Daf Highlights

Daf Highlights

By Eran NetkinReligion & SpiritualityJudaism
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Daf Highlights episodes

  • Brachos 35- Nusach of Brachos, Why make Brachos, Specialty of Grapes, Go to Work & Torah, Oil
    1. ראשונה ברכה is based on reason
    After concluding that there is no Torah source for the concept of a ראשונה ברכה) blessing before
    eating), the Gemara teaches that the obligation to do so is based on reason:
    benefit derive to person a for forbidden is It – אסור לו לאדם שיהנה מן העולם הזה בלא ברכה -
    from this world without first reciting a blessing.
    - Since one derives pleasure from the world, he should thank the Creator of those pleasures.
    The Gemara lists implications of eating without a berachah:
    first without world the from benefit derives Whoever – כל הנהנה מן העולם הזה בלא ברכה מעל -
    reciting a berachah has committed an act of me’ilah (misappropriation of Temple property).
    from benefit derives Whoever - כל הנהנה מן העולם הזה בלא ברכה כאילו גוזל להקבה וכנסת ישראל -
    the world without first reciting a berachah is regarded as if he robs from Hashem and the Assembly
    of Israel.
    ואספת דגנך .2
    There is a machlokes over how to understand the words in Krias Shema, דגנך ואספת ,you shall
    gather in your grain:
    - R’ Yishmael understands it as a general directive that Torah study should be combined with
    earning a living.
    - R’ Shimon bar Yochai argues that preoccupation with earning a living would leave no time for
    Torah study, so he interprets the verse as referring to a time when the nation does not fulfill
    Hashem’s will. At such a time, they will not only have to do their own work, gathering their own
    grain, but even have to do the work of others. But when they do fulfill Hashem’s will, the work of
    gathering in their grain will be done for them by others.
    3. Why wine has a special beracha
    The Gemara concludes that the reason that wine—unlike olive oil—merits having a unique
    berachah of its own (הגפן ,)is because wine satiates (סעיד (and olive oil does not.
    Siman – Children’s choir singing La La La
    The children’s choir at the Berachos Party sang the Berachah Rishonah song for wine, while the
    darling little kids on stage pretended to harvest wheat.
    Key Words: Berachah Rishonah, wine, harvest
    7 min
  • Brachos 34-Mistakes as a Shliach Tzibur, How to know if Prayer is Accepted, Where to Bow, BT & FFB
    1. How to approach the three different parts of Shemoneh Esrei
    R’ Chanina taught how one should comport himself while davening Shemoneh Esrei:
    - When he recites the first three berachos, he is like a servant who states words of praise before his
    master before daring to make a request.
    - When he recites the middle berachos, he is like a servant who requests his allotment.
    - When he recites the last three berachos he is like a servant who received his allotment from his
    master, begs leave and goes on his way, expressing gratitude.
    2. The proper times to bow
    The Gemara discusses the proper times to bow during Shemoneh Esrei and teaches that the more
    exalted the stature of the individual, the greater the need to humble oneself through bowing:
    A regular Jew: At the beginning and end of the first beracha of Avos as well as the beginning and end of
    the beracha of Hoda’ah (Thanksgiving).
    Kohen Gadol:
    One opinion states at the end of each beracha.
    Another opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha.
    Melech:
    One opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha.
    Another opinion states that he remains bowed from the first beracha until the completion of the
    tefillah.
    3. Ba’alei Teshuva vs. Tzadikim Gemurim
    The Gemara introduces the question of who is more exalted: Ba’alei teshuva or Tzadikim Gemurin (The
    completely righteous):
    R’ Abahu is of the opinion that the place where ba’alei teshuvah stand, the completely righteous do not
    stand.
    במקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין צדיקים גמורים אינם עומדין
    His opinion is based on the pasuk, "ולקרוב לרחוק שלום שלום – "Peace, peace to the distant and to the
    near. (Isaiah 57:19). Hashem extends greetings to those that are distant (ba’alei teshuva) before those
    that are close (tzadikim gemorim):
    R’ Yochanan, who is of the opinion that tzadikim gemurimn are nore exalted, interprets “the distant” as
    those that are distant from sin, and “the near” as those nearer to sin.
    Siman – Ladder
    The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh
    completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.
    7 min
  • Brachos 33-Snakes, Atta Chonentanu placement, Havdalah, Saying Modim Twice, Knowlege is great, Fear
    1. Havdalah
    When the Jews first returned to Eretz Yisrael from the Babylonian exile, the Anshei Knesses
    Hagedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) fixed the berachah of Havdalah within Shemoneh
    Esrei, because the people were poor and couldn’t afford wine.
    Later, when the people grew wealthier, the berachah was removed from tefillah and its recital
    was fixed over a cup of wine. The details of the original enactment were forgotten.
    Later still, when the people became impoverished, they reverted to the original enactment
    and fixed Havdalah in tefillah, but required people who could afford it to recite Havdalah a
    second time over wine.
    2. Limiting praising Hashem’s traits
    R’ Chanina reprimanded a shliach tzibbur who enumerated a long list of Hashem’s traits. When
    the man finished his tefillah, R’ Chanina asked him, “Did you complete all the praises of your
    סיימתינהו לכולהו שבחי דמרך? – “?Master
    He explained that were it not for the fact that Moshe praised Hashem with the three attributes
    of Gadol, Gibbor and Nora in the Torah and the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah established them in
    the text of our tefillos, we would not have been able to recite even those attributes.
    יראת שמים .3
    R’ Chanina taught that שמים מיראת חוץ שמים בידי הכל – Everything is in the hands of Heaven
    except for the fear of Heaven.
    ,now And – ועתה ישראל מה ה' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה ,pasuk the from derived is This-
    Israel, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you, but merely to fear Hashem.
    Siman – Pirate with a peg leg
    The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for
    Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim. Quick Words – Pirate, Havdala, Praises, Yiras Shamayim.
    9 min
  • Brachos 32-Pesukei D'zimra, Trillions of Stars,Prayer Is better than good deeds,Pray again and again
    1. Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael for their involvement in the chet ha’egel
    The Gemara goes through an extensive analysis of Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael before Hashem for
    their involvement in the chet ha’egel (sin of the Golden Calf),
    - Moshe argued that the cause of the sin was the abundance of gold that Hashem had lavished on Bnei
    Yisrael.
    - Moshe realized that Hashem telling him to leave (לי הניחה (really provided an opening for him to
    continue to try to save the nation by imploring Hashem on their behalf.
    - Moshe countered Hashem’s notion to rebuild the nation entirely from Moshe, arguing that if a three-
    legged chair—Bnei Yisrael founded on the Avos—could not endure, then surely a one-legged chair—
    Bnei Yisrael founded from him alone—would not endure.
    2. Praising Hashem
    R’ Simla’i teaches that one should always praise Hashem before praying: של שבחו אדם יסדר לעולם
    .הקב'ה ואחר כך יתפלל
    - This is learned from Moshe, who first praised Hashem before petitioning to be granted permission to
    enter Eretz Yisrael.
    3. The Gates of Tears are never locked
    The Gemara relates that though the heavenly gates of tefillah have been locked since the destruction of
    the Beis Hamikdash, the gates of tears have not been locked.
    אף על פי ששערי תפילה ננעלו שערי דמעה לא ננעלו -
    ,prayer my Hear – שמעה תפלתי ה' ושועתי האזינה אל דמעתי אל תחרש ,pasuk the from learned is This-
    Hashem, give ear to my outcry, to my tears be not silent.
    Siman – Mad scientist in a lab.
    The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long
    but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
    3 Word Hint – Calf, Praises, Tears
    9 min
  • Brachos 31-What We Learn from Chana's Prayer, Laws Regarding how to behave during Prayer, Personal
    1. Breaking a glass at a chuppah
    The Gemara recounts several incidents where the Rabbis tempered joyous events with seriousness when
    they felt their peers were overly cheerful. This is the reason (Tosafos) for breaking the glass at a wedding:
    - Mar the son of Ravina broke a precious glass worth four hundred zuz in the presence of the Rabbanan
    - Rav Ashi broke a white glass in their presence as well
    2. The proper mindset for tefillah
    The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa that one should not daven Shemoneh Esrei amidst a state of sorrow
    )עצבות ,)slothfulness )עצלות ,)laughter )שחוק ,)silly chatter )שיחה ,)light headedness )ראש קלות)or idle
    words )בטלים דבירם .)Rather one should daven amidst the joy associated with a mitzvah, של שמחה)
    .מצוה(
    3. Halachos learned from Chanah’s tefillos
    A large part of this Daf details the many halachos and concepts related to tefillah learned from Chanah’s
    tefillos and her conversation with Eli. A few examples include:
    - One must direct their heart to G-d.
    - One must pronounce the words with his lips.
    - It is forbidden to raise one’s voice to the degree that others can hear.
    - It is forbidden to sit within four amos of one who is daveningSiman – Judge (connected to law)
    The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the
    glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.
    8 min
  • Brachos 30-Mussaf, Davening before Netz, Mentally Prepare for Davening, Snake around Heel, Reverence
    . Davening towards Yerushalayim
    One must daven facing towards Yerushalayim, the Beis Hamikdash and the Kodesh Hakadashim.
    This is derived from the pasuk לתלפיות בנוי צוארך דויד כמגדל –Like the tower of David is your neck,
    built as a landmark, which the Gemara explicates as בו פונים פיות שכל תל –A hill towards which all
    mouths turn.
    2. Travelling early in the morning
    There is a machlokes regarding how one who must travel early in the morning, before the time of
    tefillah, should proceed. The dispute hinges on which requirement is more important—davening
    Shemoneh Esrei while standing or juxtaposing redemption to tefillah (לתפילה גאולה סומך(
    - The Tanna Kamma holds that it is more important to daven Shemoneh Esrei while standing;
    thus the traveler should daven at home, standing, and then recite Krias Shema on the journey
    when the time comes.
    - R’ Shimon ben Elazar holds that juxtaposing redemption to tefillah is more important, so the
    traveler should start his journey without saying Shemoneh Esrei and then recite Krias Shema at
    the proper time, followed by Shemoneh Esrei , even if it must be said sitting.
    3. Davening with ראש כובד) an attitude of reverence)
    The source for the requirement that one daven with an attitude of reverence (ראש כובד (is the pasuk
    ברעדה וגילו ביראה' ה את עבדו – Serve Hashem with awe, and rejoice with trepidation.
    Siman – Rebbe in a classroom
    With the map of the world behind him, the Rebbe was teaching his righteous students the importance
    of davening towards Yerushalayim when the Uber driver arrived to take him on his pre-sunrise trip.
    8 min
  • Brachos 29-Why 7,9,24 Paragraph, Shortened Version of Amida,Forgetting Yalei Veyavo,Tefilas HaDerekh
    1. The differing number of berachos in the various Amidahs
    The Gemara explains the differing number of berachos in the various Amidahs recited on special days:
    - The seven berachos in the Shabbos Amidah correspond to the seven kolos (sounds) that Dovid
    Hamelech mentioned in Psalm 29.
    - The nine berachos in the Rosh Hashanah Amidah correspond to the nine times Chanah uttered
    Hashem’s name in her tefillah.
    - The 24 berachos in the fast day Amidah correspond to the 24 expressions of song (רננות (that Shlomo
    Hamelech recited on the day the Aron was brought into the Kodesh Hakadashim (Holy of Holies).
    2. Additional Tefillos
    A number of additional tefillos are introduced:
    - הביננו)Havineinu) - an abridged version of Shemoneh Esrei
    - סכנה במקום קצרה תפילה - A short tefillah recited when in a dangerous place
    - הדרך תפילת – Tefillas Haderech, the traveler’s prayer
    3. Not making one’s teffilah “keva”
    The Gemara cites four opinions regarding the meaning of “keva” (קבע (in R’ Eliezer’s statement that
    one should not make his tefillah “keva.”
    - Treating one’s tefillah like a burden
    - Not davening like a supplicant (תחנונים דרך(
    - Not innovating anything in one’s tefillah, i.e. not introducing any new requests from one tefillah
    to the next
    - Not davening when the sun is red, meaning immediately after sunrise or before sunset
    Siman - Cots
    The hospital cots were unfortunately full on Shabbos, Rosh Hashana and Fast Days because people
    who had been travelling and going through dangerous places had treated their tefillos as a burden.
    8 min
  • Brachos 28- Tocho Kebaro, Eating Before Mussaf,Prayer of the Heretics, Why Number 18, What direction
    1. Hundreds of talmidim enter the beis midrash
    On the day that R’ Elazar ben Azaryah became the Nasi, the doors to the beis midrash were opened to
    all the talmidim who had been excluded by R’ Gamliel because they were not as good on the inside as
    they appeared on the outside (כברו תוכו שאין .(As a result of their participation, all heretofore
    unresolved halachos were resolved that day.
    - Masechta Eduyos is composed of halachos that were taught that day, and wherever in Shas the
    term “that day” (ביום בו (is used it refers to that day.
    2. Final words from R’ Eliezer and R’ Yochanan ben Zakkai to their talmidim
    The Gemara relates what two ailing Tanna’im said to their talmidim:
    - R’ Eliezer said (among other things) עומדים אתם מי לפני דעו מתפללים כשאתם – When you
    daven, know before whom you are standing.
    - R’ Yochanan Ben Zakai blessed his students from his deathbed – שמים מורא שתהא רצון יהי
    ודם בשר כמורא עליכם -May it be Hashem’s will that your fear of Heaven be as great as your fear of
    man.
    3. What 18 berachosin the Amidah correspond to
    The Gemara brings a three-way machlokes regarding what the 18 blessings in the Amidah correspond
    to:
    - The 18 times Hashem’s name appears in Psalm 29 – אלים בני' לה הבו
    - The 18 times His name appears in Krias Shema
    - The 18 vertebrae in the spine
    - The nineteenth blessing (ברכת הצדוקים (was composed by Shmuel Hakatan against the heretics.
    Siman – Strong Man (strength)
    The big strongman let hundreds of talmidim into the beis midrash to visit their two sick Rabbanim,
    resolve halachos and to daven Shemoneh Esrei for their refuah.
    7 min
  • Brachos 27-Does "Until" mean Including?Praying Maariv B4 Sunset, Is Maariv Mandatory, Wall of Prayer
    1. The latest time to daven Minchah
    Since the Gemara does not render the halachah regarding the latest permissible time to daven
    Minchah, one may follow the opinion either of the Rabbanan and daven until nightfall, or of R’
    Yehudah and daven until plag Haminchah (10 ¾ seasonal hours into the day). R’ Yehudah also
    permits one to daven Maariv right after plag Haminchah, even though it’s before nightfall.
    - According to many, one may not, however, do a split decision, following the Rabbanan to
    daven Minchah after plag and then following R’ Yehudah to immediately daven Maariv before
    nightfall.
    2. Walking in front of someone davening Shemoneh Esrei
    One may not pass in front of someone who is davening Shemoneh Esrei - כנגד לעבור אסור
    .המתפללין
    - Furthermore, one may not daven either alongside or behind his Rebbi, as doing so would appear
    arrogant.
    3. R’ Gamliel is deposed
    The Gemara relates that the machlokes between R’ Gamliel and R’ Yehoshua over whether Maariv
    is voluntary or obligatory led to R’ Gamliel being deposed and R’ Elazar ben Azarya being
    appointed Nasi in his place.
    Siman – Kazoo (a toy musical instrument that one blows into to create a buzzing sound)
    A little boy blew his annoying kazoo during the Minchah minyan after plag whenever he saw
    someone passing in front of someone who was davening Shemoneh Esrei, feeling so proud as he stood next to the new Nasi.
    12 min
  • Brachos 26- Recompense for Missed Prayers, When is the Latest Prayer Times, Who Invented Prayer
    1. Excrement in front of a person
    According to Rav Huna, when the Mishnah said that one must be four amos away from
    excrement in order to recite Krias Shema, it was referring to when it is behind the person.
    If it’s in front of the person, then it’s prohibited to recite Shema as long as it is in one’s
    field of vision.
    2. Making up for missed tefillos
    After introducing the time periods of various tefillos in the perek’s opening Mishnah, the
    Gemara teachers that one may make up for missed tefillos (תשלומים (as follows:
    - If one missed Minchah, he may daven Maariv twice even though it is not the same
    day.
    - If one missed Minchah Erev Shabbos, he may daven the Shabbos Maariv twice, even
    though it is not the same Shemoneh Esrei.
    - If one missed Shabbos Minchah, he may daven the weekday Maariv twice, inserting
    Havdalah in the first Maariv.
    3. The source for davening three times a day
    The Gemara brings a machlokes whether davening three times a day originates with the
    Avos (תקנום אבות (or the Anshei Knesses Hagdolah (the Men of the Great Assembly), who
    instituted the tefillos to correspond to the daily tamid offerings (תקנום תמידין כנגד .(
    Siman – A military coup
    Soldiers wearing binoculars burst into the shul but didn’t notice the man in the corner
    davening his second Maariv, because they were transfixed by the Sukkah poster depicting the Avos.
    12 min

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5-10 Minute Daily De"lightful" synopsis of the Daf for Chazara and Retention. Will cover the Halacha L'maasa as brought down in Rambam and Shulchan Aruch on the Daf and appended Zichru Notes for…