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Kiddushin 38

September 20, 2023 | ה׳ בתשרי תשפ״ד

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09.19.2023 | ד׳ בתשרי תשפ״ד

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Kiddushin

Masechet Kiddushin is sponsored by Julie and Martin Mendelsohn in honor of their two children who were recently married

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09.19.2023 | ד׳ בתשרי תשפ״ד

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Today’s daf is sponsored by Prof. Jonathan Ben-Ezra in honor of Dr. Robin Zeiger, for completing half of Shas together today!! “To my better half, I am looking forward to completing the other half of our journey together. Also thank you to Rabbanit Michelle.”

When the Jews entered the land of Israel after being in the desert, they stopped eating the manna on the 16th of Nisan and began eating from the new grains. Can this offer proof that when the Torah states “in your dwelling places” as it is mentioned regarding the prohibition to eat from the new grains, it is not referring to after having conquered and settled in the land? A number of braitot are brought regarding the manna and the date of Moshe’s birth and death. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai offers his own explanation chadash, orla and kelaim are applicable also outside of Israel – chadash, based on the word “in your dwelling places,” and the others by logical inference (kal vachomer) from chadash. His son, Rabbi Elazar, disagrees with the three exceptions and offers two different exceptions instead – cancellations of loans in the shmita year and release of slaves in the Jubilee year. Why are each of those cases considered part of the category of land-related commandments? A Mishna in Orla 3:9 explains that each of the three laws that are exceptions and apply outside of Israel are derived in different manners – one from the Torah, one halakha and one by the rabbis. What is meant by ‘halakha‘? Rav Yehuda in the name of Shmuel says it means the people took it upon themselves, while Ulla in the name of Rabbi Yochanan says it is ‘halakha l’Moshe miSinai.’ Ulla raises a difficulty on Rav Yehuda from the previous part of the Mishna in Orla 3:9.

Kiddushin

Masechet Kiddushin is sponsored by Julie and Martin Mendelsohn in honor of their two children who were recently married

Kiddushin 38

אַקְרוּב עוֹמֶר וַהֲדַר אֲכוּל.

they sacrificed the omer and only afterward did they eat.

אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר לְאַחַר יְרוּשָּׁה וִישִׁיבָה, נֵיכוֹל לְאַלְתַּר! לָא הֲווֹ צְרִיכִי,

But according to the one who says that the term dwelling indicates that the prohibition of the new crop applies only after inheritance and settlement of Eretz Yisrael, let the Jews eat the produce of the land immediately. The Gemara answers: They did not need to eat the new produce, as they still had manna. Although they did not eat the new crop of Eretz Yisrael, the reason was not that it was prohibited.

דִּכְתִיב ״וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָכְלוּ אֶת הַמָּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה עַד בֹּאָם אֶל אֶרֶץ נוֹשָׁבֶת, אֶת הַמָּן אָכְלוּ עַד בֹּאָם אֶל קְצֵה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן״. אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר ״עַד בֹּאָם אֶל אֶרֶץ נוֹשָׁבֶת״, שֶׁכְּבָר נֶאֱמַר ״אֶל קְצֵה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן״. וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר ״אֶל קְצֵה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן״, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר: ״עַד בֹּאָם אֶל אֶרֶץ נוֹשָׁבֶת״. הָא כֵּיצַד? בְּשִׁבְעָה בַּאֲדָר מֵת מֹשֶׁה וּפָסַק מָן מִלֵּירֵד, וְהָיוּ מִסְתַּפְּקִין מִמָּן שֶׁבִּכְלֵיהֶם עַד שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן.

This is as it is written: “And the children of Israel ate the manna forty years until they came to a settled land; they ate the manna until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan” (Exodus 16:35). The Gemara analyzes this verse: One cannot say they ate “until they came to a settled land,” i.e., that they were still eating the manna when they entered Eretz Yisrael, as it is already stated: “To the borders of the land of Canaan,” which indicates that they stopped eating manna before entering Eretz Yisrael, on the plains of Moab. And one cannot say that they ate manna only until they reached “to the borders of the land of Canaan,” as it is already stated: “Until they came to a settled land.” How can these clauses be reconciled? Moses died on the seventh of Adar and the manna ceased falling, and they ate the manna that was left in their vessels until the sixteenth of Nisan, even after they entered Eretz Yisrael.

תַּנְיָא אִידַּךְ: ״וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָכְלוּ אֶת הַמָּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה״. וְכִי אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה אָכְלוּ? וַהֲלֹא אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה חָסֵר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אָכְלוּ! אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לְךָ: עוּגוֹת שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, טָעֲמוּ בָּהֶם טַעַם מָן.

It is taught in another baraita with regard to the verse: “And the children of Israel ate the manna forty years” (Exodus 16:35). But did they really eat it for forty years? But didn’t they eat it for forty years less thirty days? The manna began to fall on the sixteenth of Iyyar in the first year in the wilderness, and they stopped eating it on the sixteenth of Nisan in the fortieth year. Rather, this verse comes to tell you that they tasted the taste of manna in the unleavened cakes that they took out from Egypt on the fifteenth of Nisan in their first year, and this sustained them until the manna fell.

תַּנְיָא אִידַּךְ: בְּשִׁבְעָה בַּאֲדָר מֵת מֹשֶׁה, וּבְשִׁבְעָה בַּאֲדָר נוֹלַד. מִנַּיִן שֶׁבְּשִׁבְעָה בַּאֲדָר מֵת – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּמׇת שָׁם מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד ה׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּבְכּוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת מֹשֶׁה בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי מוֹת מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד ה׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״מֹשֶׁה עַבְדִּי מֵת וְעַתָּה קוּם עֲבֹר״

It is taught in another baraita: Moses died on the seventh of Adar, and he was likewise born on the seventh of Adar. From where is it derived that Moses died on the seventh of Adar? As it is stated: “So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there” (Deuteronomy 34:5), and it is written: “And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days” (Deuteronomy 34:8). And it is written: “Now it came to pass after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord” (Joshua 1:1), and it is written: “Moses, My servant, is dead; now arise, cross this Jordan” (Joshua 1:2).

וּכְתִיב: ״עִבְרוּ בְּקֶרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה וְצַוּוּ אֶת הָעָם לֵאמֹר הָכִינוּ לָכֶם צֵדָה כִּי בְּעוֹד שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעַבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן״ וּכְתִיב: ״וְהָעָם עָלוּ מִן הַיַּרְדֵּן בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן״, צֵא מֵהֶן שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לְמַפְרֵעַ, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁבְּשִׁבְעָה בַּאֲדָר מֵת מֹשֶׁה.

The baraita continues: And it is written: “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying: Prepare your victuals, for within three days you are to cross the Jordan” (Joshua 1:11). And it is written: “And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month” (Joshua 4:19). Subtract retroactively from that date, the tenth of Nisan, the last thirty-three days, i.e., the thirty days of mourning for Moses and the three days of preparation before crossing the Jordan, and you learn from here that Moses died on the seventh of Adar.

וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁבְּשִׁבְעָה בַּאֲדָר נוֹלַד מֹשֶׁה – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם בֶּן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם לֹא אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא״, שֶׁאֵין תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״הַיּוֹם״, מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״הַיּוֹם״? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹשֵׁב וּמְמַלֵּא שְׁנוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם וּמֵחֹדֶשׁ לְחֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶת מִסְפַּר יָמֶיךָ אֲמַלֵּא״.

The baraita continues: And from where is it derived that Moses was born on the seventh of Adar? It is as it is stated: “And he said to them, I am one hundred and twenty years old today; I can no more go out and come in” (Deuteronomy 31:2). As there is no need for the verse to state “today,” since Moses could have said simply: I am one hundred and twenty years old. What is the meaning when the verse states “today”? One can learn from it that Moses was born on that date, i.e., he was exactly one hundred and twenty years old. This teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, sits and completes the years of the righteous from day to day and from month to month, as it is stated: “The number of your days I will fulfill” (Exodus 23:26).

תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: שָׁלֹשׁ מִצְוֹת נִצְטַוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְנִיסָתָן לָאָרֶץ, וְנוֹהֲגוֹת בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.

It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The Jewish people were commanded to perform three mitzvot immediately upon entering Eretz Yisrael: The new crop, diverse kinds, and orla, and these apply both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael.

וְהוּא הַדִּין שֶׁיִּנְהֲגוּ, וּמָה חָדָשׁ, שֶׁאֵין אִיסּוּרוֹ אִיסּוּר עוֹלָם, וְאֵין אִיסּוּרוֹ אִיסּוּר הֲנָאָה, וְיֵשׁ הֶיתֵּר לְאִיסּוּרוֹ, נוֹהֵג בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ –

And it is logical, i.e., one can derive through an a fortiori argument that each of these mitzvot should apply everywhere. If the prohibition of the new crop, whose prohibition is not a permanent prohibition, as it does not apply to grain that grows after the omer has been sacrificed on the sixteenth of Nisan, and whose prohibition is not a prohibition against deriving benefit, since usages other than eating are permitted, and there is dissolution for its prohibition, i.e., grain that grew before the sixteenth of Nisan becomes permitted after the omer offering has been brought, applies both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael, the same halakha should certainly apply to diverse kinds.

כִּלְאַיִם, שֶׁאִיסּוּרָן אִיסּוּר עוֹלָם, וְאִיסּוּרָן אִיסּוּר הֲנָאָה, וְאֵין הֶיתֵּר לְאִיסּוּרָן – אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיִּנְהֲגוּ בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ? וְהוּא הַדִּין לְעׇרְלָה בִּשְׁתַּיִם.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai elaborates: With regard to diverse kinds, whose prohibition is a permanent prohibition, as it never expires, and whose prohibition is a prohibition against deriving benefit, since one may not benefit in any manner from diverse kinds of the vine, and there is no dissolution for its prohibition, is it not logical that it should apply both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael? And the same is true of orla with regard to two of those points. Orla is not a permanent prohibition, as it applies only for the first three years that a tree produces fruit, but one may not derive benefit from it, and produce from the first three years never becomes permitted.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, says:

כׇּל מִצְוָה שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹדֶם כְּנִיסָתָן לָאָרֶץ – נוֹהֶגֶת בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ. לְאַחַר כְּנִיסָתָן לָאָרֶץ – אֵינָהּ נוֹהֶגֶת אֶלָּא בָּאָרֶץ, חוּץ מִן הַשְׁמָטַת כְּסָפִים וְשִׁילּוּחַ עֲבָדִים, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לְאַחַר כְּנִיסָתָן לָאָרֶץ – נוֹהֶגֶת בֵּין בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.

Any mitzva that the Jewish people were commanded to perform before entering Eretz Yisrael, i.e., it was not linked to entry into the land, applies both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael. Conversely, any mitzva that they were commanded to perform after they entered Eretz Yisrael applies only in Eretz Yisrael, except for the abrogation of monetary debts in the Sabbatical Year (see Deuteronomy 15:1–2), and the emancipation of slaves in the Jubilee Year (see Leviticus 25:39–41). Even though the Jews were commanded with regard to these mitzvot that they were to perform them only after their entry into Eretz Yisrael, these mitzvot apply both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of Eretz Yisrael.

הַשְׁמָטַת כְּסָפִים חוֹבַת הַגּוּף הִיא!

The Gemara questions the need for this ruling: The abrogation of monetary debts is an obligation of the body. Since this mitzva is not referring to the land, what is the novelty of the ruling that it applies even outside of Eretz Yisrael?

לֹא נִצְרְכָא אֶלָּא לְכִדְתַנְיָא. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: ״וְזֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה שָׁמוֹט״ – בִּשְׁתֵּי שְׁמִיטוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר: אַחַת שְׁמִיטַּת קַרְקַע, וְאַחַת שְׁמִיטַּת כְּסָפִים. בִּזְמַן שֶׁאַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט קַרְקַע – אַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט כְּסָפִים, בִּזְמַן שֶׁאִי אַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט קַרְקַע – אִי אַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט כְּסָפִים.

The Gemara answers: It is necessary to mention the cancellation of debts only for that which is taught in a baraita. As it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: The verse states in the context of the cancellation of debts: “And this is the manner of the abrogation: He shall abrogate” (Deuteronomy 15:2). The verse speaks of two types of abrogation: One is the release of land and one is the abrogation of monetary debts. Since the two are juxtaposed, one can learn the following: At a time when you release land, when the Jubilee Year is practiced, you abrogate monetary debts; at a time when you do not release land, such as the present time, when the Jubilee Year is no longer practiced, you also do not abrogate monetary debts.

וְאֵימָא: בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט קַרְקַע – אַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט כְּסָפִים, וּבִמְקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט קַרְקַע – אֵין אַתָּה מְשַׁמֵּט כְּסָפִים! תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״כִּי קָרָא שְׁמִטָּה לַה׳״ מִכׇּל מָקוֹם.

The Gemara asks: But why not say that one can learn the following from this juxtaposition: In a place where you release land, i.e., in Eretz Yisrael, you abrogate monetary debts, and in a place where you do not release land, you do not abrogate monetary debts. If so, the abrogation of debts would apply only in Eretz Yisrael, despite the fact that this obligation is not related to the land. Therefore, the verse states: “Because the Lord’s abrogation has been proclaimed” (Deuteronomy 15:2), to indicate that this obligation applies in any case, even outside of Eretz Yisrael. This is the novelty of the statement of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon.

שִׁילּוּחַ עֲבָדִים חוֹבַת הַגּוּף הִיא! סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא: הוֹאִיל וּכְתִיב ״וּקְרָאתֶם דְּרוֹר בָּאָרֶץ״, בָּאָרֶץ – אִין, בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ – לָא, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״יוֹבֵל הִיא״ – מִכׇּל מָקוֹם.

The Gemara questions the need for the second ruling of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon: The emancipation of slaves is also an obligation of the body, not one that applies to the land. What is novel about this ruling? The Gemara answers that it might enter your mind to say: Since it is written: “And proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10), one could say: “Throughout the land,” yes, this mitzva applies, but outside of Eretz Yisrael, no, the emancipation does not take effect. Therefore the same verse also states the seemingly superfluous phrase: “It shall be a Jubilee” (Leviticus 25:10), to indicate that it applies in any case, in all places.

אִם כֵּן מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״בָּאָרֶץ״? בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַדְּרוֹר נוֹהֵג בָּאָרֶץ – נוֹהֵג בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, אֵין דְּרוֹר נוֹהֵג בָּאָרֶץ – אֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.

The Gemara asks: If so, what is the meaning when the verse states: “Throughout the land”? The Gemara answers that this phrase teaches: When the liberty of slaves applies in Eretz Yisrael, it also applies outside of Eretz Yisrael, and when the liberty of slaves does not apply in Eretz Yisrael, it does not apply outside of Eretz Yisrael. The mitzva depends on whether the Jubilee Year is in effect, not on the place in question.

תְּנַן הָתָם: הֶחָדָשׁ אָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם, עׇרְלָה הֲלָכָה, וְהַכִּלְאַיִם מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. מַאי הֲלָכָה? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הִלְכְתָא מְדִינָה. עוּלָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הֲלָכָה לְמֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי.

We learned in a mishna there (Orla 3:9): The new crop is forbidden by Torah law everywhere; orla is forbidden outside of Eretz Yisrael according to a halakha, as the Gemara will immediately explain; and diverse kinds are forbidden outside the land by rabbinic law. The Gemara asks: What is this halakha, mentioned with regard to orla? Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: It is the local halakha, i.e., this was the practice of Jews in places where they settled. Ulla says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ עוּלָּא לְרַב יְהוּדָה: בִּשְׁלָמָא לְדִידִי, דְּאָמֵינָא הֲלָכָה לְמֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי – הַיְינוּ דְּשָׁנֵי לַן בֵּין סְפֵק עׇרְלָה לִסְפֵק כִּלְאַיִם.

Ulla said to Rav Yehuda: Granted, according to my opinion, as I say in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan that the mishna means that this is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai, this is the reason why we distinguish between fruit whose status as orla is uncertain, which is forbidden outside of Eretz Yisrael according to the halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai, and produce whose status as diverse kinds is uncertain, which is permitted outside of Eretz Yisrael, as the prohibition of diverse kinds applies outside of Eretz Yisrael only by rabbinic law.

דִּתְנַן: סְפֵק עׇרְלָה, בָּאָרֶץ – אָסוּר, בְּסוּרְיָא – מוּתָּר. בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ יוֹרֵד וְלוֹקֵחַ, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאֶנּוּ לוֹקֵט.

This is as we learned in a mishna (Orla 3:9): Fruit whose status as orla is uncertain is forbidden in Eretz Yisrael, and it is permitted in Syria with no concern about its uncertain status. Outside of Eretz Yisrael, a Jew may go down into the gentile’s field and purchase fruit that is orla from the gentile, provided that the Jew does not see him gather it.

וְאִילּוּ גַּבֵּי כִלְאַיִם תְּנַן: כֶּרֶם הַנָּטוּעַ יָרָק, וְיָרָק נִמְכָּר חוּצָה לוֹ, בָּאָרֶץ – אָסוּר, בְּסוּרְיָא – מוּתָּר,

Nevertheless, we learned in a mishna with regard to the halakhot of diverse kinds (Orla 3:9): If a vineyard has vegetables planted in it, and there are vegetables being sold outside the vineyard, but there is no proof that these vegetables came from the vineyard, in Eretz Yisrael they are forbidden. The reason is that as it is possible that the vegetables came from the vineyard, the halakha is stringent in a case involving a prohibition by Torah law. In Syria these vegetables are permitted.

בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ – יוֹרֵד וְלוֹקֵט. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִלְקוֹט בַּיָּד.

Outside of Eretz Yisrael, if the gentile owner of a field containing diverse kinds goes down into his field and gathers produce, then, provided that the Jew does not gather it by hand, he may purchase the produce from the gentile. This indicates that outside of Eretz Yisrael there is a difference between orla of uncertain status and diverse kinds of uncertain status. This is understandable if orla is forbidden by a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai, while diverse kinds are forbidden by rabbinic law.

אֶלָּא לְדִידָךְ

But according to your opinion, that neither orla nor diverse kinds is forbidden by Torah law,

09.19.2023 | ד׳ בתשרי תשפ״ד

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Hearing and reading about the siyumim at the completion of the 13 th cycle Daf Yomi asked our shul rabbi about starting the Daf – he directed me to another shiur in town he thought would allow a woman to join, and so I did! Love seeing the sources for the Divrei Torah I’ve been hearing for the past decades of living an observant life and raising 5 children .

Jill Felder

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

I had tried to start after being inspired by the hadran siyum, but did not manage to stick to it. However, just before masechet taanit, our rav wrote a message to the shul WhatsApp encouraging people to start with masechet taanit, so I did! And this time, I’m hooked! I listen to the shiur every day , and am also trying to improve my skills.

Laura Major

Yad Binyamin, Israel

I went to day school in Toronto but really began to learn when I attended Brovenders back in the early 1980’s. Last year after talking to my sister who was learning Daf Yomi, inspired, I looked on the computer and the Hadran site came up. I have been listening to each days shiur in the morning as I work. I emphasis listening since I am not sitting with a Gamara. I listen while I work in my studio.

Rachel Rotenberg

Tekoa, Israel

A friend mentioned that she was starting Daf Yomi in January 2020. I had heard of it and thought, why not? I decided to try it – go day by day and not think about the seven plus year commitment. Fast forward today, over two years in and I can’t imagine my life without Daf Yomi. It’s part of my morning ritual. If I have a busy day ahead of me I set my alarm to get up early to finish the day’s daf

Debbie Fitzerman

Ontario, Canada

Inspired by Hadran’s first Siyum ha Shas L’Nashim two years ago, I began daf yomi right after for the next cycle. As to this extraordinary journey together with Hadran..as TS Eliot wrote “We must not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.

Susan Handelman

Jerusalem, Israel

At almost 70 I am just beginning my journey with Talmud and Hadran. I began not late, but right when I was called to learn. It is never too late to begin! The understanding patience of staff and participants with more experience and knowledge has been fabulous. The joy of learning never stops and for me. It is a new life, a new light, a new depth of love of The Holy One, Blessed be He.

Deborah Hoffman-Wade

Richmond, CA, 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

New Jersey, United States

3 years ago, I joined Rabbanit Michelle to organize the unprecedented Siyum HaShas event in Jerusalem for thousands of women. The whole experience was so inspiring that I decided then to start learning the daf and see how I would go…. and I’m still at it. I often listen to the Daf on my bike in mornings, surrounded by both the external & the internal beauty of Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael!

Lisa Kolodny

Raanana, Israel

I was inspired to start learning after attending the 2020 siyum in Binyanei Hauma. It has been a great experience for me. It’s amazing to see the origins of stories I’ve heard and rituals I’ve participated in my whole life. Even when I don’t understand the daf itself, I believe that the commitment to learning every day is valuable and has multiple benefits. And there will be another daf tomorrow!

Khaya Eisenberg

Jerusalem, Israel

Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.

Nancy Kolodny

Newton, United States

I began learning with Rabbanit Michelle’s wonderful Talmud Skills class on Pesachim, which really enriched my Pesach seder, and I have been learning Daf Yomi off and on over the past year. Because I’m relatively new at this, there is a “chiddush” for me every time I learn, and the knowledge and insights of the group members add so much to my experience. I feel very lucky to be a part of this.

Julie Landau

Karmiel, Israel

I was moved to tears by the Hadran Siyyum HaShas. I have learned Torah all my life, but never connected to learning Gemara on a regular basis until then. Seeing the sheer joy Talmud Torah at the siyyum, I felt compelled to be part of it, and I haven’t missed a day!
It’s not always easy, but it is so worthwhile, and it has strengthened my love of learning. It is part of my life now.

Michelle Lewis

Beit Shemesh, Israel

In January 2020, my teaching partner at IDC suggested we do daf yomi. Thanks to her challenge, I started learning daily from Rabbanit Michelle. It’s a joy to be part of the Hadran community. (It’s also a tikkun: in 7th grade, my best friend and I tied for first place in a citywide gemara exam, but we weren’t invited to the celebration because girls weren’t supposed to be learning gemara).

Sara Averick

Jerusalem, Israel

In early 2020, I began the process of a stem cell transplant. The required extreme isolation forced me to leave work and normal life but gave me time to delve into Jewish text study. I did not feel isolated. I began Daf Yomi at the start of this cycle, with family members joining me online from my hospital room. I’ve used my newly granted time to to engage, grow and connect through this learning.

Reena Slovin

Worcester, 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

Raanana, Israel

When I began the previous cycle, I promised myself that if I stuck with it, I would reward myself with a trip to Israel. Little did I know that the trip would involve attending the first ever women’s siyum and being inspired by so many learners. I am now over 2 years into my second cycle and being part of this large, diverse, fascinating learning family has enhanced my learning exponentially.

Shira Krebs

Minnesota, United States

I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.

Leah Goldford

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

After being so inspired by the siyum shas two years ago, I began tentatively learning daf yomi, like Rabbanut Michelle kept saying – taking one daf at a time. I’m still taking it one daf at a time, one masechet at a time, but I’m loving it and am still so inspired by Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran community, and yes – I am proud to be finishing Seder Mo’ed.

Caroline Graham-Ofstein

Bet Shemesh, Israel

My husband learns Daf, my son learns Daf, my son-in-law learns Daf.
When I read about Hadran’s Siyyum HaShas 2 years ago, I thought- I can learn Daf too!
I had learned Gemara in Hillel HS in NJ, & I remembered loving it.
Rabbanit Michelle & Hadran have opened my eyes & expanding my learning so much in the past few years. We can now discuss Gemara as a family.
This was a life saver during Covid

Renee Braha

Brooklyn, NY, United States

After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.

Madeline Cohen

London, United Kingdom