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Nazir 15

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Summary

 Today’s daf is dedicated to our amazing mom and grandma – Patty Belkin! Love, Jason, Erica, Raquel, Eli, Ariel, and Gili.

Today’s daf is dedicated for the rescue and healing of the victims of the earthquake. May we find more living and help more of those displaced. Our thoughts and prayer are with them and their families.

The Gemara proves the opinion of Rabbi Yossi bar Rabbi Hanina that if the days of a nazir have passed before but one has not yet done the shaving and sacrifices, one would not get lashes for any of the prohibitions – only for becoming impure to the dead. But then a braita is brought to contradict him as it appears there that one would receive lashes for all the prohibitions of a nazir. The Mishna cites a case where one said I will become a nazir when I have a child and I will be a nazir for a hundred days. There are different interpretations of the law of the Mishna. It all depends on whether the child was born before the seventieth day or after. If before, then one doesn’t need to count extra days but if after, one does. Rav says that if the child is born on the seventieth day, this day can also be considered the first day of the nazir for the child – according to the law that part of the day can be considered a whole day, and therefore also for the nazir term of a hundred days, it will be counted as two days and one can perform the shaving and sacrifices on the hundredth day and not day one hundred and one. The Gemara raises two difficulties with Rav from our Mishna – the first one is resolved but the second one is not. And they conclude that Rav does not agree with our Mishna. The Gemara tries to find a tanna that Rav’s opinion corresponds to. First, they suggest Abba Shaul regarding matters of mourning, but that is not successful. Then they try Rabbi  Yossi regarding a zav or zava and the Passover sacrifice. There are two ways to understand his opinion and according to one way, the words of a Rav will correspond to his opinion.

Nazir 15

שָׁאנֵי הָכָא דְּאָמַר רַחֲמָנָא: ״וְטִמֵּא רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ״, מִי שֶׁנִּזְרוֹ תָּלוּי לוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ. מֵיתִיבִי: נָזִיר שֶׁכָּלוּ לוֹ יָמָיו — אָסוּר לְגַלֵּחַ וְלִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן וְלִטָּמֵא לְמֵתִים, וְאִם גִּילַּח וְשָׁתָה יַיִן וְנִטְמָא לְמֵתִים — הֲרֵי זֶה סוֹפֵג אֶת הָאַרְבָּעִים. תְּיוּבְתָּא.

The Gemara answers: Here, with regard to impurity, it is different, as the Merciful One states in the Torah: “And he defile his consecrated head” (Numbers 6:9), which indicates that even one whose naziriteship is dependent only upon his head, i.e., one who has completed his naziriteship other than shaving, is liable to receive lashes if he contracts impurity. The Gemara raises an objection to the statement of Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, from a baraita: A nazirite whose days are completed is forbidden to shave, and is forbidden to drink wine, and is forbidden to contract impurity from corpses. And if he did shave, or drink wine, or contract impurity from corpses, he incurs the forty lashes administered to one who violates a Torah prohibition. This baraita clearly states that he is flogged for any of the three prohibitions, which is a conclusive refutation of the statement of Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina.

מַתְנִי׳ ״הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר לִכְשֶׁיְּהֵא לִי בֵּן״ וְ״נָזִיר מֵאָה יוֹם״, נוֹלַד לוֹ בֵּן עַד שִׁבְעִים — לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם. לְאַחַר שִׁבְעִים — סוֹתֵר שִׁבְעִים. שֶׁאֵין תִּגְלַחַת פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

MISHNA: In the case of one who said: I am hereby a nazirite when I will have a son, and he added: I am hereby a nazirite from now for one hundred days, and he then began observing the one hundred days of his naziriteship, if a son is born to him up to seventy days from the start of his naziriteship he has not lost anything. He pauses from the observance of the naziriteship of one hundred days and observes the thirty-day term for his son. He then completes the thirty or more days left of his initial naziriteship. However, if his son is born after seventy days, this negates the first seventy days, and he must observe a full hundred days after he completes the naziriteship for his son. The reason is that here, he is unable to merely complete the remaining days of his initial naziriteship after shaving at the completion of the naziriteship for his son, since shaving cannot be performed after a period of less than thirty days.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַב: יוֹם שִׁבְעִים עוֹלֶה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן. תְּנַן: נוֹלַד לוֹ עַד שִׁבְעִים — לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ עוֹלָה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן, אִיתְּגוֹרֵי מִיתְּגַר! אֶלָּא בְּדִין הוּא דְּלָא לִיתְנֵי ״עַד שִׁבְעִים״, וּמִשּׁוּם דְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא ״אַחַר שִׁבְעִים סוֹתֵר שִׁבְעִים״, קָתָנֵי רֵישָׁא ״שִׁבְעִים״.

GEMARA: Rav said: The seventieth day itself counts for here and for there, as the last of the seventy days of his term of naziriteship as well as the first day of the naziriteship for his son. The Gemara questions Rav’s statement. We learned in the mishna: If a son is born to him up to seventy, he has not lost anything. This seems to include the seventieth day as well. And if it enters your mind that it counts for here and for there, not only has he not lost anything, but he even gains a day, so why would the mishna state: He has not lost anything? The Gemara answers: Rather, by right the mishna should not have taught: Up to seventy he has not lost anything, since if the son is born on the seventieth day he actually gains, as stated above, but due to the fact that it is taught in the last clause of the mishna: After seventy it negates seventy, in which case he does lose, the tanna therefore teaches the first clause with the contrasting expression: Up to seventy he has not lost anything.

תָּא שְׁמַע מִסֵּיפָא: נוֹלַד אַחַר שִׁבְעִים — סוֹתֵר שִׁבְעִים. מַאי ״אַחַר״? אַחַר אַחַר.

The Gemara asks further: Come and hear a statement that contradicts Rav’s opinion from the last clause of the mishna: If the son is born after seventy days, it negates the first seventy days. If, as Rav stated, one day can count for both terms, then the final day of the thirty-day term for his son also counts toward his hundred-day term, meaning that there will be thirty days remaining for a full hair growth; in that case, why should he forfeit the first days? The Gemara answers this: What is the meaning of: After? It means after, after. The mishna is referring to the second day after the seventieth, the seventy-second day, so that there do not remain thirty days for his hair to grow.

אֲבָל אַחַר מַמָּשׁ מַאי — הָכִי נָמֵי דְּלָא סָתַר? אִי הָכִי, מַאי אִירְיָא דְּתָנֵי נוֹלַד עַד שִׁבְעִים לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם? אֲפִילּוּ אַחַר שִׁבְעִים נָמֵי, הָא אָמְרַתְּ לָא סָתַר! אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ ״אַחַר״ מַמָּשׁ. וְכֵן מַתְנִיתִין לְרַב, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.

The Gemara asks: But according to this explanation, what would be the halakha if a son is born on the day that actually comes after the seventieth, the seventy-first day; so too, would Rav say that it does not negate the previous days, because he has thirty days remaining to grow his hair? If so, why does the tanna specifically teach: If he is born up to seventy he has not lost anything? The same would hold true even for a case where he was born on the day after seventy as well, as didn’t you say that it does not negate? Rather, one must learn from this that: After, means the actual day after, the seventy-first day, and likewise conclude that the mishna is difficult for Rav. The Gemara concludes: Indeed, learn from this that the tanna of the mishna disagrees with Rav.

וְרַב כְּמַאן אַמְרַהּ לִשְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ? אִילֵּימָא כְּאַבָּא שָׁאוּל, דִּתְנַן: הַקּוֹבֵר אֶת מֵתוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים קוֹדֶם לָרֶגֶל — בָּטְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵירַת שִׁבְעָה.

§ The Gemara asks: And Rav, in accordance with whose opinion did he say his halakha? Since the tanna of the mishna disagrees with him, which tanna does he follow in ruling that one day may be counted for two different observances? If we say that he stated the ruling in accordance with the opinion of Abba Shaul, as we learned in the Tosefta (Mo’ed Katan 2:9): With regard to one who buries his dead three days before a pilgrimage Festival, the rabbinic decree of seven days of mourning is voided for him, i.e., once the Festival begins, he no longer observes the prohibitions and customs of the first seven days of mourning. Since he has mourned for three days, the Festival voids the remainder of the seven days.

שְׁמֹנָה יָמִים קוֹדֶם לָרֶגֶל — בָּטְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵירַת שְׁלֹשִׁים. וּמוּתָּר לְסַפֵּר עֶרֶב הָרֶגֶל, וְאִם לֹא סִיפֵּר עֶרֶב הָרֶגֶל — אָסוּר לְסַפֵּר אַחַר הָרֶגֶל.

The baraita continues: If he buried his dead eight days before a pilgrimage Festival, the rabbinic decree of the restrictions of thirty days of mourning is voided for him as well. Since he already observed one day of this type of mourning he need not complete the entire period, and it is therefore permitted for him to cut his hair on the eve of the pilgrimage Festival in honor of the Festival. But if he did not cut his hair on the eve of the pilgrimage Festival, it is prohibited for him to cut his hair after the pilgrimage Festival, until thirty days of mourning have passed.

אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: אֲפִילּוּ לֹא סִיפֵּר קוֹדֶם הָרֶגֶל — מוּתָּר לְסַפֵּר אַחַר הָרֶגֶל, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁמִּצְוַת שְׁלֹשָׁה מְבַטֶּלֶת גְּזֵירַת שִׁבְעָה — כָּךְ מִצְוַת שִׁבְעָה מְבַטֶּלֶת גְּזֵירַת שְׁלֹשִׁים.

Abba Shaul says: Even if he did not cut his hair before the pilgrimage Festival, it is permitted for him to cut his hair after the pilgrimage Festival. His reasoning is that just as the mitzva of three voids the rabbinic decree of seven, as was taught before; so the mitzva of seven voids the rabbinic decree of thirty. Since he completed the observance of the seven days of mourning before the Festival, he need not observe the thirty days of mourning.

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּאַבָּא שָׁאוּל? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּקָסָבַר שְׁבִיעִי עוֹלֶה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן? דִּלְמָא עַד כָּאן לָא קָאָמַר אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אֶלָּא בַּאֲבֵילוּת שִׁבְעָה דְּרַבָּנַן, אֲבָל בְּנָזִיר דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא — לָא!

The Gemara asks: What is the rationale of Abba Shaul for his opinion that if he observed seven days of mourning before the Festival commenced the thirty-day mourning period is voided? Isn’t it because he holds that the seventh day counts for here and there, i.e., the seventh day is considered both the end of the seven days and the start of the thirty days of mourning, so he had already begun observing his thirty days of mourning before the start of the Festival? This ruling may be the basis for the ruling of Rav. The Gemara rejects this: This does not support Rav, since perhaps Abba Shaul was saying his ruling that the same day counts for both here and there only with regard to the mourning of seven days, which is by rabbinic law, but with regard to a nazirite, whose obligation is by Torah law, he would not say so.

אֶלָּא רַב דְּאָמַר כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שׁוֹמֶרֶת יוֹם כְּנֶגֶד יוֹם שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ וְזָרְקוּ עָלֶיהָ בַּשֵּׁנִי שֶׁלָּהּ,

Rather, Rav spoke in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei says: A woman who observes a clean day for each day she experiences a discharge is a woman who discharges blood for one or two days at a time when she does not expect her menstrual period. The case under discussion is one where she experienced a discharge for one day and they slaughtered a Paschal offering and sprinkled the blood for her on her second day, after she immersed in a ritual bath. At that point, it is unclear whether she will remain clean of discharges for the remainder of the day, in which case she is retroactively pure from the time she immersed and may eat the Paschal offering at night, or whether she will experience a discharge of blood during the day, in which case her immersion is retroactively invalid and she was impure the entire time.

וְאַחַר כָּךְ רָאֲתָה — הֲרֵי זוֹ אֵינָהּ אוֹכֶלֶת, וּפְטוּרָה מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי.

And after that, she saw blood, thereby retroactively clarifying that at the time the Paschal offering was slaughtered she was unfit to partake of it. The halakha is that she may not eat from the Paschal lamb due to her ritual impurity, but she is exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ, which is observed by those who did not sacrifice the Paschal offering on the first Pesaḥ. The reason is that since she was pure when they slaughtered the Paschal offering on her behalf, she has fulfilled the obligation of the offering, despite the fact that she became impure and was unable to eat the offering.

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּקָסָבַר מִקְצָת הַיּוֹם כְּכוּלּוֹ? מִמַּאי? וְדִלְמָא מִשּׁוּם דְּקָסָבַר מִכָּאן וּלְהַבָּא הוּא מְטַמֵּא.

The Gemara clarifies this: What is the rationale of Rabbi Yosei for his opinion that she is exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ? Isn’t it because he holds that the legal status of part of the day is like that of an entire day? Since she was pure for part of the day, it is considered as though she was pure the entire day. The Gemara rejects this: From where do you know that this is the rationale? Perhaps it is because Rabbi Yosei holds that one becomes impure from now and onward. He holds that the impurity of a zava starts only from the moment she had a discharge of blood, but she is ritually pure up to that point, so she was ritually pure when they slaughtered the offering for her.

וּמִי סָבַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הָכִי?

The Gemara questions this explanation: And does Rabbi Yosei hold in accordance with this ruling that she is impure only from that moment onward?

וְהָתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: זָב בַּעַל שְׁתֵּי רְאִיּוֹת שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ וְזָרְקוּ עָלָיו בַּשְּׁבִיעִי, וְכֵן שׁוֹמֶרֶת יוֹם כְּנֶגֶד יוֹם שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ וְזָרְקוּ עָלֶיהָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ רָאוּ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמְּטַמְּאִין מִשְׁכָּב וּמוֹשָׁב לְמַפְרֵעַ — פְּטוּרִין מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי.

But isn’t it taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei says: With regard to a man who experiences a gonorrhea-like discharge [zav] who has had two sightings of discharge, for whom they slaughtered a Paschal offering and sprinkled its blood on the seventh, and final, day of impurity, and similarly, with regard to a woman who observes a clean day for a day, for whom they slaughtered a Paschal offering and sprinkled its blood, and afterward they saw their respective discharges, although they render objects designed for lying and sitting impure retroactively, they are exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ. This is proof that Rabbi Yosei holds that their ritual impurity applies retroactively, rather than from the moment of discharge onward. It must be that the reason why they are nevertheless exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ is that part of the day is like the entire day, and the part of the day before they became impure, during which the blood of the Paschal offering was sprinkled for them, is considered a whole clean day.

מַאי לְמַפְרֵעַ — מִדְּרַבָּנַן. הָכִי נָמֵי מִיסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ מִדְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, אַמַּאי פְּטוּרִין מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי?

The Gemara responds to this attempted proof: What is the meaning of Rabbi Yosei’s statement that the ritual impurity applies retroactively? It means that the ritual impurity applies retroactively by rabbinic law. However, by Torah law, the zav or zava is impure only from the time of the new sighting and onward. The Gemara adds: So too, it is reasonable that this is Rabbi Yosei’s opinion, as, if it enters your mind that they become ritually impure retroactively by Torah law, why are they exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ if by Torah law they were impure at the time the offering was slaughtered?

לְעוֹלָם אֵימָא לָךְ טוּמְאָה דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, תְּהוֹם דְּזִיבָה הִתִּירוּ.

The Gemara responds: This is no proof, since actually, I could say to you that this retroactive impurity is by Torah law, and the reason they are exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ is that the Sages permitted impurity of the deep of ziva. The halakha is that in the case of a Paschal offering, an unknown impurity of the dead, called the impurity of the deep, is permitted. In a case where one brought his offering and later became aware that he had contracted impurity from a corpse, if this source of impurity was unknown to everyone, he is not required to observe the second Pesaḥ. The Gemara suggests that Rabbi Yosei may hold that the same halakha applies to the impurity of a zava as well: Since the owner of the offering was pure when it was brought and could not have known that she would become impure due to discharge later that day, it is similarly considered an impurity of the deep, and she has therefore fulfilled her obligation.

וְאַף רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא סָבַר לְמַפְרֵעַ מִדְּרַבָּנַן, דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא אָמַר: (אֲבָל) הָרוֹאֶה זָב בַּשְּׁבִיעִי שֶׁלּוֹ — סוֹתֵר אֶת שֶׁלְּפָנָיו. וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָא נִסְתּוֹר אֶלָּא יוֹמוֹ.

§ The Gemara points out: And even Rabbi Oshaya holds that, according to Rabbi Yosei, the fact that a zav renders objects designed for sitting or lying impure retroactively is only by rabbinic law in this circumstance. As it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Oshaya says: In a case of one who sees gonorrhea-like discharge on his seventh clean day, this negates the clean days that preceded it and starts his seven days anew. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him that it should negate only its own day, i.e., he should require only one additional clean day.

מָה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי סָתַר, כּוּלְּהוּ סָתַר. אִי לָא סָתַר — לָא נִסְתּוֹר וְלֹא יוֹמוֹ! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: לָא נִסְתּוֹר וְלָא יוֹמוֹ.

The Gemara expresses surprise: Whichever way you look at Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement, it is difficult. If this discharge negates clean days just as the case of a zav who had a discharge during his seven days, it should negate all his clean days, not only the last one. If it does not negate clean days, since it is not considered a discharge within his seven days but rather, as the first sighting of a new ziva, it should not negate any of it, and not even its own day. What, then, is the logic of Rabbi Yoḥanan’s ruling that it negates a single day? Rather, say instead that Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: It does not negate at all, and not even its own day, since this discharge is considered to be the first of a new series.

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Rachel Rotenberg

Tekoa, Israel

I am grateful for the structure of the Daf Yomi. When I am freer to learn to my heart’s content, I learn other passages in addition. But even in times of difficulty, I always know that I can rely on the structure and social support of Daf Yomi learners all over the world.

I am also grateful for this forum. It is very helpful to learn with a group of enthusiastic and committed women.

Janice Block-2
Janice Block

Beit Shemesh, Israel

The start of my journey is not so exceptional. I was between jobs and wanted to be sure to get out every day (this was before corona). Well, I was hooked after about a month and from then on only looked for work-from-home jobs so I could continue learning the Daf. Daf has been a constant in my life, though hurricanes, death, illness/injury, weddings. My new friends are Rav, Shmuel, Ruth, Joanna.
Judi Felber
Judi Felber

Raanana, Israel

I started learning after the siyum hashas for women and my daily learning has been a constant over the last two years. It grounded me during the chaos of Corona while providing me with a community of fellow learners. The Daf can be challenging but it’s filled with life’s lessons, struggles and hope for a better world. It’s not about the destination but rather about the journey. Thank you Hadran!

Dena Lehrman
Dena Lehrman

אפרת, Israel

Shortly after the death of my father, David Malik z”l, I made the commitment to Daf Yomi. While riding to Ben Gurion airport in January, Siyum HaShas was playing on the radio; that was the nudge I needed to get started. The “everyday-ness” of the Daf has been a meaningful spiritual practice, especial after COVID began & I was temporarily unable to say Kaddish at daily in-person minyanim.

Lisa S. Malik
Lisa S. Malik

Wynnewood, United States

I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.

Adina Hagege
Adina Hagege

Zichron Yaakov, Israel

When I started studying Hebrew at Brown University’s Hillel, I had no idea that almost 38 years later, I’m doing Daf Yomi. My Shabbat haburah is led by Rabbanit Leah Sarna. The women are a hoot. I’m tracking the completion of each tractate by reading Ilana Kurshan’s memoir, If All the Seas Were Ink.

Hannah Lee
Hannah Lee

Pennsylvania, United States

My curiosity was peaked after seeing posts about the end of the last cycle. I am always looking for opportunities to increase my Jewish literacy & I am someone that is drawn to habit and consistency. Dinnertime includes a “Guess what I learned on the daf” segment for my husband and 18 year old twins. I also love the feelings of connection with my colleagues who are also learning.

Diana Bloom
Diana Bloom

Tampa, United States

I started learning on January 5, 2020. When I complete the 7+ year cycle I will be 70 years old. I had been intimidated by those who said that I needed to study Talmud in a traditional way with a chevruta, but I decided the learning was more important to me than the method. Thankful for Daf Yomi for Women helping me catch up when I fall behind, and also being able to celebrate with each Siyum!

Pamela Elisheva
Pamela Elisheva

Bakersfield, United States

Geri Goldstein got me started learning daf yomi when I was in Israel 2 years ago. It’s been a challenge and I’ve learned a lot though I’m sure I miss a lot. I quilt as I listen and I want to share what I’ve been working on.

Rebecca Stulberg
Rebecca Stulberg

Ottawa, Canada

Having never learned Talmud before, I started Daf Yomi in hopes of connecting to the Rabbinic tradition, sharing a daily idea on Instagram (@dafyomiadventures). With Hadran and Sefaria, I slowly gained confidence in my skills and understanding. Now, part of the Pardes Jewish Educators Program, I can’t wait to bring this love of learning with me as I continue to pass it on to my future students.

Hannah-G-pic
Hannah Greenberg

Pennsylvania, 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

I started with Ze Kollel in Berlin, directed by Jeremy Borowitz for Hillel Deutschland. We read Masechet Megillah chapter 4 and each participant wrote his commentary on a Sugia that particularly impressed him. I wrote six poems about different Sugiot! Fascinated by the discussions on Talmud I continued to learn with Rabanit Michelle Farber and am currently taking part in the Tikun Olam course.
Yael Merlini
Yael Merlini

Berlin, Germany

I’ve been learning since January 2020, and in June I started drawing a phrase from each daf. Sometimes it’s easy (e.g. plants), sometimes it’s very hard (e.g. korbanot), and sometimes it’s loads of fun (e.g. bird racing) to find something to draw. I upload my pictures from each masechet to #DafYomiArt. I am enjoying every step of the journey.

Gila Loike
Gila Loike

Ashdod, Israel

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

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
Nancy Kolodny

Newton, United States

I started learning at the beginning of this Daf Yomi cycle because I heard a lot about the previous cycle coming to an end and thought it would be a good thing to start doing. My husband had already bought several of the Koren Talmud Bavli books and they were just sitting on the shelf, not being used, so here was an opportunity to start using them and find out exactly what was in them. Loving it!

Caroline Levison
Caroline Levison

Borehamwood, United Kingdom

I heard about the syium in January 2020 & I was excited to start learning then the pandemic started. Learning Daf became something to focus on but also something stressful. As the world changed around me & my family I had to adjust my expectations for myself & the world. Daf Yomi & the Hadran podcast has been something I look forward to every day. It gives me a moment of centering & Judaism daily.

Talia Haykin
Talia Haykin

Denver, United States

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
Reena Slovin

Worcester, United States

I began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!

Lori Stark
Lori Stark

Highland Park, United States

Nazir 15

שָׁאנֵי הָכָא דְּאָמַר רַחֲמָנָא: ״וְטִמֵּא רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ״, מִי שֶׁנִּזְרוֹ תָּלוּי לוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ. מֵיתִיבִי: נָזִיר שֶׁכָּלוּ לוֹ יָמָיו — אָסוּר לְגַלֵּחַ וְלִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן וְלִטָּמֵא לְמֵתִים, וְאִם גִּילַּח וְשָׁתָה יַיִן וְנִטְמָא לְמֵתִים — הֲרֵי זֶה סוֹפֵג אֶת הָאַרְבָּעִים. תְּיוּבְתָּא.

The Gemara answers: Here, with regard to impurity, it is different, as the Merciful One states in the Torah: “And he defile his consecrated head” (Numbers 6:9), which indicates that even one whose naziriteship is dependent only upon his head, i.e., one who has completed his naziriteship other than shaving, is liable to receive lashes if he contracts impurity. The Gemara raises an objection to the statement of Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, from a baraita: A nazirite whose days are completed is forbidden to shave, and is forbidden to drink wine, and is forbidden to contract impurity from corpses. And if he did shave, or drink wine, or contract impurity from corpses, he incurs the forty lashes administered to one who violates a Torah prohibition. This baraita clearly states that he is flogged for any of the three prohibitions, which is a conclusive refutation of the statement of Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina.

מַתְנִי׳ ״הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר לִכְשֶׁיְּהֵא לִי בֵּן״ וְ״נָזִיר מֵאָה יוֹם״, נוֹלַד לוֹ בֵּן עַד שִׁבְעִים — לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם. לְאַחַר שִׁבְעִים — סוֹתֵר שִׁבְעִים. שֶׁאֵין תִּגְלַחַת פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

MISHNA: In the case of one who said: I am hereby a nazirite when I will have a son, and he added: I am hereby a nazirite from now for one hundred days, and he then began observing the one hundred days of his naziriteship, if a son is born to him up to seventy days from the start of his naziriteship he has not lost anything. He pauses from the observance of the naziriteship of one hundred days and observes the thirty-day term for his son. He then completes the thirty or more days left of his initial naziriteship. However, if his son is born after seventy days, this negates the first seventy days, and he must observe a full hundred days after he completes the naziriteship for his son. The reason is that here, he is unable to merely complete the remaining days of his initial naziriteship after shaving at the completion of the naziriteship for his son, since shaving cannot be performed after a period of less than thirty days.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַב: יוֹם שִׁבְעִים עוֹלֶה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן. תְּנַן: נוֹלַד לוֹ עַד שִׁבְעִים — לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ עוֹלָה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן, אִיתְּגוֹרֵי מִיתְּגַר! אֶלָּא בְּדִין הוּא דְּלָא לִיתְנֵי ״עַד שִׁבְעִים״, וּמִשּׁוּם דְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא ״אַחַר שִׁבְעִים סוֹתֵר שִׁבְעִים״, קָתָנֵי רֵישָׁא ״שִׁבְעִים״.

GEMARA: Rav said: The seventieth day itself counts for here and for there, as the last of the seventy days of his term of naziriteship as well as the first day of the naziriteship for his son. The Gemara questions Rav’s statement. We learned in the mishna: If a son is born to him up to seventy, he has not lost anything. This seems to include the seventieth day as well. And if it enters your mind that it counts for here and for there, not only has he not lost anything, but he even gains a day, so why would the mishna state: He has not lost anything? The Gemara answers: Rather, by right the mishna should not have taught: Up to seventy he has not lost anything, since if the son is born on the seventieth day he actually gains, as stated above, but due to the fact that it is taught in the last clause of the mishna: After seventy it negates seventy, in which case he does lose, the tanna therefore teaches the first clause with the contrasting expression: Up to seventy he has not lost anything.

תָּא שְׁמַע מִסֵּיפָא: נוֹלַד אַחַר שִׁבְעִים — סוֹתֵר שִׁבְעִים. מַאי ״אַחַר״? אַחַר אַחַר.

The Gemara asks further: Come and hear a statement that contradicts Rav’s opinion from the last clause of the mishna: If the son is born after seventy days, it negates the first seventy days. If, as Rav stated, one day can count for both terms, then the final day of the thirty-day term for his son also counts toward his hundred-day term, meaning that there will be thirty days remaining for a full hair growth; in that case, why should he forfeit the first days? The Gemara answers this: What is the meaning of: After? It means after, after. The mishna is referring to the second day after the seventieth, the seventy-second day, so that there do not remain thirty days for his hair to grow.

אֲבָל אַחַר מַמָּשׁ מַאי — הָכִי נָמֵי דְּלָא סָתַר? אִי הָכִי, מַאי אִירְיָא דְּתָנֵי נוֹלַד עַד שִׁבְעִים לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם? אֲפִילּוּ אַחַר שִׁבְעִים נָמֵי, הָא אָמְרַתְּ לָא סָתַר! אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ ״אַחַר״ מַמָּשׁ. וְכֵן מַתְנִיתִין לְרַב, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.

The Gemara asks: But according to this explanation, what would be the halakha if a son is born on the day that actually comes after the seventieth, the seventy-first day; so too, would Rav say that it does not negate the previous days, because he has thirty days remaining to grow his hair? If so, why does the tanna specifically teach: If he is born up to seventy he has not lost anything? The same would hold true even for a case where he was born on the day after seventy as well, as didn’t you say that it does not negate? Rather, one must learn from this that: After, means the actual day after, the seventy-first day, and likewise conclude that the mishna is difficult for Rav. The Gemara concludes: Indeed, learn from this that the tanna of the mishna disagrees with Rav.

וְרַב כְּמַאן אַמְרַהּ לִשְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ? אִילֵּימָא כְּאַבָּא שָׁאוּל, דִּתְנַן: הַקּוֹבֵר אֶת מֵתוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים קוֹדֶם לָרֶגֶל — בָּטְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵירַת שִׁבְעָה.

§ The Gemara asks: And Rav, in accordance with whose opinion did he say his halakha? Since the tanna of the mishna disagrees with him, which tanna does he follow in ruling that one day may be counted for two different observances? If we say that he stated the ruling in accordance with the opinion of Abba Shaul, as we learned in the Tosefta (Mo’ed Katan 2:9): With regard to one who buries his dead three days before a pilgrimage Festival, the rabbinic decree of seven days of mourning is voided for him, i.e., once the Festival begins, he no longer observes the prohibitions and customs of the first seven days of mourning. Since he has mourned for three days, the Festival voids the remainder of the seven days.

שְׁמֹנָה יָמִים קוֹדֶם לָרֶגֶל — בָּטְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵירַת שְׁלֹשִׁים. וּמוּתָּר לְסַפֵּר עֶרֶב הָרֶגֶל, וְאִם לֹא סִיפֵּר עֶרֶב הָרֶגֶל — אָסוּר לְסַפֵּר אַחַר הָרֶגֶל.

The baraita continues: If he buried his dead eight days before a pilgrimage Festival, the rabbinic decree of the restrictions of thirty days of mourning is voided for him as well. Since he already observed one day of this type of mourning he need not complete the entire period, and it is therefore permitted for him to cut his hair on the eve of the pilgrimage Festival in honor of the Festival. But if he did not cut his hair on the eve of the pilgrimage Festival, it is prohibited for him to cut his hair after the pilgrimage Festival, until thirty days of mourning have passed.

אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: אֲפִילּוּ לֹא סִיפֵּר קוֹדֶם הָרֶגֶל — מוּתָּר לְסַפֵּר אַחַר הָרֶגֶל, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁמִּצְוַת שְׁלֹשָׁה מְבַטֶּלֶת גְּזֵירַת שִׁבְעָה — כָּךְ מִצְוַת שִׁבְעָה מְבַטֶּלֶת גְּזֵירַת שְׁלֹשִׁים.

Abba Shaul says: Even if he did not cut his hair before the pilgrimage Festival, it is permitted for him to cut his hair after the pilgrimage Festival. His reasoning is that just as the mitzva of three voids the rabbinic decree of seven, as was taught before; so the mitzva of seven voids the rabbinic decree of thirty. Since he completed the observance of the seven days of mourning before the Festival, he need not observe the thirty days of mourning.

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּאַבָּא שָׁאוּל? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּקָסָבַר שְׁבִיעִי עוֹלֶה לְכָאן וּלְכָאן? דִּלְמָא עַד כָּאן לָא קָאָמַר אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אֶלָּא בַּאֲבֵילוּת שִׁבְעָה דְּרַבָּנַן, אֲבָל בְּנָזִיר דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא — לָא!

The Gemara asks: What is the rationale of Abba Shaul for his opinion that if he observed seven days of mourning before the Festival commenced the thirty-day mourning period is voided? Isn’t it because he holds that the seventh day counts for here and there, i.e., the seventh day is considered both the end of the seven days and the start of the thirty days of mourning, so he had already begun observing his thirty days of mourning before the start of the Festival? This ruling may be the basis for the ruling of Rav. The Gemara rejects this: This does not support Rav, since perhaps Abba Shaul was saying his ruling that the same day counts for both here and there only with regard to the mourning of seven days, which is by rabbinic law, but with regard to a nazirite, whose obligation is by Torah law, he would not say so.

אֶלָּא רַב דְּאָמַר כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שׁוֹמֶרֶת יוֹם כְּנֶגֶד יוֹם שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ וְזָרְקוּ עָלֶיהָ בַּשֵּׁנִי שֶׁלָּהּ,

Rather, Rav spoke in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei says: A woman who observes a clean day for each day she experiences a discharge is a woman who discharges blood for one or two days at a time when she does not expect her menstrual period. The case under discussion is one where she experienced a discharge for one day and they slaughtered a Paschal offering and sprinkled the blood for her on her second day, after she immersed in a ritual bath. At that point, it is unclear whether she will remain clean of discharges for the remainder of the day, in which case she is retroactively pure from the time she immersed and may eat the Paschal offering at night, or whether she will experience a discharge of blood during the day, in which case her immersion is retroactively invalid and she was impure the entire time.

וְאַחַר כָּךְ רָאֲתָה — הֲרֵי זוֹ אֵינָהּ אוֹכֶלֶת, וּפְטוּרָה מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי.

And after that, she saw blood, thereby retroactively clarifying that at the time the Paschal offering was slaughtered she was unfit to partake of it. The halakha is that she may not eat from the Paschal lamb due to her ritual impurity, but she is exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ, which is observed by those who did not sacrifice the Paschal offering on the first Pesaḥ. The reason is that since she was pure when they slaughtered the Paschal offering on her behalf, she has fulfilled the obligation of the offering, despite the fact that she became impure and was unable to eat the offering.

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּקָסָבַר מִקְצָת הַיּוֹם כְּכוּלּוֹ? מִמַּאי? וְדִלְמָא מִשּׁוּם דְּקָסָבַר מִכָּאן וּלְהַבָּא הוּא מְטַמֵּא.

The Gemara clarifies this: What is the rationale of Rabbi Yosei for his opinion that she is exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ? Isn’t it because he holds that the legal status of part of the day is like that of an entire day? Since she was pure for part of the day, it is considered as though she was pure the entire day. The Gemara rejects this: From where do you know that this is the rationale? Perhaps it is because Rabbi Yosei holds that one becomes impure from now and onward. He holds that the impurity of a zava starts only from the moment she had a discharge of blood, but she is ritually pure up to that point, so she was ritually pure when they slaughtered the offering for her.

וּמִי סָבַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הָכִי?

The Gemara questions this explanation: And does Rabbi Yosei hold in accordance with this ruling that she is impure only from that moment onward?

וְהָתַנְיָא, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: זָב בַּעַל שְׁתֵּי רְאִיּוֹת שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ וְזָרְקוּ עָלָיו בַּשְּׁבִיעִי, וְכֵן שׁוֹמֶרֶת יוֹם כְּנֶגֶד יוֹם שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ וְזָרְקוּ עָלֶיהָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ רָאוּ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמְּטַמְּאִין מִשְׁכָּב וּמוֹשָׁב לְמַפְרֵעַ — פְּטוּרִין מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי.

But isn’t it taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei says: With regard to a man who experiences a gonorrhea-like discharge [zav] who has had two sightings of discharge, for whom they slaughtered a Paschal offering and sprinkled its blood on the seventh, and final, day of impurity, and similarly, with regard to a woman who observes a clean day for a day, for whom they slaughtered a Paschal offering and sprinkled its blood, and afterward they saw their respective discharges, although they render objects designed for lying and sitting impure retroactively, they are exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ. This is proof that Rabbi Yosei holds that their ritual impurity applies retroactively, rather than from the moment of discharge onward. It must be that the reason why they are nevertheless exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ is that part of the day is like the entire day, and the part of the day before they became impure, during which the blood of the Paschal offering was sprinkled for them, is considered a whole clean day.

מַאי לְמַפְרֵעַ — מִדְּרַבָּנַן. הָכִי נָמֵי מִיסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ מִדְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, אַמַּאי פְּטוּרִין מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי?

The Gemara responds to this attempted proof: What is the meaning of Rabbi Yosei’s statement that the ritual impurity applies retroactively? It means that the ritual impurity applies retroactively by rabbinic law. However, by Torah law, the zav or zava is impure only from the time of the new sighting and onward. The Gemara adds: So too, it is reasonable that this is Rabbi Yosei’s opinion, as, if it enters your mind that they become ritually impure retroactively by Torah law, why are they exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ if by Torah law they were impure at the time the offering was slaughtered?

לְעוֹלָם אֵימָא לָךְ טוּמְאָה דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, תְּהוֹם דְּזִיבָה הִתִּירוּ.

The Gemara responds: This is no proof, since actually, I could say to you that this retroactive impurity is by Torah law, and the reason they are exempt from observing the second Pesaḥ is that the Sages permitted impurity of the deep of ziva. The halakha is that in the case of a Paschal offering, an unknown impurity of the dead, called the impurity of the deep, is permitted. In a case where one brought his offering and later became aware that he had contracted impurity from a corpse, if this source of impurity was unknown to everyone, he is not required to observe the second Pesaḥ. The Gemara suggests that Rabbi Yosei may hold that the same halakha applies to the impurity of a zava as well: Since the owner of the offering was pure when it was brought and could not have known that she would become impure due to discharge later that day, it is similarly considered an impurity of the deep, and she has therefore fulfilled her obligation.

וְאַף רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא סָבַר לְמַפְרֵעַ מִדְּרַבָּנַן, דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא אָמַר: (אֲבָל) הָרוֹאֶה זָב בַּשְּׁבִיעִי שֶׁלּוֹ — סוֹתֵר אֶת שֶׁלְּפָנָיו. וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָא נִסְתּוֹר אֶלָּא יוֹמוֹ.

§ The Gemara points out: And even Rabbi Oshaya holds that, according to Rabbi Yosei, the fact that a zav renders objects designed for sitting or lying impure retroactively is only by rabbinic law in this circumstance. As it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Oshaya says: In a case of one who sees gonorrhea-like discharge on his seventh clean day, this negates the clean days that preceded it and starts his seven days anew. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him that it should negate only its own day, i.e., he should require only one additional clean day.

מָה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי סָתַר, כּוּלְּהוּ סָתַר. אִי לָא סָתַר — לָא נִסְתּוֹר וְלֹא יוֹמוֹ! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: לָא נִסְתּוֹר וְלָא יוֹמוֹ.

The Gemara expresses surprise: Whichever way you look at Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement, it is difficult. If this discharge negates clean days just as the case of a zav who had a discharge during his seven days, it should negate all his clean days, not only the last one. If it does not negate clean days, since it is not considered a discharge within his seven days but rather, as the first sighting of a new ziva, it should not negate any of it, and not even its own day. What, then, is the logic of Rabbi Yoḥanan’s ruling that it negates a single day? Rather, say instead that Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: It does not negate at all, and not even its own day, since this discharge is considered to be the first of a new series.

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