Masechet Chullin is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the Hadran Community. “During my first cycle of Daf Yomi, just as we began Masechet Chullin, my son was injured while serving in the IDF. Throughout those two and a half months of difficulty and uncertainty, my fellow learners never left my side. With profound gratitude to the community that held me, encouraged me, and ensured I could keep up with the Daf during those trying times.”
This month’s learning is sponsored by Adam, Carolyn, Michal, Josh, Benny, Izzy, Gali, Shim, Zoe, Zachy and Yehuda in loving memory of Judith Rosenfeld Hochstadter, Gittel bat Kreindel v’Binyamin BenZion on her second yahrzeit. “Her curiosity, humor, intellect and devout nature continues to inspire and hold us accountable. We miss her and think of her in all our pursuits, especially in our Hadran learning, where she would be glad to know that she didn’t have to boil more than 1 egg at a time!!”
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Summary
Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi decreed that produce in Beit Shean did not require tithing, as he ruled the area was not considered part of Israel for those specific purposes. This decision was based on the testimony of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeiruz, who observed Rabbi Meir eating a vegetable leaf without tithing it.
Rabbi Yirmia challenged this testimony, suggesting various reasons why Rabbi Meir might have eaten the leaf without realizing it was untithed or why it might have actually been tithed. In response, Rabbi Zeira argued that if God protects the animals of the righteous from inadvertent sin, then God certainly protects the righteous themselves.
The Gemara recounts the story of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair’s donkey, which refused to eat untithed produce, to support Rabbi Zeira’s assertion. This episode is part of a larger narrative regarding Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair’s journey to redeem captives: the first part describes him splitting a river to cross; the middle section concerns the donkey’s refusal to eat; and the final part involves Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi inviting him to dine, an invitation he ultimately declined. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was exceptionally careful never to benefit from the food of others.
Today’s daily daf tools:
Masechet Chullin is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the Hadran Community. “During my first cycle of Daf Yomi, just as we began Masechet Chullin, my son was injured while serving in the IDF. Throughout those two and a half months of difficulty and uncertainty, my fellow learners never left my side. With profound gratitude to the community that held me, encouraged me, and ensured I could keep up with the Daf during those trying times.”
This month’s learning is sponsored by Adam, Carolyn, Michal, Josh, Benny, Izzy, Gali, Shim, Zoe, Zachy and Yehuda in loving memory of Judith Rosenfeld Hochstadter, Gittel bat Kreindel v’Binyamin BenZion on her second yahrzeit. “Her curiosity, humor, intellect and devout nature continues to inspire and hold us accountable. We miss her and think of her in all our pursuits, especially in our Hadran learning, where she would be glad to know that she didn’t have to boil more than 1 egg at a time!!”
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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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.
Toronto, Canada
I began daf yomi in January 2020 with Brachot. I had made aliya 6 months before, and one of my post-aliya goals was to complete a full cycle. As a life-long Tanach teacher, I wanted to swim from one side of the Yam shel Torah to the other. Daf yomi was also my sanity through COVID. It was the way to marking the progression of time, and feel that I could grow and accomplish while time stopped.
Givat Zev, 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!
Borehamwood, United Kingdom
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.
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
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.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Inspired by Hadran’s first Siyum ha Shas L’Nashim two years ago, I began daf yomi right after for the next cycle. As to this extraordinary journey together with Hadran..as TS Eliot wrote “We must not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.
Jerusalem, Israel
A Gemara shiur previous to the Hadran Siyum, was the impetus to attend it.It was highly inspirational and I was smitten. The message for me was התלמוד בידינו. I had decided along with my Chahsmonaim group to to do the daf and take it one daf at time- without any expectations at all. There has been a wealth of information, insights and halachik ideas. It is truly exercise of the mind, heart & Soul
Hashmonaim, Israel
When I started studying Hebrew at Brown University’s Hillel, I had no idea that almost 38 years later, I’m doing Daf Yomi. My Shabbat haburah is led by Rabbanit Leah Sarna. The women are a hoot. I’m tracking the completion of each tractate by reading Ilana Kurshan’s memoir, If All the Seas Were Ink.
Pennsylvania, United States
I started to listen to Michelle’s podcasts four years ago. The minute I started I was hooked. I’m so excited to learn the entire Talmud, and think I will continue always. I chose the quote “while a woman is engaged in conversation she also holds the spindle”. (Megillah 14b). It reminds me of all of the amazing women I learn with every day who multi-task, think ahead and accomplish so much.
Zichron Yakov, Israel
תמיד רציתי. למדתי גמרא בבית ספר בטורונטו קנדה. עליתי ארצה ולמדתי שזה לא מקובל. הופתעתי.
יצאתי לגימלאות לפני שנתיים וזה מאפשר את המחוייבות לדף יומי.
עבורי ההתמדה בלימוד מעגן אותי בקשר שלי ליהדות. אני תמיד מחפשת ותמיד. מוצאת מקור לקשר. ללימוד חדש ומחדש. קשר עם נשים לומדות מעמיק את החוויה ומשמעותית מאוד.
מיתר, ישראל
When I was working and taking care of my children, learning was never on the list. Now that I have more time I have two different Gemora classes and the nach yomi as well as the mishna yomi daily.
Jerusalem, Israel
After reading the book, “ If All The Seas Were Ink “ by Ileana Kurshan I started studying Talmud. I searched and studied with several teachers until I found Michelle Farber. I have been studying with her for two years. I look forward every day to learn from her.
Virginia, United States
I began learning with Rabbanit Michelle’s wonderful Talmud Skills class on Pesachim, which really enriched my Pesach seder, and I have been learning Daf Yomi off and on over the past year. Because I’m relatively new at this, there is a “chiddush” for me every time I learn, and the knowledge and insights of the group members add so much to my experience. I feel very lucky to be a part of this.
Karmiel, Israel
I have joined the community of daf yomi learners at the start of this cycle. I have studied in different ways – by reading the page, translating the page, attending a local shiur and listening to Rabbanit Farber’s podcasts, depending on circumstances and where I was at the time. The reactions have been positive throughout – with no exception!
Guildford, United Kingdom
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 .
Panama, Panama
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.
בית שמש, Israel
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.
Minnesota, United States
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!
Borehamwood, United Kingdom
In early January of 2020, I learned about Siyyum HaShas and Daf Yomi via Tablet Magazine’s brief daily podcast about the Daf. I found it compelling and fascinating. Soon I discovered Hadran; since then I have learned the Daf daily with Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber. The Daf has permeated my every hour, and has transformed and magnified my place within the Jewish Universe.
San Francisco, CA , United States
Years ago, I attended the local Siyum HaShas with my high school class. It was inspiring! Through that cycle and the next one, I studied masekhtot on my own and then did “daf yomi practice.” The amazing Hadran Siyum HaShas event firmed my resolve to “really do” Daf Yomi this time. It has become a family goal. We’ve supported each other through challenges, and now we’re at the Siyum of Seder Moed!
Jerusalem, Israel
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.
