Daf Highlights

1. The melocho of הוצאה From the opening Mishna’s eight cases of passing an object between the ba’al habayis standing in his reshus hayachid (private domain) and the poor person standing in reshus harabim (public domain) we learn: a. One has only transgressed m’doraysa the melocho of hotza’ah (transferring) if he does the act of lifting )עקירה)the object from its state of rest in one domain as well as the act of placing it down (הנחה (in another domain. b. The Rabbis forbid one from doing one of the acts of עקירה or הנחה lest one come to do both elements of the transfer. 2. הכנסה) Bringing in) Rav Ashi teaches that the Mishna’s usage of the term הוצאה) taking out) also refers to הכנסה (bringing in), since the Mishna includes cases of bringing in as examples of הוצאה . The Gemara further clarifies that the Tanna refers to any removal of an object from its place as an act of “taking out.” 3. Domains Rava said the when the Tanna uses the word יציאות) transfers) in the Mishna he is referring to domains. Therefore, the Mishna is understood to mean that there are two domains where one is prohibited to commit four acts of transferring. Siman – House The strange house, where the owner kept passing objects back and forth to a poor person standing outside, featured an exit sign over the entrance and a welcome sign to the Home of Two Domains. Key words – 8 cases, הכנסה ,רשויות

When the Rabbis in Bavel were looking for new leadership in the academy they asked the Rabbis in Eretz Yisroel which type of leader Is preferred, a “Sinai” (סיני (who has a lot of breadth in learning or one who uproots mountains (הרים עוקר (with his sharp analysis? The choice was between Rav Yosef who was a סיני and Rabba who was the הרים עוקר . The Rabbis answered that the סיני takes precedence because his encyclopedic knowledge will enable him to easily discover the solution to most problems. Rav Yosef in the end did not accept the position as the Gemara explains and only became head of the academy twenty-two years later after Rabbah’s death. ילכו מחיל אל חיל .2 R’ Levi bar Chiya said that one who leaves the beis haknesses and immediately enters the beis hamidrash to learn will merit to greet the face of the Shechinah as its says, חיל אל מחיל ילכו" – "בציון אלקים אל יראה Go from multitude to multitude, appear before Hashem in Tziyon. The multitudes are referring to those gathered in shuls and those gathered in batei midrashim. Rav Chiya bar Ashi said in the name of Rav that the passuk is referring to talmidei chochomim have no rest in Olam Hazeh or Olam Habah. The multitudes are referring to the batei midrashim in Olam Habah where talmidei chochomin will continue to climb from one level to the next forever increasing their understanding. 3. Talmidei chochomim bring shalom R’ Elazar said in the name of R’ Chanina: Talmidei chochomim increase the peace in the world as it says, בניך שלום ורב' ה למודי בניך וכל – And all your sons will be disciples of Hashem, and abundant will be the peace of your sons. Do not read it as “your sons” )בניך )but “your builders” )בוניך .)The passuk is teaching that it is the talmidei chochomim that build the world with their Torah which results in peace in the world. Siman – סוד - Secret The Daf Yomi learners secretly reviewed their encyclopedic knowledge of Masechta Berachos as they left the beis haknesses and immediately entered the beis hamidrash to learn, going from one level to the next as they learned from talmidei chochomim who bring peace to the world.

1. Small but fundamental passuk Bar Kapppara asked the following question: What is a small passuk upon which all of the fundamentals of the Torah depend? He answered: ארחתך יישר והוא דעהו דרכך בכל –In all your ways you must know Him, and He will straighten your paths. Rava explained that “In all your ways” includes even one engaged in a transgression. This passuk teaches that there are times when Hashem’s honor demands that one perform a transgression. - (An example of this is when Eliyahu Hanavi brought offerings outside the Beis Hamikdash on Har HaCarmel in the incident with the prophets of Ba’al even though sacrificing outside of the Beis haMikdash is a Torah prohibition). 2. Receiving Torah daily It was taught in a Baraisa that when the Rabbis entered Kerem beYavneh they each opened up their derasha with words in honor of their hosts that housed them )אכסניא בכבוד פותחין .) Rebbe Yehuda further opened up his derasha focusing on honoring those who learn Torah with the following passuk, “לעם נהיית הזה היום ישראל ושמע הסכת – “Pay heed and listen, Yisroel, on this day you became a nation.” How does one make sense of this passuk that implies that that the Torah was given on that day, when in fact it was given Torah forty years earlier? Rebbe Yehuda answers that the passuk is coming to teach you that on each an every day the Torah should be as dear to those that study it as on the day it was given on Har Sinai. 3. Learning with others The Gemara says that the word "הסכת"teaches – בתורה ועסקו כתות כתות עשו –that one must form groups (asu kitos) and engage in Torah learning because the Torah is only acquired through learning with others. This is in accordance with Rebbe Yossi b’Rebbe Chaninah who said: 1. There will be as sword against those who sit alone and learn Torah. 2. They will become foolish and make mistakes in judgment 3. They will also come to sin. Siman – Boys on Segways The Yeshiva Ketana boys sped to the Beis Midrash on their Segways taking every type of straight path, eager to learn Torah as if it was just given that day and making sure to get the most by learning in

1. Not wiping oneself with the right hand A significant part of the Daf focuses on proper and modest behaviors in the bathroom. A number of reasons are given as to why the right hand should be given honor and not be used for the base purpose of wiping oneself: a. The Torah was given with Hashem’s right hand as it says – למו דת אש מימינו –From His right hand, the fire of the Law was given. b. It is generally used for noble act of eating. c. One ties tefillin on his left arm with one’s right hand. d. One shows the cantillation notes of the Torah with his right hand. The hand used for a holy purpose should not be used for a profane one. 2. Dishonoring clothing Whoever dishonors clothing in the end will not benefit from them. – אינו סוף הבגדים את המבזה כל .נהנה מהם This is learned from the incident when Dovid quietly cut off the corner of Shaul’s cloak when Shaul went into a cave to discreetly relieve himself. Dovid did this to demonstrate that he had been able to cause greater harm to Shaul but chose not to. Nevertheless, since he dishonored Shaul’s garment, Dovid was punished in his later years when his own garments did not provide him warmth. 3. Taking shortcuts through a shul Although one is not permitted to use a shul as a shortcut, if one initially entered to daven he may leave through a different exit even though it will end up being a shortcut. Siman – Submarine captain The submarine captain that was famous for doing everything with his right hand with his left one tied behind his back, reprimanded his officers for not keeping their uniforms clean and for taking shortcuts through the ship’s shul. Key Words – right hand, clothing, shortcuts

1. How Chavah was fashioned There is a machlokes between Rav and Shmuel concerning how Chavah was fashioned: - One opinion is that man was created as a double figure, male and female, and that Hashem fashioned Chavah from the female figure. - The pasuk of בראם ונקבה זכר – He created them male and female is initially brought in support of this view. - The other opinion is that she was fashioned from the tail. - The pasuk of האדם מן לקח אשר הצלע את אלקים' ה ויבן – And He built the side that He had taken from man, seems to support this view. If the woman already existed, there would have been no need to build her. 2. The concept of a בינוני Rabbi Yosi Haglili says that the righteous are ruled by their yetzer tov, the evil by their yetzer hara, and average people )בינונים )are ruled by both. When Abaye heard Rava say that he considered himself an average person, he said that by that standard, not a person in the world could be considered righteous. 3. R’ Akiva’s response to Pappus ben Yehudah The Gemara relates the story of R’ Akiva’s imprisonment and subsequent execution, during which— with his dying breath—he proclaimed the אחדof Krias Shema. Before being imprisoned, as he was giving a shiur, R’ Akiva was asked by Pappus ben Yehudah if he feared the wicked regime, which had forbidden the teaching of Torah. R’ Akiva answered with a mashal of a fox trying to persuade fish to save themselves from being pursued in the water by coming up onto the land. The fish replied that if in the environment that supported their life they were afraid, shouldn’t they be even more afraid in an environment that was inimical to their life? Similarly, the Jewish people’s life support is Torah learning, as it says, כי ימיך וארך חייך הוא – For it is your life and the length of your days. Without Torah learning, we would be in even greater danger. Eventually, when Pappus was thrown into prison with R’ Akiva for a false accusation, he said, “Fortunate is R’ Akiva, who was apprehended on words of Torah! Woe to Pappus, who was apprehended on account of meaningless words!” Siman – A saw The magician successfully sawed the man into two, one half male and one half female but was booed as a benoini performer because he couldn’t make the fish jump out of the fishbowl. Key Words – Chavah, בינוני ,Pappus

דיין האמת והטוב והמטיב .1 The Gemara illustrates the meaning of making a berachah of האמת דיין) the True Judge) on a calamity that has the potential to have a favorable outcome, and making the berachah of הטוב והמטיב) Who is good and does good) on a favorable occurrence that has the potential for a calamitous outcome: - One should recite האמת דיןon his field being flooded, even though there will be a favorable outcome in that the accumulation of sediment will improve his land. - One should recite והמטיב הטובon finding an object, even though the King might hear of it and take it from him. 2. The conclusion of יצר אשר The Gemara details the various berachos of Hamapil, Asher yatzar, Elokai neshamah and the 15 birkas hashachar. - There is a machlokes regarding the concluding berachah of Asher yatzar: - Rav says it should be חולים רופא – Who heals the sick. - Objecting that this would portray everyone as sick, whereas healthy people also recite the berachah, Shmuel holds that the proper ending is בשר כל רופא – Who heals all flesh. - Rav Sheishesssays it should be לעשות מפליא – Who does wonders. - Rav Pappa rules to incorporate both the endings of Shmuel and Rav Sheishess, resulting in our text of לעשות ומפליא בשר כל רופא – Who heals all flesh and does wonders. כל דעביד רחמנא לטב עביד .3 R’ Akiva said that one should always be accustomed to say עביד לטב רחמנא דעביד כל – Whatever the Merciful one does, He does for the best. The Gemara relates the story of R’ Akiva traveling and being denied lodging in a city. He said כל לטב רחמנא דעבידand went to sleep in a field. That night a wind blew out his lamp, a cat ate his rooster and a lion ate his donkey, after which he repeated לטב רחמנא דעביד כל . The next day R’ Akiva learned that an army had come by the previous night and captured the city that had denied him lodging. Had his lamp had not blown out, the soldiers would have seen him and captured him. Likewise, had his rooster and donkey not been eaten, the soldiers would have discovered him after hearing his animals make noise. Siman – Smiley Face Stickers The forever optimistic farmer who made a האמת דיין on his flooded field was putting smiley face stickers on his dead rooster and donkey and in his siddur next to birkas hashachar and asher yatzar. לטב עביד ,אשר יצר ,דיין האמת – Words Key

1. The berachah on a rainbow There is a dispute regarding the berachah to recite on seeing a rainbow (though one should not stare at it). - The Gemara says the berachah is הברית זוכר ברוך – Blessed [are You] … Who remembers the covenant. - R’ Yishmael the son of R’ Yochanan ben Beroka says the ending should be וקיים בבריתו נאמן במאמרו – Who is trustworthy in His covenant and fulfills His word. - Rav Pappa rules that we accommodate both views by incorporating both endings: זוכר ברוך במאמרו וקיים בבריתו ונאמן הברית – Blessed [are You] … Who remembers the covenant and is trustworthy in His covenant and fulfills His word. 2. Birkas Hachamah One who sees the sun at the beginning of its 28-year cycle, when it returns to its original position at its creation, recites Birkas Hachamah, the blessing on the sun: בראשית עושה ברוך– Blessed [are You] … Who makes the work of creation. הטוב והמטיב .3 One who drank wine at a meal and is then offered a superior wine makes the berachah הטוב והמטיב] –Blessed are You] … Who is good and does good. Siman – Knight in shining armor The knight in shining armor stood nobly at the bottom of the rainbow, as he blessed the sun after 28 years by raising his cup of superior wine making a והמטיב טוב .

ברוך חכם הרזים .1 One who sees a multitude of Jews (600,000) recites הרזים חכם ברוך) Blessed [are You] … Sage of the secrets), acknowledging that Hashem knows everyone’s secret thoughts. 2. Rav Sheishess and the king The Gemara elaborates on the importance of greeting a king,(which we initially learned on daf ט (relating the incident of the blind Rav Sheishess, who was able to discern when the king passed by in his procession. When the first two troops passed by, each followed by loud noise, Rav Sheishess knew that the king was not yet approaching. After the third troop passed by and it fell silent, he knew that the king was about to pass. Rav Sheishess explained that he knew this from the verses (Melachim I 19:11-12) describing how Eliyahu discerned Hashem’s presence not in the midst of three loud noises, (great wind, an earthquake and a fire) but rather when there was a still, thin sound )דקה דממה קול .)He said, since “earthly royalty reflects Heavenly royalty,” there must be a similar chain of events when an earthly king appears. 3. שהחיינו on a friend One who sees a friend after a lapse of thirty days recites שהחיינו ;if the lapse is twelve months, he says המתים מחיה ברוך) Blessed [are You] … Who resurrects the dead(. Siman – נח –Zookeeper The Zookeeper greeted his friend the king who he hadn’t seen in 30 days with a שהחיינוand over his procession of 600,000 a הרזים חכם ברוך ,while everyone else stood still in silence. Key Words – רזים ,king’s ilences, שהחיינו on friend

1. Visions of tefillah in dreams The Gemara lists dream visions that include elements of tefillah, along with their meaning: • One who responds "מברך רבה שמיה יהא אמן "in a dream is assured of being destined for Olam Haba. • One who recites Krias Shema in a dream is fit to have the Shechinah dwell upon him, except that his generation doesn’t merit having it happen. • One who dreams of laying tefillin should anticipate growing in greatness. 2. Waking up with a passuk R’ Yochanan says that if one wakes up and a verse “fell into his mouth,” i.e. immediately came to mind, this is a type of minor prophecy. 3. One sixtieth Five things are considered a sixtieth of something else: 1. Fire is a sixtieth part of Gehinnom. 2. Honey is a sixtieth part of the manna. 3. Shabbos is a sixtieth part of Olam Haba. 4. Sleep is a sixtieth part of death. 5. A dream is a sixtieth part of prophecy. Siman – Pinocchio’s nose Pinochio’s nose began to grow when he claimed he was saying Krias Shema in his dream and then woke up with a passuk in his mouth, until he was reminded wood burns in fire which is a sixtieth part of Gehinnom. Key Words – tefillah in dreams, waking with passuk, one sixtieth

1.People dream about what they were thinking about To illustrate the teaching (on 55b) that a person dreams about what he was thinking of during the day )לבו מהרהרי אלא לאדם לו מראין אין ,)the Gemara cites the incident of Caesar asking R’ Yehoshua bar R’ Chananya what he would dream of that night. R’ Yehoshua told him that he would dream of being pressed into service by the Persians in a degrading way. Caesar thought about the distressing vision all day and then dreamt of it at night. 2. Bar Hedya, the Dream Interpreter The Gemara relates the story of Bar Hedya, the dream interpreter, who gave positive interpretations to those who paid for his services and negative ones to those who didn’t. Abaye and Rava shared many similar dreams and had them interpreted by Bar Hedya. Since Abaye paid, his dreams were always interpreted for good; Rava did not pay, and his dreams were interpreted for ill. Finally, Rava discovered—in a book owned by Bar Hedya—that “dreams go according to the mouth” (הפה אחר הולכין חלומות כל ,(meaning according to the way they are interpreted. Rava cursed him and Bar Hedya fled, eventually meeting a gruesome death at the hands of the Roman royal court. 3. The meaning of a well in a dream The Gemara discusses the symbolic meaning of items appearing in a dream. If one dreams of a well: • R’ Chanina says he will see peace. • R’ Nassan says he will find Torah. • Rava says he will find life. Siman – Shusher in shul going nu nu The shusher in shul was going bananas trying to nu nu the guy giving nightmares to the President about losing the election while the dream interpreter was telling the cheapskate he was going to fall into a well. Key Words – nightmares, Bar Hedya, wells