are heated for the first time on a Festival, he will be thereby testing them, which is a prohibited labor. And some say: Because it is necessary to harden them by overheating them the first time to make them fit for use, which is considered preparing a vessel for use and is prohibited on a Festival.

תְּנַן הָתָם: דְּרָסָהּ אוֹ שֶׁטְּרָפָהּ בַּכּוֹתֶל, אוֹ שֶׁרְצָצַתָּה בְּהֵמָה וּמְפַרְכֶּסֶת, וְשָׁהֲתָה מֵעֵת לְעֵת וּשְׁחָטָהּ — כְּשֵׁרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר יַנַּאי מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס: צְרִיכָה בְּדִיקָה.

In relation to the above, the Gemara cites the following teaching: We learned in a mishna there: If one trampled fowl with his foot, or threw it against a wall, or if an animal crushed it, and it is twitching but cannot stand; if the animal waited, i.e., remained alive, from the time of the injury until the same time twenty-four hours later, and he subsequently slaughtered it, it is kosher, provided no other defect is found in it that would have caused it to die within twelve months, which would render it a tereifa. Rabbi Elazar bar Yannai said in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Antigonus: It requires examination after slaughtering, to make sure it does not have a defect.

בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה מֵרַבִּי זֵירָא: מַהוּ לְשׇׁחְטָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב? מִי מַחְזְקִינַן רֵעוּתָא בְּיוֹם טוֹב, אוֹ לָא?

In relation to the same issue, Rabbi Yirmeya inquired of Rabbi Zeira: What is the halakha with regard to slaughtering it on a Festival? Do we assume on a Festival that it has a flaw or not? In other words, may one rely on the assumption that a typical chicken has no defect? Or perhaps, since there is concern with regard to this particular bird and it requires examination, one should refrain from slaughtering it lest it turn out to be a tereifa. If so, he will have performed labor for no purpose.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ, תְּנֵינָא: אֵין מְלַבְּנִין אֶת הָרְעָפִים לִצְלוֹת בָּהֶן. וַהֲוֵינַן בַּהּ: מַאי קָא עָבֵיד? וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הָכָא בִּרְעָפִים חֲדָשִׁים עָסְקִינַן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְבׇדְקָן.

He said to him in response: We already learned that one may not whiten tiles in order to roast on them. And we discussed it: What does he thereby do? And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Here we are dealing with new tiles, and the Sages prohibited heating them because one first needs to test them, and they might crack when heated. If they were heated for the first time on a Festival and cracked, it would show that they were unfit for use, in which case heating them would have been an unnecessary labor. This indicates that one may not take a chance on a Festival with regard to something that might be flawed, and therefore a possible tereifa should be similarly prohibited.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנַן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְחׇסְמָן מַתְנִינַן לַהּ.

He said to him: This is no proof; we learned that the reason for that halakha is because it is necessary to harden them in order to make them into proper vessels. Therefore, there is no connection between making a vessel and conducting an examination. Consequently, there is no reason to prohibit the slaughter of such a chicken on a Festival.

תַּנְיָא: אֶחָד מֵבִיא אֶת הָאוּר, וְאֶחָד מֵבִיא אֶת הָעֵצִים, וְאֶחָד שׁוֹפֵת אֶת הַקְּדֵרָה, וְאֶחָד מֵבִיא אֶת הַמַּיִם, וְאֶחָד נוֹתֵן בְּתוֹכוֹ תַּבְלִין, וְאֶחָד מֵגִיס — כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין. וְהָתַנְיָא: אַחֲרוֹן חַיָּיב וְכוּלָּן פְּטוּרִין! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּאַיְיתִי אוּר מֵעִיקָּרָא, הָא דְּאַיְיתִי אוּר לְבַסּוֹף.

It is taught in a baraita: It is possible for several people to perform a single act of cooking on Shabbat, and all will be liable. How so? One brings the fire, and one brings the wood, and one places the pot on the stove, and one brings the water for the pot, and one puts spices into the food, and one stirs the pot; they are all liable for cooking. The Gemara wonders at this: But wasn’t it taught in a different baraita that the last one is liable and all the rest are exempt? The Gemara responds: This is not difficult. This case, where all are liable, is referring to a situation in which he brought fire at the outset, and therefore each of them performed part of the act of cooking; that case, where only the last one is liable, is referring to a situation in which he brought fire at the end. In that case, none of the earlier people performed any aspect of cooking at all, as the labor of cooking begins only from when fire is brought.

בִּשְׁלָמָא כּוּלְּהוּ קָא עָבְדִי מַעֲשֶׂה, אֶלָּא שׁוֹפֵת אֶת הַקְּדֵרָה מַאי קָא עָבֵיד? אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: הָכָא בִּקְדֵרָה חֲדָשָׁה עָסְקִינַן, וּמִשּׁוּם לִבּוּן רְעָפִים נָגְעוּ בָּהּ.

The Gemara asks: Granted, all of them performed an action that constitutes a prohibited labor, and they are therefore partners in a prohibited act and the desecration of Shabbat. But the one who places the pot on the stove, what prohibited labor has he performed? Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Here we are dealing with a new pot, and due to whitening tiles they applied the same prohibition to it. This means that one is not liable for cooking the food in the pot but for strengthening the pot itself, as is the case with heating tiles.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: תַּנּוּר וְכִירַיִם חֲדָשִׁים — הֲרֵי הֵן כְּכׇל הַכֵּלִים הַנִּטָּלִין בֶּחָצֵר. אֲבָל אֵין סָכִין אוֹתָם שֶׁמֶן, וְאֵין טָשִׁין אוֹתָן בְּמַטְלִית, וְאֵין מְפִיגִין אוֹתָן בְּצוֹנֵן כְּדֵי לְחׇסְמָן, וְאִם בִּשְׁבִיל לֶאֱפוֹת — הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר.

§ The Sages taught in the Tosefta: New ovens and stoves are similar to all vessels that may be carried in a courtyard on a Festival, as one can place items on them. However, one may not anoint them with oil, nor rub them with a rag, nor cool them with cold liquids to harden them, as all these actions are considered preparing the vessel for use, which may not be done on a Festival. And if one did so in order to bake in the oven on the Festival itself, this is permitted.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מוֹלְגִין אֶת הָרֹאשׁ וְאֶת הָרַגְלַיִם וּמְהַבְהֲבִין אוֹתָן בָּאוּר, אֲבָל אֵין טוֹפְלִין אוֹתָם בְּחַרְסִית, וְלֹא בַּאֲדָמָה, וְלֹא בְּסִיד. וְאֵין גּוֹזְזִין אוֹתָן בְּמִסְפָּרַיִם.

§ The Sages taught in the Tosefta: During a Festival one may scald the head and the feet of a slaughtered animal with hot water in order to remove the hairs from them, and one may singe them in fire for this purpose, but one may not smear them with clay, nor earth, nor lime in order to remove the hairs because this involves great effort, and it appears as though he is processing the skin. And one may not shear those hairs with scissors, as it appears as though he is performing the labor of shearing in an effort to obtain the hairs themselves.

וְאֵין גּוֹזְזִין אֶת הַיָּרָק בַּתִּסְפּוֹרֶת שֶׁלּוֹ. אֲבָל מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַקּוּנְדָּס וְאֶת הָעַכָּבִיּוֹת, וּמַסִּיקִין וְאוֹפִין בְּפוּרְנִי, וּמְחַמִּין חַמִּין בְּאַנְטִיכִי, וְאֵין אוֹפִין בְּפוּרְנִי חֲדָשָׁה שֶׁמָּא תִּפָּחֵת.

Similarly, one may not trim the top of the leaves connected to the vegetable with its special shears, but one may prepare kundas and akaviyot, bitter vegetables that can be eaten only after extensive cooking, although this involves great effort. And one may kindle fire and bake in a large baker’s oven [purnei], and one may heat water in an antikhi, a kind of large urn, but one may not bake in a new baker’s oven lest it break. If the oven cracks when heated because it was not properly made, one will have performed unnecessary work on a Festival.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין נוֹפְחִין בְּמַפּוּחַ, אֲבָל נוֹפְחִין בִּשְׁפוֹפֶרֶת. וְאֵין מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַשַּׁפּוּד, וְאֵין מְחַדְּדִין אוֹתוֹ. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מְפַצְּעִין אֶת הַקָּנֶה לִצְלוֹת בּוֹ מָלִיחַ, אֲבָל מְפַצְּעִין אֶת הָאֱגוֹז בְּמַטְלִית, וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא תִּקָּרַע.

§ The Sages taught similarly in the Tosefta: One may not blow a fire with bellows, because this is the manner of a weekday activity, but one may blow a fire with a tube, in an unusual manner. And one may not mend a skewer nor sharpen it. The Sages further taught in the Tosefta: One may not break a reed in order to make a kind of skewer upon which to roast salted fish, but one may crack a nut covered with a rag, and there is no concern lest it tear, for even if this occurs, no prohibited labor has been performed.

מַתְנִי׳ וְעוֹד אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עוֹמֵד אָדָם עַל הַמּוּקְצֶה

MISHNA: And Rabbi Eliezer further stated the following leniency: A person may stand over objects in storage, such as produce that he has for some reason previously set aside from use,

עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, וְאוֹמֵר: מִכָּאן אֲנִי אוֹכֵל לְמָחָר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: עַד שֶׁיִּרְשׁוֹם וְיֹאמַר מִכָּאן וְעַד כָּאן.

on Shabbat eve during the Sabbatical Year, during which no tithes are separated, which means one may take fruit on the following day without the need for any corrective measure, and say: From here, from these fruits, I will eat tomorrow. And the Rabbis say: He may not eat unless he marks the pile of fruit the day before and explicitly says: From here to there I will take.

גְּמָ׳ תְּנַן הָתָם: תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁטָּמְנוּ תְּאֵנִים מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְשָׁכְחוּ וְלֹא עִשְּׂרוּ — לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת לֹא יֹאכְלוּ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עִשְּׂרוּ. וּתְנַן נָמֵי: הַמַּעֲבִיר תְּאֵנִים בַּחֲצֵרוֹ לְקַצּוֹת — בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵּיתוֹ אוֹכְלִין מֵהֶן עֲרַאי וּפְטוּרִים.

GEMARA: We learned in a mishna there: (Ma’asrot 4:2) Children who hid figs for themselves in a field on Shabbat eve in order to eat them on Shabbat, and they forgot and did not separate tithes, not only are they prohibited from eating them on Shabbat, for eating on Shabbat is always considered a fixed meal that obligates the produce in tithes, but even after the conclusion of Shabbat, they may not eat until they have separated tithes. And we also learned in a mishna: One who transfers figs in his courtyard in order to make them into dry figs, his children and the members of his household may in the meantime partake of them in a casual manner, and they are exempt from tithes. The fact that the fruit has reached his courtyard, as opposed to his house, is not enough to cause it to be liable for tithing.

בְּעָא מִנֵּיהּ רָבָא מֵרַב נַחְמָן: שַׁבָּת, מַהוּ שֶׁתִּקְבַּע מוּקְצֶה לְמַעֲשֵׂר בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ? מִי אָמְרִינַן, כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִיב: ״וְקָרָאתָ לַשַּׁבָּת עוֹנֶג״, קָבְעָה וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אוֹ דִלְמָא: בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ — קָבְעָה, בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ — לָא קָבְעָה?

Based on these two sources, Rava inquired of Rav Naḥman: With regard to Shabbat, what is the halakha in terms of whether it establishes an obligation to tithe food that has been muktze on Shabbat? Specifically, in the case of an item whose labor has not been completed, does the fact that the food is muktze on Shabbat give it the status of completely prepared food, or not? Do we say that since it is written: “And call Shabbat a delight” (Isaiah 58:13), this implies that any food one eats on Shabbat is considered a delight and not a casual meal, and therefore Shabbat establishes an obligation to tithe, as if the food were fully completed and fit to be eaten as a fixed meal, even for an item that has not had its labor completed? Or perhaps Shabbat establishes an obligation to tithe an item whose labor is completed, but regarding an item whose labor is not completed it does not establish an obligation to tithe?

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁבָּת קוֹבַעַת, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְאֵימָא שַׁבָּת דּוּמְיָא דְחָצֵר, מָה חָצֵר — אֵינָהּ קוֹבַעַת אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אַף שַׁבָּת — לֹא תִּקְבַּע אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: תַּלְמוּד עָרוּךְ הוּא בְּיָדֵינוּ שֶׁהַשַּׁבָּת קוֹבַעַת, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ, בֵּין בְּדָבָר שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמְרָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ.

Rav Naḥman said to Rava: Shabbat establishes the obligation for tithes, both with regard to an item whose work is completed and things whose work is not completed. Rava said to Rav Naḥman and challenged: But say that the law of Shabbat should be similar to that of a courtyard: Just as a courtyard establishes food placed inside it as a fixed meal with regard to tithes only when the work on an item is completed, so too, Shabbat should establish only an item whose work is completed as liable for tithing. Rav Naḥman said to Rava: I did not say this based on my own logic, which can be countered by logic of your own. Rather, we have it as an ordered teaching that Shabbat establishes both things whose work is completed and things whose work is not completed.

אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: אַף אֲנַן נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא, וְעוֹד אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עוֹמֵד אָדָם עַל הַמּוּקְצֶה עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית וְכוּ׳. טַעְמָא דִּשְׁבִיעִית — דְּלָאו בַּר עַשּׂוֹרֵי הוּא, הָא בִּשְׁאָר שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעַ — הָכִי נָמֵי דְּאָסוּר, מַאי טַעְמָא — לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּשַׁבָּת קָבְעָה?

Mar Zutra, son of Rav Naḥman, said: We, too, have learned in the mishna: And Rabbi Eliezer further stated that a person may stand over objects in the storage area on Shabbat eve during the Sabbatical Year and say: I will eat from here and here. The reason is that it is fruit of the Sabbatical Year, with regard to which one is not obligated to separate tithes. However, if it occurred in the other years of the Sabbatical cycle, so too, you will say that it is prohibited to eat them without separating tithes. What is the reason for this? Is it not because Shabbat establishes them with regard to tithes, and consequently they may not be eaten until tithes have been separated?

לָא, שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר: ״מִכָּאן אֲנִי אוֹכֵל לְמָחָר״ — קָבַע לֵיהּ עִלָּוֵיהּ. אִי הָכִי מַאי אִרְיָא שַׁבָּת, אֲפִילּוּ בְּחוֹל נָמֵי! הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּטֶבֶל מוּכָן הוּא אֵצֶל שַׁבָּת, שֶׁאִם עָבַר וְתִקְּנוֹ — מְתוּקָּן.

The Gemara refutes this: This is no proof, for there it is different: Since he said: From here I will eat tomorrow, he has immediately established for himself a meal with them, by stating his intention to eat the food as it is. The Gemara asks: If so, why does the mishna mention particularly Shabbat? Even if one said so on a weekday the same should also apply. Since he has set them aside for his meal, they are considered finished and are liable to tithes. The Gemara answers: This comes to teach us the following: One should not conclude that untithed produce is inherently muktze because one may not separate the tithes and eat it; rather, it is considered prepared with regard to Shabbat, in that if one transgressed the words of the Sages and corrected it by separating the tithes, it is considered corrected.

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