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Shabbat 41

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Summary

Today’s shiur is sponsored in honor of Chana Rivka Bracha’s birthday by her mother, Malka Abraham.

The gemara brings two stories of Rabbi Zeira where he was with other rabbis while they were bathing and learned or tried to learn halachot from what he observed. The mishna describes different types of hot water boilers and can they be used on Shabbat. The mishna describes a case of a hot water boiler where one added cold water to it after it was removed from the fire or emptied. It is a subject of debate which case the mishna was referring to – removed from the fire or emptied? Does the mishna follow Rabbi Yehuda or Rabbi Shimon regarding one who does an act of Shabbat by which a melacha is performed – however one had no intention to perform that melacha.

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Shabbat 41

דְּלֵית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי, הָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי.

that does not have embankments surrounding it. Since there are no partitions, it appears like an ocean or a river. That incident involving Rabbi Abbahu occurred in a place that has embankments and looks like a vessel. Therefore, the Sages did not prohibit it.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֲנָא חֲזִיתֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא אִי נְגַע אִי לָא נְגַע. פְּשִׁיטָא דְּלָא נְגַע, דְּתַנְיָא רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הָאוֹחֵז בָּאַמָּה וּמַשְׁתִּין — כְּאִילּוּ מֵבִיא מַבּוּל לָעוֹלָם.

After citing what Rabbi Zeira related with regard to Rabbi Abbahu, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Zeira said: I saw that Rabbi Abbahu, while he was bathing, placed his hands over his genitals for the sake of modesty, and I do not know whether he touched them or did not touch them. The Gemara questions Rabbi Zeira’s uncertainty. It is obvious that he did not touch his genitals, as it was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says: One who holds his penis and urinates it is as if he were bringing a flood to the world. He is liable to become aroused by that contact and that is an extremely severe transgression, comparable to the transgressions violated in the generation of the flood.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: עֲשָׂאוּהָ כְּבוֹלֶשֶׁת. דִּתְנַן: בּוֹלֶשֶׁת שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לָעִיר, בִּשְׁעַת שָׁלוֹם — חָבִיּוֹת פְּתוּחוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, סְתוּמוֹת מוּתָּרוֹת. בִּשְׁעַת מִלְחָמָה — אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ מוּתָּרוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין פְּנַאי לְנַסֵּךְ. אַלְמָא כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִיתִי לָא מְנַסְּכִי. הָכָא נָמֵי, כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִית לָא אָתֵי לְהַרְהוֹרֵי. הָכָא מַאי בִּיעֲתוּתָא? בִּיעֲתוּתָא דְנַהְרָא.

Abaye said: Nevertheless, no proof can be cited from that baraita. Perhaps the Sages rendered the legal status of this situation like that of a military unit, as we learned in a mishna: A military unit that entered a city, if it entered during peacetime, after the soldiers leave, the open barrels of wine are prohibited and the wine in them may not be drunk due to suspicion that the gentile soldiers may have poured this wine as a libation for idolatry. The sealed barrels are permitted. However, if the unit entered in wartime, both are permitted because in wartime there is no respite to pour wine for idolatry, and one can be certain that the soldiers did not do so. Apparently, since they are afraid, they do not pour libations. Here too, in the case of bathing, since he is afraid, he will not come to have impure thoughts. The Gemara asks: And what fear is there here that would prevent one bathing from having impure thoughts? The Gemara answers: Fear of the river. Since he needs to be careful that the water does not wash him away, he is too distracted to think of other matters.

אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַמַּנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה כְּאִילּוּ כּוֹפֵר בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא כִּי נָחֵית, הָא כִּי סָלֵיק. כִּי הָא דְּרָבָא שָׁחֵי. רַבִּי זֵירָא זָקֵיף. רַבָּנַן דְּבֵי רַב אָשֵׁי, כִּי קָא נָחֲתִי — זָקְפִי, כִּי קָא סָלְקִי — שָׁחוּ.

The Gemara questions the story itself: And is that so? Is it permitted under any circumstances to cover one’s genitals while bathing? Didn’t Rabbi Abba say that Rav Huna said that Rav said: Anyone who places his hands over his genitals is as if he denies the covenant of our father Abraham? It appears as if he is covering himself to obscure the fact that he is circumcised. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as there is room to distinguish and say that this, the case where it is prohibited to cover oneself, is when he is descending into the river and there are no people facing him and he need not be concerned with modesty. In that case covering oneself is prohibited as he appears to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. That, the case where, in certain circumstances, this prohibition does not apply, is when he is emerging from the river. When he emerges, he is facing the people on the riverbank and it is then permitted to cover himself in the interest of modesty, as that which Rava would do. He would bend over when he was naked. Rabbi Zeira would stand upright, in accordance with Rav’s statement that it is prohibited to appear to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. When the Sages of the school of Rav Ashi descended into the river they stood upright. When they emerged from the river they bent over.

רַבִּי זֵירָא הֲוָה קָא מִשְׁתְּמִיט מִדְּרַב יְהוּדָה, דְּבָעֵי לְמִיסַּק לְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: כׇּל הָעוֹלֶה מִבָּבֶל לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבֵר בַּעֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ וְשָׁמָּה יִהְיוּ״. אֲמַר: אֵיזִיל וְאֶשְׁמַע מִינֵּיהּ מִילְּתָא וְאֵיתֵי וְאֶיסַּק. אֲזַל, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ דְּקָאֵי בֵּי בָאנֵי וְקָאָמַר לֵיהּ לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: הָבִיאוּ לִי נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ לִי מַסְרֵק, פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא, וְאִשְׁתוּ מִמַּיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי. אֲמַר: אִילְמָלֵא לֹא בָּאתִי אֶלָּא לִשְׁמוֹעַ דָּבָר זֶה דַּיִּי.

Speaking of bathing and its halakhot, the Gemara relates: Rabbi Zeira was avoiding being seen by his teacher, Rav Yehuda, as Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and his teacher disapproved. As Rav Yehuda said: Anyone who ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael transgresses a positive commandment, as it is stated: “They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could only be granted by God. Rabbi Zeira did not want to discuss his desire to emigrate with Rav Yehuda, so that he would not be forced to explicitly disobey him. Nevertheless, he said: I will go and hear something from him and then I will leave. He went and found Rav Yehuda standing in the bathhouse and telling his servant: Bring me natron [neter] with which to wash, bring me a comb, open your mouths and let out air, and drink from the water of the bathhouse. Rabbi Zeira said: If I had come only to hear this matter from Rav Yehuda, it would suffice for me.

בִּשְׁלָמָא ״הָבִיאוּ נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ מַסְרֵק״ — קָמַשְׁמַע לַן דְּבָרִים שֶׁל חוֹל מוּתָּר לְאוֹמְרָם בִּלְשׁוֹן קֹדֶשׁ. ״פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא״ — נָמֵי כְּדִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הַבְלָא מַפֵּיק הַבְלָא. אֶלָּא ״אִשְׁתוּ מַיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי״ מַאי מְעַלְּיוּתָא? דְּתַנְיָא אָכַל וְלֹא שָׁתָה — אֲכִילָתוֹ דָּם, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת חוֹלִי מֵעַיִים. אָכַל וְלֹא הָלַךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת — אֲכִילָתוֹ מַרְקֶבֶת, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ רַע. הַנִּצְרָךְ לִנְקָבָיו וְאָכַל — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ עַל גַּבֵּי אֶפְרוֹ, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ זוּהֲמָא. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא שָׁתָה מֵהֶן — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבְּחוּץ וְלֹא הִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבִּפְנִים. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּטֵּף בְּצוֹנֵן — דּוֹמֶה לְבַרְזֶל שֶׁהִכְנִיסוּהוּ לָאוּר וְלֹא הִכְנִיסוּהוּ לְצוֹנֵן. רָחַץ וְלֹא סָךְ — דּוֹמֶה לְמַיִם עַל גַּבֵּי חָבִית.

The Gemara analyzes the lessons learned from this story. Granted, when Rav Yehuda said: Bring me natron, bring me a comb, he was teaching us that mundane matters are permitted to be spoken in the bathhouse, even in the sacred language. When he said: Open your mouths and let out air, that too is in accordance with that which Shmuel said, as Shmuel said: Heat produces heat. The hot air that one inhales causes him to sweat more quickly. However, drink the water of the bathhouse, what benefit is there in doing that? The Gemara answers: As it was taught in a baraita: One who ate and did not drink at all, what he ate becomes blood and that causes the onset of intestinal disease. One who ate and did not walk four cubits after eating, what he ate rots and that causes the onset of bad breath. One who needs to defecate and ate is similar to an oven that was lit on top of its ashes. When ashes from a previous fire are not swept out, and new logs are placed on top of the old ones, it inhibits the burning and dirties the oven, and that causes the onset of odor of the filth of perspiration in a person. As far as our matter is concerned, the baraita teaches: One who bathed in hot water and did not drink from it is like an oven that was lit from the outside and not lit from the inside. The lighting is ineffective and the oven does not heat properly. Rav Yehuda told his servants to drink the hot water while bathing so that they would be heated from the inside and the outside. The baraita continues: One who bathed in hot water and did not rinse afterward with cold water is like iron that was placed in the fire and not placed afterward in cold water, which leaves the iron soft. And one who bathed and did not smear himself with oil afterward is like water that was poured on top of a barrel, and not into it. The water spills outside the barrel.

מַתְנִי׳ מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת. אַנְטִיכֵי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה.

MISHNA: In this mishna, the Sages discuss two vessels used for heating water. With regard to a mulyar, a bronze vessel into which coals are placed in an outer compartment and water is placed into an adjacent inner compartment, whose coals were swept, one may drink from it on Shabbat. With regard to an antikhi, which is a vessel with a different configuration, even if its coals were swept, one may not drink from it on Shabbat.

גְּמָ׳ הֵיכִי דָּמֵי מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף? תָּנָא, מַיִם מִבִּפְנִים וְגֶחָלִים מִבְּחוּץ. אַנְטִיכֵי: רַבָּה אָמַר — בֵּי כִירֵי. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר — בֵּי דוּדֵי. מַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי דוּדֵי כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בֵּי כִירֵי, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי כִירֵי אֲבָל בֵּי דוּדֵי — לָא. תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: אַנְטִיכֵי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה וּקְטוּמָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנְּחוּשְׁתָּהּ מְחַמַּמְתָּהּ.

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of a swept mulyar? The Gemara answers: A mulyar is the vessel, explained in the Tosefta on our mishna, that has water on the inside and coals on the outside. With regard to the identity of an antikhi there are different opinions. Rabba said that it refers to a stove. A space is created in the wall of a stove and filled with water. Since the stove is very hot, it is prohibited to use this water. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzhak said: An antikhi is a cauldron, i.e., a vessel made from two cauldrons stacked one on top of the other with coals in the bottom one and water in the upper one. These two different opinions have halakhic implications. The one who says that it is prohibited to use a vessel composed of two cauldrons, all the more so it is prohibited to use the space inside of a stove. And the one who says that it is prohibited to use the space inside a stove, a vessel composed of two cauldrons, no, it is not prohibited. It was taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman: An antikhi, even if it was swept and covered with ashes, one may not drink from it on Shabbat because its copper heats it. The heating in an antikhi is by means of the coals beneath the water.

מַתְנִי׳ הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ צוֹנֵן בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ. אֲבָל נוֹתֵן הוּא לְתוֹכוֹ אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַכּוֹס כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

MISHNA: The Sages added to the laws of leaving food on a source of heat and cooking food on Shabbat: An urn that was emptied of its hot water on Shabbat, one may not place cold water into it so that the cold water will be heated. However, one may place cold water into an urn or into a cup that were emptied of their hot water in order to warm it but not in order to heat it.

גְּמָ׳ מַאי קָאָמַר? אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר מַתְנָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם חַמִּין לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכָן מַיִם מוּעָטִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

GEMARA: The mishna seems to contradict itself. The first statement completely prohibits placing water into an urn, and later it was partially permitted. The Gemara asks: What is the mishna saying? Rav Adda bar Mattana said that it said the following: An urn that was emptied of its hot water, one may not put a small amount of water into it so that it will become very hot. However, one may put a large quantity of water into it in order to warm it. A large quantity of cold water will not be heated in those circumstances.

וַהֲלֹא מְצָרֵף? רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין — מוּתָּר. מַתְקִיף לַהּ אַבָּיֵי: מִידֵּי מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם קָתָנֵי?! מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ קָתָנֵי!

The Gemara questions this leniency: By putting cold water into the urn, doesn’t it harden the vessel? Cold water poured into a heated metal vessel reinforces the vessel. It is one of the stages in the labor of a blacksmith. How is it permitted to do something similar on Shabbat? The Gemara answers: This mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, who stated a principle with regard to the laws of Shabbat: An unintentional act, i.e., a permitted action from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues, is permitted. Here too, his intention was to warm the water, not to reinforce the vessel. Abaye strongly objects to this explanation: Does it say in the mishna: An urn from which water was emptied? That would indicate that he sought to fill the vessel with other water and warm up that water. Rather, an urn that was removed was taught in the mishna, meaning that the urn was removed from the fire, not that the water was emptied from it.

אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ מַיִם חַמִּין — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מוּעָטִין בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיָּחוֹמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן. וּמֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם כׇּל עִיקָּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּצָרֵף. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין אָסוּר.

Rather, Abaye said this is what the mishna is saying: An urn that was removed from the fire and contains hot water, one may not place a small quantity of water in it so that the water will become hot; rather, one may place a large quantity of water in it so that the water will become warm. And with regard to an urn from which water was removed; one may not place any water into it because he hardens the vessel by placing cold water into a hot vessel. And, according to this explanation, our mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said that an unintentional act from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues is prohibited on Shabbat.

אָמַר רַב: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ לְצָרֵף נָמֵי מוּתָּר. לְצָרֵף לְכַתְּחִילָּה מִי שְׁרֵי?! אֶלָּא אִי אִיתְּמַר הָכִי אִיתְּמַר: אָמַר רַב לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שִׁיעוּר לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף —

With regard to the matter itself, Rav said: They taught that one is permitted to place cold water into an urn with hot water after it was removed from the fire, when his intention is only to warm the cold water. However, if he did this in order to harden the vessel, it is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even if he does so in order to harden the vessel, it is also permitted. The Gemara wonders: Is hardening permitted ab initio? Isn’t it a full-fledged prohibited labor on Shabbat? Rather, if the dispute between Rav and Shmuel was stated, it was stated as follows. Rav said: They taught that it is permitted to add water only in a measure that is sufficient to warm the water, i.e., to only partially fill the vessel. However, filling it completely with a measure sufficient to harden the vessel is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even a measure sufficient to harden the vessel

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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 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

I’ve been studying Talmud since the ’90s, and decided to take on Daf Yomi two years ago. I wanted to attempt the challenge of a day-to-day, very Jewish activity. Some days are so interesting and some days are so boring. But I’m still here.
Wendy Rozov
Wendy Rozov

Phoenix, AZ, United States

When I began learning Daf Yomi at the beginning of the current cycle, I was preparing for an upcoming surgery and thought that learning the Daf would be something positive I could do each day during my recovery, even if I accomplished nothing else. I had no idea what a lifeline learning the Daf would turn out to be in so many ways.

Laura Shechter
Laura Shechter

Lexington, MA, United States

I had never heard of Daf Yomi and after reading the book, The Weight of Ink, I explored more about it. I discovered that it was only 6 months before a whole new cycle started and I was determined to give it a try. I tried to get a friend to join me on the journey but after the first few weeks they all dropped it. I haven’t missed a day of reading and of listening to the podcast.

Anne Rubin
Anne Rubin

Elkins Park, United States

I’ve been studying Talmud since the ’90s, and decided to take on Daf Yomi two years ago. I wanted to attempt the challenge of a day-to-day, very Jewish activity. Some days are so interesting and some days are so boring. But I’m still here.
Sarene Shanus
Sarene Shanus

Mamaroneck, NY, United States

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.

Hannah Lee
Hannah Lee

Pennsylvania, United States

My curiosity was peaked after seeing posts about the end of the last cycle. I am always looking for opportunities to increase my Jewish literacy & I am someone that is drawn to habit and consistency. Dinnertime includes a “Guess what I learned on the daf” segment for my husband and 18 year old twins. I also love the feelings of connection with my colleagues who are also learning.

Diana Bloom
Diana Bloom

Tampa, United States

I started learning Daf in Jan 2020 with Brachot b/c I had never seen the Jewish people united around something so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, I wanted to broaden my background in Torah Shebal Peh- Maayanot gave me a great gemara education, but I knew that I could hold a conversation in most parts of tanach but almost no TSB. I’m so thankful for Daf and have gained immensely.

Meira Shapiro
Meira Shapiro

NJ, United States

What a great experience to learn with Rabbanit Michelle Farber. I began with this cycle in January 2020 and have been comforted by the consistency and energy of this process throughout the isolation period of Covid. Week by week, I feel like I am exploring a treasure chest with sparkling gems and puzzling antiquities. The hunt is exhilarating.

Marian Frankston
Marian Frankston

Pennsylvania, United States

I start learning Daf Yomi in January 2020. The daily learning with Rabbanit Michelle has kept me grounded in this very uncertain time. Despite everything going on – the Pandemic, my personal life, climate change, war, etc… I know I can count on Hadran’s podcast to bring a smile to my face.
Deb Engel
Deb Engel

Los Angeles, United States

I attended the Siyum so that I could tell my granddaughter that I had been there. Then I decided to listen on Spotify and after the siyum of Brachot, Covid and zoom began. It gave structure to my day. I learn with people from all over the world who are now my friends – yet most of us have never met. I can’t imagine life without it. Thank you Rabbanit Michelle.

Emma Rinberg
Emma Rinberg

Raanana, 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

The first month I learned Daf Yomi by myself in secret, because I wasn’t sure how my husband would react, but after the siyyum on Masechet Brachot I discovered Hadran and now sometimes my husband listens to the daf with me. He and I also learn mishnayot together and are constantly finding connections between the different masechtot.

Laura Warshawsky
Laura Warshawsky

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States

I began my journey with Rabbanit Michelle more than five years ago. My friend came up with a great idea for about 15 of us to learn the daf and one of us would summarize weekly what we learned.
It was fun but after 2-3 months people began to leave. I have continued. Since the cycle began Again I have joined the Teaneck women.. I find it most rewarding in so many ways. Thank you

Dena Heller
Dena Heller

New Jersey, United States

I am grateful for the structure of the Daf Yomi. When I am freer to learn to my heart’s content, I learn other passages in addition. But even in times of difficulty, I always know that I can rely on the structure and social support of Daf Yomi learners all over the world.

I am also grateful for this forum. It is very helpful to learn with a group of enthusiastic and committed women.

Janice Block-2
Janice Block

Beit Shemesh, 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

While vacationing in San Diego, Rabbi Leah Herz asked if I’d be interested in being in hevruta with her to learn Daf Yomi through Hadran. Why not? I had loved learning Gemara in college in 1971 but hadn’t returned. With the onset of covid, Daf Yomi and Rabbanit Michelle centered me each day. Thank-you for helping me grow and enter this amazing world of learning.
Meryll Page
Meryll Page

Minneapolis, MN, United States

I was inspired to start learning after attending the 2020 siyum in Binyanei Hauma. It has been a great experience for me. It’s amazing to see the origins of stories I’ve heard and rituals I’ve participated in my whole life. Even when I don’t understand the daf itself, I believe that the commitment to learning every day is valuable and has multiple benefits. And there will be another daf tomorrow!

Khaya Eisenberg
Khaya Eisenberg

Jerusalem, Israel

I started learning with rabbis. I needed to know more than the stories. My first teacher to show me “the way of the Talmud” as well as the stories was Samara Schwartz.
Michelle Farber started the new cycle 2 yrs ago and I jumped on for the ride.
I do not look back.

Jenifer Nech
Jenifer Nech

Houston, United States

Shabbat 41

דְּלֵית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי, הָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ גִּידּוּדֵי.

that does not have embankments surrounding it. Since there are no partitions, it appears like an ocean or a river. That incident involving Rabbi Abbahu occurred in a place that has embankments and looks like a vessel. Therefore, the Sages did not prohibit it.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֲנָא חֲזִיתֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא אִי נְגַע אִי לָא נְגַע. פְּשִׁיטָא דְּלָא נְגַע, דְּתַנְיָא רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הָאוֹחֵז בָּאַמָּה וּמַשְׁתִּין — כְּאִילּוּ מֵבִיא מַבּוּל לָעוֹלָם.

After citing what Rabbi Zeira related with regard to Rabbi Abbahu, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Zeira said: I saw that Rabbi Abbahu, while he was bathing, placed his hands over his genitals for the sake of modesty, and I do not know whether he touched them or did not touch them. The Gemara questions Rabbi Zeira’s uncertainty. It is obvious that he did not touch his genitals, as it was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says: One who holds his penis and urinates it is as if he were bringing a flood to the world. He is liable to become aroused by that contact and that is an extremely severe transgression, comparable to the transgressions violated in the generation of the flood.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: עֲשָׂאוּהָ כְּבוֹלֶשֶׁת. דִּתְנַן: בּוֹלֶשֶׁת שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לָעִיר, בִּשְׁעַת שָׁלוֹם — חָבִיּוֹת פְּתוּחוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, סְתוּמוֹת מוּתָּרוֹת. בִּשְׁעַת מִלְחָמָה — אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ מוּתָּרוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין פְּנַאי לְנַסֵּךְ. אַלְמָא כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִיתִי לָא מְנַסְּכִי. הָכָא נָמֵי, כֵּיוָן דִּבְעִית לָא אָתֵי לְהַרְהוֹרֵי. הָכָא מַאי בִּיעֲתוּתָא? בִּיעֲתוּתָא דְנַהְרָא.

Abaye said: Nevertheless, no proof can be cited from that baraita. Perhaps the Sages rendered the legal status of this situation like that of a military unit, as we learned in a mishna: A military unit that entered a city, if it entered during peacetime, after the soldiers leave, the open barrels of wine are prohibited and the wine in them may not be drunk due to suspicion that the gentile soldiers may have poured this wine as a libation for idolatry. The sealed barrels are permitted. However, if the unit entered in wartime, both are permitted because in wartime there is no respite to pour wine for idolatry, and one can be certain that the soldiers did not do so. Apparently, since they are afraid, they do not pour libations. Here too, in the case of bathing, since he is afraid, he will not come to have impure thoughts. The Gemara asks: And what fear is there here that would prevent one bathing from having impure thoughts? The Gemara answers: Fear of the river. Since he needs to be careful that the water does not wash him away, he is too distracted to think of other matters.

אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַמַּנִּיחַ יָדָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו שֶׁל מַטָּה כְּאִילּוּ כּוֹפֵר בִּבְרִיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא כִּי נָחֵית, הָא כִּי סָלֵיק. כִּי הָא דְּרָבָא שָׁחֵי. רַבִּי זֵירָא זָקֵיף. רַבָּנַן דְּבֵי רַב אָשֵׁי, כִּי קָא נָחֲתִי — זָקְפִי, כִּי קָא סָלְקִי — שָׁחוּ.

The Gemara questions the story itself: And is that so? Is it permitted under any circumstances to cover one’s genitals while bathing? Didn’t Rabbi Abba say that Rav Huna said that Rav said: Anyone who places his hands over his genitals is as if he denies the covenant of our father Abraham? It appears as if he is covering himself to obscure the fact that he is circumcised. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as there is room to distinguish and say that this, the case where it is prohibited to cover oneself, is when he is descending into the river and there are no people facing him and he need not be concerned with modesty. In that case covering oneself is prohibited as he appears to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. That, the case where, in certain circumstances, this prohibition does not apply, is when he is emerging from the river. When he emerges, he is facing the people on the riverbank and it is then permitted to cover himself in the interest of modesty, as that which Rava would do. He would bend over when he was naked. Rabbi Zeira would stand upright, in accordance with Rav’s statement that it is prohibited to appear to be renouncing the covenant of Abraham. When the Sages of the school of Rav Ashi descended into the river they stood upright. When they emerged from the river they bent over.

רַבִּי זֵירָא הֲוָה קָא מִשְׁתְּמִיט מִדְּרַב יְהוּדָה, דְּבָעֵי לְמִיסַּק לְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: כׇּל הָעוֹלֶה מִבָּבֶל לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבֵר בַּעֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ וְשָׁמָּה יִהְיוּ״. אֲמַר: אֵיזִיל וְאֶשְׁמַע מִינֵּיהּ מִילְּתָא וְאֵיתֵי וְאֶיסַּק. אֲזַל, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ דְּקָאֵי בֵּי בָאנֵי וְקָאָמַר לֵיהּ לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: הָבִיאוּ לִי נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ לִי מַסְרֵק, פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא, וְאִשְׁתוּ מִמַּיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי. אֲמַר: אִילְמָלֵא לֹא בָּאתִי אֶלָּא לִשְׁמוֹעַ דָּבָר זֶה דַּיִּי.

Speaking of bathing and its halakhot, the Gemara relates: Rabbi Zeira was avoiding being seen by his teacher, Rav Yehuda, as Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and his teacher disapproved. As Rav Yehuda said: Anyone who ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael transgresses a positive commandment, as it is stated: “They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could only be granted by God. Rabbi Zeira did not want to discuss his desire to emigrate with Rav Yehuda, so that he would not be forced to explicitly disobey him. Nevertheless, he said: I will go and hear something from him and then I will leave. He went and found Rav Yehuda standing in the bathhouse and telling his servant: Bring me natron [neter] with which to wash, bring me a comb, open your mouths and let out air, and drink from the water of the bathhouse. Rabbi Zeira said: If I had come only to hear this matter from Rav Yehuda, it would suffice for me.

בִּשְׁלָמָא ״הָבִיאוּ נֶתֶר, הָבִיאוּ מַסְרֵק״ — קָמַשְׁמַע לַן דְּבָרִים שֶׁל חוֹל מוּתָּר לְאוֹמְרָם בִּלְשׁוֹן קֹדֶשׁ. ״פִּתְחוּ פּוּמַּיְיכוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ הַבְלָא״ — נָמֵי כְּדִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הַבְלָא מַפֵּיק הַבְלָא. אֶלָּא ״אִשְׁתוּ מַיָּא דְּבֵי בָאנֵי״ מַאי מְעַלְּיוּתָא? דְּתַנְיָא אָכַל וְלֹא שָׁתָה — אֲכִילָתוֹ דָּם, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת חוֹלִי מֵעַיִים. אָכַל וְלֹא הָלַךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת — אֲכִילָתוֹ מַרְקֶבֶת, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ רַע. הַנִּצְרָךְ לִנְקָבָיו וְאָכַל — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ עַל גַּבֵּי אֶפְרוֹ, וְזֶהוּ תְּחִילַּת רֵיחַ זוּהֲמָא. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא שָׁתָה מֵהֶן — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבְּחוּץ וְלֹא הִסִּיקוּהוּ מִבִּפְנִים. רָחַץ בְּחַמִּין וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּטֵּף בְּצוֹנֵן — דּוֹמֶה לְבַרְזֶל שֶׁהִכְנִיסוּהוּ לָאוּר וְלֹא הִכְנִיסוּהוּ לְצוֹנֵן. רָחַץ וְלֹא סָךְ — דּוֹמֶה לְמַיִם עַל גַּבֵּי חָבִית.

The Gemara analyzes the lessons learned from this story. Granted, when Rav Yehuda said: Bring me natron, bring me a comb, he was teaching us that mundane matters are permitted to be spoken in the bathhouse, even in the sacred language. When he said: Open your mouths and let out air, that too is in accordance with that which Shmuel said, as Shmuel said: Heat produces heat. The hot air that one inhales causes him to sweat more quickly. However, drink the water of the bathhouse, what benefit is there in doing that? The Gemara answers: As it was taught in a baraita: One who ate and did not drink at all, what he ate becomes blood and that causes the onset of intestinal disease. One who ate and did not walk four cubits after eating, what he ate rots and that causes the onset of bad breath. One who needs to defecate and ate is similar to an oven that was lit on top of its ashes. When ashes from a previous fire are not swept out, and new logs are placed on top of the old ones, it inhibits the burning and dirties the oven, and that causes the onset of odor of the filth of perspiration in a person. As far as our matter is concerned, the baraita teaches: One who bathed in hot water and did not drink from it is like an oven that was lit from the outside and not lit from the inside. The lighting is ineffective and the oven does not heat properly. Rav Yehuda told his servants to drink the hot water while bathing so that they would be heated from the inside and the outside. The baraita continues: One who bathed in hot water and did not rinse afterward with cold water is like iron that was placed in the fire and not placed afterward in cold water, which leaves the iron soft. And one who bathed and did not smear himself with oil afterward is like water that was poured on top of a barrel, and not into it. The water spills outside the barrel.

מַתְנִי׳ מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת. אַנְטִיכֵי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה.

MISHNA: In this mishna, the Sages discuss two vessels used for heating water. With regard to a mulyar, a bronze vessel into which coals are placed in an outer compartment and water is placed into an adjacent inner compartment, whose coals were swept, one may drink from it on Shabbat. With regard to an antikhi, which is a vessel with a different configuration, even if its coals were swept, one may not drink from it on Shabbat.

גְּמָ׳ הֵיכִי דָּמֵי מוּלְיָאר הַגָּרוּף? תָּנָא, מַיִם מִבִּפְנִים וְגֶחָלִים מִבְּחוּץ. אַנְטִיכֵי: רַבָּה אָמַר — בֵּי כִירֵי. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר — בֵּי דוּדֵי. מַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי דוּדֵי כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בֵּי כִירֵי, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר בֵּי כִירֵי אֲבָל בֵּי דוּדֵי — לָא. תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן: אַנְטִיכֵי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגְּרוּפָה וּקְטוּמָה אֵין שׁוֹתִין הֵימֶנָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנְּחוּשְׁתָּהּ מְחַמַּמְתָּהּ.

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of a swept mulyar? The Gemara answers: A mulyar is the vessel, explained in the Tosefta on our mishna, that has water on the inside and coals on the outside. With regard to the identity of an antikhi there are different opinions. Rabba said that it refers to a stove. A space is created in the wall of a stove and filled with water. Since the stove is very hot, it is prohibited to use this water. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzhak said: An antikhi is a cauldron, i.e., a vessel made from two cauldrons stacked one on top of the other with coals in the bottom one and water in the upper one. These two different opinions have halakhic implications. The one who says that it is prohibited to use a vessel composed of two cauldrons, all the more so it is prohibited to use the space inside of a stove. And the one who says that it is prohibited to use the space inside a stove, a vessel composed of two cauldrons, no, it is not prohibited. It was taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman: An antikhi, even if it was swept and covered with ashes, one may not drink from it on Shabbat because its copper heats it. The heating in an antikhi is by means of the coals beneath the water.

מַתְנִי׳ הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ צוֹנֵן בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ. אֲבָל נוֹתֵן הוּא לְתוֹכוֹ אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַכּוֹס כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

MISHNA: The Sages added to the laws of leaving food on a source of heat and cooking food on Shabbat: An urn that was emptied of its hot water on Shabbat, one may not place cold water into it so that the cold water will be heated. However, one may place cold water into an urn or into a cup that were emptied of their hot water in order to warm it but not in order to heat it.

גְּמָ׳ מַאי קָאָמַר? אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר מַתְנָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם חַמִּין לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכָן מַיִם מוּעָטִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּחַמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן.

GEMARA: The mishna seems to contradict itself. The first statement completely prohibits placing water into an urn, and later it was partially permitted. The Gemara asks: What is the mishna saying? Rav Adda bar Mattana said that it said the following: An urn that was emptied of its hot water, one may not put a small amount of water into it so that it will become very hot. However, one may put a large quantity of water into it in order to warm it. A large quantity of cold water will not be heated in those circumstances.

וַהֲלֹא מְצָרֵף? רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין — מוּתָּר. מַתְקִיף לַהּ אַבָּיֵי: מִידֵּי מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם קָתָנֵי?! מֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ קָתָנֵי!

The Gemara questions this leniency: By putting cold water into the urn, doesn’t it harden the vessel? Cold water poured into a heated metal vessel reinforces the vessel. It is one of the stages in the labor of a blacksmith. How is it permitted to do something similar on Shabbat? The Gemara answers: This mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, who stated a principle with regard to the laws of Shabbat: An unintentional act, i.e., a permitted action from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues, is permitted. Here too, his intention was to warm the water, not to reinforce the vessel. Abaye strongly objects to this explanation: Does it say in the mishna: An urn from which water was emptied? That would indicate that he sought to fill the vessel with other water and warm up that water. Rather, an urn that was removed was taught in the mishna, meaning that the urn was removed from the fire, not that the water was emptied from it.

אֶלָּא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: הַמֵּיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּהוּ וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ מַיִם חַמִּין — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מוּעָטִין בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיָּחוֹמּוּ, אֲבָל נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם מְרוּבִּים כְּדֵי לְהַפְשִׁירָן. וּמֵיחַם שֶׁפִּינָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם — לֹא יִתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם כׇּל עִיקָּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּצָרֵף. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוֵּין אָסוּר.

Rather, Abaye said this is what the mishna is saying: An urn that was removed from the fire and contains hot water, one may not place a small quantity of water in it so that the water will become hot; rather, one may place a large quantity of water in it so that the water will become warm. And with regard to an urn from which water was removed; one may not place any water into it because he hardens the vessel by placing cold water into a hot vessel. And, according to this explanation, our mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said that an unintentional act from which a prohibited labor inadvertently ensues is prohibited on Shabbat.

אָמַר רַב: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ לְצָרֵף נָמֵי מוּתָּר. לְצָרֵף לְכַתְּחִילָּה מִי שְׁרֵי?! אֶלָּא אִי אִיתְּמַר הָכִי אִיתְּמַר: אָמַר רַב לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שִׁיעוּר לְהַפְשִׁיר, אֲבָל שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף — אָסוּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שִׁיעוּר לְצָרֵף —

With regard to the matter itself, Rav said: They taught that one is permitted to place cold water into an urn with hot water after it was removed from the fire, when his intention is only to warm the cold water. However, if he did this in order to harden the vessel, it is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even if he does so in order to harden the vessel, it is also permitted. The Gemara wonders: Is hardening permitted ab initio? Isn’t it a full-fledged prohibited labor on Shabbat? Rather, if the dispute between Rav and Shmuel was stated, it was stated as follows. Rav said: They taught that it is permitted to add water only in a measure that is sufficient to warm the water, i.e., to only partially fill the vessel. However, filling it completely with a measure sufficient to harden the vessel is prohibited. And Shmuel said: Even a measure sufficient to harden the vessel

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