Ready to get started?
Today’s Daf – Menachot 51 / Mar. 3rd, 2026 / י״ד באדר תשפ״ו
Ready to get started?
Share this shiur:
This week’s learning is sponsored for the merit and safety of Haymanut (Emuna) Kasau, who was 9 years old when she disappeared from her home in Tzfat two years ago, on the 16th of Adar, 5784 (February 25, 2024), and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
This week’s learning is dedicated of the safety of our nation, the soldiers and citizens of Israel, and for the liberation of the Iranian people. May we soon see the realization of “ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר”.
This week’s learning is sponsored for the merit and safety of Haymanut (Emuna) Kasau, who was 9 years old when she disappeared from her home in Tzfat two years ago, on the 16th of Adar, 5784 (February 25, 2024), and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Want to dedicate learning? Get started here:
The gemara raises several questions (four, including the one at the end of the previous page) on Rabbi Yannai’s position according to the second reading, that even according to Rabbi Yehuda the drawing of lots is essential. Ultimately they bring proof from a braita that this position of Rabbi Yannai is correct.
This week’s learning is sponsored for the merit and safety of Haymanut (Emuna) Kasau, who was 9 years old when she disappeared from her home in Tzfat two years ago, on the 16th of Adar, 5784 (February 25, 2024), and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
This week’s learning is dedicated of the safety of our nation, the soldiers and citizens of Israel, and for the liberation of the Iranian people. May we soon see the realization of “ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר”.
This week’s learning is sponsored for the merit and safety of Haymanut (Emuna) Kasau, who was 9 years old when she disappeared from her home in Tzfat two years ago, on the 16th of Adar, 5784 (February 25, 2024), and whose whereabouts remain unknown.
אֶלָּא לְהָךְ לִישָּׁנָא דְּאָמְרַתְּ פְּלִיגִי, בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר לָא מְעַכְּבָא, הָא מַנִּי — רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא,
But according to that second version of the dispute, in which you said that Rabbi Yannai and Rabbi Yoḥanan disagree whether the drawing of the lots is indispensable according to Rabbi Yehuda, but according to Rabbi Neḥemya it certainly is indispensable, then granted, according to the one, i.e., Rabbi Yoḥanan, who said that the drawing of the lots is not indispensable, in accordance with whose opinion is this baraita taught? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda.
אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר מְעַכְּבָא, הָא מַנִּי? תְּנִי: מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחַ.
However, according to the one, i.e., Rabbi Yannai, who said that both according to Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya the drawing of the lots is indispensable, then in accordance with whose opinion could this baraita be taught? It would appear that, according to Rabbi Yannai, the baraita does not reflect anyone’s opinion. Perforce, the baraita cannot be referring to drawing the lots, and one must emend and teach the baraita as saying that it is a mitzva to place the lots on the goats.
תָּא שְׁמַע: מִצְוָה לְהַגְרִיל וּלְהִתְוַדּוֹת. לֹא הִגְרִיל וְלֹא הִתְוַדָּה — כָּשֵׁר. וְכִי תֵּימָא הָכִי נָמֵי לְהַנִּיחַ, אֵימָא סֵיפָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: לֹא הִגְרִיל — כָּשֵׁר, לֹא הִתְוַדָּה — פָּסוּל.
Come and hear another challenge to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion, as presented in the second version of the dispute, which maintains that both Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya hold that drawing of the lots is indispensable. A baraita teaches: It is a mitzva for the High Priest to draw the lots and to confess upon the goat to be sent to Azazel. If he did not draw the lots or did not confess, the service is still valid. This baraita also appears to say that the drawing of the lots is not indispensable, in contradiction to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion. And if you say: So too, the baraita should be emended to say it is a mitzva to place the lots on the goats, this is problematic. How will you then say, i.e., explain, the latter clause of that baraita, which teaches: Rabbi Shimon says: If he does not draw the lots, it is valid. If he does not confess, it is invalid?
מַאי ״לֹא הִגְרִיל״? אִילֵּימָא לֹא הִנִּיחַ, מִכְּלָל דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן סָבַר הַגְרָלָה מְעַכְּבָא, וְהָתַנְיָא: מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶן, מֵבִיא חֲבֵירוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בַּהַגְרָלָה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן.
The Gemara clarifies the challenge from the latter clause: In this baraita, what is the meaning of: He did not draw the lots? If we say it means he did not place the lots on the goats, then by inference Rabbi Shimon holds that while the placing is not indispensable, the drawing of the lots is indispensable. But this is incorrect, since wasn’t it taught in a baraita: If, following the designation of the goats, one of them died, a new goat is brought to be the counterpart of the surviving goat and is designated without drawing lots; this is the statement of Rabbi Shimon. It would therefore appear that the baraita should not be understood as referring to the mitzva to place the lots, but as referring to the drawing of the lots themselves. Therefore, the challenge to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion remains.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לָא יָדַע מַאי קָאָמְרִי רַבָּנַן, וְהָכִי קָאָמַר לְהוּ: אִי הַגְרָלָה — הַגְרָלָה מַמָּשׁ קָא אָמְרִיתוּ, פְּלִיגְנָא עֲלַיְיכוּ בַּחֲדָא. אִי הַגְרָלָה דְּקָאָמְרִיתוּ הַיְינוּ הַנָּחָה — פְּלִיגְנָא עֲלַיְיכוּ בְּתַרְתֵּי.
The Gemara responds: Rabbi Yannai’s opinion can still be defended by claiming that Rabbi Shimon did not know precisely what the Sages were saying, i.e., whether they were referring to the drawing or the placing of the lots. Therefore, in his response to them, this is what he is saying: If when you say: Drawing of the lots, you are saying that the actual drawing of the lots is not indispensable, as I also hold, then I disagree with you only with regard to one halakha, namely with regard to the indispensability of the confession. But if, when you say: Drawing of the lots, you are saying only that the placing of the lots is not indispensable, but you assume that the drawing of the lots is indispensable, then I disagree with you with regard to two halakhot, i.e., with regard to the indispensability of both the drawing of the lots and of the confession.
תָּא שְׁמַע: פַּר מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר,
Come and hear another challenge to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion that all agree that the drawing of the lots is indispensable, from a baraita: Various services are performed with the bull and the goat and their blood. These services must be performed in a specific sequence, often alternating between the bull and the goat. If one service is neglected and a later service is advanced to be before it, the halakha is as follows: Failure to perform a service of the bull that was to precede a service of the goat disqualifies the service of the goat, if it was performed without that service of the bull preceding it.
וְשָׂעִיר אֵין מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַפָּר בְּמַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּפְנִים.
However, failure to perform a service of the goat that was to precede a service of the bull does not disqualify the service of the bull; rather, it is valid after the fact. This last rule applies to the applications of blood performed inside the Holy of Holies.
בִּשְׁלָמָא פַּר מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר: דְּאִי אַקְדְּמֵיהּ לְשָׂעִיר מִקַּמֵּי פַּר — לָא עֲבַד וְלֹא כְּלוּם. אֶלָּא שָׂעִיר אֵין מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַפָּר — מַאי נִיהוּ?
The Gemara explains the challenge from the baraita: Granted, failure to perform the service of the bull disqualifies the service of the goat that is advanced ahead of it. This can be understood to mean that if he advanced the service of the goat ahead of the service of the bull, it is considered as though he has not performed anything at all. Once the service of the bull has been performed, the service of the goat must be repeated. However, the rule in the baraita that failure to perform a service of the goat does not disqualify the service of the bull that was advanced ahead of it. To what case is it referring?
אִילֵּימָא דְּאִי אַקְדֵּים מַתָּנוֹת דְּפַר בַּהֵיכָל מִקַּמֵּי מַתָּנוֹת דְּשָׂעִיר בִּפְנִים — ״חוּקָּה״ כְּתִיב בְּהוּ.
If we say that that the baraita means that if one advanced the applications of the blood of the bull in the Sanctuary made toward the curtain ahead of the applications of the blood of the goat inside the Holy of Holies, then the baraita should not rule that it is valid. The term “statute” (Leviticus 16:29) is written concerning the applications of the blood of the goat inside the Holy of Holies, which implies that their performance is indispensable to any subsequent services.
אֶלָּא לָאו, דְּאַקְדֵּים מַתָּנוֹת דְּפַר בִּפְנִים מִקַּמֵּי הַגְרָלָה. וּמִדְּסִדְרָא לָא מְעַכְּבָא — (עִיקְרָא) הַגְרָלָה נָמֵי לָא מְעַכְּבָא!
Rather, is it not that the baraita must be referring to a case in which one advanced the applications of the blood of the bull inside the Holy of Holies ahead of the drawing of the lots? If so, from the fact that the sequencing of drawing the lots is not indispensable, one may infer that the drawing of the lots itself is also not indispensable. This would then refute Rabbi Yannai’s opinion.
לָא, דְּאַקְדֵּים מַתָּנוֹת דְּפַר בְּמִזְבֵּחַ מִקַּמֵּי מַתָּנוֹת דְּשָׂעִיר בַּהֵיכָל, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דְּבָרִים הַנַּעֲשִׂין בְּבִגְדֵי לָבָן בַּחוּץ — לָא מְעַכְּבִי.
The Gemara questions whether this is the only possible interpretation of the baraita: No, the baraita could be referring to a case in which one advanced the applications of the blood of the bull upon the altar ahead of the applications of the blood of the goat in the Sanctuary made toward the curtain. And as such, ruling in the baraita that this is valid after the fact is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: Matters that are performed in the white garments outside of the Holy of Holies are not indispensable. Therefore, the applications of the bull’s blood upon the altar cannot disqualify a different service.
וְהָא בְּמַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּפְנִים קָתָנֵי!
The Gemara rejects this as a possible interpretation of the baraita: But didn’t the conclusion of the baraita teach that the rule applies to the applications of blood performed inside the Holy of Holies? If so, the baraita cannot be referring to application of blood made upon the altar.
אֶלָּא: הָא מַנִּי — רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הִיא, דְּאָמַר: הַגְרָלָה לָא מְעַכְּבָא.
Rather, the baraita must understood in the way suggested by the Gemara previously, which implies that the drawing of the lots is not indispensable. However, this is not necessarily a refutation of the opinion of Rabbi Yannai. One could say: In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, who said: The drawing of the lots is not indispensable. Rabbi Yannai claimed only that Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya agreed that it is indispensable.
וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, וּנְהִי דִּכְסִדְרָא לָא מְעַכְּבָא — הַגְרָלָה מִיהָא מְעַכְּבָא.
And if you wish, say: Actually, the baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. Nevertheless, Rabbi Yannai’s opinion may still be defended: Granted, the baraita teaches that the sequencing of the drawing of the lots is not indispensable; however it may still be true that the drawing itself is nevertheless indispensable. This contradicts what was suggested previously, that one may infer from the indispensability of the sequencing to the indispensability of the drawing itself.
וְאָזְדוּ לְטַעְמַיְיהוּ, דְּתַנְיָא:
And Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Shimon follow their lines of reasoning, as it was taught in a baraita:
״יׇעֳמַד חַי לִפְנֵי ה׳ לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו״, עַד מָתַי יִהְיֶה זָקוּק לַעֲמוֹד חַי? עַד שְׁעַת מַתַּן דָּמוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵירוֹ — דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: עַד שְׁעַת וִידּוּי דְּבָרִים.
The verse states: “But the goat on which the lot came up for Azazel shall be stood alive before the Lord, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:10). The verse indicates that the goat must remain alive until a certain time. Were it to die beforehand, it would have to be replaced. Until when is the goat for Azazel required to stand alive? Until the time of the application of the blood of its counterpart, i.e., the goat for God; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Shimon says: It must remain alive until the time of the verbal confession over it.
בְּמַאי קָא מִיפַּלְגִי? כִּדְתַנְיָא: ״לְכַפֵּר״ — בְּכַפָּרַת דָּמִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וְכִלָּה מִכַּפֵּר אֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ״. מָה לְהַלָּן — בְּכַפָּרַת דָּמִים, אַף כָּאן — בְּכַפָּרַת דָּמִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה.
With regard to what do they disagree? As it was taught in a baraita: The verse states that the goat should remain alive “to make atonement” (Leviticus 16:10). This indicates that it must remain alive until it effects atonement. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Shimon dispute which atonement the verse is referring to. The verse speaks of atonement through the application of the blood of the sin-offering goat. And similarly it states: “When he has made an end of atoning for the Sanctuary, and the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat” (Leviticus 16:20). Just as there the reference is to atonement through blood, so too here the verse is referring to atonement through blood. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: ״לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו״, בְּכַפָּרַת דְּבָרִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
Rabbi Shimon says: “To make atonement over it”; the verse speaks of atonement through speech, i.e., the verbal confession that is recited over it.
תָּא שְׁמַע, שָׁאֲלוּ תַּלְמִידָיו אֶת רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: עָלָה בִּשְׂמֹאל, מַהוּ שֶׁיַּחֲזוֹר לְיָמִין? אָמַר לָהֶן: אַל תִּתְּנוּ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִין לִרְדּוֹת.
Come and hear a proof that the drawing of lots is not indispensable. A baraita teaches: Rabbi Akiva’s students asked him: If the lot for God was drawn by the High Priest’s left hand, what is the halakha with regard to whether he may transfer the lot to his right hand? He said to them: Do not give the heretics an opportunity to dominate. If it is allowed, they will adduce this as proof of their claim that the halakhot are not absolute, and the Sages have the power to change them as they see fit.
טַעְמָא דְּאַל תִּתְּנוּ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִין לִרְדּוֹת, הָא לָאו הָכִי מַהְדְּרִינַן לֵיהּ, וְהָא אָמְרַתְּ הַגְרָלָה מְעַכְּבָא, וְכֵיוָן דִּקְבַעְתֵּיהּ שְׂמֹאל הֵיכִי מַהְדְּרִינַן לֵיהּ?
The Gemara infers: The only reason Rabbi Akiva provided to disallow it was so as not to give heretics an opportunity to dominate, which implies that if not for this reason, it would be permitted to transfer the lot to the right hand. How could this be true? Didn’t you say that the drawing of the lots is indispensable? And, consequently, once the designation of the goat has been defined by the drawing of the left hand, how then could we transfer the lot to the right hand? Perforce, the designation is not created by the actual drawing, and as such it is not indispensable.
אָמַר רָבָא, הָכִי קָאָמְרִי: עָלָה הַגּוֹרָל בִּשְׂמֹאל, מַהוּ שֶׁיַּחֲזִירוּ לוֹ וְלִשְׂעִירוֹ לְיָמִין. אָמַר לָהֶם: אַל תִּתְּנוּ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִין לִרְדּוֹת.
The Gemara explains the baraita can be understood in a way in which it does not provide a proof: Rava said: This is what Rabbi Akiva’s students are saying: If the lot was drawn by his left hand, what is the halakha with regard to whether he may transfer it, the lot, and its associated goat to his right side. He said to them: Do not give the heretics an opportunity to dominate. Accordingly, there was never any suggestion of changing the designation of the goats. Therefore, no proof can be brought concerning the indispensability of the drawing of the lots.
תָּא שְׁמַע: אִילּוּ נֶאֱמַר: ״אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו״, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר יַנִּיחֶנּוּ עָלָיו, — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״עָלָה״, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלָה שׁוּב אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ.
Come and hear a proof that the drawing of lots is indispensable. A baraita teaches (Sifra, Aharei Mot 2:4): If the verse had stated only: “The goat upon which the lot” (Leviticus 16:9), I would have said the intention is that he must physically place the lot upon it. Therefore, the verse also states: “On which it came up” (Leviticus 16:9), indicating that once the lot has come up from the receptacle, it is not necessary to do more, i.e., the lot does not have to be physically placed upon the goat.
לְמַאי? אִילֵימָא לְמִצְוָה, מִכְלָל דַּהֲנָחָה מִצְוָה נָמֵי לָא? אֶלָּא לָאו, לְעַכֵּב. וּשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: הַגְרָלָה מְעַכְּבָא, הַנָּחָה — לָא מְעַכְּבָא!
The Gemara clarifies: To what does the baraita refer when it says it is not necessary to actually place the lot upon the goat? If we say it means that it is no longer necessary to do so even as a mitzva, then, by inference, one must conclude that the placement of the lot upon the goat is not even a mitzva. This is problematic. Since it is clearly part of the Yom Kippur service, it must at least be a mitzva. Rather, is it not that when the baraita teaches that the placing of the lot is not necessary, it means only that the placing of the lot is not indispensable? And conclude from it that the drawing of lots is indispensable, but the placement of the lot upon the goat is not indispensable.
אָמַר רָבָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִילּוּ נֶאֱמַר ״אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו״, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר יַנִּיחֶנּוּ עָלָיו עַד שְׁעַת שְׁחִיטָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֲשֶׁר עָלָה״, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלָה שׁוּב אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ.
Rava rejects the proof: Rava said: This cannot serve as a proof, since this is what the baraita is saying: If the verse had stated only: “The goat upon which the lot,” I would have said that the intention is that he should physically place the lot upon the goat, and the lot should remain upon it until the time of its slaughter. Therefore, the verse also states: “On which it came up,” indicating that once the lot has come up from the receptacle and been placed upon the goat for even one moment, it is not necessary to do more, i.e., the lot does not have to remain on the goat anymore. Understood in this way, it cannot be determined from this baraita whether or not the placement is indispensable.
תָּא שְׁמַע: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֵׂהוּ חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֵׂהוּ חַטָּאת.
Come and hear a proof that Rabbi Yehuda holds that the drawing of the lots is indispensable. A baraita in the Sifra teaches: The verse states: “Aaron shall bring forward the goat upon which the lot came up for the Lord, and he shall offer it for a sin-offering” (Leviticus 16:9). The verse indicates that the lottery makes it a sin-offering, but verbally designating the goat with the status of a sin-offering does not make it a sin-offering.
שֶׁיָּכוֹל, וַהֲלֹא דִּין הוּא: וּמָה בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא קִידֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל — קִידֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, מְקוֹם שֶׁקִּידֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיְּקַדֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם?
The baraita continues: A verse is needed to teach this halakha, as I might have thought to come to the opposite conclusion. Is there not an a fortiori inference as follows: Just as in a case in which the use of a lottery does not consecrate the animals with a specific designation, e.g., a woman who has given birth and must bring two birds, one as a sin-offering and one as a burnt-offering, nevertheless a verbal designation of the animals with the required status does consecrate them, so too, in a case in which the use of a lottery does consecrate the animals, is it not logically right that verbally designating the animals with the required status should consecrate them?
תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת.
In contradiction of this reasoning, the verse states, with regard to the goat: “He shall offer it for a sin-offering” to indicate that the lottery makes it a sin-offering; verbally designating the goat with the status of a sin-offering does not make it a sin-offering.
Broaden your understanding of the topics on this daf with classes and podcasts from top women Talmud scholars.
Check out our resources designed to help you navigate a page of Talmud – and study at the pace, level and style that fits you.
Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories.
I started learning daf in January, 2020, being inspired by watching the Siyyum Hashas in Binyanei Haumah. I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep up with the task. When I went to school, Gemara was not an option. Fast forward to March, 2022, and each day starts with the daf. The challenge is now learning the intricacies of delving into the actual learning. Hadran community, thank you!
Riverdale, NY, United States
I started my Daf Yomi journey at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic.
Los Angeles, United States
I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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.
Raanana, Israel
In early 2020, I began the process of a stem cell transplant. The required extreme isolation forced me to leave work and normal life but gave me time to delve into Jewish text study. I did not feel isolated. I began Daf Yomi at the start of this cycle, with family members joining me online from my hospital room. I’ve used my newly granted time to to engage, grow and connect through this learning.
Worcester, United States
I began learning the daf in January 2022. I initially “flew under the radar,” sharing my journey with my husband and a few close friends. I was apprehensive – who, me? Gemara? Now, 2 years in, I feel changed. The rigor of a daily commitment frames my days. The intellectual engagement enhances my knowledge. And the virtual community of learners has become a new family, weaving a glorious tapestry.
Far Rockaway, United States
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.
Brookline, United States
I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!
Minnesota, United States
I started to listen to Michelle’s podcasts four years ago. The minute I started I was hooked. I’m so excited to learn the entire Talmud, and think I will continue always. I chose the quote “while a woman is engaged in conversation she also holds the spindle”. (Megillah 14b). It reminds me of all of the amazing women I learn with every day who multi-task, think ahead and accomplish so much.
Zichron Yakov, Israel
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!
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.
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
I learned daf more off than on 40 years ago. At the beginning of the current cycle, I decided to commit to learning daf regularly. Having Rabanit Michelle available as a learning partner has been amazing. Sometimes I learn with Hadran, sometimes with my husband, and sometimes on my own. It’s been fun to be part of an extended learning community.
Honolulu, Hawaii, 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.
Pennsylvania, United States
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!
Berlin, Germany
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!
Hashmonaim, 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
Efrat, 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.
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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.
Brookline, United States
I decided to give daf yomi a try when I heard about the siyum hashas in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, the daily commitment gave my days some much-needed structure. There have been times when I’ve felt like quitting- especially when encountering very technical details in the text. But then I tell myself, “Look how much you’ve done. You can’t stop now!” So I keep going & my Koren bookshelf grows…
Huntington, United States
Inspired by Hadran’s first Siyum ha Shas L’Nashim two years ago, I began daf yomi right after for the next cycle. As to this extraordinary journey together with Hadran..as TS Eliot wrote “We must not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.
Jerusalem, Israel
אֶלָּא לְהָךְ לִישָּׁנָא דְּאָמְרַתְּ פְּלִיגִי, בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר לָא מְעַכְּבָא, הָא מַנִּי — רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא,
But according to that second version of the dispute, in which you said that Rabbi Yannai and Rabbi Yoḥanan disagree whether the drawing of the lots is indispensable according to Rabbi Yehuda, but according to Rabbi Neḥemya it certainly is indispensable, then granted, according to the one, i.e., Rabbi Yoḥanan, who said that the drawing of the lots is not indispensable, in accordance with whose opinion is this baraita taught? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda.
אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר מְעַכְּבָא, הָא מַנִּי? תְּנִי: מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחַ.
However, according to the one, i.e., Rabbi Yannai, who said that both according to Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya the drawing of the lots is indispensable, then in accordance with whose opinion could this baraita be taught? It would appear that, according to Rabbi Yannai, the baraita does not reflect anyone’s opinion. Perforce, the baraita cannot be referring to drawing the lots, and one must emend and teach the baraita as saying that it is a mitzva to place the lots on the goats.
תָּא שְׁמַע: מִצְוָה לְהַגְרִיל וּלְהִתְוַדּוֹת. לֹא הִגְרִיל וְלֹא הִתְוַדָּה — כָּשֵׁר. וְכִי תֵּימָא הָכִי נָמֵי לְהַנִּיחַ, אֵימָא סֵיפָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: לֹא הִגְרִיל — כָּשֵׁר, לֹא הִתְוַדָּה — פָּסוּל.
Come and hear another challenge to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion, as presented in the second version of the dispute, which maintains that both Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya hold that drawing of the lots is indispensable. A baraita teaches: It is a mitzva for the High Priest to draw the lots and to confess upon the goat to be sent to Azazel. If he did not draw the lots or did not confess, the service is still valid. This baraita also appears to say that the drawing of the lots is not indispensable, in contradiction to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion. And if you say: So too, the baraita should be emended to say it is a mitzva to place the lots on the goats, this is problematic. How will you then say, i.e., explain, the latter clause of that baraita, which teaches: Rabbi Shimon says: If he does not draw the lots, it is valid. If he does not confess, it is invalid?
מַאי ״לֹא הִגְרִיל״? אִילֵּימָא לֹא הִנִּיחַ, מִכְּלָל דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן סָבַר הַגְרָלָה מְעַכְּבָא, וְהָתַנְיָא: מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶן, מֵבִיא חֲבֵירוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בַּהַגְרָלָה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן.
The Gemara clarifies the challenge from the latter clause: In this baraita, what is the meaning of: He did not draw the lots? If we say it means he did not place the lots on the goats, then by inference Rabbi Shimon holds that while the placing is not indispensable, the drawing of the lots is indispensable. But this is incorrect, since wasn’t it taught in a baraita: If, following the designation of the goats, one of them died, a new goat is brought to be the counterpart of the surviving goat and is designated without drawing lots; this is the statement of Rabbi Shimon. It would therefore appear that the baraita should not be understood as referring to the mitzva to place the lots, but as referring to the drawing of the lots themselves. Therefore, the challenge to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion remains.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לָא יָדַע מַאי קָאָמְרִי רַבָּנַן, וְהָכִי קָאָמַר לְהוּ: אִי הַגְרָלָה — הַגְרָלָה מַמָּשׁ קָא אָמְרִיתוּ, פְּלִיגְנָא עֲלַיְיכוּ בַּחֲדָא. אִי הַגְרָלָה דְּקָאָמְרִיתוּ הַיְינוּ הַנָּחָה — פְּלִיגְנָא עֲלַיְיכוּ בְּתַרְתֵּי.
The Gemara responds: Rabbi Yannai’s opinion can still be defended by claiming that Rabbi Shimon did not know precisely what the Sages were saying, i.e., whether they were referring to the drawing or the placing of the lots. Therefore, in his response to them, this is what he is saying: If when you say: Drawing of the lots, you are saying that the actual drawing of the lots is not indispensable, as I also hold, then I disagree with you only with regard to one halakha, namely with regard to the indispensability of the confession. But if, when you say: Drawing of the lots, you are saying only that the placing of the lots is not indispensable, but you assume that the drawing of the lots is indispensable, then I disagree with you with regard to two halakhot, i.e., with regard to the indispensability of both the drawing of the lots and of the confession.
תָּא שְׁמַע: פַּר מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר,
Come and hear another challenge to Rabbi Yannai’s opinion that all agree that the drawing of the lots is indispensable, from a baraita: Various services are performed with the bull and the goat and their blood. These services must be performed in a specific sequence, often alternating between the bull and the goat. If one service is neglected and a later service is advanced to be before it, the halakha is as follows: Failure to perform a service of the bull that was to precede a service of the goat disqualifies the service of the goat, if it was performed without that service of the bull preceding it.
וְשָׂעִיר אֵין מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַפָּר בְּמַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּפְנִים.
However, failure to perform a service of the goat that was to precede a service of the bull does not disqualify the service of the bull; rather, it is valid after the fact. This last rule applies to the applications of blood performed inside the Holy of Holies.
בִּשְׁלָמָא פַּר מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר: דְּאִי אַקְדְּמֵיהּ לְשָׂעִיר מִקַּמֵּי פַּר — לָא עֲבַד וְלֹא כְּלוּם. אֶלָּא שָׂעִיר אֵין מְעַכֵּב אֶת הַפָּר — מַאי נִיהוּ?
The Gemara explains the challenge from the baraita: Granted, failure to perform the service of the bull disqualifies the service of the goat that is advanced ahead of it. This can be understood to mean that if he advanced the service of the goat ahead of the service of the bull, it is considered as though he has not performed anything at all. Once the service of the bull has been performed, the service of the goat must be repeated. However, the rule in the baraita that failure to perform a service of the goat does not disqualify the service of the bull that was advanced ahead of it. To what case is it referring?
אִילֵּימָא דְּאִי אַקְדֵּים מַתָּנוֹת דְּפַר בַּהֵיכָל מִקַּמֵּי מַתָּנוֹת דְּשָׂעִיר בִּפְנִים — ״חוּקָּה״ כְּתִיב בְּהוּ.
If we say that that the baraita means that if one advanced the applications of the blood of the bull in the Sanctuary made toward the curtain ahead of the applications of the blood of the goat inside the Holy of Holies, then the baraita should not rule that it is valid. The term “statute” (Leviticus 16:29) is written concerning the applications of the blood of the goat inside the Holy of Holies, which implies that their performance is indispensable to any subsequent services.
אֶלָּא לָאו, דְּאַקְדֵּים מַתָּנוֹת דְּפַר בִּפְנִים מִקַּמֵּי הַגְרָלָה. וּמִדְּסִדְרָא לָא מְעַכְּבָא — (עִיקְרָא) הַגְרָלָה נָמֵי לָא מְעַכְּבָא!
Rather, is it not that the baraita must be referring to a case in which one advanced the applications of the blood of the bull inside the Holy of Holies ahead of the drawing of the lots? If so, from the fact that the sequencing of drawing the lots is not indispensable, one may infer that the drawing of the lots itself is also not indispensable. This would then refute Rabbi Yannai’s opinion.
לָא, דְּאַקְדֵּים מַתָּנוֹת דְּפַר בְּמִזְבֵּחַ מִקַּמֵּי מַתָּנוֹת דְּשָׂעִיר בַּהֵיכָל, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, דְּאָמַר: דְּבָרִים הַנַּעֲשִׂין בְּבִגְדֵי לָבָן בַּחוּץ — לָא מְעַכְּבִי.
The Gemara questions whether this is the only possible interpretation of the baraita: No, the baraita could be referring to a case in which one advanced the applications of the blood of the bull upon the altar ahead of the applications of the blood of the goat in the Sanctuary made toward the curtain. And as such, ruling in the baraita that this is valid after the fact is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who said: Matters that are performed in the white garments outside of the Holy of Holies are not indispensable. Therefore, the applications of the bull’s blood upon the altar cannot disqualify a different service.
וְהָא בְּמַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּפְנִים קָתָנֵי!
The Gemara rejects this as a possible interpretation of the baraita: But didn’t the conclusion of the baraita teach that the rule applies to the applications of blood performed inside the Holy of Holies? If so, the baraita cannot be referring to application of blood made upon the altar.
אֶלָּא: הָא מַנִּי — רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הִיא, דְּאָמַר: הַגְרָלָה לָא מְעַכְּבָא.
Rather, the baraita must understood in the way suggested by the Gemara previously, which implies that the drawing of the lots is not indispensable. However, this is not necessarily a refutation of the opinion of Rabbi Yannai. One could say: In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, who said: The drawing of the lots is not indispensable. Rabbi Yannai claimed only that Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya agreed that it is indispensable.
וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, וּנְהִי דִּכְסִדְרָא לָא מְעַכְּבָא — הַגְרָלָה מִיהָא מְעַכְּבָא.
And if you wish, say: Actually, the baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. Nevertheless, Rabbi Yannai’s opinion may still be defended: Granted, the baraita teaches that the sequencing of the drawing of the lots is not indispensable; however it may still be true that the drawing itself is nevertheless indispensable. This contradicts what was suggested previously, that one may infer from the indispensability of the sequencing to the indispensability of the drawing itself.
וְאָזְדוּ לְטַעְמַיְיהוּ, דְּתַנְיָא:
And Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Shimon follow their lines of reasoning, as it was taught in a baraita:
״יׇעֳמַד חַי לִפְנֵי ה׳ לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו״, עַד מָתַי יִהְיֶה זָקוּק לַעֲמוֹד חַי? עַד שְׁעַת מַתַּן דָּמוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵירוֹ — דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: עַד שְׁעַת וִידּוּי דְּבָרִים.
The verse states: “But the goat on which the lot came up for Azazel shall be stood alive before the Lord, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:10). The verse indicates that the goat must remain alive until a certain time. Were it to die beforehand, it would have to be replaced. Until when is the goat for Azazel required to stand alive? Until the time of the application of the blood of its counterpart, i.e., the goat for God; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Shimon says: It must remain alive until the time of the verbal confession over it.
בְּמַאי קָא מִיפַּלְגִי? כִּדְתַנְיָא: ״לְכַפֵּר״ — בְּכַפָּרַת דָּמִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וְכִלָּה מִכַּפֵּר אֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ״. מָה לְהַלָּן — בְּכַפָּרַת דָּמִים, אַף כָּאן — בְּכַפָּרַת דָּמִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה.
With regard to what do they disagree? As it was taught in a baraita: The verse states that the goat should remain alive “to make atonement” (Leviticus 16:10). This indicates that it must remain alive until it effects atonement. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Shimon dispute which atonement the verse is referring to. The verse speaks of atonement through the application of the blood of the sin-offering goat. And similarly it states: “When he has made an end of atoning for the Sanctuary, and the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat” (Leviticus 16:20). Just as there the reference is to atonement through blood, so too here the verse is referring to atonement through blood. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: ״לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו״, בְּכַפָּרַת דְּבָרִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר.
Rabbi Shimon says: “To make atonement over it”; the verse speaks of atonement through speech, i.e., the verbal confession that is recited over it.
תָּא שְׁמַע, שָׁאֲלוּ תַּלְמִידָיו אֶת רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: עָלָה בִּשְׂמֹאל, מַהוּ שֶׁיַּחֲזוֹר לְיָמִין? אָמַר לָהֶן: אַל תִּתְּנוּ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִין לִרְדּוֹת.
Come and hear a proof that the drawing of lots is not indispensable. A baraita teaches: Rabbi Akiva’s students asked him: If the lot for God was drawn by the High Priest’s left hand, what is the halakha with regard to whether he may transfer the lot to his right hand? He said to them: Do not give the heretics an opportunity to dominate. If it is allowed, they will adduce this as proof of their claim that the halakhot are not absolute, and the Sages have the power to change them as they see fit.
טַעְמָא דְּאַל תִּתְּנוּ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִין לִרְדּוֹת, הָא לָאו הָכִי מַהְדְּרִינַן לֵיהּ, וְהָא אָמְרַתְּ הַגְרָלָה מְעַכְּבָא, וְכֵיוָן דִּקְבַעְתֵּיהּ שְׂמֹאל הֵיכִי מַהְדְּרִינַן לֵיהּ?
The Gemara infers: The only reason Rabbi Akiva provided to disallow it was so as not to give heretics an opportunity to dominate, which implies that if not for this reason, it would be permitted to transfer the lot to the right hand. How could this be true? Didn’t you say that the drawing of the lots is indispensable? And, consequently, once the designation of the goat has been defined by the drawing of the left hand, how then could we transfer the lot to the right hand? Perforce, the designation is not created by the actual drawing, and as such it is not indispensable.
אָמַר רָבָא, הָכִי קָאָמְרִי: עָלָה הַגּוֹרָל בִּשְׂמֹאל, מַהוּ שֶׁיַּחֲזִירוּ לוֹ וְלִשְׂעִירוֹ לְיָמִין. אָמַר לָהֶם: אַל תִּתְּנוּ מָקוֹם לַמִּינִין לִרְדּוֹת.
The Gemara explains the baraita can be understood in a way in which it does not provide a proof: Rava said: This is what Rabbi Akiva’s students are saying: If the lot was drawn by his left hand, what is the halakha with regard to whether he may transfer it, the lot, and its associated goat to his right side. He said to them: Do not give the heretics an opportunity to dominate. Accordingly, there was never any suggestion of changing the designation of the goats. Therefore, no proof can be brought concerning the indispensability of the drawing of the lots.
תָּא שְׁמַע: אִילּוּ נֶאֱמַר: ״אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו״, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר יַנִּיחֶנּוּ עָלָיו, — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״עָלָה״, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלָה שׁוּב אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ.
Come and hear a proof that the drawing of lots is indispensable. A baraita teaches (Sifra, Aharei Mot 2:4): If the verse had stated only: “The goat upon which the lot” (Leviticus 16:9), I would have said the intention is that he must physically place the lot upon it. Therefore, the verse also states: “On which it came up” (Leviticus 16:9), indicating that once the lot has come up from the receptacle, it is not necessary to do more, i.e., the lot does not have to be physically placed upon the goat.
לְמַאי? אִילֵימָא לְמִצְוָה, מִכְלָל דַּהֲנָחָה מִצְוָה נָמֵי לָא? אֶלָּא לָאו, לְעַכֵּב. וּשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: הַגְרָלָה מְעַכְּבָא, הַנָּחָה — לָא מְעַכְּבָא!
The Gemara clarifies: To what does the baraita refer when it says it is not necessary to actually place the lot upon the goat? If we say it means that it is no longer necessary to do so even as a mitzva, then, by inference, one must conclude that the placement of the lot upon the goat is not even a mitzva. This is problematic. Since it is clearly part of the Yom Kippur service, it must at least be a mitzva. Rather, is it not that when the baraita teaches that the placing of the lot is not necessary, it means only that the placing of the lot is not indispensable? And conclude from it that the drawing of lots is indispensable, but the placement of the lot upon the goat is not indispensable.
אָמַר רָבָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִילּוּ נֶאֱמַר ״אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו״, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר יַנִּיחֶנּוּ עָלָיו עַד שְׁעַת שְׁחִיטָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֲשֶׁר עָלָה״, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלָה שׁוּב אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ.
Rava rejects the proof: Rava said: This cannot serve as a proof, since this is what the baraita is saying: If the verse had stated only: “The goat upon which the lot,” I would have said that the intention is that he should physically place the lot upon the goat, and the lot should remain upon it until the time of its slaughter. Therefore, the verse also states: “On which it came up,” indicating that once the lot has come up from the receptacle and been placed upon the goat for even one moment, it is not necessary to do more, i.e., the lot does not have to remain on the goat anymore. Understood in this way, it cannot be determined from this baraita whether or not the placement is indispensable.
תָּא שְׁמַע: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֵׂהוּ חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֵׂהוּ חַטָּאת.
Come and hear a proof that Rabbi Yehuda holds that the drawing of the lots is indispensable. A baraita in the Sifra teaches: The verse states: “Aaron shall bring forward the goat upon which the lot came up for the Lord, and he shall offer it for a sin-offering” (Leviticus 16:9). The verse indicates that the lottery makes it a sin-offering, but verbally designating the goat with the status of a sin-offering does not make it a sin-offering.
שֶׁיָּכוֹל, וַהֲלֹא דִּין הוּא: וּמָה בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא קִידֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל — קִידֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם, מְקוֹם שֶׁקִּידֵּשׁ הַגּוֹרָל, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁיְּקַדֵּשׁ הַשֵּׁם?
The baraita continues: A verse is needed to teach this halakha, as I might have thought to come to the opposite conclusion. Is there not an a fortiori inference as follows: Just as in a case in which the use of a lottery does not consecrate the animals with a specific designation, e.g., a woman who has given birth and must bring two birds, one as a sin-offering and one as a burnt-offering, nevertheless a verbal designation of the animals with the required status does consecrate them, so too, in a case in which the use of a lottery does consecrate the animals, is it not logically right that verbally designating the animals with the required status should consecrate them?
תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת״, הַגּוֹרָל עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת, וְאֵין הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חַטָּאת.
In contradiction of this reasoning, the verse states, with regard to the goat: “He shall offer it for a sin-offering” to indicate that the lottery makes it a sin-offering; verbally designating the goat with the status of a sin-offering does not make it a sin-offering.
This will remove ALL the items in this section. You will lose any progress or history connected to them. This is irreversible.
You will lose any progress or history connected to this item.
