Daf Notes

Rav Yosef said: The studying of Torah is greater than saving lives. This can be proven from the fact that initially, Mordechai is mentioned (in Scripture) after four Sages, but in the end (after the miracle of Purim), he was mentioned after five Sages (indicating that his significance among the Sages had diminished). …

Daf Notes Megillah

Rabbi Abba said: The parable of Achashverosh and Haman resembles two men, one of whom had a pile of dirt in his field and the other had a ditch. The one who had the ditch said: I wish that the owner of the pile would sell me the dirt so that I can fill up…

Daf Notes

It is written in the Megillah [2:5]: There was a Jewish man in Shushan the capital, whose name was Mordechai, son of Yair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, from the tribe of Binyamin. The Gemora asks: He is called a Jew (Yehudi), which would imply that he is from the tribe of Yehudah…

Megillah Daf 12

It is written in the Megillah [1:3]: The army of Persia and Media, the nobles and all the ministers of the provinces in his service; and it is written [10:2] And the entire history of his power and strength, and the account of Mordechai’s greatness, whom the king had promoted, are recorded in the…

Daf Notes

Rish Lakish Introduced His lecture on Megillas Esther with the in the following Interpretation: It is Written [Mishlei 28:15]: As a roaring lion, and a ravenous bear; so is a wicked ruler over a poor people . A roaring lion is Referring to Nebuchadnezzar the wicked; a ravenous bear is Referring to Achashverosh. Proof to…

Daf Notes

The Mishna states: There is no difference between the Books of Scripture and tefillin and mezuzos, except that the Books of Scripture may be written in any language, and tefillin and mezuzos are written only in Ashurit (the Hebrew script that is used in our Torah scrolls). Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: The Books of Scripture may be written only in Greek (not any…

Tannis Daf 31

The Mishna had stated in the name of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel: There were no holidays for Israel as the fifteenth of Av and as Yom Kippur. The Gemora asks that it is understandable that the Day of Atonement should be a day of rejoicing, because that is a day of forgiveness, and on…

Tannis Daf 30

The Mishna had stated that on the eve of Tisha B’Av, a man may not eat two cooked dishes, he may not eat meat, and he may not drink wine. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel maintains that he should change from his usual manner of eating. Rabbi Yehudah obligates upsetting the bed, and the Sages did…

Daf Notes 29a

The Mishna had stated that on the ninth of Av it was decreed against our ancestors that they would not enter the Land. The Gemora inquires as to the source for that. We have learned in a braisa that on the twenty-ninth day of Sivan Moshe sent out the spies, and it is written: “And…

Taanis Daf 22‏ Dat Notes

Rav Broka of Bnei Chuzaa would frequent the market of Lapat. Eliyahu HaNavi was accustomed to meeting him there. “Is there anyone in this market,” Rav Broka asked Eliyahu, “worthy of the World to Come?” “No,” said Eliyahu HaNavi. Then he spotted a certain man wearing black shoes, unlike the custom of the Jews, and…

Taanis Daf 23‏ Daf Notes

The Gemora cites a braisa which expounds on a verse in Vayikra (26:4) which states “I will give your rains in their time.” The blessing described here is that the earth will not be drunk (overly drenched) with rain, nor will it be thirsty; rather it will be reasonably wet. Excessive rain makes the earth…

Daf Notes

[The Gemora relates a story regarding R’ Yochanan and ilfa, two great Torah scholars.] Ilfa and R’ Yochanan learned Torah in great poverty and deprivation. At a certain point, their hunger became too much for the. They therefore, decided to leave the yeshiva and engage in business. Let us fulfill the verse that says, “There…