Sanhedrin 102 - Shabbat March 29, 29 Adar

A story is brought of Nahum ish Gamzu and how he is saved from death by the Romans on account of magical dirt that came from the dirt that Avraham used against the four kings, which magically turned into swords. What was the generation of those who built the Tower of Bavel try to accomplish? What were the acts of Sodom? God gave them everything they could want, which made them self-sufficient, leading to arrogance, which led to their isolationist policy.    They mainly engaged in two categories of trangressions - not treating guests properly and perverting justice.  There is a debate about Korach and his followers - whether they are deserving of the World-to-Come. The Gemara extrapolates the names of the people in Korach's group and explains how On ben Pelet didn't rejoin Korach's group on account of his wife's actions.

 Today's daf is sponsored by Mitzi and David Geffen in loving memory of Mitzi's mother, Ruth Toll Lock, Rut bat Miriam and Avraham z"l on her 39th yahrzeit. "She was a loving wife, mother, and mother-in-law; a devoted Zionist and wonderful educator in Harrisburg, PA. All 4 of her children made Aliyah and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as her great-grandchild, all live in Israel." The Mishna lists groups of people throught our early history that do not have a share in the World-to-Come and deliberates about whether they will be ressurected.  Arrogance caused the sin of the generation of the flood, as they had everything and therefore thought that they didn't need God. Was Noah a real righteous peerson or just in relation to his generation? How did Noah try before the flood to get the poeple to repent and what was their reposnse? What was the purpose of the seven days before the flood? How did they deal with animals while they were in the ark? These and other issues related to the flood are discussed. 

Today's daf is sponsored by Becki Goldstein for a refuah sheleima for her grandson Eitan Ephraim ben Ayelet and her husband David Mordecai ben Reizal for a successful operation. "Refuat hanefesh v'haguf." In connection with Achitofel, the Gemara diverts to the story of David and Batsheva. Why was David tested in this way and why did he fail the test?  What was the reaction of those around him? How did he get forgiveness from God? How in the end was it made obvious to others that he received forgiveness? For what reason did Geichazi not get a portion in the World to Come? Elisha is also criticized for how he dealt with Geichazi, just as Yehoshua ben Perachia is criticized for not encouraging Yeshu (Jesus) to repent.  

"Better are the wounds from a friend than the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6). An example of this is Achiya the Shiloni and Balaam's prophecies. The Gemara continues to analyze Balaam's words about the Jewish people and other nations. When Balaam was unsuccessful in cursing the Jews. he devised a plan, and advised Balak how to entice the Jews to sin in order to get God to punish them. The next character mentioned in the Mishna is Doeg HaEdomi. Why did he lose his share in the World-to-Come? Being that he was a great Torah scholar, the sages explain what was wrong about the Torah he learned that enabled him to speak lashon hara about David, which ultimately caused the death of the inhabitants of Nov.

Today's daf is sponsored by Pnina Lipskier in memory of Yoav Har Shoshanim. A verse is brought that is explained in a way that the Jews in the time leading up to the destruction thought that they had a winning answer to counter God and his prophets when they told the people to repent. There are three possible explanations of what was this "winning answer." Balaam in on the list of those who have no portion in the World-to-Come. What did he do wrong? How did he succeed in convincing God to let him go? What was the nature of the conversation he had with his donkey? Why did he get his own donkey ready instead of letting his servants do it? How did he think he would succeed in cursing the Jewish people?  And finally, did he really not succeed in cursing them?

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran Zoom Family in loving memory of our fellow Daf learner Carol Robinson, z"l. "In all the spaces she touched she was an אישה כגפן פוריה, fruitful in all her endeavors." Micah was saved from losing his share in the World-to-Come because he gave food to travelers. Rabbi Yochanan, partially based on a statement of Rabbi Yosi bar Kisma explained that hospitality is so important that one can see its effect in several ways throughout Tanach history. Why were Achaz, Amon and Yehoyakim not included in the list of those not receiving a share in the World-to-Come? Even though hospitality is an important value, sometimes it is not. This is highlighted by Chizkiyahu who invited Babylonian messengers and fed them a lot of food, treating them with a lot of respect, which partially caused the destruction of the Temple. Several verses from Eicha are expounded to explain many different issues relating to the destruction. Rav Ashi explained that anshei kneset hagedola were the ones who created the list of those who did not receive a place in the World-to-Come. Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav that they wanted to include King Solomon in the list, but God disagreed with them. Others, dorshei reshumot, held that all of them had a place in the World-to-Come (other than Bilam), deriving it from a verse in Tehillim 60:9-10.

This month's learning is sponsored by Linda and Jay Marcus in honor of the recent birth of their granddaughter; and the anniversaries and birthdays of their children and grandchildren during Nissan. "בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל. May we merit to see the גאולה שלמה במהרה בימינו." Today's daf is sponsored by Lisa Kolodny in honor of Nancy Kolodny's birthday! "So happy you are spending more time in Israel this year, spreading your light, your wisdom and your love to all those around you."  There is a debate about whether Menashe received a portion in the World-to-Come. Rabbi Yochanan brings three drashot in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, each relating to different kings of the Judean kingdom, highlighting how far God goes to allow repentance. He also brought another drasha relating to the disgrace of the Sanhedrin at the time of the Babylonian exile. Rav Chisda says in the name of Rabbi Yirmia bar Abba three statements - one relating to the bad actions of some of the Judean kings, one relating to types of people who are not worthy of receiving the Divine Presence, and one explaining the verses in Tehillim 91:11-13 about evil not coming upon a person. Why is the letter ayin in 'reshaim' suspended above the other letters in the verse in Iyov 38:15? A braita explains that Menashe, Achav, and Yeravam all learned Torah, highlighting that their sins were worse, as they clearly understood the Torah and sinned nevertheless, with full intent. Other braitot suggest that other kings lost their portion in the World-to-Come. Descriptions are brought about some of the bad kings and how their action led to the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.

Why did Yeravam, Achav, and Menashe lose their portion in the World-to-come? Despite the fact that they did terrible things, the rabbis also highlight that they did good things in their lives, particularly as it related to talmud Torah and respect for Torah scholars.

Can one sing verses from Shir HaShirim in a tune other than the taamei hamikra? In what manner/context is it problematic to read verses from the Torah? What is "someone who uses incantations" that will not get a part in the World-to-come? Are there ways to do this that are permitted? Is calling to demons allowed? Some stories are told about the rabbis visiting Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkanus while he was sick and their conversations about suffering. Yeravam is listed in the Mishna as one who did not receive a portion in the World-to-come. What is the meaning of his name? Why did he lose his share in the World-to-come? What caused him to sin?

What is the definition of an apikoris? Several suggestions are brought, mainly related to one who does not treat the rabbis with the proper respect as it undermines belief in rabbinic Judaism. What is the definition of sefarim chitzoniyim, external literature, that if one reads them, one does not get a portion in the World-to-come, according to Rabbi Akiva? A braita says it is book of the Saducees. Rav Yosef says it is the book of Ben Sira. Abaye tries to understand what is wrong with learning it since many of the ideas there appear in the Tanach or in rabbinic thought.