Today's daf is dedicated in honor of the engagement of my daughter Chani to Saar Har-Chen. "May their love for each other continue to grow and may they always enjoy learning Torah together."

How long will be the duration of time of the mashiach? Eight different answers are suggested.

Many verses from the prophets explain the great blessings that will be in the future. However, another verse says that the blessings will be of the kind that no one has seen until this day, meaning they are indescribable. Rabbi Yochanan reconciles this contradiction in three different ways.

One who doesn't believe that the Torah is from God has no share in the World-to-come. This is derived from a verse in the Torah. A braita is brought that derives other offenses from that braita as well. Since learning Torah was mentioned, the Gemara digresses to discuss the importance of learning Torah and ways to ensure that one's Torah is not forgotten.

What is an apikores? What is the difference between an apikores and a "megale panim b'Torah"

Today's daf is sponsored by Hillel Gray in loving memory of Raizel Shoshana bat Rachel Perel on her shloshim. "She loved reading, teaching others to read, and Jewish education." 

Today's daf is sponsored by Abby Flamholz in honor of her daughter in law Sigal’s hebrew birthday. "She continues to be a constant inspiration to me and especially to her daughters and husband. Happy birthday Sigal!" 

The sages extensively discuss various signs, both auspicious and ominous, that are believed to herald the coming of the Messiah.

Rabbi Yochanan explained the Messiah will arrive during an era that is either entirely virtuous or completely corrupt. This binary perspective highlights the spiritual extremes that might precipitate messianic redemption.

The prophetic texts contain seemingly contradictory verses, such as "It will come in its time, I will hurry it." Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi resolves this apparent contradiction by explaining that the timing of the Messiah's arrival depends on the generation's spiritual merit. If the generation proves worthy, God will accelerate the redemption; if not, it will unfold according to the predetermined time.

Why is the Messiah depicted as arriving on a donkey rather than a more noble animal like a horse?

In an aggadic story, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi encounters Eliyahu at the entrance to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's cave. He seeks answers about whether he will enter the world-to-come and the timing of the Messiah's arrival. Eliyahu directs him to the entrance of Rome, instructing him to seek out and directly ask the Messiah. In a parallel account, Rabbi Yosi ben Kisma's students similarly inquire about the anticipated redemption.

Some rabbis acknowledge the inevitability of the Messiah's arrival but express trepidation about witnessing this momentous event. They fear that their personal sins might cause them to be consumed in the "chevlei mashiach" - the birth pangs of the messianic era. While they recognize that good deeds and Torah study offer spiritual protection, they remain acutely aware that sin can precipitate divine judgment.

Intriguingly, the Messiah's name itself becomes a matter of interpretive tradition. In each beit midrash they named the future redeemer with a name that resonated with their own teacher's name.

When is the Messiah going to come? What kind of destruction/change of world order will precede the coming of the Messiah? There are several different descriptions of the signs to be expected.

Some sages offered suggestions for what year to expect the Messiah. However, some hold that one cannot try to estimate when the Messiah will come. However, we are commanded to wait in hope for the Messiah's arrival, as is derived from Yeshayahu 30:18.

From that same verse, it is derived that there are thirty-six righteous people in every generation who greet the Divine Presence. Other sources indicate other amounts of righteous people and these differences are reconciled.

Rav holds that all the times the Messiah was supposed to come have now passed, and it is all dependent on the people repenting and doing good deeds. Shmuel holds that even without good deeds and repentance, eventually, the mourning will be so great that God will redeem the people. Their debate is similar to a tannaitic debate between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua. They each bring verses in the Torah to prove their side of the argument - will the repentance come from the people or will God force it upon them when God decides it is time?

Today's daf is sponsored by Dina Kaufman and Rob Ginsburg to celebrate the wedding of their son Aaron to Dana Houri. "So good to have a simcha in these difficult times. Mazal tov!"

Today's daf is sponsored by Mark and Rena Septee Goldstein in loving memory of Moe Septee, on his 28th yahrzeit. "A truly wonderful man." 

Sancheriv's humiliation by God after he fails in the battle of Jerusalem and his death by the hands of his sons is explained in detail.

How did Avraham beat the four kings? He was also helped by an angel, according to one interpretation, just as Chikiyahu was.

Yirmiyahu asked God: why do evil people live good lives? God answers, using Nevuchadnetzer as an example.

Nevuzaradin, the army officer of the Babylonians, was intimidated while trying to conquer Jerusalem as he was concerned he would meet the same end as Sancheriv. However, he was encouraged by a heavenly voice.

When he entered the Temple, he saw the blood of Zecharia boiling. As a result, he killed many Jews, but eventually called on Zecharia to stop causing so many people to die. When that happens, he is so amazed that he converts to Judaism. There were others as well whose descendants converted to Judaism, including Sanheriv. God wanted Nevuchadnetzer's descendants to convert, but the angels stopped him. 

How did Nevuchadnetzer decide to go conquer Jerusalem?  He was encouraged by Israel's neighbors Amon and Moab who gave him inside information that the time was right. Even so, he was very hesitant, after what happened to Sancheriv, but was encouraged that he would be successful. 

Today’s daf is sponsored by Rabbi Art Gould in memory of his beloved bride of 50 years, Carol Joy Robinson, Karina Gola bat Huddah v’Yehuda Tzvi on her 2nd yahrtzeit.  "Carol was the tent-pole, the driving force, the glue that held our family together.  No matter what happened, Carol knew what to do. Michalle, Miriam and I miss her terribly, even though she is in our thoughts every single day." 

Today's daf is sponsored by Risa Tzohar in loving memory of Fruma bat Risel and David.

Sancheriv had the opportunity to destroy Jerusalem but he delayed and missed his chance. The day he got to Jerusalem was the last day before the opportunity to punish for what happened in the city of Nov expired, but he waited until the next morning, on account of his arrongance, and therefore didn't succeed. 

King David was punished for what happened in Nov, holding him indirectly responsible for the death of all the inhabitants of the city. A whole encounter between him and Yishbi, the brother of Goliath is described as being connected to this. 

How many people did Sancheriv bring to fight against Jerusalem? With What did the angel strike the people? Who was left of Sanheriv's camp after the battle? 

Today's daf is sponsored by Nancy Kolodny in honor of her daughter-in-law Lisa Kolodny's birthday. "She brings light, love and learning into the lives of her family and friends." 

Today's daf is sponsored by Caroline Ben-Ari in loving memory of her mother, Daphne Rhodes, Daphne Devora bat Avraham v'Chana on her 8th yahrzeit.

The story of the battle between Hizkiyahu and Sancheriv is discussed in detail, beginning with the tradition that Hizkiyahu was destined to be the messiah but was ultimately deemed unworthy because he failed to express gratitude to God after being saved from Sancheriv's attack.

In recounting this story, the Gemara uses it as a platform to emphasize the critical importance of Torah study. It specifically highlights that Hizkiyahu's merit in encouraging the people to learn Torah is what ultimately saved them from destruction.

When Chanania, Mishael and Azaria were saved from the fiery furnace, it shed a bad light on the rest of the Jews, as the gentiles said, if their God is so great, how can the rest of the people be worshipping idols! God wanted to destroy the rest of the Jews because they were worshipping idols, but when God saw the actions of Chanania, Mishael and Azaria, his anger subsided.

The sages try to fill in some missing details from the story. What happened to Chanania, Mishael and Azaria after they were saved, as they are not directly heard from again? Several options are brought by amoraim and their opinions match those of tannaim. Where was Daniel when Chanania, Mishael and Azaria were thrown into the fire? Several possibilities are offered. According to a braita, God, Daniel and Nevuchadnetzer each did not want Daniel to be there - each for their own reason.

Two false prophets named Achav and Tzidkia were also thrown into a fire by Nevuchadnetzer, but were killed. What is the background story? According to the midrash, Yehoshua the High Priest was sent in with them, but was only singed and came out alive. Why was Yehoshua punished?

In the book of Ruth, Ruth tells Naomi that Boaz gave her six grains of barley. Bar Kapara extrapolated this verse to mean that by giving her six grains, he was alluding to her that six sons would be born to her who were each blessed with six blessings - David, the Messiah, Daniel, Chanania, Mishael and Azaria. Verses are brought to show how each was blessed in six ways. There is a debate, however, about Chanania, Mishael and Azaria's lineage and whether or not they were from the tribe of Judah.

Yishayahu prophesizes to Chizkiyahu that his descendants will be taken to Babylonia and will become sarisim. The Gemara understands this to be referring to Daniel, Chanania, Mishael and Azaria. What is the meaning of the word sarisim in this context? Rav and Rabbi Chanina disagree. Does it mean they were eunuchs? Or does it mean they were cut off from worshipping idols?

The Gemara raises two difficulties against Rav, that they were eunuchs, and one difficulty against Rabbi Chanina, that they were cut off from worshipping idols. The difficulties are brought from verses in Daniel and Yeshayahu but are resolved.

Why was the book of Ezra, which much of it was said and written by Nechemia, not called Nechemia? Two suggestions are brought.

Today's daf is sponsored by Yarden and Guy in honor of Leah Zelda Shechter's birthday!

What happens to someone who doesn't teach Torah to others? What happens to someone who does?

Rava, Ravina and Rav Ashi brought three more verses to prove the resurrection of the dead. Rabbi Elazar brought a statement relating to the resurrection of the dead. From there, the Gemara brings several statements from Rabbi Elazar about different topics, including the value of de'ah, leaving bread of the table in case a poor person shows up, and being humble.

A braita from the school of Eliyahu teaches that when the dead are resurrected, they will not die again. The Gemara brings the verses in Ezekiel where Ezekiel brings the bones back to life. Can this be brought as a source for the resurrection of the dead or to prove that when they are brought back to life, they will not live forever? Various interpretations are brought to explain whether he really resurrected the dead (or was it just a parable) and if he did, whether they lived for a few moments or went on to lead full lives. Another question is who were the people who Ezekiel resurrected? Several suggestions are brought, and the last interpretation leads into the story of Chanania, Mishael, and Azarya.

Today's daf is sponsored by Sharona Shuster in loving memory of her father, Elliot Shimoff, Eliyahu Chaim ben Harav Ephraim. "He enjoyed his family, learning Torah, and Israel. He was loved by all and a true talmud chacham. His love of learning encouraged me to learn Daf at a later age and I now see his passion. Yehi zichro baruch." 

Today's daf is sponsored by Becki Goldstein for a refuah shleima of her grandson Eitan Efraim ben Ayelet. "Tfilot for the success of a long and complicated surgery for Eitan to repair the nervous system from his shoulder to his fingertips from his injury in Gaza. May the operating team be shlichim neamanim B"H."

In three separate encounters with either the emperor or a heretic, the question is asked: how could God possibly bring back to life those who have died? In each incident, the Jew offers a different answer. In the third encounter, Geviha ben Pesisa responds.

Three additional stories describe when Jews were brought to trial before Alexander of Macedon by other nations. In each case, Geviha argues on behalf of the Jews. The pattern is consistent: the opposing nation uses a verse from the Torah to attack Jewish actions, and Geviha counters with a different verse that refutes their claim.

Antoninus raises several questions to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Some questions Rabbi Yehuda resolves, while on others, Antoninus convinces him of a different view. The first question concerns how both body and soul can claim exemption from judgment after death, each blaming the other for causing sin. The second asks why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The third explores when the soul enters a person—at conception or during fetal development. The fourth examines when the evil inclination begins to influence a person—during fetal development or at birth.

Reish Lakish, Ulla, Rav Chisda, and Rava each present seemingly contradictory verses about life after death, mortality, or resurrection. Each sage then resolves the contradiction he identified.

Five additional verses are presented as proof of resurrection from the Torah.

Rav Yehuda, citing Rav, teaches that withholding a halakha from a student is equivalent to stealing from their inheritance, since the Torah was given as an inheritance to all Jewish people.

Study Guide Sanhedrin 90

Today's daf is sponsored by Rachel Savin in loving memory of her father, Shalom ben Shmuel, on his third yahrzeit.

Rabbi Shimon and the rabbis disagree about the death penalty for a prophet who tries to sway the people to worship idols. Rav Chisda and Rav Hamnuna disagree about whether their debate extends to a prophet who tries to sway the people to uproot a different commandment entirely or is it limited to idol worship only. A braita relating to this issue is quoted and Abaye explains it according to Rav Chisda, and Rava explains it according to Rav Hamnuna.

Two approaches are brought to explain why the Torah specifically brought a verse about a prophet who uses signs to show he is telling the truth and then tells the people to worship idols. Is it because idol worshippers have the power to make signs, or is there a concern that a true prophet may turn bad and try to sway people to worship idols after having shown signs as a true prophet?

The eleventh chapter of Sanhedrin begins with a list of who has a part in the world-to-come and who does not. The first topic the Gemara delves into is the resurrection of the dead, as one who does not believe in that does not have a part in the world-to-come. What is the source for the resurrection of the dead in the Torah? Several debates are brought between gentiles or heretics who argued with the rabbis about belief in the resurrection of the dead and the proofs of the rabbis.