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Pesachim 103

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Summary

“Today’s Daf is sponsored by Natanya Slomowitz in memory of her grandfather (her mother’s father) Avraham ben Chanoch Meir and Esther Dembinski. He was a hero of the Revisionist effort in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Murdered 20 Adar bet 5703, March 27, 1943. יהי זכרו ברוך.”

What is the order of blessings for kiddush/havdala that one makes when Yom Tov falls out on Saturday night? The gemara brings seven opinions on the subject! Rava and Abaye disagree regarding the placement of the shehecheyanu blessing. The gemara brings several stories that took place from which we can derive halakhot. In the first, Rava explains why he made a blessing (in havdala on a regular Shabbat on the spices first and then the candle, even though that doesn’t seem to match either Beit Shamai or Beit Hillel’s position on the matter. He explained that there is a debate about how to understand the debate between them. The second story was about why Rava made a new blessing on the wine used for birkhat hamazon and as a result, the gemara brings a few other stories relating different opinions on that topic. In the continuation of the story with Rava, the servant lights a torch for havdala, and Rava is questioned about that, as well as why he used the particular wording that he used for the havdala blessing.

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Pesachim 103

וְרַבָּה אָמַר: יַהְנֵ״ק. וְלֵוִי אָמַר: קְנִיָּ״ה. וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: קִינָ״ה. מָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבְנָא אָמַר: נְקִיָּ״ה. מָרְתָא אָמַר מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: נִיהָ״ק.

And Rabba said that the correct order is yod, heh, nun, kuf: Wine [yayin], havdala, candle [ner], and kiddush. And Levi said the order is kuf, nun, yod, heh: Kiddush, candle [ner], wine [yayin], and havdala. And the Rabbis say the order is kuf, yod, nun, heh: kiddush, wine [yayin], candle [ner], and havdala. Mar, son of Rabbana, said the order is nun, kuf, yod, heh: Candle [ner], kiddush, wine [yayin], and havdala. The Sage named Marta said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua that the proper order is nun, yod, heh, kuf: Candle [ner], wine [yayin], havdala, and kiddush.

שְׁלַח לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל לְרַבִּי: יְלַמְּדֵנוּ רַבֵּינוּ, סֵדֶר הַבְדָּלוֹת הֵיאַךְ. שְׁלַח לֵיהּ: כָּךְ אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם אָבִיו שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה: נְהִי״ק.

With regard to this issue, the father of Shmuel, Abba ben Abba, sent a letter to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Teach us, our Rabbi. How should one recite the order of havdala when a Festival occurs after Shabbat? Rabbi sent him the following response: This is what Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said, who said it in the name of his father, who himself said it in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya: The proper order of the blessings is nun, heh, yod, kuf: Candle [ner], havdala, wine [yayin], and kiddush.

אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מָשָׁל דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁיּוֹצֵא וְאִפַּרְכוֹס נִכְנָס, מְלַוִּוין אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יוֹצְאִים לִקְרַאת אִפַּרְכוֹס.

Rabbi Ḥanina said that the following parable serves to explain the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya: This is comparable to a king who is exiting a city and a governor is entering. Etiquette dictates that the inhabitants of the city first escort the king out of the city to take leave of him in a dignified fashion, and afterward they go out to greet the governor. Similarly, one should first recite havdala, to take leave of Shabbat, and only then recite kiddush over the Festival, whose sanctity is lesser than that of Shabbat.

מַאי הָוֵי עֲלַהּ? אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: יַקְזְנָ״ה, וְרָבָא אָמַר: יַקְנְהָ״ז, וְהִילְכְתָא כְּרָבָא.

The Gemara asks: What halakhic conclusion was reached about this matter? What is the proper order of the blessings? The amora’im accept Rav’s opinion that one should recite kiddush before havdala; however, they disagree about the blessing of time, which is generally relevant in such cases and which Rav did not address. Abaye said that the proper order is yod, kuf, zayin, nun, heh: The blessing over wine [yayin], kiddush, the blessing for time [zeman], the blessing over the candle [ner], and havdala. And Rava said the order is yod, kuf, nun, heh, zayin: Wine [yayin], kiddush, candle [ner], havdala, and time [zeman]. The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rava.

רַב הוּנָא בַּר יְהוּדָה אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי רָבָא, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמַּיְיהוּ מָאוֹר וּבְשָׂמִים. בָּרֵיךְ רָבָא אַבְּשָׂמִים בְּרֵישָׁא וַהֲדַר אַמָּאוֹר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְהָא בֵּין בֵּית שַׁמַּאי וּבֵין בֵּית הִילֵּל — מָאוֹר בְּרֵישָׁא וַהֲדַר אַבְּשָׂמִים.

With regard to this issue of havdala, the Gemara relates that Rav Huna bar Yehuda happened to come to the house of Rava. After Shabbat, they brought before them a light and spices. Rava recited the blessing over the spices first and then the blessing over the light. Rav Huna bar Yehuda said to him: But both Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, who dispute the order of the blessings at havdala, agree that the blessing over light is first, and only then comes the blessing over the spices.

וּמַאי הִיא? דִּתְנַן, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: נֵר וּמָזוֹן, בְּשָׂמִים וְהַבְדָּלָה. וּבֵית הִילֵּל אוֹמְרִים: נֵר וּבְשָׂמִים, וּמָזוֹן וְהַבְדָּלָה.

And what is this; what is the source that this is the dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel? As we learned in a mishna: Beit Shammai say that with regard to one who is required to say Grace after Meals and havdala, and he has only one cup of wine, the proper order of the blessings is: The blessing over the candle, and the blessing of Grace After Meals, followed by the blessing over the spices, and finally havdala. And Beit Hillel say: The blessing over the candle comes first, and then the blessing over the spices, and afterward the blessing of Grace After Meals, and last is havdala. Both Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel agree that the blessing over the candle is recited before blessing over the spices.

עָנֵי רָבָא בָּתְרֵיהּ וְאָמַר: זוֹ דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר, אֲבָל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ בֵּית שַׁמַּאי וּבֵית הִילֵּל עַל הַמָּזוֹן שֶׁהוּא בַּתְּחִלָּה וְעַל הַבְדָּלָה שֶׁהִיא בַּסּוֹף,

Rava answered after him and said: This mishna is the statement of Rabbi Meir. However, Rabbi Yehuda says: Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel did not disagree over Grace After Meals, as everyone concurs that it is recited first, nor did they disagree over havdala, as it is recited last.

עַל מָה נֶחְלְקוּ? עַל הַמָּאוֹר וְעַל הַבְּשָׂמִים. בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: מָאוֹר וְאַחַר כָּךְ בְּשָׂמִים, וּבֵית הִילֵּל אוֹמְרִים: בְּשָׂמִים וְאַחַר כָּךְ מָאוֹר. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: נָהֲגוּ הָעָם כְּבֵית הִילֵּל וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה.

With regard to what did they disagree? They disagreed over the blessings recited in the middle of havdala, i.e., the blessings over light and over the spices. Beit Shammai say: Light first, and spices thereafter; and Beit Hillel say: Spices first, and light thereafter. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The people were accustomed to conduct themselves in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel, according to the interpretation of Rabbi Yehuda. Rava acted as dictated by this custom.

רַב יַעֲקֹב בַּר אַבָּא אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי רָבָא, חַזְיֵהּ דְּבָרֵיךְ ״בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן״ אַכָּסָא קַמָּא, וַהֲדַר בָּרֵיךְ אַכָּסָא דְבִרְכְּתָא, וְאִישְׁתִּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְמָה לָךְ כּוּלֵּי הַאי? הָא בָּרֵיךְ לַן מָר חֲדָא זִימְנָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּי הֲוֵינַן בֵּי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא הָכִי עָבְדִינַן.

The Gemara relates another incident with regard to establishing meals and reciting blessings. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba happened to come to Rava’s house for a Shabbat meal. He saw that Rava recited the blessing: Who creates the fruit of the vine, over the first cup of wine he drank at the meal, and then he recited the same blessing upon the cup of wine he used for the blessing of Grace after Meals and drank it. He said to him: Why do you have to say all this, i.e., why is it necessary to recite a second blessing? The Master has recited a blessing for us once already, at the beginning of the meal, and thereby exempted us from a blessing on all the wine drunk during the meal. Rava said to him: When we were in the house of the Exilarch, this was our practice. It was the custom among the Sages to recite two blessings.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: תִּינַח בֵּי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא דְּהָכִי עָבֵיד, דְּסָפֵק מַיְיתֵי לַן סָפֵק לָא מַיְיתֵי לַן. הָכָא, הָא מַנַּח כָּסָא קַמַּן וְדַעְתַּן עִילָּוֵיהּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא עֲבַדִי כְּתַלְמִידֵי דְרַב, דְּרַב בְּרוֹנָא וְרַב חֲנַנְאֵל תַּלְמִידֵי דְרַב הֲווֹ יָתְבִי בִּסְעוֹדְתָּא

He said to him: It works out well to act this way in the house of the Exilarch, as there is uncertainty as to whether he will bring us another cup of wine to drink, or whether he will not bring us another cup. Since we are dependent upon the host and cannot anticipate in advance whether we will drink more wine, each cup requires its own blessing. Here, however, the cup is resting before us and our attention is on it, i.e., we intend to drink this wine after Grace after Meals. What need is there to recite another blessing? He said to him: I acted in accordance with the opinion of the students of Rav, as Rav Beruna and Rav Ḥananel, the students of Rav, were sitting together at a meal,

קָאֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ רַב יֵיבָא סָבָא. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הַב לַן וְנִיבָרֵיךְ. לְסוֹף אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הַב לַן וְנִישְׁתֵּי, אֲמַר לְהוּ: הָכִי אָמַר רַב, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמְרִיתוּ הַב לַן וְנִיבָרֵיךְ, אִיתַּסְרָא לְכוּ לְמִישְׁתֵּי. מַאי טַעְמָא, דְּאַסְחִיתוּ דַּעְתַּיְיכוּ.

and Rav Yeiva the Elder stood over them to serve them. They said to him: Give us a cup of wine and we will recite the blessings of Grace after Meals. Ultimately, they changed their mind and said to him: Give us a cup of wine and we will drink it. He said to them that Rav said as follows: Since you have said: Give us a cup and we will recite the blessings of Grace after Meals, it is prohibited for you to drink any more. What is the reason for this? The reason is that you have diverted your attention from drinking. Therefore, if you want to drink any more, you must recite the blessing over wine again.

אַמֵּימָר וּמָר זוּטְרָא וְרַב אָשֵׁי הֲווֹ יָתְבִי בִּסְעוּדָה, וְקָאֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא. אַמֵּימָר בָּרֵיךְ עַל כׇּל כָּסָא וְכָסָא, וּמָר זוּטְרָא בָּרֵיךְ אַכָּסָא קַמָּא וְאַכָּסָא בָּתְרָא, רַב אָשֵׁי בָּרֵיךְ אַכָּסָא קַמָּא, וְתוּ לָא בָּרֵיךְ.

The Gemara relates that Ameimar, Mar Zutra, and Rav Ashi were sitting at a meal, and Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, stood over them to serve them. Ameimar recited a blessing over each and every cup of wine he drank. And Mar Zutra recited a blessing over the first cup he drank during the meal and over the last cup he drank, upon concluding Grace after Meals. Rav Ashi recited a blessing over the first cup and did not recite any further blessings over the subsequent cups he drank.

אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב אַחָא בַּר רָבָא: אֲנַן כְּמַאן נַעֲבֵיד? אַמֵּימָר אָמַר: נִמְלָךְ אֲנָא. מָר זוּטְרָא אָמַר: אֲנָא דַּעֲבַדִי כְּתַלְמִידֵי דְרַב.

Rav Aḥa bar Rava said to them: In accordance with whose opinion should we act in this matter? We have witnessed three different courses of action. Ameimar said: I repeatedly changed my mind. In other words, the reason Ameimar recited a blessing over each cup was not because he maintains that it is always necessary to do so. Rather, he drank each cup with the intention that it should be his last. Consequently, he diverted his attention from drinking each time, and therefore he was required to recite a new blessing before he could drink again. Mar Zutra said: I acted in accordance with the opinion of the students of Rav. They maintain that one who prepares to recite Grace after Meals has completely diverted his attention from drinking, and therefore the blessing on wine that one recites during the meal does not include the wine he drinks after Grace after Meals.

וְרַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: לֵית הִילְכְתָא כְּתַלְמִידֵי דְרַב, דְּהָא יוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת אַחַר הַשַּׁבָּת, וְאָמַר רַב: יַקְנֶ״ה.

And Rav Ashi said: The halakha is not in accordance with the opinion of the students of Rav. This can be proven from a ruling of Rav himself, as with regard to a Festival that occurs after Shabbat, Rav said that the order of blessings is yod, kuf, nun, heh: Wine [yayin], kiddush, candle [ner], and havdala. This shows that although one recites kiddush between the blessing over wine and havdala, it is unnecessary to recite the blessing over wine again before havdala. The same should hold true in our case: Just as kiddush is not considered an interruption between the blessing over wine and its consumption, Grace after Meals should not be considered an interruption either.

וְלָא הִיא, הָתָם — עָקַר דַּעְתֵּיהּ מִמִּשְׁתְּיָא, הָכָא — לָא עָקַר דַּעְתֵּיהּ מִמִּשְׁתְּיָא.

The Gemara rejects this reasoning: And that is not so. There, when one is preparing himself to recite Grace after Meals, he has already uprooted his mind from drinking. Here, with regard to kiddush and havdala, he has not uprooted his mind from drinking.

כִּי מְטָא לְאַבְדּוֹלֵי, קָם שַׁמָּעֵיהּ וְאַדְלֵיק אֲבוּקָה מִשְּׁרָגָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְמָה לָךְ כּוּלֵּי הַאי, הָא מַנְחָא שְׁרָגָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁמָּעָא מִדַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ קָא עָבֵיד. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִי לָא שְׁמִיעַ לֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ דְּמָר, לָא הֲוָה עָבֵיד! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא סָבַר לֵיהּ מָר אֲבוּקָה לְהַבְדָּלָה מִצְוָה מִן הַמּוּבְחָר.

After discussing the opinion of the students of Rav, the Gemara returns to the story of Rav Ya’akov bar Abba’s visit to Rava. When the time came to recite havdala, Rava’s attendant got up and lit a torch from a candle. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him: Why do you need all this? The candle was present, and you could have recited the blessing over the light of the candle itself. Rava said to him: The attendant did this on his own accord, without consulting me. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him: If he had not heard it from the Master he would not have done it on his own; he must have been following your opinion on this matter. Rava said to him: Does the Master not maintain that using a torch for havdala is the optimal manner in which to fulfill the mitzva? It is for this reason that the attendant lit a torch for havdala.

פָּתַח וְאָמַר: ״הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קוֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁךְ בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה״ אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְמָה לָךְ כּוּלֵּי הַאי? וְהָאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: ״הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קוֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל״ זוֹ הִיא הַבְדָּלָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא?

Rava began his recitation of havdala and said: Who distinguishes between sacred and profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him: Why do you need all this? Didn’t Rav Yehuda say that Rav said with regard to the statement: Who distinguishes between sacred and profane, that this alone is the havdala of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? Why is this plain statement not enough for you?

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא כְּהָא סְבִירָא לִי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: הַפּוֹחֵת לֹא יִפְחוֹת מִשָּׁלֹשׁ, וְהַמּוֹסִיף לֹא יוֹסִיף עַל שֶׁבַע. אֲמַר לֵיהּ:

He said to him: I maintain in accordance with this statement that Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Oshaya said: One who decreases the number of distinctions in the text of the havdala should not decrease them to less than three, and one who increases the number of distinctions should not increase them to more than seven. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him:

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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.

Naomi Niederhoffer
Naomi Niederhoffer

Toronto, 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.

Susan Handelman
Susan Handelman

Jerusalem, Israel

I started learning after the siyum hashas for women and my daily learning has been a constant over the last two years. It grounded me during the chaos of Corona while providing me with a community of fellow learners. The Daf can be challenging but it’s filled with life’s lessons, struggles and hope for a better world. It’s not about the destination but rather about the journey. Thank you Hadran!

Dena Lehrman
Dena Lehrman

אפרת, Israel

I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.

Adina Hagege
Adina Hagege

Zichron Yaakov, Israel

As Jewish educator and as a woman, I’m mindful that Talmud has been kept from women for many centuries. Now that we are privileged to learn, and learning is so accessible, it’s my intent to complete Daf Yomi. I am so excited to keep learning with my Hadran community.

Sue Parker Gerson
Sue Parker Gerson

Denver, United States

I saw an elderly man at the shul kiddush in early March 2020, celebrating the siyyum of masechet brachot which he had been learning with a young yeshiva student. I thought, if he can do it, I can do it! I began to learn masechet Shabbat the next day, Making up masechet brachot myself, which I had missed. I haven’t missed a day since, thanks to the ease of listening to Hadran’s podcast!
Judith Shapiro
Judith Shapiro

Minnesota, United States

I started learning daf yomi at the beginning of this cycle. As the pandemic evolved, it’s been so helpful to me to have this discipline every morning to listen to the daf podcast after I’ve read the daf; learning about the relationships between the rabbis and the ways they were constructing our Jewish religion after the destruction of the Temple. I’m grateful to be on this journey!

Mona Fishbane
Mona Fishbane

Teaneck NJ, United States

“I got my job through the NY Times” was an ad campaign when I was growing up. I can headline “I got my daily Daf shiur and Hadran through the NY Times”. I read the January 4, 2020 feature on Reb. Michelle Farber and Hadran and I have been participating ever since. Thanks NY Times & Hadran!
Deborah Aschheim
Deborah Aschheim

New York, United States

I began Daf Yomi with the last cycle. I was inspired by the Hadran Siyum in Yerushalayim to continue with this cycle. I have learned Daf Yomi with Rabanit Michelle in over 25 countries on 6 continents ( missing Australia)

Barbara-Goldschlag
Barbara Goldschlag

Silver Spring, MD, United States

After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.

Madeline Cohen
Madeline Cohen

London, United Kingdom

I learned Mishnayot more than twenty years ago and started with Gemara much later in life. Although I never managed to learn Daf Yomi consistently, I am learning since some years Gemara in depth and with much joy. Since last year I am studying at the International Halakha Scholars Program at the WIHL. I often listen to Rabbanit Farbers Gemara shiurim to understand better a specific sugyiah. I am grateful for the help and inspiration!

Shoshana Ruerup
Shoshana Ruerup

Berlin, Germany

I started learning Daf Yomi in January 2020 after watching my grandfather, Mayer Penstein z”l, finish shas with the previous cycle. My grandfather made learning so much fun was so proud that his grandchildren wanted to join him. I was also inspired by Ilana Kurshan’s book, If All the Seas Were Ink. Two years in, I can say that it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Leeza Hirt Wilner
Leeza Hirt Wilner

New York, United States

I began to learn this cycle of Daf Yomi after my husband passed away 2 1/2 years ago. It seemed a good way to connect to him. Even though I don’t know whether he would have encouraged women learning Gemara, it would have opened wonderful conversations. It also gives me more depth for understanding my frum children and grandchildren. Thank you Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle Farber!!

Harriet Hartman
Harriet Hartman

Tzur Hadassah, Israel

After enthusing to my friend Ruth Kahan about how much I had enjoyed remote Jewish learning during the earlier part of the pandemic, she challenged me to join her in learning the daf yomi cycle. I had always wanted to do daf yomi but now had no excuse. The beginning was particularly hard as I had never studied Talmud but has become easier, as I have gained some familiarity with it.

Susan-Vishner-Hadran-photo-scaled
Susan Vishner

Brookline, 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
Tina Lamm

Jerusalem, Israel

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!

Elisheva Brauner
Elisheva Brauner

Jerusalem, Israel

Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!

Miriam Tannenbaum
Miriam Tannenbaum

אפרת, Israel

I LOVE learning the Daf. I started with Shabbat. I join the morning Zoom with Reb Michelle and it totally grounds my day. When Corona hit us in Israel, I decided that I would use the Daf to keep myself sane, especially during the days when we could not venture out more than 300 m from our home. Now my husband and I have so much new material to talk about! It really is the best part of my day!

Batsheva Pava
Batsheva Pava

Hashmonaim, Israel

I had no formal learning in Talmud until I began my studies in the Joint Program where in 1976 I was one of the few, if not the only, woman talmud major. It was superior training for law school and enabled me to approach my legal studies with a foundation . In 2018, I began daf yomi listening to Rabbanit MIchelle’s pod cast and my daily talmud studies are one of the highlights of my life.

Krivosha_Terri_Bio
Terri Krivosha

Minneapolis, United States

Geri Goldstein got me started learning daf yomi when I was in Israel 2 years ago. It’s been a challenge and I’ve learned a lot though I’m sure I miss a lot. I quilt as I listen and I want to share what I’ve been working on.

Rebecca Stulberg
Rebecca Stulberg

Ottawa, Canada

Pesachim 103

וְרַבָּה אָמַר: יַהְנֵ״ק. וְלֵוִי אָמַר: קְנִיָּ״ה. וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: קִינָ״ה. מָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבְנָא אָמַר: נְקִיָּ״ה. מָרְתָא אָמַר מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: נִיהָ״ק.

And Rabba said that the correct order is yod, heh, nun, kuf: Wine [yayin], havdala, candle [ner], and kiddush. And Levi said the order is kuf, nun, yod, heh: Kiddush, candle [ner], wine [yayin], and havdala. And the Rabbis say the order is kuf, yod, nun, heh: kiddush, wine [yayin], candle [ner], and havdala. Mar, son of Rabbana, said the order is nun, kuf, yod, heh: Candle [ner], kiddush, wine [yayin], and havdala. The Sage named Marta said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua that the proper order is nun, yod, heh, kuf: Candle [ner], wine [yayin], havdala, and kiddush.

שְׁלַח לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל לְרַבִּי: יְלַמְּדֵנוּ רַבֵּינוּ, סֵדֶר הַבְדָּלוֹת הֵיאַךְ. שְׁלַח לֵיהּ: כָּךְ אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם אָבִיו שֶׁאָמַר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה: נְהִי״ק.

With regard to this issue, the father of Shmuel, Abba ben Abba, sent a letter to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Teach us, our Rabbi. How should one recite the order of havdala when a Festival occurs after Shabbat? Rabbi sent him the following response: This is what Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said, who said it in the name of his father, who himself said it in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya: The proper order of the blessings is nun, heh, yod, kuf: Candle [ner], havdala, wine [yayin], and kiddush.

אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מָשָׁל דְּרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁיּוֹצֵא וְאִפַּרְכוֹס נִכְנָס, מְלַוִּוין אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יוֹצְאִים לִקְרַאת אִפַּרְכוֹס.

Rabbi Ḥanina said that the following parable serves to explain the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya: This is comparable to a king who is exiting a city and a governor is entering. Etiquette dictates that the inhabitants of the city first escort the king out of the city to take leave of him in a dignified fashion, and afterward they go out to greet the governor. Similarly, one should first recite havdala, to take leave of Shabbat, and only then recite kiddush over the Festival, whose sanctity is lesser than that of Shabbat.

מַאי הָוֵי עֲלַהּ? אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: יַקְזְנָ״ה, וְרָבָא אָמַר: יַקְנְהָ״ז, וְהִילְכְתָא כְּרָבָא.

The Gemara asks: What halakhic conclusion was reached about this matter? What is the proper order of the blessings? The amora’im accept Rav’s opinion that one should recite kiddush before havdala; however, they disagree about the blessing of time, which is generally relevant in such cases and which Rav did not address. Abaye said that the proper order is yod, kuf, zayin, nun, heh: The blessing over wine [yayin], kiddush, the blessing for time [zeman], the blessing over the candle [ner], and havdala. And Rava said the order is yod, kuf, nun, heh, zayin: Wine [yayin], kiddush, candle [ner], havdala, and time [zeman]. The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rava.

רַב הוּנָא בַּר יְהוּדָה אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי רָבָא, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמַּיְיהוּ מָאוֹר וּבְשָׂמִים. בָּרֵיךְ רָבָא אַבְּשָׂמִים בְּרֵישָׁא וַהֲדַר אַמָּאוֹר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְהָא בֵּין בֵּית שַׁמַּאי וּבֵין בֵּית הִילֵּל — מָאוֹר בְּרֵישָׁא וַהֲדַר אַבְּשָׂמִים.

With regard to this issue of havdala, the Gemara relates that Rav Huna bar Yehuda happened to come to the house of Rava. After Shabbat, they brought before them a light and spices. Rava recited the blessing over the spices first and then the blessing over the light. Rav Huna bar Yehuda said to him: But both Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, who dispute the order of the blessings at havdala, agree that the blessing over light is first, and only then comes the blessing over the spices.

וּמַאי הִיא? דִּתְנַן, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: נֵר וּמָזוֹן, בְּשָׂמִים וְהַבְדָּלָה. וּבֵית הִילֵּל אוֹמְרִים: נֵר וּבְשָׂמִים, וּמָזוֹן וְהַבְדָּלָה.

And what is this; what is the source that this is the dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel? As we learned in a mishna: Beit Shammai say that with regard to one who is required to say Grace after Meals and havdala, and he has only one cup of wine, the proper order of the blessings is: The blessing over the candle, and the blessing of Grace After Meals, followed by the blessing over the spices, and finally havdala. And Beit Hillel say: The blessing over the candle comes first, and then the blessing over the spices, and afterward the blessing of Grace After Meals, and last is havdala. Both Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel agree that the blessing over the candle is recited before blessing over the spices.

עָנֵי רָבָא בָּתְרֵיהּ וְאָמַר: זוֹ דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר, אֲבָל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ בֵּית שַׁמַּאי וּבֵית הִילֵּל עַל הַמָּזוֹן שֶׁהוּא בַּתְּחִלָּה וְעַל הַבְדָּלָה שֶׁהִיא בַּסּוֹף,

Rava answered after him and said: This mishna is the statement of Rabbi Meir. However, Rabbi Yehuda says: Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel did not disagree over Grace After Meals, as everyone concurs that it is recited first, nor did they disagree over havdala, as it is recited last.

עַל מָה נֶחְלְקוּ? עַל הַמָּאוֹר וְעַל הַבְּשָׂמִים. בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: מָאוֹר וְאַחַר כָּךְ בְּשָׂמִים, וּבֵית הִילֵּל אוֹמְרִים: בְּשָׂמִים וְאַחַר כָּךְ מָאוֹר. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: נָהֲגוּ הָעָם כְּבֵית הִילֵּל וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה.

With regard to what did they disagree? They disagreed over the blessings recited in the middle of havdala, i.e., the blessings over light and over the spices. Beit Shammai say: Light first, and spices thereafter; and Beit Hillel say: Spices first, and light thereafter. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The people were accustomed to conduct themselves in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel, according to the interpretation of Rabbi Yehuda. Rava acted as dictated by this custom.

רַב יַעֲקֹב בַּר אַבָּא אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי רָבָא, חַזְיֵהּ דְּבָרֵיךְ ״בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן״ אַכָּסָא קַמָּא, וַהֲדַר בָּרֵיךְ אַכָּסָא דְבִרְכְּתָא, וְאִישְׁתִּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְמָה לָךְ כּוּלֵּי הַאי? הָא בָּרֵיךְ לַן מָר חֲדָא זִימְנָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּי הֲוֵינַן בֵּי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא הָכִי עָבְדִינַן.

The Gemara relates another incident with regard to establishing meals and reciting blessings. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba happened to come to Rava’s house for a Shabbat meal. He saw that Rava recited the blessing: Who creates the fruit of the vine, over the first cup of wine he drank at the meal, and then he recited the same blessing upon the cup of wine he used for the blessing of Grace after Meals and drank it. He said to him: Why do you have to say all this, i.e., why is it necessary to recite a second blessing? The Master has recited a blessing for us once already, at the beginning of the meal, and thereby exempted us from a blessing on all the wine drunk during the meal. Rava said to him: When we were in the house of the Exilarch, this was our practice. It was the custom among the Sages to recite two blessings.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: תִּינַח בֵּי רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא דְּהָכִי עָבֵיד, דְּסָפֵק מַיְיתֵי לַן סָפֵק לָא מַיְיתֵי לַן. הָכָא, הָא מַנַּח כָּסָא קַמַּן וְדַעְתַּן עִילָּוֵיהּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא עֲבַדִי כְּתַלְמִידֵי דְרַב, דְּרַב בְּרוֹנָא וְרַב חֲנַנְאֵל תַּלְמִידֵי דְרַב הֲווֹ יָתְבִי בִּסְעוֹדְתָּא

He said to him: It works out well to act this way in the house of the Exilarch, as there is uncertainty as to whether he will bring us another cup of wine to drink, or whether he will not bring us another cup. Since we are dependent upon the host and cannot anticipate in advance whether we will drink more wine, each cup requires its own blessing. Here, however, the cup is resting before us and our attention is on it, i.e., we intend to drink this wine after Grace after Meals. What need is there to recite another blessing? He said to him: I acted in accordance with the opinion of the students of Rav, as Rav Beruna and Rav Ḥananel, the students of Rav, were sitting together at a meal,

קָאֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ רַב יֵיבָא סָבָא. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הַב לַן וְנִיבָרֵיךְ. לְסוֹף אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הַב לַן וְנִישְׁתֵּי, אֲמַר לְהוּ: הָכִי אָמַר רַב, כֵּיוָן דְּאָמְרִיתוּ הַב לַן וְנִיבָרֵיךְ, אִיתַּסְרָא לְכוּ לְמִישְׁתֵּי. מַאי טַעְמָא, דְּאַסְחִיתוּ דַּעְתַּיְיכוּ.

and Rav Yeiva the Elder stood over them to serve them. They said to him: Give us a cup of wine and we will recite the blessings of Grace after Meals. Ultimately, they changed their mind and said to him: Give us a cup of wine and we will drink it. He said to them that Rav said as follows: Since you have said: Give us a cup and we will recite the blessings of Grace after Meals, it is prohibited for you to drink any more. What is the reason for this? The reason is that you have diverted your attention from drinking. Therefore, if you want to drink any more, you must recite the blessing over wine again.

אַמֵּימָר וּמָר זוּטְרָא וְרַב אָשֵׁי הֲווֹ יָתְבִי בִּסְעוּדָה, וְקָאֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא. אַמֵּימָר בָּרֵיךְ עַל כׇּל כָּסָא וְכָסָא, וּמָר זוּטְרָא בָּרֵיךְ אַכָּסָא קַמָּא וְאַכָּסָא בָּתְרָא, רַב אָשֵׁי בָּרֵיךְ אַכָּסָא קַמָּא, וְתוּ לָא בָּרֵיךְ.

The Gemara relates that Ameimar, Mar Zutra, and Rav Ashi were sitting at a meal, and Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, stood over them to serve them. Ameimar recited a blessing over each and every cup of wine he drank. And Mar Zutra recited a blessing over the first cup he drank during the meal and over the last cup he drank, upon concluding Grace after Meals. Rav Ashi recited a blessing over the first cup and did not recite any further blessings over the subsequent cups he drank.

אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב אַחָא בַּר רָבָא: אֲנַן כְּמַאן נַעֲבֵיד? אַמֵּימָר אָמַר: נִמְלָךְ אֲנָא. מָר זוּטְרָא אָמַר: אֲנָא דַּעֲבַדִי כְּתַלְמִידֵי דְרַב.

Rav Aḥa bar Rava said to them: In accordance with whose opinion should we act in this matter? We have witnessed three different courses of action. Ameimar said: I repeatedly changed my mind. In other words, the reason Ameimar recited a blessing over each cup was not because he maintains that it is always necessary to do so. Rather, he drank each cup with the intention that it should be his last. Consequently, he diverted his attention from drinking each time, and therefore he was required to recite a new blessing before he could drink again. Mar Zutra said: I acted in accordance with the opinion of the students of Rav. They maintain that one who prepares to recite Grace after Meals has completely diverted his attention from drinking, and therefore the blessing on wine that one recites during the meal does not include the wine he drinks after Grace after Meals.

וְרַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: לֵית הִילְכְתָא כְּתַלְמִידֵי דְרַב, דְּהָא יוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת אַחַר הַשַּׁבָּת, וְאָמַר רַב: יַקְנֶ״ה.

And Rav Ashi said: The halakha is not in accordance with the opinion of the students of Rav. This can be proven from a ruling of Rav himself, as with regard to a Festival that occurs after Shabbat, Rav said that the order of blessings is yod, kuf, nun, heh: Wine [yayin], kiddush, candle [ner], and havdala. This shows that although one recites kiddush between the blessing over wine and havdala, it is unnecessary to recite the blessing over wine again before havdala. The same should hold true in our case: Just as kiddush is not considered an interruption between the blessing over wine and its consumption, Grace after Meals should not be considered an interruption either.

וְלָא הִיא, הָתָם — עָקַר דַּעְתֵּיהּ מִמִּשְׁתְּיָא, הָכָא — לָא עָקַר דַּעְתֵּיהּ מִמִּשְׁתְּיָא.

The Gemara rejects this reasoning: And that is not so. There, when one is preparing himself to recite Grace after Meals, he has already uprooted his mind from drinking. Here, with regard to kiddush and havdala, he has not uprooted his mind from drinking.

כִּי מְטָא לְאַבְדּוֹלֵי, קָם שַׁמָּעֵיהּ וְאַדְלֵיק אֲבוּקָה מִשְּׁרָגָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְמָה לָךְ כּוּלֵּי הַאי, הָא מַנְחָא שְׁרָגָא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁמָּעָא מִדַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ קָא עָבֵיד. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִי לָא שְׁמִיעַ לֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ דְּמָר, לָא הֲוָה עָבֵיד! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא סָבַר לֵיהּ מָר אֲבוּקָה לְהַבְדָּלָה מִצְוָה מִן הַמּוּבְחָר.

After discussing the opinion of the students of Rav, the Gemara returns to the story of Rav Ya’akov bar Abba’s visit to Rava. When the time came to recite havdala, Rava’s attendant got up and lit a torch from a candle. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him: Why do you need all this? The candle was present, and you could have recited the blessing over the light of the candle itself. Rava said to him: The attendant did this on his own accord, without consulting me. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him: If he had not heard it from the Master he would not have done it on his own; he must have been following your opinion on this matter. Rava said to him: Does the Master not maintain that using a torch for havdala is the optimal manner in which to fulfill the mitzva? It is for this reason that the attendant lit a torch for havdala.

פָּתַח וְאָמַר: ״הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קוֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁךְ בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה״ אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְמָה לָךְ כּוּלֵּי הַאי? וְהָאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: ״הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קוֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל״ זוֹ הִיא הַבְדָּלָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא?

Rava began his recitation of havdala and said: Who distinguishes between sacred and profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him: Why do you need all this? Didn’t Rav Yehuda say that Rav said with regard to the statement: Who distinguishes between sacred and profane, that this alone is the havdala of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? Why is this plain statement not enough for you?

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא כְּהָא סְבִירָא לִי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: הַפּוֹחֵת לֹא יִפְחוֹת מִשָּׁלֹשׁ, וְהַמּוֹסִיף לֹא יוֹסִיף עַל שֶׁבַע. אֲמַר לֵיהּ:

He said to him: I maintain in accordance with this statement that Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Oshaya said: One who decreases the number of distinctions in the text of the havdala should not decrease them to less than three, and one who increases the number of distinctions should not increase them to more than seven. Rav Ya’akov bar Abba said to him:

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