Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi made a big heiter – no need for tithing produce (that is not grapes, olives or grain) in Beit Shean as it is not considered Israel for those purposes. What is the story about the donkey of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair who wouldn’t eat produce that was untithed? This story comes in the context of a longer story about Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair on his way to redeem captives. He was very careful never to eat at anyone else’s table.
This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
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This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
Chullin 7
אֶלָּא מָקוֹם הִנִּיחוּ לוֹ אֲבוֹתָיו לְהִתְגַּדֵּר בּוֹ, אַף אֲנִי מָקוֹם הִנִּיחוּ לִי אֲבוֹתַי לְהִתְגַּדֵּר בּוֹ.
Rather, it must be that in not eradicating the serpent, his ancestors left Hezekiah room through which to achieve prominence [lehitgader]. I too can say that my ancestors left me room through which to achieve prominence by permitting untithed produce from Beit She’an.
מִכָּאן לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם שֶׁאָמַר דְּבַר הֲלָכָה, שֶׁאֵין מְזִיחִין אוֹתוֹ, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אֵין מַזְנִיחִין אוֹתוֹ, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אֵין מַזְחִיחִין אוֹתוֹ.
The Gemara adds: From here one learns with regard to a Torah scholar who states a new matter of halakha that one does not move [meziḥin] him from his position; and some say: One does not disregard [mazniḥin] him; and some say: One does not attribute his innovative statement to his conceit [mazḥiḥin].
מַאן דְּאָמַר ״מְזִיחִין״ – כְּדִכְתִיב: ״וְלֹא יִזַּח הַחֹשֶׁן״, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״אֵין מַזְנִיחִין״ – דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי לֹא יִזְנַח לְעוֹלָם ה׳״, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״מַזְחִיחִין״ – דִּתְנַן: מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ זְחוּחֵי הַלֵּב רַבּוּ מַחְלוֹקוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
The Gemara explains: With regard to the one who says meziḥin, it is as that which is written: “And the breastplate shall not be loosed [yizaḥ] from the ephod” (Exodus 28:28). And with regard to the one who says: One does not disregard [mazniḥin], it is as it is written: “For the Lord will not abandon [yizaḥ] forever” (Lamentations 3:31). And with regard to the one who says mazḥiḥin, it is as we learned in a baraita (Tosefta, Sota 14:9): From the time that those with conceited [zeḥuḥei] hearts proliferated, dispute proliferated among the Jewish people.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי: וּמִי אִיכָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר דְּבֵית שְׁאָן לָאו מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא? וְהָכְתִיב: ״וְלֹא הוֹרִישׁ מְנַשֶּׁה אֶת בֵּית שְׁאָן וְאֶת בְּנוֹתֶיהָ וְאֶת תַּעְנַךְ וְאֶת בְּנֹתֶיהָ״!
Yehuda, son of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, objects to the basic halakha: And is there anyone who says that Beit She’an is not part of Eretz Yisrael? But isn’t it written: “And Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth She’an and its towns, nor of Taanach and its towns” (Judges 1:27).
אִישְׁתְּמִיטְתֵּיהּ הָא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְיָקִים, מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן פְּדָת, שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ: הַרְבֵּה כְּרַכִּים כְּבָשׁוּם עוֹלֵי מִצְרַיִם, וְלֹא כְּבָשׁוּם עוֹלֵי בָּבֶל.
The Gemara answers: That which Rabbi Shimon ben Elyakim says in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat, who says in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua, escaped the attention of Yehuda: Many cities were conquered by those who ascended from Egypt to Eretz Yisrael, led by Joshua, son of Nun, and were not conquered by those who ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael in the return to Zion led by Ezra. Among those cities was Beit She’an.
וְקָסָבַר: קְדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִדְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְלֹא קִדְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וְהִנִּיחוּם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּסְמְכוּ עֲלֵיהֶן עֲנִיִּים בַּשְּׁבִיעִית.
And Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi holds: The initial consecration with which Eretz Yisrael was sanctified during the era of Joshua, son of Nun, in terms of the obligation to fulfill land-based mitzvot, sanctified Eretz Yisrael for its time but did not sanctify it forever. Rather, the obligation lapsed with the exile to Babylonia. When those who ascended from Babylonia returned to Eretz Yisrael and sanctified the land, they left certain places unsanctified, so that the poor would rely upon them for sustenance during the Sabbatical Year, when produce is not plentiful. Since these areas were not sanctified, it is permitted to sow crops there during the Sabbatical Year, and the poor will not go hungry. Once Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi discovered that Beit She’an was one of those cities, he exempted it from land-based mitzvot.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה לְרַבִּי זֵירָא: וְהָא רַבִּי מֵאִיר עָלֶה בְּעָלְמָא הוּא דְּאָכֵיל! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מֵאֲגוּדָּה אַכְלֵיהּ, וּתְנַן: יָרָק הַנֶּאֱגָד מִשֶּׁיֵּאָגֵד.
Rabbi Yirmeya said to Rabbi Zeira: How did Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi rely on the testimony of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeruz to exempt from terumot and tithes produce that grows in Beit She’an? But wasn’t it merely a leaf that Rabbi Meir ate? It is permitted to eat untithed produce incidentally, not in the framework of a meal. Rabbi Zeira said to him: He ate the leaf from a bundle, and we learned in a mishna (Ma’asrot 1:5): With regard to a vegetable that is typically bound in a bundle, one is obligated to separate teruma and tithes from the moment that it is bound. From that point, one may not eat from it even incidentally before tithing.
וְדִלְמָא לָאו אַדַּעְתֵּיהּ? הַשְׁתָּא, בְּהֶמְתָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא תַּקָּלָה עַל יָדָן, צַדִּיקִים עַצְמָן לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן!
Rabbi Yirmeya said to Rabbi Zeira: And perhaps it was not on Rabbi Meir’s mind, and his attention was diverted when he ate the leaf. Rabbi Zeira answered: Now, since even with regard to the animals of the righteous, the Holy One, Blessed be He, does not generate mishaps through them, is it not all the more so true that the righteous themselves would not experience mishaps?
וְדִלְמָא עִישֵּׂר עֲלֵיהֶם מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר? לֹא נֶחְשְׁדוּ חֲבֵרִים לִתְרוֹם שֶׁלֹּא מִן הַמּוּקָּף. וְדִלְמָא נָתַן עֵינָיו בְּצַד זֶה וְאָכַל בְּצַד אַחֵר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲזִי מַאן גַּבְרָא רַבָּה קָמַסְהֵיד עֲלֵיהּ.
Rabbi Yirmeya asked: And perhaps Rabbi Meir tithed those leaves from produce in another place. Rabbi Zeira answered: Ḥaverim are not suspected of separating teruma from produce that is not proximate to the produce for which it is being separated. Rabbi Yirmeya asked: And perhaps Rabbi Meir set his sight on this side of the vegetable with the intent of separating teruma and tithes, and ate a leaf on the other side. Rabbi Zeira said to him: See who the great man is who is testifying about Rabbi Meir. Certainly a man of the stature of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeruz accurately observed and reported Rabbi Meir’s actions.
מַאי בְּהֶמְתָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים? דְּרַבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר הֲוָה קָאָזֵיל לְפִדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִין, פְּגַע בֵּיהּ בְּגִינַּאי נַהֲרָא.
§ The Gemara asks: What is the reference to animals of the righteous, about whom it is stated that God does not generate mishaps through them? It is based on the incident where Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir was going to engage in the redemption of captives, and he encountered the Ginai River.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: גִּינַּאי, חֲלוֹק לִי מֵימֶךָ וְאֶעֱבוֹר בָּךְ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנֶךָ וַאֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנִי, אַתָּה סָפֵק עוֹשֶׂה סָפֵק אִי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה, אֲנִי וַדַּאי עוֹשֶׂה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִם אִי אַתָּה חוֹלֵק גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא יַעַבְרוּ בְּךָ מַיִם לְעוֹלָם. חֲלַק לֵיהּ.
He said to the river: Ginai, part your water for me and I will pass through you. The river said to him: You are going to perform the will of your Maker and I am going to perform the will of my Maker, to flow in my path. With regard to you, it is uncertain whether you will perform His will successfully, and it is uncertain whether you will not perform His will successfully. I will certainly perform His will successfully. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to the river: If you do not part, I will decree upon you that water will never flow through you. The river parted for him.
הֲוָה הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה דָּארֵי חִיטֵּי לְפִיסְחָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חֲלוֹק לֵיהּ נָמֵי לְהַאי, דִּבְמִצְוָה עָסֵיק. חֲלַק לֵיהּ. הֲוָה הָהוּא טַיָּיעָא דִּלְוָוה בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חֲלוֹק לֵיהּ נָמֵי לְהַאי, דְּלָא לֵימָא: ״כָּךְ עוֹשִׂים לִבְנֵי לְוִיָּה״, חֲלַק לֵיהּ.
There was a certain man who was carrying wheat for the preparation of matza for Passover. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to the river: Part your waters for that person too, as he is engaged in the performance of a mitzva. The river parted for him. There was a certain Arab [taya’a] who was accompanying them. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to the river: Part your waters for that person too, so that he will not say: Is that what one does to a person who accompanies him? The river parted for him.
אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: כַּמָּה נְפִישׁ גַּבְרָא מִמֹּשֶׁה וְשִׁתִּין רִבְּוָון, דְּאִילּוּ הָתָם חַד זִימְנָא, וְהָכָא תְּלָתָא זִימְנִין. וְדִלְמָא הָכָא נָמֵי חֲדָא זִימְנָא? אֶלָּא כְּמֹשֶׁה וְשִׁתִּין רִבְּוָון.
Rav Yosef said: How great is this man, Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir, greater than Moses and the six hundred thousand who left Egypt, as there, at the Red Sea, the waters parted one time, and here the waters parted three times. The Gemara asks: And perhaps here too, the waters parted one time, and the river began to flow again only after all three of them passed. Rather, this man was as great as Moses and the six hundred thousand children of Israel.
אִקְּלַע לְהָהוּא אוּשְׁפִּיזָא, רְמוֹ לֵיהּ שְׂעָרֵי לְחַמְרֵיהּ, לָא אֲכַל.
After crossing the river, Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir happened to come to a certain inn [ushpiza]. His hosts cast barley before his donkey for him to eat. The donkey did not eat it.
חַבְטִינְהוּ, לָא אֲכַל. נַקְּרִינְהוּ, לָא אֲכַל. אֲמַר לְהוּ: דִּלְמָא לָא מְעַשְּׂרָן? עַשְּׂרִינְהוּ, וַאֲכַל. אָמַר: עֲנִיָּיה זוֹ הוֹלֶכֶת לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנָהּ, וְאַתֶּם מַאֲכִילִין אוֹתָהּ טְבָלִים!
The hosts sifted the barley with a utensil, but the donkey did not eat it. They separated the chaff from the barley by hand, but the donkey did not eat it. They wondered why the donkey would not eat the barley. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to his hosts: Perhaps the barley is not tithed. They tithed it and the donkey ate it. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said: This poor animal is going to perform the will of its Maker, and you are feeding it untithed produce? Rabbi Zeira was referring to this donkey when it spoke of God preventing mishaps from occurring through animals of the righteous.
וּמִי מִיחַיְּיבָא? וְהָתְנַן: הַלּוֹקֵחַ לְזֶרַע, וְלִבְהֵמָה, וְקֶמַח לְעוֹרוֹת, וְשֶׁמֶן לַנֵּר, וְשֶׁמֶן לָסוּךְ בּוֹ אֶת הַכֵּלִים – פָּטוּר מֵהַדְּמַאי.
The Gemara asks: And is one who purchases grain that is demai in order to feed his animal obligated to tithe it? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Demai 1:3): One who purchases grain in the market for sowing or for feeding an animal, or flour to process animal hides, or oil to kindle a lamp, or oil to smear on vessels is exempt from the obligation of tithing demai?
הָתָם הָא אִתְּמַר עֲלַהּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלְּקָחָן מִתְּחִלָּה לִבְהֵמָה, אֲבָל לְקָחָן מִתְּחִלָּה לְאָדָם וְנִמְלַךְ עֲלֵיהֶם לִבְהֵמָה – חַיָּיב לְעַשֵּׂר. וְהָתַנְיָא: הַלּוֹקֵחַ פֵּירוֹת מִן הַשּׁוּק לַאֲכִילָה וְנִמְלַךְ עֲלֵיהֶן לִבְהֵמָה – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִתֵּן לֹא לִפְנֵי בְּהֶמְתּוֹ וְלֹא לִפְנֵי בֶּהֱמַת חֲבֵרוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עִישֵּׂר.
The Gemara answers: There, it was stated with regard to that mishna that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: They taught this only in a case where one purchased those items initially for the animal or for the other purposes enumerated in the mishna, but if he purchased them initially for a person and reconsidered his plans for them and decided to use them for an animal, he is obligated to tithe the demai. And it is taught in a baraita in support of that understanding: In the case of one who purchases produce from the market for human consumption, and he reconsidered his plans for it and decided to use it for an animal, that person may neither place it before his animal nor before the animal of another unless he tithed the produce.
שְׁמַע רַבִּי, נְפַק לְאַפֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רְצוֹנְךָ סְעוֹד אֶצְלִי? אָמַר לוֹ: הֵן. צָהֲבוּ פָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard that Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir arrived, and he emerged to greet him. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: Is it your desire to dine with me? Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: Yes. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s face beamed [tzahavu], as it was well known that Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir did not accept invitations to dine with others.
אָמַר לוֹ: כִּמְדוּמֶּה אַתָּה שֶׁמּוּדָּר הֲנָאָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי? יִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשִׁים הֵן, יֵשׁ רוֹצֶה וְאֵין לוֹ, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ וְאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה, וּכְתִיב: ״אַל תִּלְחַם אֶת לֶחֶם רַע עָיִן וְאַל תִּתְאָיו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָיו כִּי כְּמוֹ שָׁעַר בְּנַפְשׁוֹ כֶּן הוּא אֱכוֹל וּשְׁתֵה יֹאמַר לָךְ וְלִבּוֹ בַּל עִמָּךְ״, וְאַתָּה רוֹצֶה וְיֵשׁ לְךָ.
Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Are you under the impression that deriving benefit from the Jewish people is forbidden to me by vow? On the contrary, the Jewish people are holy. I avoid accepting invitations, as there is one who wants to invite guests to dine with him but he does not have the means, and I do not want to enjoy a meal that my host cannot afford. And there is one who has the means but does not want to host guests, and with regard to those people it is written: “Eat not the bread of him that has an evil eye, neither desire his delicacies. For as one that has reckoned within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to you; but his heart is not with you” (Proverbs 23:6–7). But you want to invite guests to dine with you, and you have the means.
מִיהָא הַשְׁתָּא מְסַרְהֵיבְנָא, דִּבְמִלְּתָא דְּמִצְוָה קָא טָרַחְנָא, כִּי הָדַרְנָא אָתֵינָא עָיֵילְנָא לְגַבָּךְ.
But now I am rushing [mesarheivna], as I am engaged in the performance of a matter involving a mitzva. When I come back I will enter to dine with you.
כִּי אֲתָא, אִיתְרְמִי עָל בְּהָהוּא פִּיתְחָא דַּהֲווֹ קָיְימִין בֵּיהּ כּוּדַנְיָיתָא חִוָּורָתָא, אָמַר: מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה וַאֲנִי אֶסְעוֹד אֶצְלוֹ?
When Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir came back, he happened to enter through that entrance in which white mules were standing. He said: The Angel of Death is in this person’s house, and I will eat with him? White mules were known to be dangerous animals.
שְׁמַע רַבִּי נְפַק לְאַפֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְזַבֵּנְינָא לְהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשֹׁל״.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard the comment of Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir and emerged to greet him. He said to him: I will sell the mules. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: You will thereby violate the prohibition: “Nor place a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14), as it is prohibited for any Jew to keep a destructive animal in his possession.
מַפְקַרְנָא לְהוּ, מַפְּשַׁתְּ הֶיזֵּקָא. עָקַרְנָא לְהוּ, אִיכָּא צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים. קָטֵילְנָא לְהוּ, אִיכָּא ״בַּל תַּשְׁחִית״.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: I will declare the mules ownerless. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: You will thereby increase the damage, as there will be no owner to restrain it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: I will remove their hooves so that they will be unable to kick and cause damage. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: There is the requirement to prevent suffering to animals, and you will be violating it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: I will kill them. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: There is the prohibition: Do not destroy items of value.
הֲוָה קָא מְבַתֵּשׁ בֵּיהּ טוּבָא, גְּבַהּ טוּרָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, בָּכָה רַבִּי וְאָמַר: מָה בְּחַיֵּיהֶן כָּךְ, בְּמִיתָתָן עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה! דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא: גְּדוֹלִים צַדִּיקִים בְּמִיתָתָן יוֹתֵר מִבְּחַיֵּיהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי הֵם קוֹבְרִים אִישׁ וְהִנֵּה רָאוּ הַגְּדוּד וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ אֶת הָאִישׁ בְּקֶבֶר אֱלִישָׁע וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּגַּע הָאִישׁ בְּעַצְמוֹת אֱלִישָׁע וַיְחִי וַיָּקׇם עַל רַגְלָיו״.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was greatly imploring him to enter his home until a mountain rose between them and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi could no longer speak with him. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi wept and said: If during their lifetimes it is so that the righteous are great, after their death it is all the more so true. The Gemara comments: This is as Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina says: The righteous are greater after their death, more so than during their lifetimes, as it is stated: “And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that they spied a raiding party; and they cast the man into the tomb of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet” (II Kings 13:21).
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: וְדִילְמָא לְקַיּוֹמֵי בֵּיהּ בִּרְכְּתָא דְּאֵלִיָּהוּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וִיהִי נָא פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחֲךָ אֵלָי״? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִי הָכִי, הַיְינוּ דְּתַנְיָא: עַל רַגְלָיו עָמַד, וּלְבֵיתוֹ לֹא הָלַךְ!
Rav Pappa said to Abaye: This proof from the case of Elisha that the righteous are greater after death is not valid. And perhaps this transpired to fulfill with regard to Elisha the blessing of Elijah, as it is written: “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (II Kings 2:9). Elijah revived one dead person and this one is the second revived by Elisha. Abaye said to Rav Pappa: If so, is this consistent with that which is taught in a baraita: The dead person arose on his feet but he did not go to his home, indicating that he had not truly been revived?
אֶלָּא בְּמָה אִיקַּיַּים? כִּדְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁרִיפֵּא צָרַעַת נַעֲמָן, שֶׁהִיא שְׁקוּלָה כְּמֵת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַל נָא תְהִי כַּמֵּת״.
The Gemara asks: But if that is the case, in what manner was Elijah’s blessing fulfilled? It is as Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The blessing was fulfilled when he cured the leprosy of Naaman, since a leper is equivalent to a dead person, as it is stated with regard to Miriam when she was afflicted with leprosy: “Please, let her not be as one dead” (Numbers 12:12).
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָן ״יֵמִים״ – שֶׁאֵימָתָם מוּטֶּלֶת עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מִיָּמַי לֹא שְׁאָלַנִי אָדָם עַל מַכַּת פִּרְדָּה לְבָנָה וְחָיָה. וְהָא קָחָזֵינָא דְּחָיֵי! אֵימָא: ״וְחָיָית״, וְהָא קָחָזֵינָא דְּמִיתַּסֵּי! דְּחִיוָּורָן רֵישׁ כַּרְעַיְיהוּ קָא אָמְרִינַן.
Apropos white mules, which were likened to the Angel of Death, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Why are the mules called yemim (see Genesis 36:24)? It is because their terror [eimatam] is cast over all creatures, as Rabbi Ḥanina says: In all my days, no man has asked me about a wound caused him by a white mule and survived, indicating that they are extremely dangerous. The Gemara asks: But haven’t we seen that some people survive after being wounded by a white mule? The Gemara answers: Say instead, no man has asked me about a wound caused him by a mule and the wound healed. The Gemara asks: But haven’t we seen that such wounds heal? The Gemara answers: The wound that we say does not heal is one caused by a mule the top of whose legs are white.
״אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּוֹ״ – אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: וַאֲפִילּוּ כְּשָׁפִים. הָהִיא אִיתְּתָא דַּהֲוָת קָא מְהַדְּרָא לְמִישְׁקַל עַפְרָא מִתּוּתֵי כַּרְעֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, אֲמַר לַהּ: שְׁקוּלִי, לָא מִסְתַּיְּיעָא מִילְּתִיךְ, ״אֵין עוֹד מִלְבַדּוֹ״ כְּתִיב. וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָן כְּשָׁפִים – שֶׁמַּכְחִישִׁין פָּמַלְיָא שֶׁל מַעְלָה! שָׁאנֵי רַבִּי חֲנִינָא דִּנְפִישָׁא זְכוּתֵיהּ.
The Gemara relates other statements of Rabbi Ḥanina: With regard to the verse: “There is none else beside Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35), Rabbi Ḥanina says: And even sorcery is ineffective against the will of God. The Gemara relates: There was a certain woman who would try to take dust from beneath the feet of Rabbi Ḥanina in order to perform sorcery on him and harm him. Rabbi Ḥanina said to her: Take the dust, but the matter will be ineffective for you, as it is written: “There is none other beside Him.” The Gemara asks: But doesn’t Rabbi Yoḥanan say: Why is sorcery called keshafim? It is an acronym for makhḥishin pamalya shel mala, meaning: That they diminish the heavenly entourage [pamalya], indicating that they function contrary to the will of God. The Gemara answers: Rabbi Ḥanina is different, as, because his merit is great, sorcery has no effect on him.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: אֵין אָדָם נוֹקֵף אֶצְבָּעוֹ מִלְּמַטָּה, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַכְרִיזִין עָלָיו מִלְּמַעְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מֵה׳ מִצְעֲדֵי גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ וְאָדָם מַה יָּבִין דַּרְכּוֹ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: דַּם נִיקּוּף מְרַצֶּה כְּדַם עוֹלָה. אָמַר רָבָא: בְּגוּדָל יָמִין, וּבְנִיקּוּף שֵׁנִי, וְהוּא דְּקָאָזֵיל לִדְבַר מִצְוָה.
And Rabbi Ḥanina says: A person injures his finger below, on earth, only if they declare about him on high that he should be injured, as it is stated: It is of the Lord that a man’s goings are established; and a man, what does he understand of his way (see Psalms 37:23 and Proverbs 20:24). Rabbi Elazar says: The blood of a wound effects atonement like the blood of a burnt offering. Rava said: This is stated with regard to a wound on his right thumb, as one applies force with that thumb and the wound is consequently more severe; and it is also stated with regard to a second wound in the same place before the first has healed, and it is provided that he is wounded while going to perform a matter involving a mitzva.
אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר: מִיָּמָיו לֹא בָּצַע עַל פְּרוּסָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁלּוֹ, וּמִיּוֹם שֶׁעָמַד עַל דַּעְתּוֹ לֹא נֶהֱנָה מִסְּעוּדַת אָבִיו.
Apropos Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir, the Gemara notes that they said about Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir: In all his days he never broke bread and recited a blessing on a piece of bread that was not his, and from the day that he achieved cognition he did not benefit even from the meal of his father, because he eschewed benefit from everyone.
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Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.
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Newton, 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
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Ontario, Canada
I attended the Siyum so that I could tell my granddaughter that I had been there. Then I decided to listen on Spotify and after the siyum of Brachot, Covid and zoom began. It gave structure to my day. I learn with people from all over the world who are now my friends – yet most of us have never met. I can’t imagine life without it. Thank you Rabbanit Michelle.
Emma Rinberg
Raanana, Israel
In my Shana bet at Migdal Oz I attended the Hadran siyum hash”as. Witnessing so many women so passionate about their Torah learning and connection to God, I knew I had to begin with the coming cycle. My wedding (June 24) was two weeks before the siyum of mesechet yoma so I went a little ahead and was able to make a speech and siyum at my kiseh kallah on my wedding day!
Sharona Guggenheim Plumb
Givat Shmuel, Israel
I started learning at the beginning of this Daf Yomi cycle because I heard a lot about the previous cycle coming to an end and thought it would be a good thing to start doing. My husband had already bought several of the Koren Talmud Bavli books and they were just sitting on the shelf, not being used, so here was an opportunity to start using them and find out exactly what was in them. Loving it!
Caroline Levison
Borehamwood, United Kingdom
I started learning Daf in Jan 2020 with Brachot b/c I had never seen the Jewish people united around something so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, I wanted to broaden my background in Torah Shebal Peh- Maayanot gave me a great gemara education, but I knew that I could hold a conversation in most parts of tanach but almost no TSB. I’m so thankful for Daf and have gained immensely.
Meira Shapiro
NJ, United States
I started learning at the beginning of this cycle more than 2 years ago, and I have not missed a day or a daf. It’s been challenging and enlightening and even mind-numbing at times, but the learning and the shared experience have all been worth it. If you are open to it, there’s no telling what might come into your life.
Patti Evans
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!
Lisa Lawrence
Neve Daniel, Israel
I started learning with rabbis. I needed to know more than the stories. My first teacher to show me “the way of the Talmud” as well as the stories was Samara Schwartz.
Michelle Farber started the new cycle 2 yrs ago and I jumped on for the ride.
I do not look back.
Jenifer Nech
Houston, United States
I started learning Talmud with R’ Haramati in Yeshivah of Flatbush. But after a respite of 60 years, Rabbanit Michelle lit my fire – after attending the last three world siyumim in Miami Beach, Meadowlands and Boca Raton, and now that I’m retired, I decided – “I can do this!” It has been an incredible journey so far, and I look forward to learning Daf everyday – Mazal Tov to everyone!
Roslyn Jaffe
Florida, United States
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
Jerusalem, Israel
I heard the new Daf Yomi cycle was starting and I was curious, so I searched online for a women’s class and was pleasently surprised to find Rabanit Michelle’s great class reviews in many online articles. It has been a splendid journey. It is a way to fill my days with Torah, learning so many amazing things I have never heard before during my Tanach learning at High School. Thanks so much .
Martha Tarazi
Panama, Panama
I decided to learn one masechet, Brachot, but quickly fell in love and never stopped! It has been great, everyone is always asking how it’s going and chering me on, and my students are always making sure I did the day’s daf.
Yafit Fishbach
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
I began learning the daf in January 2022. I initially “flew under the radar,” sharing my journey with my husband and a few close friends. I was apprehensive – who, me? Gemara? Now, 2 years in, I feel changed. The rigor of a daily commitment frames my days. The intellectual engagement enhances my knowledge. And the virtual community of learners has become a new family, weaving a glorious tapestry.
Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld
Far Rockaway, United States
When I began the previous cycle, I promised myself that if I stuck with it, I would reward myself with a trip to Israel. Little did I know that the trip would involve attending the first ever women’s siyum and being inspired by so many learners. I am now over 2 years into my second cycle and being part of this large, diverse, fascinating learning family has enhanced my learning exponentially.
Shira Krebs
Minnesota, United States
I started learning Daf Yomi inspired by תָּפַסְתָּ מְרוּבֶּה לֹא תָּפַסְתָּ, תָּפַסְתָּ מוּעָט תָּפַסְתָּ. I thought I’d start the first page, and then see. I was swept up into the enthusiasm of the Hadran Siyum, and from there the momentum kept building. Rabbanit Michelle’s shiur gives me an anchor, a connection to an incredible virtual community, and an energy to face whatever the day brings.
Medinah Korn
בית שמש, Israel
When we heard that R. Michelle was starting daf yomi, my 11-year-old suggested that I go. Little did she know that she would lose me every morning from then on. I remember standing at the Farbers’ door, almost too shy to enter. After that first class, I said that I would come the next day but couldn’t commit to more. A decade later, I still look forward to learning from R. Michelle every morning.
Ruth Leah Kahan
Ra’anana, Israel
I started learning Dec 2019 after reading “If all the Seas Were Ink”. I found
Daily daf sessions of Rabbanit Michelle in her house teaching, I then heard about the siyum and a new cycle starting wow I am in! Afternoon here in Sydney, my family and friends know this is my sacred time to hide away to live zoom and learn. Often it’s hard to absorb and relate then a gem shines touching my heart.
Dianne Kuchar
Dover Heights, Australia
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
Toronto, Canada
I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.
Leah Goldford
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Chullin 7
אֶלָּא מָקוֹם הִנִּיחוּ לוֹ אֲבוֹתָיו לְהִתְגַּדֵּר בּוֹ, אַף אֲנִי מָקוֹם הִנִּיחוּ לִי אֲבוֹתַי לְהִתְגַּדֵּר בּוֹ.
Rather, it must be that in not eradicating the serpent, his ancestors left Hezekiah room through which to achieve prominence [lehitgader]. I too can say that my ancestors left me room through which to achieve prominence by permitting untithed produce from Beit She’an.
מִכָּאן לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם שֶׁאָמַר דְּבַר הֲלָכָה, שֶׁאֵין מְזִיחִין אוֹתוֹ, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אֵין מַזְנִיחִין אוֹתוֹ, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אֵין מַזְחִיחִין אוֹתוֹ.
The Gemara adds: From here one learns with regard to a Torah scholar who states a new matter of halakha that one does not move [meziḥin] him from his position; and some say: One does not disregard [mazniḥin] him; and some say: One does not attribute his innovative statement to his conceit [mazḥiḥin].
מַאן דְּאָמַר ״מְזִיחִין״ – כְּדִכְתִיב: ״וְלֹא יִזַּח הַחֹשֶׁן״, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״אֵין מַזְנִיחִין״ – דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי לֹא יִזְנַח לְעוֹלָם ה׳״, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״מַזְחִיחִין״ – דִּתְנַן: מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ זְחוּחֵי הַלֵּב רַבּוּ מַחְלוֹקוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
The Gemara explains: With regard to the one who says meziḥin, it is as that which is written: “And the breastplate shall not be loosed [yizaḥ] from the ephod” (Exodus 28:28). And with regard to the one who says: One does not disregard [mazniḥin], it is as it is written: “For the Lord will not abandon [yizaḥ] forever” (Lamentations 3:31). And with regard to the one who says mazḥiḥin, it is as we learned in a baraita (Tosefta, Sota 14:9): From the time that those with conceited [zeḥuḥei] hearts proliferated, dispute proliferated among the Jewish people.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי: וּמִי אִיכָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר דְּבֵית שְׁאָן לָאו מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא? וְהָכְתִיב: ״וְלֹא הוֹרִישׁ מְנַשֶּׁה אֶת בֵּית שְׁאָן וְאֶת בְּנוֹתֶיהָ וְאֶת תַּעְנַךְ וְאֶת בְּנֹתֶיהָ״!
Yehuda, son of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, objects to the basic halakha: And is there anyone who says that Beit She’an is not part of Eretz Yisrael? But isn’t it written: “And Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth She’an and its towns, nor of Taanach and its towns” (Judges 1:27).
אִישְׁתְּמִיטְתֵּיהּ הָא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְיָקִים, מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן פְּדָת, שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ: הַרְבֵּה כְּרַכִּים כְּבָשׁוּם עוֹלֵי מִצְרַיִם, וְלֹא כְּבָשׁוּם עוֹלֵי בָּבֶל.
The Gemara answers: That which Rabbi Shimon ben Elyakim says in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat, who says in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua, escaped the attention of Yehuda: Many cities were conquered by those who ascended from Egypt to Eretz Yisrael, led by Joshua, son of Nun, and were not conquered by those who ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael in the return to Zion led by Ezra. Among those cities was Beit She’an.
וְקָסָבַר: קְדוּשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִדְּשָׁה לִשְׁעָתָהּ וְלֹא קִדְּשָׁה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וְהִנִּיחוּם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּסְמְכוּ עֲלֵיהֶן עֲנִיִּים בַּשְּׁבִיעִית.
And Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi holds: The initial consecration with which Eretz Yisrael was sanctified during the era of Joshua, son of Nun, in terms of the obligation to fulfill land-based mitzvot, sanctified Eretz Yisrael for its time but did not sanctify it forever. Rather, the obligation lapsed with the exile to Babylonia. When those who ascended from Babylonia returned to Eretz Yisrael and sanctified the land, they left certain places unsanctified, so that the poor would rely upon them for sustenance during the Sabbatical Year, when produce is not plentiful. Since these areas were not sanctified, it is permitted to sow crops there during the Sabbatical Year, and the poor will not go hungry. Once Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi discovered that Beit She’an was one of those cities, he exempted it from land-based mitzvot.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה לְרַבִּי זֵירָא: וְהָא רַבִּי מֵאִיר עָלֶה בְּעָלְמָא הוּא דְּאָכֵיל! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מֵאֲגוּדָּה אַכְלֵיהּ, וּתְנַן: יָרָק הַנֶּאֱגָד מִשֶּׁיֵּאָגֵד.
Rabbi Yirmeya said to Rabbi Zeira: How did Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi rely on the testimony of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeruz to exempt from terumot and tithes produce that grows in Beit She’an? But wasn’t it merely a leaf that Rabbi Meir ate? It is permitted to eat untithed produce incidentally, not in the framework of a meal. Rabbi Zeira said to him: He ate the leaf from a bundle, and we learned in a mishna (Ma’asrot 1:5): With regard to a vegetable that is typically bound in a bundle, one is obligated to separate teruma and tithes from the moment that it is bound. From that point, one may not eat from it even incidentally before tithing.
וְדִלְמָא לָאו אַדַּעְתֵּיהּ? הַשְׁתָּא, בְּהֶמְתָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא תַּקָּלָה עַל יָדָן, צַדִּיקִים עַצְמָן לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן!
Rabbi Yirmeya said to Rabbi Zeira: And perhaps it was not on Rabbi Meir’s mind, and his attention was diverted when he ate the leaf. Rabbi Zeira answered: Now, since even with regard to the animals of the righteous, the Holy One, Blessed be He, does not generate mishaps through them, is it not all the more so true that the righteous themselves would not experience mishaps?
וְדִלְמָא עִישֵּׂר עֲלֵיהֶם מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר? לֹא נֶחְשְׁדוּ חֲבֵרִים לִתְרוֹם שֶׁלֹּא מִן הַמּוּקָּף. וְדִלְמָא נָתַן עֵינָיו בְּצַד זֶה וְאָכַל בְּצַד אַחֵר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲזִי מַאן גַּבְרָא רַבָּה קָמַסְהֵיד עֲלֵיהּ.
Rabbi Yirmeya asked: And perhaps Rabbi Meir tithed those leaves from produce in another place. Rabbi Zeira answered: Ḥaverim are not suspected of separating teruma from produce that is not proximate to the produce for which it is being separated. Rabbi Yirmeya asked: And perhaps Rabbi Meir set his sight on this side of the vegetable with the intent of separating teruma and tithes, and ate a leaf on the other side. Rabbi Zeira said to him: See who the great man is who is testifying about Rabbi Meir. Certainly a man of the stature of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeruz accurately observed and reported Rabbi Meir’s actions.
מַאי בְּהֶמְתָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים? דְּרַבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר הֲוָה קָאָזֵיל לְפִדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִין, פְּגַע בֵּיהּ בְּגִינַּאי נַהֲרָא.
§ The Gemara asks: What is the reference to animals of the righteous, about whom it is stated that God does not generate mishaps through them? It is based on the incident where Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir was going to engage in the redemption of captives, and he encountered the Ginai River.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: גִּינַּאי, חֲלוֹק לִי מֵימֶךָ וְאֶעֱבוֹר בָּךְ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנֶךָ וַאֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנִי, אַתָּה סָפֵק עוֹשֶׂה סָפֵק אִי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה, אֲנִי וַדַּאי עוֹשֶׂה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִם אִי אַתָּה חוֹלֵק גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא יַעַבְרוּ בְּךָ מַיִם לְעוֹלָם. חֲלַק לֵיהּ.
He said to the river: Ginai, part your water for me and I will pass through you. The river said to him: You are going to perform the will of your Maker and I am going to perform the will of my Maker, to flow in my path. With regard to you, it is uncertain whether you will perform His will successfully, and it is uncertain whether you will not perform His will successfully. I will certainly perform His will successfully. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to the river: If you do not part, I will decree upon you that water will never flow through you. The river parted for him.
הֲוָה הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה דָּארֵי חִיטֵּי לְפִיסְחָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חֲלוֹק לֵיהּ נָמֵי לְהַאי, דִּבְמִצְוָה עָסֵיק. חֲלַק לֵיהּ. הֲוָה הָהוּא טַיָּיעָא דִּלְוָוה בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חֲלוֹק לֵיהּ נָמֵי לְהַאי, דְּלָא לֵימָא: ״כָּךְ עוֹשִׂים לִבְנֵי לְוִיָּה״, חֲלַק לֵיהּ.
There was a certain man who was carrying wheat for the preparation of matza for Passover. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to the river: Part your waters for that person too, as he is engaged in the performance of a mitzva. The river parted for him. There was a certain Arab [taya’a] who was accompanying them. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to the river: Part your waters for that person too, so that he will not say: Is that what one does to a person who accompanies him? The river parted for him.
אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: כַּמָּה נְפִישׁ גַּבְרָא מִמֹּשֶׁה וְשִׁתִּין רִבְּוָון, דְּאִילּוּ הָתָם חַד זִימְנָא, וְהָכָא תְּלָתָא זִימְנִין. וְדִלְמָא הָכָא נָמֵי חֲדָא זִימְנָא? אֶלָּא כְּמֹשֶׁה וְשִׁתִּין רִבְּוָון.
Rav Yosef said: How great is this man, Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir, greater than Moses and the six hundred thousand who left Egypt, as there, at the Red Sea, the waters parted one time, and here the waters parted three times. The Gemara asks: And perhaps here too, the waters parted one time, and the river began to flow again only after all three of them passed. Rather, this man was as great as Moses and the six hundred thousand children of Israel.
אִקְּלַע לְהָהוּא אוּשְׁפִּיזָא, רְמוֹ לֵיהּ שְׂעָרֵי לְחַמְרֵיהּ, לָא אֲכַל.
After crossing the river, Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir happened to come to a certain inn [ushpiza]. His hosts cast barley before his donkey for him to eat. The donkey did not eat it.
חַבְטִינְהוּ, לָא אֲכַל. נַקְּרִינְהוּ, לָא אֲכַל. אֲמַר לְהוּ: דִּלְמָא לָא מְעַשְּׂרָן? עַשְּׂרִינְהוּ, וַאֲכַל. אָמַר: עֲנִיָּיה זוֹ הוֹלֶכֶת לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנָהּ, וְאַתֶּם מַאֲכִילִין אוֹתָהּ טְבָלִים!
The hosts sifted the barley with a utensil, but the donkey did not eat it. They separated the chaff from the barley by hand, but the donkey did not eat it. They wondered why the donkey would not eat the barley. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to his hosts: Perhaps the barley is not tithed. They tithed it and the donkey ate it. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said: This poor animal is going to perform the will of its Maker, and you are feeding it untithed produce? Rabbi Zeira was referring to this donkey when it spoke of God preventing mishaps from occurring through animals of the righteous.
וּמִי מִיחַיְּיבָא? וְהָתְנַן: הַלּוֹקֵחַ לְזֶרַע, וְלִבְהֵמָה, וְקֶמַח לְעוֹרוֹת, וְשֶׁמֶן לַנֵּר, וְשֶׁמֶן לָסוּךְ בּוֹ אֶת הַכֵּלִים – פָּטוּר מֵהַדְּמַאי.
The Gemara asks: And is one who purchases grain that is demai in order to feed his animal obligated to tithe it? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Demai 1:3): One who purchases grain in the market for sowing or for feeding an animal, or flour to process animal hides, or oil to kindle a lamp, or oil to smear on vessels is exempt from the obligation of tithing demai?
הָתָם הָא אִתְּמַר עֲלַהּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלְּקָחָן מִתְּחִלָּה לִבְהֵמָה, אֲבָל לְקָחָן מִתְּחִלָּה לְאָדָם וְנִמְלַךְ עֲלֵיהֶם לִבְהֵמָה – חַיָּיב לְעַשֵּׂר. וְהָתַנְיָא: הַלּוֹקֵחַ פֵּירוֹת מִן הַשּׁוּק לַאֲכִילָה וְנִמְלַךְ עֲלֵיהֶן לִבְהֵמָה – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִתֵּן לֹא לִפְנֵי בְּהֶמְתּוֹ וְלֹא לִפְנֵי בֶּהֱמַת חֲבֵרוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עִישֵּׂר.
The Gemara answers: There, it was stated with regard to that mishna that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: They taught this only in a case where one purchased those items initially for the animal or for the other purposes enumerated in the mishna, but if he purchased them initially for a person and reconsidered his plans for them and decided to use them for an animal, he is obligated to tithe the demai. And it is taught in a baraita in support of that understanding: In the case of one who purchases produce from the market for human consumption, and he reconsidered his plans for it and decided to use it for an animal, that person may neither place it before his animal nor before the animal of another unless he tithed the produce.
שְׁמַע רַבִּי, נְפַק לְאַפֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רְצוֹנְךָ סְעוֹד אֶצְלִי? אָמַר לוֹ: הֵן. צָהֲבוּ פָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard that Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir arrived, and he emerged to greet him. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: Is it your desire to dine with me? Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: Yes. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s face beamed [tzahavu], as it was well known that Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir did not accept invitations to dine with others.
אָמַר לוֹ: כִּמְדוּמֶּה אַתָּה שֶׁמּוּדָּר הֲנָאָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי? יִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשִׁים הֵן, יֵשׁ רוֹצֶה וְאֵין לוֹ, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ וְאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה, וּכְתִיב: ״אַל תִּלְחַם אֶת לֶחֶם רַע עָיִן וְאַל תִּתְאָיו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָיו כִּי כְּמוֹ שָׁעַר בְּנַפְשׁוֹ כֶּן הוּא אֱכוֹל וּשְׁתֵה יֹאמַר לָךְ וְלִבּוֹ בַּל עִמָּךְ״, וְאַתָּה רוֹצֶה וְיֵשׁ לְךָ.
Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Are you under the impression that deriving benefit from the Jewish people is forbidden to me by vow? On the contrary, the Jewish people are holy. I avoid accepting invitations, as there is one who wants to invite guests to dine with him but he does not have the means, and I do not want to enjoy a meal that my host cannot afford. And there is one who has the means but does not want to host guests, and with regard to those people it is written: “Eat not the bread of him that has an evil eye, neither desire his delicacies. For as one that has reckoned within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to you; but his heart is not with you” (Proverbs 23:6–7). But you want to invite guests to dine with you, and you have the means.
מִיהָא הַשְׁתָּא מְסַרְהֵיבְנָא, דִּבְמִלְּתָא דְּמִצְוָה קָא טָרַחְנָא, כִּי הָדַרְנָא אָתֵינָא עָיֵילְנָא לְגַבָּךְ.
But now I am rushing [mesarheivna], as I am engaged in the performance of a matter involving a mitzva. When I come back I will enter to dine with you.
כִּי אֲתָא, אִיתְרְמִי עָל בְּהָהוּא פִּיתְחָא דַּהֲווֹ קָיְימִין בֵּיהּ כּוּדַנְיָיתָא חִוָּורָתָא, אָמַר: מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה וַאֲנִי אֶסְעוֹד אֶצְלוֹ?
When Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir came back, he happened to enter through that entrance in which white mules were standing. He said: The Angel of Death is in this person’s house, and I will eat with him? White mules were known to be dangerous animals.
שְׁמַע רַבִּי נְפַק לְאַפֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְזַבֵּנְינָא לְהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשֹׁל״.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard the comment of Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir and emerged to greet him. He said to him: I will sell the mules. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: You will thereby violate the prohibition: “Nor place a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14), as it is prohibited for any Jew to keep a destructive animal in his possession.
מַפְקַרְנָא לְהוּ, מַפְּשַׁתְּ הֶיזֵּקָא. עָקַרְנָא לְהוּ, אִיכָּא צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים. קָטֵילְנָא לְהוּ, אִיכָּא ״בַּל תַּשְׁחִית״.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: I will declare the mules ownerless. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: You will thereby increase the damage, as there will be no owner to restrain it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: I will remove their hooves so that they will be unable to kick and cause damage. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: There is the requirement to prevent suffering to animals, and you will be violating it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to him: I will kill them. Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir said to him: There is the prohibition: Do not destroy items of value.
הֲוָה קָא מְבַתֵּשׁ בֵּיהּ טוּבָא, גְּבַהּ טוּרָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, בָּכָה רַבִּי וְאָמַר: מָה בְּחַיֵּיהֶן כָּךְ, בְּמִיתָתָן עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה! דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא: גְּדוֹלִים צַדִּיקִים בְּמִיתָתָן יוֹתֵר מִבְּחַיֵּיהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי הֵם קוֹבְרִים אִישׁ וְהִנֵּה רָאוּ הַגְּדוּד וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ אֶת הָאִישׁ בְּקֶבֶר אֱלִישָׁע וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּגַּע הָאִישׁ בְּעַצְמוֹת אֱלִישָׁע וַיְחִי וַיָּקׇם עַל רַגְלָיו״.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was greatly imploring him to enter his home until a mountain rose between them and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi could no longer speak with him. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi wept and said: If during their lifetimes it is so that the righteous are great, after their death it is all the more so true. The Gemara comments: This is as Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina says: The righteous are greater after their death, more so than during their lifetimes, as it is stated: “And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that they spied a raiding party; and they cast the man into the tomb of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet” (II Kings 13:21).
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: וְדִילְמָא לְקַיּוֹמֵי בֵּיהּ בִּרְכְּתָא דְּאֵלִיָּהוּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וִיהִי נָא פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחֲךָ אֵלָי״? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִי הָכִי, הַיְינוּ דְּתַנְיָא: עַל רַגְלָיו עָמַד, וּלְבֵיתוֹ לֹא הָלַךְ!
Rav Pappa said to Abaye: This proof from the case of Elisha that the righteous are greater after death is not valid. And perhaps this transpired to fulfill with regard to Elisha the blessing of Elijah, as it is written: “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (II Kings 2:9). Elijah revived one dead person and this one is the second revived by Elisha. Abaye said to Rav Pappa: If so, is this consistent with that which is taught in a baraita: The dead person arose on his feet but he did not go to his home, indicating that he had not truly been revived?
אֶלָּא בְּמָה אִיקַּיַּים? כִּדְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁרִיפֵּא צָרַעַת נַעֲמָן, שֶׁהִיא שְׁקוּלָה כְּמֵת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַל נָא תְהִי כַּמֵּת״.
The Gemara asks: But if that is the case, in what manner was Elijah’s blessing fulfilled? It is as Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The blessing was fulfilled when he cured the leprosy of Naaman, since a leper is equivalent to a dead person, as it is stated with regard to Miriam when she was afflicted with leprosy: “Please, let her not be as one dead” (Numbers 12:12).
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָן ״יֵמִים״ – שֶׁאֵימָתָם מוּטֶּלֶת עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מִיָּמַי לֹא שְׁאָלַנִי אָדָם עַל מַכַּת פִּרְדָּה לְבָנָה וְחָיָה. וְהָא קָחָזֵינָא דְּחָיֵי! אֵימָא: ״וְחָיָית״, וְהָא קָחָזֵינָא דְּמִיתַּסֵּי! דְּחִיוָּורָן רֵישׁ כַּרְעַיְיהוּ קָא אָמְרִינַן.
Apropos white mules, which were likened to the Angel of Death, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Why are the mules called yemim (see Genesis 36:24)? It is because their terror [eimatam] is cast over all creatures, as Rabbi Ḥanina says: In all my days, no man has asked me about a wound caused him by a white mule and survived, indicating that they are extremely dangerous. The Gemara asks: But haven’t we seen that some people survive after being wounded by a white mule? The Gemara answers: Say instead, no man has asked me about a wound caused him by a mule and the wound healed. The Gemara asks: But haven’t we seen that such wounds heal? The Gemara answers: The wound that we say does not heal is one caused by a mule the top of whose legs are white.
״אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּוֹ״ – אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: וַאֲפִילּוּ כְּשָׁפִים. הָהִיא אִיתְּתָא דַּהֲוָת קָא מְהַדְּרָא לְמִישְׁקַל עַפְרָא מִתּוּתֵי כַּרְעֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, אֲמַר לַהּ: שְׁקוּלִי, לָא מִסְתַּיְּיעָא מִילְּתִיךְ, ״אֵין עוֹד מִלְבַדּוֹ״ כְּתִיב. וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָן כְּשָׁפִים – שֶׁמַּכְחִישִׁין פָּמַלְיָא שֶׁל מַעְלָה! שָׁאנֵי רַבִּי חֲנִינָא דִּנְפִישָׁא זְכוּתֵיהּ.
The Gemara relates other statements of Rabbi Ḥanina: With regard to the verse: “There is none else beside Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35), Rabbi Ḥanina says: And even sorcery is ineffective against the will of God. The Gemara relates: There was a certain woman who would try to take dust from beneath the feet of Rabbi Ḥanina in order to perform sorcery on him and harm him. Rabbi Ḥanina said to her: Take the dust, but the matter will be ineffective for you, as it is written: “There is none other beside Him.” The Gemara asks: But doesn’t Rabbi Yoḥanan say: Why is sorcery called keshafim? It is an acronym for makhḥishin pamalya shel mala, meaning: That they diminish the heavenly entourage [pamalya], indicating that they function contrary to the will of God. The Gemara answers: Rabbi Ḥanina is different, as, because his merit is great, sorcery has no effect on him.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: אֵין אָדָם נוֹקֵף אֶצְבָּעוֹ מִלְּמַטָּה, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַכְרִיזִין עָלָיו מִלְּמַעְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מֵה׳ מִצְעֲדֵי גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ וְאָדָם מַה יָּבִין דַּרְכּוֹ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: דַּם נִיקּוּף מְרַצֶּה כְּדַם עוֹלָה. אָמַר רָבָא: בְּגוּדָל יָמִין, וּבְנִיקּוּף שֵׁנִי, וְהוּא דְּקָאָזֵיל לִדְבַר מִצְוָה.
And Rabbi Ḥanina says: A person injures his finger below, on earth, only if they declare about him on high that he should be injured, as it is stated: It is of the Lord that a man’s goings are established; and a man, what does he understand of his way (see Psalms 37:23 and Proverbs 20:24). Rabbi Elazar says: The blood of a wound effects atonement like the blood of a burnt offering. Rava said: This is stated with regard to a wound on his right thumb, as one applies force with that thumb and the wound is consequently more severe; and it is also stated with regard to a second wound in the same place before the first has healed, and it is provided that he is wounded while going to perform a matter involving a mitzva.
אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר: מִיָּמָיו לֹא בָּצַע עַל פְּרוּסָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁלּוֹ, וּמִיּוֹם שֶׁעָמַד עַל דַּעְתּוֹ לֹא נֶהֱנָה מִסְּעוּדַת אָבִיו.
Apropos Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir, the Gemara notes that they said about Rabbi Pineḥas ben Ya’ir: In all his days he never broke bread and recited a blessing on a piece of bread that was not his, and from the day that he achieved cognition he did not benefit even from the meal of his father, because he eschewed benefit from everyone.
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