Eruvin Daf 91 Today’s daf starts with a summary review of all opinions in the mishna by Rav Yehuda (actually starting at the bottom of daf 90) and goes on to present ברייתות that support Rav’s understanding of חכמים and Rav Yehuda’s understanding of Rebbi Shimon. We then spend the rest of the daf teasing out Rebbi Shimon’s position and questioning if we can extrapolate how חכמים would rule in those cases and we delve into Rebbi Shimon’s position, whom we pasken according to, in order to fully understand all aspects of his ruling.
Teachers: Susan Suna and Dena Rock
Our shiur today was dedicated to two talmedei Chachamim. Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l and Rabbi Yonatan Sacks zt”l. They passed away within hours of each other. Depending in which circles you travel one was more known than the other. Rabbi Sacks’ zt”l prolific teachings were made accessible to all via articles, videos and books published worldwide. He was truly a spokesperson for the Jewish people, both in discussing the meaning of Judaism to the Jewish people and to the world at large. He was able to promote international and interfaith unity while strongly exemplifying the devout Jew and teaching Jewish texts. In the circles I travel he was the one who I turned to for a dvar Torah or for chizuk. My favorite video of his – is one that is accessible to people of all ages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAbiFbpQP8o.
Rov Dovid Feinstein zt”l was someone in the background. He was a posek halacha who answered numerous questions and wrote many books. While both men are described as being able to encapsulate their sense of responsibility with humility, I only heard his name sporadically. However, the reverberations of his writings and teachings have affected my life. I mention two popular topics among many. One being that a number of years ago I signed a halachic donation card. Many poskim now agree that brain death is considered death. There was a shift in the view of brain death as the defining moment of death and credit goes to Rav Dovid who clarified his father Rav Moshe Feinstein’s position regarding this matter and supported organ donation thereby making it more acceptable.
We speak about trying to distance ourselves from Lashon Harah – Rav Dovid took upon himself this middah at his bar mitzvah as his parsha was parshat Korach. The importance of this mitzva has spread and today many groups learn the Chofetz Chaim’s shmirat halashon and I am now part of whatsapp group that focuses on this topic.
For me it is hard not to note that within 24 hours both a Yonatan and David have left our world. In the Tanach there was a lasting true friendship between Yonatan and David. Each had their role and each worked for the benefit of Am Yisrael. שיהיה זכרם ברוך
