Study Guide Megillah 5

Today's daf is sponsored by Naomi and Adam Ferziger in honor of the engagement of their daughter Avital (a former student of Michelle's) to Sefi Becker. Mazal tov!

Is it necessary to have ten people when reading the Megillah? Does it matter if it is read on time or not? What counts as a big city for determining the date for reading the Megillah? In the cases where the date of reading the Megillah is changed, it is only pushed earlier but other things such as Tisha B'Av which falls on Shabbat, and the chagiga sacrifice and Hakhel that fall on Shabbat get pushed offs. Why? Is it forbidden to work on Purim? Does it just depend on the custom of the place where one lives? Is Tiberias considered a walled city from the days of Joshua or not? What is the unique issue of Tiberias?

Study Guide Megillah 4

Today's daf is sponsored by Catriella Freedman in loving memory of her mother 5th Yahrzeit, Gerda Stein, Freida bat Fruma. "She died in Eretz Yisrael, the place she firmly believed was her spiritual home. I think of you every day and always hear your encouragement to pursue the intellectual and thoughtful life".

The daf is also sponsored by Julie Mendelsohn in honor of her son who was sworn in as an Israeli air force officer today. "As usual the daf speaks to life. Not only are you now a "captain of the Army of G-d" but throughout your course you never gave up on your learning, your tefillah and your Torah lifestyle. During all of the hard training, you got up even earlier to pray, spent your free time on Shabbat learning, and were a great example for all of the other soldiers in your unit. I am so proud of you and wish you a safe and meaningful service."

There are four other laws of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi regarding Purim (in addition to the four mentioned at the end of Megillah 3): a list of a few cities that were walled from the time of Joshua, women are obligated in reading the Megillah as they too were part of the miracle, when Purim that falls on Shabbat, the Megillah should be studied, and the Megillah should be read both at night and in the morning. Rabbi Chanina explains why people in the villages can read on an earlier day - the rabbis were lenient with them in order to allow them to bring food and drink to the people in the cities. The Gemara asks several questions on this and reinterprets his statement to read "The rabbis were lenient with them since they brought food and drink" - meaning as a reward to them for doing this, they wanted to make their lives easier by allowing them to read it earlier on a day when they normally went to the city. If Purim falls on Friday, when do the different types of cities read the Megillah? The Mishna brings one opinion which matched Rebbi and Rabbi Yosi's opinion, however, there are two other opinions. What is the basis for each opinion? Why do we not read the Megillah on Shabbat? Two answers are brought - either so we don't accidentally carry in the public domain (as in Lulav and Shofar) or because we give charity at the same time as we read the Megillah and we can't do that on Shabbat.

Study Guide Megilla 3

Today's daf is sponsored by Joel Silberstein in loving memory of Mazal Tov bat Shalom.

Several statements made in the name of either Rabbi Yirmia or Rabbi Chia bar Abba are brought. One related to the letters in the Hebrew alphabet that have a different form when they appear at the end of a word. Was that established by the Prophets? Or earlier? Another explained who first translated the Torah and the Prophets into Aramaic. Unkelos the covert translated the Torah and Yonatan ben Uziel did the Prophets. The earth shook when the Prophets were translated. Why? And why not when the Torah was translated? Why weren't the Writings translated? How could it be Unkelos was the first to translate the Torah when it appears already in a drasha on a verse from Nechemia that it was already translated then? Another statement from Rabbi Yirmia or Rabbi Chia bar Abba relates to a verse in Daniel where he saw something that other people with him did not and yet they were frightened and he was not. What exactly transpired there? What can we learn from it? From the words "mishpacha u'mishpacha" in the Megillah, we derive that families of kohanim, Levites and maamadot leave their jobs to hear Megillah. A hierarchy of mitzvot are discussed - what precedes what in terms of importance? A met mitzva, one who has died and there is no one to bury him/her. overrides everything, even a negative commandment, as human dignity overrides everything. Rabbi Yehushua ben Levi brings several statements defining what is considered a "big city" or "walled city."

Study Guide Megillah 2

This month's learning is sponsored by Jordana and Kalman Schoor on behalf of their daughter Daria Esther who is completing Masechet Megilla in honor of her Bat Mitzva this month. "Daria attended the Hadran siyum and there is no doubt that her attendance inspired her to learn each chapter with a different family member and begin her journey into the world of Gemara learning." Mazal tov!

Today's daf is sponsored by Jessica Shklar on behalf of her sister, Ruth Leah Kahan's birthday "Happy Birthday to a Hadran stalwart, Ruth Leah Kahan, from her sister Jessica, who loves sharing daf yomi with you from across the ocean."

Today's daf is sponsored by Sharon Russ and family, in loving memory of her father, David ben Avraham and Naomi, on his fourth yahrzeit. "May his memory be a blessing and his Neshama have an Aliya."

On what days is it possible to read the Megillah? On what does it depend? Why is the law different for those who live in villages and why are they allowed to read it earlier than the dates specified in the Megillah? Where in the Megillah can one find an allusion to this? Is there an opinion that one is not allowed to read the Megillah before the 14th? From where do we know that walled cities read on the 15th and is it walled cities from the time of Yehoshua or from the time of Achashvarosh and the Purim story?

Siyum Masechet Taanit is sponsored by Rella Feldman and family "In honor of all the Daf Yomi learners internationally and the dedicated teachers who make it possible. Thank you Rabbanit Michelle Farber for your daily inspiration and to Ilana Kurshan for your shiur today."

Siyum Masechet Taanit is sponsored by Sara Averick and Jose Rosenfeld in loving memory of Leah & Nathan Averick and Rochel & Walter Mark.

Two more reasons are given as to the significance of the day of Tu b'Av. One is that the people who were killed in Beitar in the Bar Kochva rebellion were allowed to be buried on that day. The other is that it is the last day they were able to cut wood for the Temple before the days began to get shorter and the sun would not be strong enough to dry the wood. If the wood was not dry enough, it could attract worms, thereby disqualifying it for use on the altar. When the days got shorter one who studies into the night will add years to one's life and one who does not, shortens one's life. On Yom Kippur and Tu b'Av when the young women would go out dancing, they would borrow clothing one from the other. A braita specifies who would borrow from who. They would purify the clothing first in a mikveh, even if they were folded in the cabinet, just in case they were impure. What would they say to the men in order to encourage them to marry the women? It depended on what the woman's strengths were – beauty or good family lineage. What would they say if she had neither? In the future, there will be a circle of tzadikim who will sit around with God in the Garden of Eden, pointing at God saying, "This is our God, our salvation."

This week's learning is sponsored as a zechut for a refuah shleima for Chava Naami bat Daba Chana, Evie Haar, b'toch she'ar cholei Yisrael, by the Hadran Women of Long Island. May our learning be a source of strength and merit for the entire family.

Today's daf is sponsored by Moshe & Aviva Schwartz in honor of their cousins, Amalia Gerber "Mazal tov for completing your first siyum of Mishnayot Nezikin in honor of your Bat Mitzvah" and Ilana Kurshan "for teaching us as part of siyum Masechet Ta'anit!"

One cannot eat two cooked items on erev Tisha B'av – is this only in the afternoon or only for the final meal before the fast? Or both? One cannot eat wine or meat at that meal and according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, one should change from the way one normally eats. What does this mean? Laws of mourning apply to Tisha B'av. One cannot eat, drink, wash, put on oils, wear shoes, engage in sexual relations, read passages from the Tanach, learn Mishna, Talmud, Midrash, halakha, and aggada as they are pleasurable activities. There is a debate whether or not one can learn a section that one has never learned before as perhaps it is less enjoyable. Children in school should not study. One is allowed to study passages that discuss the destruction of the Temple and passages from Job. Salted meat is no longer considered meat, although it depends on how long it was salted. At what point after pressing the grapes is wine considered a problem? What did Rav Yehuda do every erev Tisha B'av? Can one work on Tisha b'Av? It is dependent on one's custom. Torah scholars do not work so as to fully experience the fast. However, the rabbis strongly encouraged everyone to refrain from working. Does one need to turn one's bed over as mourners do? What about pregnant and nursing women? The Mishna stated that the happiest days of the year were the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur was a happy day because it is a day where our sins are forgiven. But what happened on the 15th of Av? Several answers are brought.

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How do we know that the five events mentioned in the Mishna as having occurred on the 9th of Av, were actually on that date? The Romans decreed to kill Rabban Gamliel but a Roman officer saved him in exchange for a promise by Rabban Gamliel that he would be promised a place in the World to Come. A story is told of young children of kohanim that committed suicide during the destruction of the Temple. When Av enters, we limit happy things, but when Adar enters, we increase happy things. The mazal is with the Jews in Adar and is not with the Jews in Av, and therefore one should try to push off court cases with gentiles in Av and try to have them in Adar. One cannot do laundry or get a haircut on the week of Tisha B'av. Is it only laundry one wants to wear or even if it is left for later? Is it only the days of the week before Tisha B'av or is it the entire week including the days after Tisha B'av? What other opinions are there regarding the dates for these prohibitions?

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Today's daf is sponsored by Sharon Raanan in loving memory of Menachem Yitzchak Ben Shaul and Susan Bat Rachel.

Today's daf is also sponsored by Karen Kosowsky in loving memory of her mother, Elaine Ackerman, Esther Masha bat Aharon "She always loved learning and would have loved to be a part of the Hadran community."

In which prayers of the maamadot would they read the Torah from a Torah scroll and in which would they read it by heart in the way they recited Shema. This depends on how to punctuate a line in the Mishna. Why are there differences regarding days where they skipped a prayer or more than one prayer of the maamadot between a day when there is Musaf and a day where there is a wood sacrifice? Why would they bring wood sacrifices? Who are the people mentioned in the Mishna by the name of those who deceived with a pestle and those who packed dried figs? These were people who were able to trick the authorities who didn't allow the Jews to bring wood and their first fruits to the Temple. Also, the Bnei Salmai did something similar to sneak in wood. Who were Pechat Moav ben Yehuda and Adin ben Yehuda - some say they were descendants of David and some say from Yoav ben Tzruya, David's nephew. According to which opinion does our Mishna hold? Mar Kashisha asks Rav Ashi why does Musaf not override only its maamad, as with Hallel which only overrides the morning service? Rav Ashi answers that Rabbi Yosi holds that way. The Mishna mentions the first of Tevet as a day that has all three - Hallel, musaf and wood sacrifice. What about the first of Nissan as well? It is inferred from here that Hallel on Rosh Chodesh is only a custom and that is why certain sections are omitted. On what days is Hallel recited by law? What was the order of events/dates from the receiving the Torah that would have the 17th of Tamuz be the day the tablets were broken? The Tamid sacrifice was canceled on 17 of Tamuz - that is learned by tradition. The city walls were breached on 17 Tamuz - wasn't it on the 9th according to the book of Yimriyahu (Jeremiah)? It must be referring to the Second Temple. From where do we derive that the Torah was burned on that day as well and an idol was placed in the Temple?

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Today's daf is sponsored by Judi Felber on the third yartzeit of Yovel MorYosef and Yossi Cohen, who were killed in a terror attack at Givat Assaf and for the continued refuah sheleima of her son, Netanel Ilan ben Shayna Tzpora, who was critically injured in the attack.

Today's daf is sponsored by Patti Evans in loving memory of her mother, Gloria Weisman's, first yahrzeit. "My mother loved that I was learning Daf Yomi, and always wished she had been able to learn more in her almost 99 years. She loved being Jewish and celebrated life each and every day. Her indomitable spirit is sorely missed by us all."

Today's daf is also sponsored by Sylvia Simmons in loving memory of Pessy Simmons, Pessy bat Eliyahu Yitschak v'Rachel Leah. "Pessy - who inspired many with her enquiring mind and lifelong love of Jewish learning – would admire the growing community of female Talmud learners."

Is the prohibition for kohanim to bless the people while drunk derived from laws of nazir or from a juxtaposition in the verse Devraim 10:8 between serving in the Temple and blessing the people? Why were the maamadot instituted? A braita states that 24 mishmarot of kohanim were in Israel and 12 were in Jericho. Does that mean there were 36!? And what exactly is meant in Israel/in Jericho? Kohanim and levites are essential for sacrifices. Are the maamadot also? What about the musical instruments? Is the important part of the music the voices or the instruments? Moshe set up eight rotations of kohanim but a different source says sixteen. Also, there are contradictory statements about how and when it became twenty-four. Which families of kohanim that were in the first Temple came back to Israel when the second Temple was built and served there as well. Why do we read the Torah portion of the creation of the world during the maamadot? The people in the maamadot would fast from Monday-Thursday of that week. Regarding the Torah portion, in a case where there are five verses in one part (one day of creation) and three in the other, the three are all read on one Aliya. But there is a debate between Rav and Shmuel regarding the five - is one verse is repeated in both aliyot or split in half, as one must read a minimum of three verses for each aliya. Difficulties are raised against the different opinions.