Learners’ Tapestry
The kallah who makes a siyum at her wedding.
The executive who does the Daf on her commute.
The retiree who revels in the new time she has for Torah.
The woman who lives in Teaneck. In Jerusalem. In Berlin. In Honolulu.
They’re all here. If you have the drive to learn, you belong.
Connect with the stories of other Hadran women like you. And share your own here.
Shoshana Ruerup
Berlin, Germany
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!
ואמר רבי יצחק: אין הברכה מצויה אלא בדבר הסמוי מן העין
תענית ח׳
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רחלי מנדלסון
טל מנשה, ישראל
בסוף הסבב הקודם ראיתי את השמחה הגדולה שבסיום הלימוד, בעלי סיים כבר בפעם השלישית וכמובן הסיום הנשי בבנייני האומה וחשבתי שאולי זו הזדמנות עבורי למשהו חדש.
למרות שאני שונה בסביבה שלי, מי ששומע על הלימוד שלי מפרגן מאוד.
אני מנסה ללמוד קצת בכל יום, גם אם לא את כל הדף ובסך הכל אני בדרך כלל עומדת בקצב.
הלימוד מעניק המון משמעות ליום יום ועושה סדר בלמוד תורה, שתמיד היה (ועדיין) שאיפה. אבל אין כמו קביעות
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Leah Herzog
Givat Zev, Israel
I began daf yomi in January 2020 with Brachot. I had made aliya 6 months before, and one of my post-aliya goals was to complete a full cycle. As a life-long Tanach teacher, I wanted to swim from one side of the Yam shel Torah to the other. Daf yomi was also my sanity through COVID. It was the way to marking the progression of time, and feel that I could grow and accomplish while time stopped.
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Janice Block
Beit Shemesh, Israel
It has been a pleasure keeping pace with this wonderful and scholarly group of women.
Rav Zeira was sitting behind Rav Gidel, and Rav Gidel was sitting before Rav Huna. And as Rav Gidel sat, he said, ‘if one erred and did not mention the supplemental passage of the Sabbath in Birkat Hamazon, he says ‘Blessed are you, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who gave Sabbaths for contentment to His people, Israel, with love, for a sign and a covenant. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who sanctifies the Sabbath. Rav Huna said to him: Who said this? Rav Gidel replied: Rav. Afterwards he sat and said: if one erred and did not mention the supplemental passage of a festival in Birkat Hamazon, he says the following, ‘Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who gave festivals to his people, Israel, for gladness and for remembrance. Blessed are You Hashem Who sanctifies Israel and the festival seasons. R. Huna said to him: who said this? Rav Gidel replied: Rav. Afterwards he sat and said:if one erred and did not mention the Rosh Chodesh passage in Birkat Hamazon, he says the following: Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who gave Rosh Chodesh to His people, Israel, for a remembrance.
Rav Zeira reported this incident and commented regarding the latter ruling:
And I do not know whether [Rav Gidel] mentioned ‘gladness’ in the Rosh Chodesh blessing or he did not mention ‘gladness’ in it. Nor do I recall whether he concluded it with a blessing clause or he did not conclude it with a blessing clause. Nor do I recall whether this ruling was his own or that of his teacher, Rav.
Berakhot
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Dora Chana Haar
Oceanside NY, United States
oy leadam shepaga bo arvad, veoy lo learvad shepaga bo rabbi chanina ben dosa.
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Janice Block
Beit Shemesh, Israel
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.
“I am G-d who makes all, and Who alone stretches out the heavens, with only Myself (מאיתי). (Isaiah 44:24) Mi iti (מי איתי) is written, meaning “Who partnered with Me in the creation of the world?!” Another interpretation: “For You are great and You do wonders…” It is the way of the world that a king of flesh and blood is praised in the land, and the great men of the land are praised with him, for they carry his burden with him. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not like this. Rather, He alone created the world. He alone is praised in the world. He alone is glorified in His world. R. Tanchum a said: “For You are great and You do wonders…” Why? Because, “…You, G-d, alone.” You, alone, created the world.
Other
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Jill Felder
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Hearing and reading about the siyumim at the completion of the 13 th cycle Daf Yomi asked our shul rabbi about starting the Daf – he directed me to another shiur in town he thought would allow a woman to join, and so I did! Love seeing the sources for the Divrei Torah I’ve been hearing for the past decades of living an observant life and raising 5 children .
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Deborah Dickson
Ra’anana, Israel
I started learning at the beginning of the cycle after a friend persuaded me that it would be right up my alley. I was lucky enough to learn at Rabbanit Michelle’s house before it started on zoom and it was quickly part of my daily routine. I find it so important to see for myself where halachot were derived, where stories were told and to get more insight into how the Rabbis interacted.
״גַּם וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה עָשְׂתָה מִשְׁתֵּה נָשִׁים בֵּית הַמַּלְכוּת״. ״בֵּית הַנָּשִׁים״ מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ! אָמַר רָבָא: שְׁנֵיהֶן לִדְבַר עֲבֵירָה נִתְכַּוְּונוּ, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: אִיהוּ בְּקָרֵי, וְאִתְּתֵיהּ
The verse states: “Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the royal house, which belonged to King Ahasuerus” (Esther 1:9). The Gemara questions why she held the feast in the royal house, a place of men, rather than in the women’s house, where it should have been. Rava said in response: The two of them had sinful intentions. Ahasuerus wished to fornicate with the women, and Vashti wished to fornicate with the men. This explains the folk saying that people say: He with pumpkins and his wife
י״ב ב
א
בְּבוּצִינֵי.
with zucchinis, indicating that often a man and his wife engage in similar actions.
Megillah, 12a
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Dianne Kuchar
Dover Heights, Australia
I started learning Dec 2019 after reading “If all the Seas Were Ink”. I found
Daily daf sessions of Rabbanit Michelle in her house teaching, I then heard about the siyum and a new cycle starting wow I am in! Afternoon here in Sydney, my family and friends know this is my sacred time to hide away to live zoom and learn. Often it’s hard to absorb and relate then a gem shines touching my heart.
When you leave a friend do not say “go in peace” rather “go to peace”
But on leaving the dead say “go in peace go to your fathers in peace .
Berakhot
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Rabbi Nicki Greninger
California, United States
I am a Reform rabbi and took Talmud courses in rabbinical school, but I knew there was so much more to learn. It felt inauthentic to serve as a rabbi without having read the entire Talmud, so when the opportunity arose to start Daf Yomi in 2020, I dove in! Thanks to Hadran, Daf Yomi has enriched my understanding of rabbinic Judaism and deepened my love of Jewish text & tradition. Todah rabbah!
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נעה רוזן
חיספין רמת הגולן, ישראל
הצטרפתי ללומדות בתחילת מסכת תענית. ההתרגשות שלי ושל המשפחה היתה גדולה מאוד, והיא הולכת וגוברת עם כל סיום שאני זוכה לו. במשך שנים רבות רציתי להצטרף ומשום מה זה לא קרה… ב”ה מצאתי לפני מספר חודשים פרסום של הדרן, ומיד הצטרפתי והתאהבתי. הדף היומי שינה את חיי ממש והפך כל יום- ליום של תורה. מודה לכן מקרב ליבי ומאחלת לכולנו לימוד פורה מתוך אהבת התורה ולומדיה.
“אחד המרבה ואחד הממעיט ובלבד שיכוון את ליבו לשמיים”
מסכת אחרת
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Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker
Modi’in, 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!
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