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Shabbat 41

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Summary

Today’s shiur is sponsored in honor of Chana Rivka Bracha’s birthday by her mother, Malka Abraham.

The gemara brings two stories of Rabbi Zeira where he was with other rabbis while they were bathing and learned or tried to learn halachot from what he observed. The mishna describes different types of hot water boilers and can they be used on Shabbat. The mishna describes a case of a hot water boiler where one added cold water to it after it was removed from the fire or emptied. It is a subject of debate which case the mishna was referring to – removed from the fire or emptied? Does the mishna follow Rabbi Yehuda or Rabbi Shimon regarding one who does an act of Shabbat by which a melacha is performed – however one had no intention to perform that melacha.

Shabbat 41

דְּלֵית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי, הָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי.

that does not have embankments surrounding it. Since there are no partitions, it appears like an ocean or a river. That incident involving Rabbi Abbahu occurred in a place that has embankments and looks like a vessel. Therefore, the Sages did not prohibit it.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֲנָא חֲזִיתֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא אִי נְגַע אִי לָא נְגַע. פְּשִׁיטָא דְּלָא נְגַע, דְּתַנְיָא רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הָאוֹחֵז בָּאַמָּה וּמַשְׁתִּין — כְּאִילּוּ מֵבִיא מַבּוּל לָעוֹלָם.

After citing what Rabbi Zeira related with regard to Rabbi Abbahu, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Zeira said: I saw that Rabbi Abbahu, while he was bathing, placed his hands over his genitals for the sake of modesty, and I do not know whether he touched them or did not touch them. The Gemara questions Rabbi Zeira’s uncertainty. It is obvious that he did not touch his genitals, as it was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says: One who holds his penis and urinates it is as if he were bringing a flood to the world. He is liable to become aroused by that contact and that is an extremely severe transgression, comparable to the transgressions violated in the generation of the flood.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: עֲשָׂאוּהָ כְּבוֹלֶשֶׁת. דִּתְנַן: בּוֹלֶשֶׁת שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לָעִיר, בִּשְׁעַת שָׁלוֹם — חָבִיּוֹת פְּתוּחוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, סְתוּמוֹת מוּתָּרוֹת. בִּשְׁעַת מִלְחָמָה — אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ מוּתָּרוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין פְּנַאי לְנַסֵּךְ. אַלְמָא כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִיתִי לָא מְנַסְּכִי. הָכָא נָמֵי, כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִית לָא אָתֵי לְהַרְהוֹרֵי. הָכָא מַאי בִּיעֲתוּתָא? בִּיעֲתוּתָא דְנַהְרָא.

Abaye said: Nevertheless, no proof can be cited from that baraita. Perhaps the Sages rendered the legal status of this situation like that of a military unit, as we learned in a mishna: A military unit that entered a city, if it entered during peacetime, after the soldiers leave, the open barrels of wine are prohibited and the wine in them may not be drunk due to suspicion that the gentile soldiers may have poured this wine as a libation for idolatry. The sealed barrels are permitted. However, if the unit entered in wartime, both are permitted because in wartime there is no respite to pour wine for idolatry, and one can be certain that the soldiers did not do so. Apparently, since they are afraid, they do not pour libations. Here too, in the case of bathing, since he is afraid, he will not come to have impure thoughts. The Gemara asks: And what fear is there here that would prevent one bathing from having impure thoughts? The Gemara answers: Fear of the river. Since he needs to be careful that the water does not wash him away, he is too distracted to think of other matters.

אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַמַּנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה כְּאִילּוּ כּוֹפֵר בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא כִּי נָחֵית, הָא כִּי סָלֵיק. כִּי הָא דְּרָבָא שָׁחֵי. רַבִּי זֵירָא זָקֵיף. רַבָּנַן דְּבֵי רַב אָשֵׁי, כִּי קָא נָחֲתִי — זָקְפִי, כִּי קָא סָלְקִי — שָׁחוּ.

The Gemara questions the story itself: And is that so? Is it permitted under any circumstances to cover one’s genitals while bathing? Didn’t Rabbi Abba say that Rav Huna said that Rav said: Anyone who places his hands over his genitals is as if he denies the covenant of our father Abraham? It appears as if he is covering himself to obscure the fact that he is circumcised. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as there is room to distinguish and say that this, the case where it is prohibited to cover oneself, is when he is descending into the river and there are no people facing him and he need not be concerned with modesty. In that case covering oneself is prohibited as he appears to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. That, the case where, in certain circumstances, this prohibition does not apply, is when he is emerging from the river. When he emerges, he is facing the people on the riverbank and it is then permitted to cover himself in the interest of modesty, as that which Rava would do. He would bend over when he was naked. Rabbi Zeira would stand upright, in accordance with Rav’s statement that it is prohibited to appear to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. When the Sages of the school of Rav Ashi descended into the river they stood upright. When they emerged from the river they bent over.

רַבִּי זֵירָא הֲוָה קָא מִשְׁתְּמִיט מִדְּרַב יְהוּדָה, דְּבָעֵי לְמִיסַּק לְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: כׇּל הָעוֹלֶה מִבָּבֶל לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבֵר בַּעֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ וְשָׁמָּה יִהְיוּ״. אֲמַר: אֵיזִיל וְאֶשְׁמַע מִינֵּיהּ מִילְּתָא וְאֵיתֵי וְאֶיסַּק. אֲזַל, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ דְּקָאֵי בֵּי בָאנֵי וְקָאָמַר לֵיהּ לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: הָבִיאוּ לִי נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ לִי מַסְרֵק, פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא, וְאִשְׁתוּ מִמַּיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי. אֲמַר: אִילְמָלֵא לֹא בָּאתִי אֶלָּא לִשְׁמוֹעַ דָּבָר זֶה דַּיִּי.

Speaking of bathing and its halakhot, the Gemara relates: Rabbi Zeira was avoiding being seen by his teacher, Rav Yehuda, as Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and his teacher disapproved. As Rav Yehuda said: Anyone who ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael transgresses a positive commandment, as it is stated: “They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could only be granted by God. Rabbi Zeira did not want to discuss his desire to emigrate with Rav Yehuda, so that he would not be forced to explicitly disobey him. Nevertheless, he said: I will go and hear something from him and then I will leave. He went and found Rav Yehuda standing in the bathhouse and telling his servant: Bring me natron [neter] with which to wash, bring me a comb, open your mouths and let out air, and drink from the water of the bathhouse. Rabbi Zeira said: If I had come only to hear this matter from Rav Yehuda, it would suffice for me.

בִּשְׁלָמָא ״הָבִיאוּ נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ מַסְרֵק״ — קָמַשְׁמַע לַן דְּבָרִים שֶׁל חוֹל מוּתָּר לְאוֹמְרָם בִּלְשׁוֹן קֹדֶשׁ. ״פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא״ — נָמֵי כְּדִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הַבְלָא מַפֵּיק הַבְלָא. אֶלָּא ״אִשְׁתוּ מַיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי״ מַאי מְעַלְּיוּתָא? דְּתַנְיָא אָכַל וְלֹא שָׁתָה — אֲכִילָתוֹ דָּם, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת חוֹלִי מֵעַיִים. אָכַל וְלֹא הָלַךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת — אֲכִילָתוֹ מַרְקֶבֶת, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ רַע. הַנִּצְרָךְ לִנְקָבָיו וְאָכַל — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ עַל גַּבֵּי אֶפְרוֹ, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ זוּהֲמָא. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא שָׁתָה מֵהֶן — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבְּחוּץ וְלֹא הִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבִּפְנִים. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּטֵּף בְּצוֹנֵן — דּוֹמֶה לְבַרְזֶל שֶׁהִכְנִיסוּהוּ לָאוּר וְלֹא הִכְנִיסוּהוּ לְצוֹנֵן. רָחַץ וְלֹא סָךְ — דּוֹמֶה לְמַיִם עַל גַּבֵּי חָבִית.

The Gemara analyzes the lessons learned from this story. Granted, when Rav Yehuda said: Bring me natron, bring me a comb, he was teaching us that mundane matters are permitted to be spoken in the bathhouse, even in the sacred language. When he said: Open your mouths and let out air, that too is in accordance with that which Shmuel said, as Shmuel said: Heat produces heat. The hot air that one inhales causes him to sweat more quickly. However, drink the water of the bathhouse, what benefit is there in doing that? The Gemara answers: As it was taught in a baraita: One who ate and did not drink at all, what he ate becomes blood and that causes the onset of intestinal disease. One who ate and did not walk four cubits after eating, what he ate rots and that causes the onset of bad breath. One who needs to defecate and ate is similar to an oven that was lit on top of its ashes. When ashes from a previous fire are not swept out, and new logs are placed on top of the old ones, it inhibits the burning and dirties the oven, and that causes the onset of odor of the filth of perspiration in a person. As far as our matter is concerned, the baraita teaches: One who bathed in hot water and did not drink from it is like an oven that was lit from the outside and not lit from the inside. The lighting is ineffective and the oven does not heat properly. Rav Yehuda told his servants to drink the hot water while bathing so that they would be heated from the inside and the outside. The baraita continues: One who bathed in hot water and did not rinse afterward with cold water is like iron that was placed in the fire and not placed afterward in cold water, which leaves the iron soft. And one who bathed and did not smear himself with oil afterward is like water that was poured on top of a barrel, and not into it. The water spills outside the barrel.

מַתְנִי׳ מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת. אַנְטִיכֵי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה.

MISHNA: In this mishna, the Sages discuss two vessels used for heating water. With regard to a mulyar, a bronze vessel into which coals are placed in an outer compartment and water is placed into an adjacent inner compartment, whose coals were swept, one may drink from it on Shabbat. With regard to an antikhi, which is a vessel with a different configuration, even if its coals were swept, one may not drink from it on Shabbat.

גְּמָ׳ הֵיכִי דָּמֵי מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף? תָּנָא, מַיִם מִבִּפְנִים וְגֶחָלִים מִבְּחוּץ. אַנְטִיכֵי: רַבָּה אָמַר — בֵּי כִירֵי. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר — בֵּי דוּדֵי. מַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי דוּדֵי כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בֵּי כִירֵי, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי כִירֵי אֲבָל בֵּי דוּדֵי — לָא. תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: אַנְטִיכֵי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה וּקְטוּמָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנְּחוּשְׁתָּהּ מְחַמַּמְתָּהּ.

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of a swept mulyar? The Gemara answers: A mulyar is the vessel, explained in the Tosefta on our mishna, that has water on the inside and coals on the outside. With regard to the identity of an antikhi there are different opinions. Rabba said that it refers to a stove. A space is created in the wall of a stove and filled with water. Since the stove is very hot, it is prohibited to use this water. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzhak said: An antikhi is a cauldron, i.e., a vessel made from two cauldrons stacked one on top of the other with coals in the bottom one and water in the upper one. These two different opinions have halakhic implications. The one who says that it is prohibited to use a vessel composed of two cauldrons, all the more so it is prohibited to use the space inside of a stove. And the one who says that it is prohibited to use the space inside a stove, a vessel composed of two cauldrons, no, it is not prohibited. It was taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman: An antikhi, even if it was swept and covered with ashes, one may not drink from it on Shabbat because its copper heats it. The heating in an antikhi is by means of the coals beneath the water.

מַתְנִי׳ הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ צוֹנֵן בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ. אֲבָל נוֹתֵן הוּא לְתוֹכוֹ אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַכּוֹס כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

MISHNA: The Sages added to the laws of leaving food on a source of heat and cooking food on Shabbat: An urn that was emptied of its hot water on Shabbat, one may not place cold water into it so that the cold water will be heated. However, one may place cold water into an urn or into a cup that were emptied of their hot water in order to warm it but not in order to heat it.

גְּמָ׳ מַאי קָאָמַר? אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר מַתְנָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם חַמִּין לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכָן מַיִם מוּעָטִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

GEMARA: The mishna seems to contradict itself. The first statement completely prohibits placing water into an urn, and later it was partially permitted. The Gemara asks: What is the mishna saying? Rav Adda bar Mattana said that it said the following: An urn that was emptied of its hot water, one may not put a small amount of water into it so that it will become very hot. However, one may put a large quantity of water into it in order to warm it. A large quantity of cold water will not be heated in those circumstances.

וַהֲלֹא מְצָרֵף? רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין — מוּתָּר. מַתְקִיף לַהּ אַבָּיֵי: מִידֵּי מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם קָתָנֵי?! מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ קָתָנֵי!

The Gemara questions this leniency: By putting cold water into the urn, doesn’t it harden the vessel? Cold water poured into a heated metal vessel reinforces the vessel. It is one of the stages in the labor of a blacksmith. How is it permitted to do something similar on Shabbat? The Gemara answers: This mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, who stated a principle with regard to the laws of Shabbat: An unintentional act, i.e., a permitted action from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues, is permitted. Here too, his intention was to warm the water, not to reinforce the vessel. Abaye strongly objects to this explanation: Does it say in the mishna: An urn from which water was emptied? That would indicate that he sought to fill the vessel with other water and warm up that water. Rather, an urn that was removed was taught in the mishna, meaning that the urn was removed from the fire, not that the water was emptied from it.

אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ מַיִם חַמִּין — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מוּעָטִין בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיָּחוֹמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן. וּמֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם כׇּל עִיקָּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּצָרֵף. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין אָסוּר.

Rather, Abaye said this is what the mishna is saying: An urn that was removed from the fire and contains hot water, one may not place a small quantity of water in it so that the water will become hot; rather, one may place a large quantity of water in it so that the water will become warm. And with regard to an urn from which water was removed; one may not place any water into it because he hardens the vessel by placing cold water into a hot vessel. And, according to this explanation, our mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said that an unintentional act from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues is prohibited on Shabbat.

אָמַר רַב: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ לְצָרֵף נָמֵי מוּתָּר. לְצָרֵף לְכַתְּחִילָּה מִי שְׁרֵי?! אֶלָּא אִי אִיתְּמַר הָכִי אִיתְּמַר: אָמַר רַב לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שִׁיעוּר לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף —

With regard to the matter itself, Rav said: They taught that one is permitted to place cold water into an urn with hot water after it was removed from the fire, when his intention is only to warm the cold water. However, if he did this in order to harden the vessel, it is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even if he does so in order to harden the vessel, it is also permitted. The Gemara wonders: Is hardening permitted ab initio? Isn’t it a full-fledged prohibited labor on Shabbat? Rather, if the dispute between Rav and Shmuel was stated, it was stated as follows. Rav said: They taught that it is permitted to add water only in a measure that is sufficient to warm the water, i.e., to only partially fill the vessel. However, filling it completely with a measure sufficient to harden the vessel is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even a measure sufficient to harden the vessel

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In January 2020 on a Shabbaton to Baltimore I heard about the new cycle of Daf Yomi after the siyum celebration in NYC stadium. I started to read “ a daily dose of Talmud “ and really enjoyed it . It led me to google “ do Orthodox women study Talmud? “ and found HADRAN! Since then I listen to the podcast every morning, participate in classes and siyum. I love to learn, this is amazing! Thank you

Sandrine Simons
Sandrine Simons

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I learned Talmud as a student in Yeshivat Ramaz and felt at the time that Talmud wasn’t for me. After reading Ilana Kurshan’s book I was intrigued and after watching the great siyum in Yerushalayim it ignited the spark to begin this journey. It has been a transformative life experience for me as a wife, mother, Savta and member of Klal Yisrael.
Elana Storch
Elana Storch

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My family recently made Aliyah, because we believe the next chapter in the story of the Jewish people is being written here, and we want to be a part of it. Daf Yomi, on the other hand, connects me BACK, to those who wrote earlier chapters thousands of years ago. So, I feel like I’m living in the middle of this epic story. I’m learning how it all began, and looking ahead to see where it goes!
Tina Lamm
Tina Lamm

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When I began learning Daf Yomi at the beginning of the current cycle, I was preparing for an upcoming surgery and thought that learning the Daf would be something positive I could do each day during my recovery, even if I accomplished nothing else. I had no idea what a lifeline learning the Daf would turn out to be in so many ways.

Laura Shechter
Laura Shechter

Lexington, MA, United States

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
Michelle Lewis

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“I got my job through the NY Times” was an ad campaign when I was growing up. I can headline “I got my daily Daf shiur and Hadran through the NY Times”. I read the January 4, 2020 feature on Reb. Michelle Farber and Hadran and I have been participating ever since. Thanks NY Times & Hadran!
Deborah Aschheim
Deborah Aschheim

New York, United States

About a year into learning more about Judaism on a path to potential conversion, I saw an article about the upcoming Siyum HaShas in January of 2020. My curiosity was piqued and I immediately started investigating what learning the Daf actually meant. Daily learning? Just what I wanted. Seven and a half years? I love a challenge! So I dove in head first and I’ve enjoyed every moment!!
Nickie Matthews
Nickie Matthews

Blacksburg, United States

I started learning at the start of this cycle, and quickly fell in love. It has become such an important part of my day, enriching every part of my life.

Naomi Niederhoffer
Naomi Niederhoffer

Toronto, Canada

I started my Daf Yomi journey at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic.

Karena Perry
Karena Perry

Los Angeles, United States

Since I started in January of 2020, Daf Yomi has changed my life. It connects me to Jews all over the world, especially learned women. It makes cooking, gardening, and folding laundry into acts of Torah study. Daf Yomi enables me to participate in a conversation with and about our heritage that has been going on for more than 2000 years.

Shira Eliaser
Shira Eliaser

Skokie, IL, United States

I saw an elderly man at the shul kiddush in early March 2020, celebrating the siyyum of masechet brachot which he had been learning with a young yeshiva student. I thought, if he can do it, I can do it! I began to learn masechet Shabbat the next day, Making up masechet brachot myself, which I had missed. I haven’t missed a day since, thanks to the ease of listening to Hadran’s podcast!
Judith Shapiro
Judith Shapiro

Minnesota, United States

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Susan Fisher
Susan Fisher

Raanana, Israel

I started the daf at the beginning of this cycle in January 2020. My husband, my children, grandchildren and siblings have been very supportive. As someone who learned and taught Tanach and mefarshim for many years, it has been an amazing adventure to complete the six sedarim of Mishnah, and now to study Talmud on a daily basis along with Rabbanit Michelle and the wonderful women of Hadran.

Rookie Billet
Rookie Billet

Jerusalem, Israel

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

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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

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
Debbie Fitzerman

Ontario, Canada

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 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

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I’ve been wanting to do Daf Yomi for years, but always wanted to start at the beginning and not in the middle of things. When the opportunity came in 2020, I decided: “this is now the time!” I’ve been posting my journey daily on social media, tracking my progress (#DafYomi); now it’s fully integrated into my daily routines. I’ve also inspired my partner to join, too!

Joséphine Altzman
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I started my journey on the day I realized that the Siyum was happening in Yerushalayim and I was missing out. What? I told myself. How could I have not known about this? How can I have missed out on this opportunity? I decided that moment, I would start Daf Yomi and Nach Yomi the very next day. I am so grateful to Hadran. I am changed forever because I learn Gemara with women. Thank you.

Linda Brownstein
Linda Brownstein

Mitspe, Israel

Shabbat 41

דְּלֵית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי, הָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי.

that does not have embankments surrounding it. Since there are no partitions, it appears like an ocean or a river. That incident involving Rabbi Abbahu occurred in a place that has embankments and looks like a vessel. Therefore, the Sages did not prohibit it.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֲנָא חֲזִיתֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא אִי נְגַע אִי לָא נְגַע. פְּשִׁיטָא דְּלָא נְגַע, דְּתַנְיָא רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הָאוֹחֵז בָּאַמָּה וּמַשְׁתִּין — כְּאִילּוּ מֵבִיא מַבּוּל לָעוֹלָם.

After citing what Rabbi Zeira related with regard to Rabbi Abbahu, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Zeira said: I saw that Rabbi Abbahu, while he was bathing, placed his hands over his genitals for the sake of modesty, and I do not know whether he touched them or did not touch them. The Gemara questions Rabbi Zeira’s uncertainty. It is obvious that he did not touch his genitals, as it was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says: One who holds his penis and urinates it is as if he were bringing a flood to the world. He is liable to become aroused by that contact and that is an extremely severe transgression, comparable to the transgressions violated in the generation of the flood.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: עֲשָׂאוּהָ כְּבוֹלֶשֶׁת. דִּתְנַן: בּוֹלֶשֶׁת שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לָעִיר, בִּשְׁעַת שָׁלוֹם — חָבִיּוֹת פְּתוּחוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, סְתוּמוֹת מוּתָּרוֹת. בִּשְׁעַת מִלְחָמָה — אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ מוּתָּרוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין פְּנַאי לְנַסֵּךְ. אַלְמָא כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִיתִי לָא מְנַסְּכִי. הָכָא נָמֵי, כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִית לָא אָתֵי לְהַרְהוֹרֵי. הָכָא מַאי בִּיעֲתוּתָא? בִּיעֲתוּתָא דְנַהְרָא.

Abaye said: Nevertheless, no proof can be cited from that baraita. Perhaps the Sages rendered the legal status of this situation like that of a military unit, as we learned in a mishna: A military unit that entered a city, if it entered during peacetime, after the soldiers leave, the open barrels of wine are prohibited and the wine in them may not be drunk due to suspicion that the gentile soldiers may have poured this wine as a libation for idolatry. The sealed barrels are permitted. However, if the unit entered in wartime, both are permitted because in wartime there is no respite to pour wine for idolatry, and one can be certain that the soldiers did not do so. Apparently, since they are afraid, they do not pour libations. Here too, in the case of bathing, since he is afraid, he will not come to have impure thoughts. The Gemara asks: And what fear is there here that would prevent one bathing from having impure thoughts? The Gemara answers: Fear of the river. Since he needs to be careful that the water does not wash him away, he is too distracted to think of other matters.

אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַמַּנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה כְּאִילּוּ כּוֹפֵר בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא כִּי נָחֵית, הָא כִּי סָלֵיק. כִּי הָא דְּרָבָא שָׁחֵי. רַבִּי זֵירָא זָקֵיף. רַבָּנַן דְּבֵי רַב אָשֵׁי, כִּי קָא נָחֲתִי — זָקְפִי, כִּי קָא סָלְקִי — שָׁחוּ.

The Gemara questions the story itself: And is that so? Is it permitted under any circumstances to cover one’s genitals while bathing? Didn’t Rabbi Abba say that Rav Huna said that Rav said: Anyone who places his hands over his genitals is as if he denies the covenant of our father Abraham? It appears as if he is covering himself to obscure the fact that he is circumcised. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as there is room to distinguish and say that this, the case where it is prohibited to cover oneself, is when he is descending into the river and there are no people facing him and he need not be concerned with modesty. In that case covering oneself is prohibited as he appears to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. That, the case where, in certain circumstances, this prohibition does not apply, is when he is emerging from the river. When he emerges, he is facing the people on the riverbank and it is then permitted to cover himself in the interest of modesty, as that which Rava would do. He would bend over when he was naked. Rabbi Zeira would stand upright, in accordance with Rav’s statement that it is prohibited to appear to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. When the Sages of the school of Rav Ashi descended into the river they stood upright. When they emerged from the river they bent over.

רַבִּי זֵירָא הֲוָה קָא מִשְׁתְּמִיט מִדְּרַב יְהוּדָה, דְּבָעֵי לְמִיסַּק לְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: כׇּל הָעוֹלֶה מִבָּבֶל לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבֵר בַּעֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ וְשָׁמָּה יִהְיוּ״. אֲמַר: אֵיזִיל וְאֶשְׁמַע מִינֵּיהּ מִילְּתָא וְאֵיתֵי וְאֶיסַּק. אֲזַל, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ דְּקָאֵי בֵּי בָאנֵי וְקָאָמַר לֵיהּ לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: הָבִיאוּ לִי נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ לִי מַסְרֵק, פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא, וְאִשְׁתוּ מִמַּיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי. אֲמַר: אִילְמָלֵא לֹא בָּאתִי אֶלָּא לִשְׁמוֹעַ דָּבָר זֶה דַּיִּי.

Speaking of bathing and its halakhot, the Gemara relates: Rabbi Zeira was avoiding being seen by his teacher, Rav Yehuda, as Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and his teacher disapproved. As Rav Yehuda said: Anyone who ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael transgresses a positive commandment, as it is stated: “They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could only be granted by God. Rabbi Zeira did not want to discuss his desire to emigrate with Rav Yehuda, so that he would not be forced to explicitly disobey him. Nevertheless, he said: I will go and hear something from him and then I will leave. He went and found Rav Yehuda standing in the bathhouse and telling his servant: Bring me natron [neter] with which to wash, bring me a comb, open your mouths and let out air, and drink from the water of the bathhouse. Rabbi Zeira said: If I had come only to hear this matter from Rav Yehuda, it would suffice for me.

בִּשְׁלָמָא ״הָבִיאוּ נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ מַסְרֵק״ — קָמַשְׁמַע לַן דְּבָרִים שֶׁל חוֹל מוּתָּר לְאוֹמְרָם בִּלְשׁוֹן קֹדֶשׁ. ״פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא״ — נָמֵי כְּדִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הַבְלָא מַפֵּיק הַבְלָא. אֶלָּא ״אִשְׁתוּ מַיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי״ מַאי מְעַלְּיוּתָא? דְּתַנְיָא אָכַל וְלֹא שָׁתָה — אֲכִילָתוֹ דָּם, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת חוֹלִי מֵעַיִים. אָכַל וְלֹא הָלַךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת — אֲכִילָתוֹ מַרְקֶבֶת, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ רַע. הַנִּצְרָךְ לִנְקָבָיו וְאָכַל — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ עַל גַּבֵּי אֶפְרוֹ, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ זוּהֲמָא. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא שָׁתָה מֵהֶן — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבְּחוּץ וְלֹא הִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבִּפְנִים. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּטֵּף בְּצוֹנֵן — דּוֹמֶה לְבַרְזֶל שֶׁהִכְנִיסוּהוּ לָאוּר וְלֹא הִכְנִיסוּהוּ לְצוֹנֵן. רָחַץ וְלֹא סָךְ — דּוֹמֶה לְמַיִם עַל גַּבֵּי חָבִית.

The Gemara analyzes the lessons learned from this story. Granted, when Rav Yehuda said: Bring me natron, bring me a comb, he was teaching us that mundane matters are permitted to be spoken in the bathhouse, even in the sacred language. When he said: Open your mouths and let out air, that too is in accordance with that which Shmuel said, as Shmuel said: Heat produces heat. The hot air that one inhales causes him to sweat more quickly. However, drink the water of the bathhouse, what benefit is there in doing that? The Gemara answers: As it was taught in a baraita: One who ate and did not drink at all, what he ate becomes blood and that causes the onset of intestinal disease. One who ate and did not walk four cubits after eating, what he ate rots and that causes the onset of bad breath. One who needs to defecate and ate is similar to an oven that was lit on top of its ashes. When ashes from a previous fire are not swept out, and new logs are placed on top of the old ones, it inhibits the burning and dirties the oven, and that causes the onset of odor of the filth of perspiration in a person. As far as our matter is concerned, the baraita teaches: One who bathed in hot water and did not drink from it is like an oven that was lit from the outside and not lit from the inside. The lighting is ineffective and the oven does not heat properly. Rav Yehuda told his servants to drink the hot water while bathing so that they would be heated from the inside and the outside. The baraita continues: One who bathed in hot water and did not rinse afterward with cold water is like iron that was placed in the fire and not placed afterward in cold water, which leaves the iron soft. And one who bathed and did not smear himself with oil afterward is like water that was poured on top of a barrel, and not into it. The water spills outside the barrel.

מַתְנִי׳ מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת. אַנְטִיכֵי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה.

MISHNA: In this mishna, the Sages discuss two vessels used for heating water. With regard to a mulyar, a bronze vessel into which coals are placed in an outer compartment and water is placed into an adjacent inner compartment, whose coals were swept, one may drink from it on Shabbat. With regard to an antikhi, which is a vessel with a different configuration, even if its coals were swept, one may not drink from it on Shabbat.

גְּמָ׳ הֵיכִי דָּמֵי מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף? תָּנָא, מַיִם מִבִּפְנִים וְגֶחָלִים מִבְּחוּץ. אַנְטִיכֵי: רַבָּה אָמַר — בֵּי כִירֵי. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר — בֵּי דוּדֵי. מַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי דוּדֵי כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בֵּי כִירֵי, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי כִירֵי אֲבָל בֵּי דוּדֵי — לָא. תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: אַנְטִיכֵי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה וּקְטוּמָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנְּחוּשְׁתָּהּ מְחַמַּמְתָּהּ.

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of a swept mulyar? The Gemara answers: A mulyar is the vessel, explained in the Tosefta on our mishna, that has water on the inside and coals on the outside. With regard to the identity of an antikhi there are different opinions. Rabba said that it refers to a stove. A space is created in the wall of a stove and filled with water. Since the stove is very hot, it is prohibited to use this water. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzhak said: An antikhi is a cauldron, i.e., a vessel made from two cauldrons stacked one on top of the other with coals in the bottom one and water in the upper one. These two different opinions have halakhic implications. The one who says that it is prohibited to use a vessel composed of two cauldrons, all the more so it is prohibited to use the space inside of a stove. And the one who says that it is prohibited to use the space inside a stove, a vessel composed of two cauldrons, no, it is not prohibited. It was taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman: An antikhi, even if it was swept and covered with ashes, one may not drink from it on Shabbat because its copper heats it. The heating in an antikhi is by means of the coals beneath the water.

מַתְנִי׳ הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ צוֹנֵן בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ. אֲבָל נוֹתֵן הוּא לְתוֹכוֹ אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַכּוֹס כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

MISHNA: The Sages added to the laws of leaving food on a source of heat and cooking food on Shabbat: An urn that was emptied of its hot water on Shabbat, one may not place cold water into it so that the cold water will be heated. However, one may place cold water into an urn or into a cup that were emptied of their hot water in order to warm it but not in order to heat it.

גְּמָ׳ מַאי קָאָמַר? אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר מַתְנָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם חַמִּין לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכָן מַיִם מוּעָטִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

GEMARA: The mishna seems to contradict itself. The first statement completely prohibits placing water into an urn, and later it was partially permitted. The Gemara asks: What is the mishna saying? Rav Adda bar Mattana said that it said the following: An urn that was emptied of its hot water, one may not put a small amount of water into it so that it will become very hot. However, one may put a large quantity of water into it in order to warm it. A large quantity of cold water will not be heated in those circumstances.

וַהֲלֹא מְצָרֵף? רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין — מוּתָּר. מַתְקִיף לַהּ אַבָּיֵי: מִידֵּי מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם קָתָנֵי?! מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ קָתָנֵי!

The Gemara questions this leniency: By putting cold water into the urn, doesn’t it harden the vessel? Cold water poured into a heated metal vessel reinforces the vessel. It is one of the stages in the labor of a blacksmith. How is it permitted to do something similar on Shabbat? The Gemara answers: This mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, who stated a principle with regard to the laws of Shabbat: An unintentional act, i.e., a permitted action from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues, is permitted. Here too, his intention was to warm the water, not to reinforce the vessel. Abaye strongly objects to this explanation: Does it say in the mishna: An urn from which water was emptied? That would indicate that he sought to fill the vessel with other water and warm up that water. Rather, an urn that was removed was taught in the mishna, meaning that the urn was removed from the fire, not that the water was emptied from it.

אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ מַיִם חַמִּין — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מוּעָטִין בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיָּחוֹמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן. וּמֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם כׇּל עִיקָּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּצָרֵף. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין אָסוּר.

Rather, Abaye said this is what the mishna is saying: An urn that was removed from the fire and contains hot water, one may not place a small quantity of water in it so that the water will become hot; rather, one may place a large quantity of water in it so that the water will become warm. And with regard to an urn from which water was removed; one may not place any water into it because he hardens the vessel by placing cold water into a hot vessel. And, according to this explanation, our mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said that an unintentional act from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues is prohibited on Shabbat.

אָמַר רַב: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ לְצָרֵף נָמֵי מוּתָּר. לְצָרֵף לְכַתְּחִילָּה מִי שְׁרֵי?! אֶלָּא אִי אִיתְּמַר הָכִי אִיתְּמַר: אָמַר רַב לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שִׁיעוּר לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף —

With regard to the matter itself, Rav said: They taught that one is permitted to place cold water into an urn with hot water after it was removed from the fire, when his intention is only to warm the cold water. However, if he did this in order to harden the vessel, it is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even if he does so in order to harden the vessel, it is also permitted. The Gemara wonders: Is hardening permitted ab initio? Isn’t it a full-fledged prohibited labor on Shabbat? Rather, if the dispute between Rav and Shmuel was stated, it was stated as follows. Rav said: They taught that it is permitted to add water only in a measure that is sufficient to warm the water, i.e., to only partially fill the vessel. However, filling it completely with a measure sufficient to harden the vessel is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even a measure sufficient to harden the vessel

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