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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 began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!

Lori Stark
Lori Stark

Highland Park, United States

My first Talmud class experience was a weekly group in 1971 studying Taanit. In 2007 I resumed Talmud study with a weekly group I continue learning with. January 2020, I was inspired to try learning Daf Yomi. A friend introduced me to Daf Yomi for Women and Rabbanit Michelle Farber, I have kept with this program and look forward, G- willing, to complete the entire Shas with Hadran.
Lorri Lewis
Lorri Lewis

Palo Alto, CA, United States

3 years ago, I joined Rabbanit Michelle to organize the unprecedented Siyum HaShas event in Jerusalem for thousands of women. The whole experience was so inspiring that I decided then to start learning the daf and see how I would go…. and I’m still at it. I often listen to the Daf on my bike in mornings, surrounded by both the external & the internal beauty of Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael!

Lisa Kolodny
Lisa Kolodny

Raanana, Israel

After all the hype on the 2020 siyum I became inspired by a friend to begin learning as the new cycle began.with no background in studying Talmud it was a bit daunting in the beginning. my husband began at the same time so we decided to study on shabbat together. The reaction from my 3 daughters has been fantastic. They are very proud. It’s been a great challenge for my brain which is so healthy!

Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker
Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker

Modi’in, Israel

I began my journey two years ago at the beginning of this cycle of the daf yomi. It has been an incredible, challenging experience and has given me a new perspective of Torah Sh’baal Peh and the role it plays in our lives

linda kalish-marcus
linda kalish-marcus

Efrat, 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
Ruth Leah Kahan

Ra’anana, Israel

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.

Julie Mendelsohn
Julie Mendelsohn

Zichron Yakov, 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
Caroline Levison

Borehamwood, United Kingdom

It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.

Joanna Rom
Joanna Rom

Northwest Washington, United States

Hadran entered my life after the last Siyum Hashaas, January 2020. I was inspired and challenged simultaneously, having never thought of learning Gemara. With my family’s encouragement, I googled “daf yomi for women”. A perfecr fit!
I especially enjoy when Rabbanit Michelle connects the daf to contemporary issues to share at the shabbat table e.g: looking at the Kohen during duchaning. Toda rabba

Marsha Wasserman
Marsha Wasserman

Jerusalem, Israel

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.

Julie Mendelsohn
Julie Mendelsohn

Zichron Yakov, Israel

In January 2020, my chevruta suggested that we “up our game. Let’s do Daf Yomi” – and she sent me the Hadran link. I lost my job (and went freelance), there was a pandemic, and I am still opening the podcast with my breakfast coffee, or after Shabbat with popcorn. My Aramaic is improving. I will need a new bookcase, though.

Rhondda May
Rhondda May

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

My Daf journey began in August 2012 after participating in the Siyum Hashas where I was blessed as an “enabler” of others.  Galvanized into my own learning I recited the Hadran on Shas in January 2020 with Rabbanit Michelle. That Siyum was a highlight in my life.  Now, on round two, Daf has become my spiritual anchor to which I attribute manifold blessings.

Rina Goldberg
Rina Goldberg

Englewood NJ, 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

In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!

Beth Kissileff
Beth Kissileff

Pittsburgh, United States

I was moved to tears by the Hadran Siyyum HaShas. I have learned Torah all my life, but never connected to learning Gemara on a regular basis until then. Seeing the sheer joy Talmud Torah at the siyyum, I felt compelled to be part of it, and I haven’t missed a day!
It’s not always easy, but it is so worthwhile, and it has strengthened my love of learning. It is part of my life now.

Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis

Beit Shemesh, 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

Margo
I started my Talmud journey in 7th grade at Akiba Jewish Day School in Chicago. I started my Daf Yomi journey after hearing Erica Brown speak at the Hadran Siyum about marking the passage of time through Daf Yomi.

Carolyn
I started my Talmud journey post-college in NY with a few classes. I started my Daf Yomi journey after the Hadran Siyum, which inspired both my son and myself.

Carolyn Hochstadter and Margo Kossoff Shizgal
Carolyn Hochstadter and Margo Kossoff Shizgal

Merion Station,  USA

Beit Shemesh, Israel

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 tried Daf Yomi in the middle of the last cycle after realizing I could listen to Michelle’s shiurim online. It lasted all of 2 days! Then the new cycle started just days before my father’s first yahrzeit and my youngest daughter’s bat mitzvah. It seemed the right time for a new beginning. My family, friends, colleagues are immensely supportive!

Catriella-Freedman-jpeg
Catriella Freedman

Zichron Yaakov, Israel

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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