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

Three things that prolong life
The Gemara analyzes the three actions which, when prolonged, prolong one’s life,
according to Rav Yehudah (54b):
• Spending a long time in tefillah.
• Spending a long time at the table, thereby affording the poor a greater chance to come
and share in the meal.
• Spending a long time in the bathroom.
2. Betzalel’s wisdom
The Gemara discusses Betzalel’s wisdom:
• He was called Betzalel because “he lived in the shadow of G-d” )קל בצל ,)as he knew
the order in which Hashem had commanded the building of the Mishkan—first the
Mishkan, then the vessels—despite Moshe changing the order in his instructions to
him.
• He knew how to join together the letters of the Torah in the same way they were
combined to create heaven and earth.
3. Dreams
The daf discusses dreams at length:
• A dream that has not been interpreted is like an unread letter.
• One who is troubled by a dream should have it remedied in the presence of three
people. The text of חלום הטבת is presented.
• One who doesn’t understand the meaning of his dream should stand before the
kohanim during Birkas Kohanim and recite a supplication, aiming to finish it as the
congregation responds amein, so that his supplication will be affirmed together with
the blessing of the kohanim. We are accustomed to doing this during Mussaf on Yom
Tov.
Siman - Speed Limit – 55
Rabbi Betzalel dreamt that he planted a speed limit sign in the middle of shul to remind the
congregants that the key to long life is spending more time in tefillah, and his congregants
begged him to do Hatavos Chalom.
Key words – Betzalel, long life, hatavos chalom

1. Berachos in places where miracles occurred
All are obligated to make a berachah when seeing a place where miracles were performed
for the masses, but only an individual is obligated to make a berachah on a miracle
performed for him alone.
2. Eight places where miracles occured
A Baraisa enumerates eight places where one is obligated to recite a berachah for the
miracles performed there.
1. Where the Yam Suf was crossed.
2. Where the Jordan was crossed.
3. At the crossing of the Canyons of Arnon )ארנון נחלי מעברות ,)where the Amorites
waiting in ambush were miraculously crushed in the mountains.
4. At the stones of Elgavish in the descent of Beis-Choron. These were the hailstones that
were suspended in midair for the sake of Moshe and later came down for the sake of
Yehoshua when he defended Givon in the battle with the Emori.
5. At the stone that King Og of Bashan wanted to throw at the nation.
6. At the stone that Moshe sat on during the war with Amalek.
7. At the remains of Lot’s wife.
8. At the wall of Jericho, which was swallowed.
The Gemara elaborates on the eight miracles.
3. Bentching gomel and having a shomer (guardian)
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav that four types of people must give thanks and bentch
gomel, because they survived dangerous situations:
• One who travels across the sea.
• One who travels through a wilderness.
• One who recovers from an illness.
• One who is freed from prison.
Rav Yehudah further taught that three types of people need protection from mazikin
(demons):
A sick person is more vulnerable, because his mazel has turned for the worse.
A chassan and kallah are also in danger, because they evoke the jealousy of mazikin.
Siman – Noodles
The caterer transporting spaghetti noodles across the desert bentched gomel after finally
delivering them to the well-guarded chassan and kallah, who were busy making berachos in
the eight places where miracles had occurred.
Key Words – miracle place, eight places, gomel and shomer

1. Which light and spices one can make the berachah on?
The berachah of האש מאורי בוראis recited only on a flame lit for illumination. If it was lit solely for
other purposes, such as cooking, or to honor a prominent person sitting in a beis haknesses or beis
midrash, or to honor the deceased at his funeral, no berachah is recited.
Similarly, a berachah of בשמים מיני בורא is recited only for a fragrance designated for the enjoyment
of its smell. A fragrance used for other purposes, such as perfuming clothing or removing the odor
of a decaying corpse, does not merit a berachah.
2. What is considered deriving benefit from the light?
There is a machlokes regarding the Mishnah’s meaning when it says one may not make a berachah
over the flame until he benefits from its illumination – שיאותו עד הנר על מברכין אין .
• Rav Yehuda in the name of Rav says that one does not actually have to benefit from the light—
the berachah is made as long as the light is strong enough that one could benefit from it, even
though he is standing far away and can’t benefit from it.
• Rava says that the berachah is only made when he is close enough to the light that he could
benefit from it.
This is the basis for looking at one’s fingernails when making the berachah on the flame in
Havdalah. Distinguishing between the fingernail and its surrounding skin is similar to discerning the
difference between two different small coins or two different weights that are similar in
appearance.
3. Making the berachah vs. saying amein
There is a machlokes Tanna’im regarding whether it is preferable to make a berachah or to answer
amein to it.
• One Baraisa holds that saying amein is greater. R’ Nehorai likens it to battle, where the common
soldiers engage the enemy first, followed by the elite troops, who come in to seal the victory.
• Another Baraisa holds that the Heavenly emissaries hasten more to bestow reward on the one
making the berachah than on the one answering amein.
Siman – A Nigerian Prince
The Nigerian Prince held his fingers up to benefit from the light that had been lit for illumination (not for
his honor) and made a berachah on all of his riches while his champion servants proudly proclaimed
amein.
Key Words – lit for illumination, derive benefit, berachah vs. amein

1. Kiddush hayom or the berachah on wine
The Gemara resolves a seeming contradiction in Beis Shammai.
In the Mishna on 51b, Beis Shammai holds that the beracha on kedushas hayom (sanctity of the
day) precedes the berachah on the wine because it is the sanctity of the day which is cause for
the wine to be brought to the meal.
Yet in a Beraisa on 52a, Beis Shammai holds that the berachah on the wine precedes the
berachah of Havdalah, which addresses the nature of the day.
The Gemara answers that according to Beis Shammai there is no contradiction.
When it comes to bringing in Shabbos, the more we advance it, the better, therefore the
berachah on the day comes first.
When it comes to ending the Shabbos day, the more we more we delay it, the better, therefore
the berachah of Havdalah comes after the berachah on the wine.
2. What a tamei liquid does to a utensil
A tamei liquid that touches the outside of the keli (utensil) renders the outside tamei but the
inside, rim, and handle is tahor. But if the tamei liquid touches the inside of the keli (utensil) then
the whole keli becomes tamei.
3. Why Beis Hillel holds it better to put wet napkin on a cushion
There is no requirement of washing the hands for chullin (non-consecrated food) from the Torah
since the hands are not considered a separate entity from the body and cannot contract tumah
from a rishon. It is only a Rabbinic law that they are treated separately and considered a sheni to
require someone to wash and remove the tumah before eating bread.
This explains why Beis Hillel holds that it is of greater concern that the liquid in a wet napkin will
lead to food becoming tamei when placed on a table, than the liquid in the wet napkin leading to
hands becoming tamei when placed on a cushion.
Siman - Newbie
The newbie to Yiddishkeit had finally gotten down the order of berachos for Kiddush and
Havdallah when he was introduced to the metaphysics of tamei liquids touching utensils and wet
napkins touching his hands.
Key Words – kedushas hayom, tamei liquids, wet napkins

1. Forgot to make a berachah
If one forgot to make a berachah before he ate, he should make one when he remembers and continue eating. If he has finished eating, he no longer has the opportunity to make a berachah.



2. Ten requirements for the כוס של ברכה
The Gemara lists ten requirements of the כוס של ברכה (the cup of blessing):

It must be washed on the inside – הדחה

and rinsed on the outside – שטיפה

It must be fresh – חי

and full – מלא

It must be crowned – עיטור

Opinion 1 – the one who recites Birkas Hamazon should surround himself with students while doing it

Opinion 2 – the cup must be surrounded with other cups of wine (done during second cup of wine)

The one who recites Birkas Hamazon should cover himself with a cloak while sitting, or spread a scarf over his head – עיטוף

It should be taken with both hands – נוטלו בשבתי ידיו

and then placed in the right hand – ונותנו בימין

It should be raised a tefach off the ground – מגביהו מן הקרקע טפח

One should concentrates his eyes on it while reciting Birkas Hamazon - נותן עיניו בו



3. The מלאך המות teaches three things
The מלאך המות (Angel of Death) told R’ Yehoshua ben Levi three things:

Do not take your shirt in the morning from the hand of the butler.

Do not have your hands washed by someone who has not washed his own hands.

Do not stand in front of women when they are returning from a funeral, because the Angel of Death dances before them with his sword in hand and has permission to harm those he meets.

Siman – Gnawing beaver which connects to beaver pelt hat.

The eccentric who insisted on donning his beaver pelt hat when holding up his freshly rinsed כוס של ברכה got such a fright when he saw the מלאך המות standing by his butler who was holding his shirt, that he started drinking the wine without making a berachah.

Key words – forgot beracha, ten כוס של ברכה, מלאך המות

1. Don’t conclude berachah with two subjects
The Gemara explains that we don’t conclude a berachah with two subjects because we don’t perform
.אין עושין מצות חבילות חבילות – bundles in mitzvos
For example, we don’t conclude the berachah of Birkas Hamazon with ירושלים בונה) Builder of
Yerushalayim) and ישראל מושיע) Savior of Israel).
2. Forgetting ויבא יעלה of Rosh Chodesh in tefillah and birkas hamazon
Rav Nachman explains logically why when one forgets to say ויבא יעלה in his Rosh Chodesh tefillah
he must repeat it, but when he forgets to say it in Rosh Chodesh bentching, he doesn’t repeat it:
• Tefillah is obligatory, so it must be repeated with the proper mentioning of Rosh Chodesh.
• Eating bread on Rosh Chodesh is not obligatory, so there is no need to repeat bentching if יעלה
ויבא was forgotten.
3. Minimum amount of bread to be obligated in joining a zimun
The Gemara explains the machlokes between R’ Meir and R’ Yehudah regarding the minimum
amount of bread one must eat to be obligated in joining a zimun.
• R’ Meir says it’s a כזית ,because he interprets ואכלתas referring to אכילה and ושבעתas referring
to שתיה ,and the minimum shiur for אכילהis a כזית .
• R’ Yehudah says it’s a כביצה ,because he interprets the words ושבעת ואכלתtogether as referring
to שביעה בה שיש אכילה) the eating of an amount that satiates), which is a כביצה .
Siman – Meat/Butcher
The extremely generous butcher sent bundles and bundles of mitzvah meat and כביצים of bread for the
זימוןat the Yeshiva’s Rosh Chodesh party because they never forget to say ויבא יעלה in the bentching.

1. Minimum number of bread-eaters in a zimun
There is a machlokes regarding how many of the men in a ten-man zimun are required to have
eaten bread:
- R’ Yirmiyah says a simple majority of six.
- R’ Zeira regretted that he did not inquire about the case of six and was concerned that
possibly a more noticeable majority of seven was required.
The Gemara brings the halachah that one who ate vegetables or wine can join in a zimun of ten
(assuming there were seven who ate bread) but cannot lead the zimun unless he ate a kezayis of
food produced from grain.
2. Who wrote various berachos in Birkas Hamazon
The Gemara details how the text of Birkas Hamazon was formulated:
- Moshe composed the berachah of Hazan at the time the manna fell.
- Yehoshua composed the berachah for Eretz Yisrael when they entered the land.
- David and Shlomo composed Boneih Yerushalayim.
David, who conquered Yerushalayim, composed the segment, “Have mercy, please, Hashem our
G-d, on Israel Your people and on Yerushalayim your city.”
Shlomo, who built the Beis Hamikdash, composed the segment, “and on the great and holy
House.”
- The Sages of Yavneh composed Hatov VeHameitiv on the day the slain Jews of Betar were
finally allowed to be buried.
Hatov (Who is good) refers to the miracle that the bodies did not decay.
VeHameitiv (and Who bestows good) refers to the kindness that the bodies were allowed to be
buried.
3. The source for the various berachos in Birkas Hamazon
A Baraisa breaks out the Torah verse (Devarim 8:10) that serves as the source for the blessings in
Birkas Hamazon:
- Hazan – וברכת ושבעת ואכלת –And you will eat, be satisfied and bless
- Hazimun – אלקיך' ה את –Hashem your G-d
- Haaretz – הארץ על –on the land
- Boneih Yerushalayim – הטובה – the good [land]
- Hatov VeHameitiv – לך נתן אשר –which I have given you
Siman – Brainiacs
The seven brainiacs would only let three non-bread eaters join their zimun if they could match the
right author to each berachah of Birkas Hamazon, as well as identify the source of each berachah.
Key words – bread-eaters majority, Birkas Hamazon authors, sources

1. Replying amein is part of the berachah procedure
After reciting hamotzi, the one who made the berachah is not permitted to break the bread until
the listeners finish saying amein. (The Gemara had earlier taught that the berachah must be
finished before the bread is broken; here it teaches that replying amein is considered part of the
berachah procedure [Rashi]).
2. Incorrect ways to say Amein
A Baraisa lists the incorrect ways to respond amein, with Ben Azzai warning of the consequences
for doing so:
a. חטופה אמן – Amein Chatufah (snatched): The aleph is pronounced with a sheva instead of a
kamatz gadol. One who does this will have his days snatched away.
b. קטופה אמן – Amein Ketufah (abbreviated): The nun at the end is not enunciated clearly, so
that it sounds like “Amei.” One who does this will have his days abbreviated.
c. יתומה אמן – An orphaned amein: One says amein without hearing the berachah. Doing this
will cause one’s children to be orphaned.
d. מפיו ברכה יזרוק לא – One should not throw the blessing from his mouth, i.e. not say it hastily.
- Ben Azzai concludes that whoever is lengthy with his amein (meaning he pronounces it
properly) will merit length of days and years.
3. Who is considered an am haaretz?
A Baraisa lists a number of opinions regarding who is considered an am haaretz:
- R’ Eliezer – Anyone who does not recite Shema in the morning and evening.
- R’ Yehoshua – Anyone who does not put on tefillin.
- Ben Azzai – Anyone who does not wear tzitzis.
- R’ Nassan – Anyone who does not have a mezuzah on his door’s entrance.
- R’ Nassan bar Yosef – Anyone who has sons and does not raise them to learn Torah.
- Others – One who did not engage in group discussions to discern the underlying reasons and
applications of the Chumash and Mishnah (Rashi).
Siman – Maze
The only way for the contestants to escape the maze while being chased by a group of non-tzitzis
wearing amei haaretz, was for everybody to finish pronouncing a proper amein and then break bread.

1. Who breaks bread and who leads the bentching?
R’ Yochanan says in the name of R’ Shimon bar Yochai that the baal habayis breaks the bread
and a guest leads Birkas Hamazon.
- The reason the baal habayis is the one to break the bread is because he will be generous
and cut larger pieces, which a guest would not be comfortable doing.
- The reason a guest leads the zimun is to enable him to bless the host by saying the Yehi
Ratzon paragraph toward the end of bentching.
The Yehi Ratzon includes the following requests:
a. That the host not be embarrassed in either this world or the next.
b. That he be successful with all his property.
c. That host and guests never have thoughts of sin.
2. How far does the berachah of the zimun extend?
There is a machlokes regarding how far the berachah of the zimun extends:
- Rav Nachman says it extends up to and including the leader’s response of נברך.
- Rav Sheishess says it includes the first berachah of הזן .According to Rashi, Rav
Sheishess holds that the first berachah of Birkas Hamazon proper is
הארץ) .Tosafos and other Rishonim interpret Rav Sheishess differently).
דרבנן a is הטוב והמטיב .3
The Gemara brings different proofs that the blessing ומטיב הטוב is not Biblical:
- Rav Yosef sees it from the halachah that laborers may delete it.
- Rav Yitzchak bar Shmuel in the name of Rav derives it from the fact that it is next to
the beracha ירושלים בונה ,yet it still begins with the word “ברוך “.Were it
Biblical, it wouldn’t require “ברוך “,since it would be considered a סמוכה ברכה
.לחברתה
- Rav Nachman derives it from the halachah that it is not recited in the house of a
mourner.
Siman - Cows
Farmer Brown’s cow themed bentcher guided the one leading the Zimun to go up until the end of
HaZan, a reminder to bless Farmer Brown to have lots of prize winning cattle (after all he did give big
pieces of bread out at the beginning of the meal), and instructions for his farmhands to skip HaTov
VeHaMativ and get back to the fields.

1. The source for making a zimun
The Gemara seeks the source for the Mishnah’s ruling that three people who eat bread together are
obligated to join in a zimun:
- Rav Assi cites the pasuk יחדיו שמו ונרממה אתי' לה גדלו – Declare (plural) the greatness of Hashem with
me and let us exalt His name together.
- R’ Abahu cites the pasuk לאלקינו גדל הבו אקרא' ה שם כי – When I call out the Name of Hashem, ascribe
(plural) greatness to our G-d.
- The verses describe one person talking to more than one person, implying a minimum of three.
2. Can two people make a zimun?
The Gemara inquires whether two people who eat together are permitted to make a zimun, even if they
are not obligated to.
- Rav holds that two people are permitted to make a zimun, but R’ Yochanan holds they are not. The
verse of גדלוimplies that two additional people are called to form the quorum, but two people alone
lack the requisite number of דעות) minds) to form a zimun.
3. When part of a group wants to make a zimun
When three people eat bread together and two of them finish while the other is still eating, the third is
expected to interrupt his meal to join in the zimun. But when only one of them finishes first, the other
two are not obligated to interrupt their meal to make a zimun on his behalf.
Siman - Monopoly
Two of the three fathers were tired of waiting for their children’s monopoly game to end, so they
forced the third one to join their zimun and declare Hashem’s greatness, and resolved that next time
that only the two of them would eat together so as not to be obligated in a Zimun.
Key Words – source, two, interrupt

1. The fruits of Genosar
The Gemara wants to know an example of the Mishnah’s case where bread would be considered
secondary (טפל (to a salty food which would be considered primary (עיקר .(It answers that fruits of
Genosar were extremely sweet and delicious that they needed to be eaten with salt. These fruits
were so exceptional that when eaten with bread the fruits were considered primary )עיקר )and the
bread that was eaten with them was considered secondary )טפל )to them.
The Gemara describes how delicious they were:
- Rav Yochanan would eat vast quantities and swear that he had not satisfied his hunger.
- Reish Lakish would eat them until he became delirious and needed others to bring him home.
2. The beracha of שלש מעין
The Gemara discusses the text of the berachah of שלש מעין when recited on fruits of the שבעת
.המינים
- In Eretz Yisroel the conclusion of the berachah for fruits is על פירותיה .
- In the Diaspora the berachah concludes with הפרות על .
בורא נפשות .3
The Gemara discusses which foods require a Borei Nefashos as an after-berachah:
- Rav Yitzchak bar Avdimi said in the name of Rav: On eggs and meat but not on vegetables.
- Rebbe Yitzchak: Even on vegetables but not on water.
- Rav Pappa: Even on drinking water.
Siman – Mud
The Jew in chutz l’aretz had just concluded his berachah of שלש מעין with the words הפרות עלwhen
he began to reminisce fondly about trekking through the mud in Eretz Yisroel to eat the fruits of genosar

1. Berachos on fragrances
The Gemara discusses the appropriate berachos to recite when smelling various fragrances:
.spices overבורא מיני בשמים •
.plants overבורא עשבי בשמים •
• בשמים עצי בוראover the scent of wood.
• ערב שמן בוראover the sweet scent of balsam oil.
.esrog an overשנתן ריח טוב בפירות •
One who sees a fruit tree in blossom during Nissan recites: בריות בו וברא כלום בעולמו חיסר שלא ברוך
אדם בני בהן להתנאות טובות ואילנות טובות ,Blessed [are you, Hashem,…] Who did not leave anything lacking
in His universe and created in it good creatures and good trees, to give pleasure to mankind.
2. Tamar not embarrassing Yehuda
Tamar’s willingness to be executed rather than cause shame to Yehudah teaches us that it is preferable to
cast oneself into a fiery furnace rather than shame one’s fellow in public. כבשן לתוך עצמו שיפיל לאדם לו נוח
.האש ואל ילבין פני חברו ברבים
3. Behaviors unbecoming to a talmid chacham
The Rabbanan teach that six behaviors are unbecoming for a talmid chacham:
1. Going into the street with perfumed clothes, in a place where people are suspected of homosexuality.
2. Going out alone at night, lest he be suspected of inappropriate behavior.
3. Going outside with patched shoes.
4. Conversing with a woman in the market.
5. Dining with הארץ עמי) unlearned people), lest he be drawn after them.
6. Being the last to enter the beis midrash, lest people consider him lazy.
Siman - Magazine
The frum scratch and sniff spice magazine spring edition featured articles on how talmidei chachamim can
avoid getting perfume on their clothes so they don’t get embarrassed in public, as well as where to find
blossoming trees in the month of Nissan.
Key Words – fragrances, perfume on clothes, embarrassment

1. Making a Hamotzi on בכיסנין הבאה פת
The berachah for בכיסנין הבאה פת is generally a mezonos, since it is usually eaten as a snack, but Rav
Nachman rules that if one eats enough of it to establish a meal on (סעודה קובע ,(the berachah would
be hamotzi.
2. When is a meal considered completed?
The Gemara discusses the point at which a meal is considered completed, when no more food may
be eaten before reciting Birkas Hamazon.
- Rav Huna says it is when one finishes eating the meal.
- Rav Pappa says it is when the bread and food are removed from the table.
- Rava says that guests are dependent on the host’s intentions, so that if the host brings
additional portions to the table even after the removal of the food and bread, it may still be eaten.
- Rav says that if one is accustomed to anoint his hands with oil on finishing a meal, then as long
as he has not anointed his hands he may continue eating, even after he finishes the meal, and even
after the food is removed from the table.
The Gemara concludes that the halachah follows what Rav Chiya bar Ashi says in the name of Rav,
that the washing of the hands after the meal )אחרונים מים )is followed immediately by Birkas
Hamazon, meaning that there may be no more eating after washing אחרונים מים.
3. One making a berachah on behalf of a group
The Mishnah infers that in order for one person in a group to make a berachah for the others, the
group must be reclining, not just sitting. The Gemara later concludes that if the group verbally states
their intention to eat together, then sitting is considered like reclining.
Siman – Mobster
As part of their initiation, the newly recruited mobsters were required to make a berachah for the
group on a meal’s worth of בכיסנין הבאה פת ,and then correctly guess that אחרונים מים is when the
mob boss considers the meal over.
Key Words - בכיסנין הבאה פת Hamotzi, meal over, group berachah

דף מא – 41 Daf
מין שבעה עדיף או מין חביב עדיף? .1
Rebbe Yehuda and the Rabbonon debate in the Mishna on :מ דף ,regarding which food
one recites a berachah on first when several foods are in front of him:
a. Rebbe Yehuda says that if one of the foods are one of the seven species , then that
.)מין שבעה עדיף( precedence takes food
b. The Rabbonon say that the food that he prefers takes precedence (עדיף חביב.(
The Amoraim dispute the parameters of the debate:
- One Amora states that they disagree only when the different foods share the same
berachah, such as an apple and an olive. In a case where they have different berachos,
such as a potato and an olive, then both Tannaim in the Mishna will agree that one recites
the beracha first on the food that he prefers (עדיף חביב.(
- The other Amora states that the same disagreement also applies when the berachos
are different . The disagreement then would be in regards to which of the two berachos is
recited first.
2. The seven species list
There is a machlokes regarding what can be learned from the pasuk which lists the seven
:)"ארץ חטה ושעורה וגפן ותאנה ורמון ארץ זית שמן ודבש") species
- Rav Yosef teaches that the order of foods listed in the pasuk indicate which foods attain
precedence in berachos. The closer the food is to the term “ארץ ,“the greater the
precedence.
- Rav Chanan teaches that the purpose of the pasuk is to teach the measurements for
different halachos, with each food item representing a different unit of measure.

3. Making berachos on foods during the meal
Rav Pappa stated the following rulings regarding the berachos recited on foods eaten in
the course of the meal:
- Foods that are eaten together with bread, which are eaten during the meal, do not
require a berachah either before or after eating them.
- Foods that are not eaten together with bread, which are eaten during the meal,
require a berachah before eating them but not after.
- Foods that are usually eaten after the meal, such as dessert, even when eaten
during the meal, require a blessing both before and after eating them.
Siman – Ma (Grandma)
The grandma couldn’t decide which fruit to make the berachah on, the apple or the
pomegranate, so she used her 7 species ruler to measure which was berachah on it during the course o her meal.

1. Speaking after saying Hamotzi
Although one may not talk in between reciting a bracha and eating,one is permitted to speak
between making Hamotzi and eating of the bread if the purpose is to facilitate the eating of
the bread.
- Rav says one is allowed to tell the people seated at the table to take a piece of bread.
- R’ Yochanan says one is even allowed to ask for salt or relish to be brought to the table to
enhance the taste of the bread.
- Rav Sheishess says one is even allowed to ask that food be prepared for his animals since
it is forbidden for a person to eat before he gives food to his animals.
2. What type of tree was the Eitz HaDaas?
A Baraisa is brought that lists various opinions regarding what type of tree Adam HaRishon
ate from (i.e. the Eitz HaDaas):
- R’ Meir – It was a grapevine. R’ Meir’s reasoning is that we find that“wine brings wailing
upon a person,” and the Eitz HaDaas brought about death.R’
- Nechemyah – It was a fig tree. R’ Nechemyah’s reasoning is that it is logical that Hashem
will bring about Adam and Chava’s “repair through what caused their damage,” i.e. since
their “repair” was through a fig tree, asthey sewed fig leaves to wear, their “damage” i.e.
their downfall of eating from the Eitz HaHadaas as well must have been through a fig tree.
- R’ Yehuda – It was wheat.,R’ Yehuda’s logic is that since a child does not know his first
words of “Abba” and “Imma” until he begins to eat grain, this indicates that grain is
associated with the development of Daas.
3. The proper text for a berachah
There is a dispute regarding the required text for a berachah:
- Rav says that any berachah that does not mention Hashem’s name is not considered a
berachah.
כל ברכה שאין בה הזכרת השם אינה ברכה
- Rav Yochanan says that any berachah that does not include Hashem’s name and does not
mention Hashem’s sovereignty over the world as well, is not considered a berachah.
כל ברכה שאין בה מלכות אינה ברכה
Siman – Pool of water
The over ambitious new parents were sitting by the pool under a fig tree trying to feed their
infant grain, teaching it the proper text of the berachah while asking for salt for the bread.
Key Words – Speaking after motzi, Eitz HaDaas, Text of Berachah

1. Precedence in Berachos
Regarding the precedence in berachos, one should first make a berachah on food with a more
specific berachah (e.g. ha’adamah) before making it on food with a less specific berachah (e.g.
shehakol).
If both foods require the same berachah, then one should choose the one that he prefers
.)חביב(
2. Whole loaf vs. large piece
There is a machlokes regarding which bread a person should say hamotzi on when faced with a
choice between a small whole loaf and a larger broken piece of the same grain:
Rav Huna holds that size takes precedence over wholeness, so one says hamotzi on the larger,
broken piece.
- R’ Yochanan holds that completeness takes precedence over size, so one says hamotzi on the
smaller, complete loaf.
- Rav Nachman bar Yitzchok holds that a שמים ירא should adopt the practice of placing the
broken piece under the whole loaf and then either break off a piece from the whole loaf or
from both of them.
3. Lechem Mishneh
On Shabbos, one makes hamotzi over two whole loaves of bread, commemorating the fact that
on Fridays in the desert a double portion )משנה לחם)of manna would fall.
- Rav Kahana would recite the berachah on two loaves but would only break one.
- R’ Zeira would break off a large piece for himself that would suffice for the whole meal.
Siman – Letter
The father was shocked when he discovered a letter under the two small whole loaves of lechem
mishna, reminding him to always make a berachah on a carrot before making one on gefilte fish.
Key Words – Precedence, whole vs. large, lechem mishneh

1. Food or drinks with medicinal purpose on Shabbos
It is permitted to consume any or food or drink for medicinal purposes on Shabbos, since the act
is considered one of eating rather than healing.
2. ”Hamotzi” or “Motzi”?
There is a machlokes regarding whether the nusach of the berachah on bread should be “Motzi”
or “Hamotzi”:
- The Rabbanan say one should say Hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz, which means, He who
brought forth bread from the ground, in the past tense.
- R’ Nechemiah says that when Hashem is referred to as the “Hamotzi,” the reference is to
what He has not yet done—take Bnei Yisroel out of Mitzrayim—but will do in the future. His
proof is the pasuk (Shemos 6:7) which says מצרים סבלות מתחת אתכם המוציא ,referring to
Hashem taking Bnei Yisrael out of Mitzrayim in the near future. Since that connotation would be
not be fitting for the berachah, one should say “Motzi,” meaning Who brought forth, in the past
tense.
- The halachah follows the Rabbanan.
3. The berachah on cooked vegetables (שלקות(
The appropriate berachah on cooked vegetables )שלקות )is often ha’adamah but sometimes
shehakol:
- When cooking elevates the vegetable to the primary form in which it’s eaten, as, for
example, with a potato, then the berachah on the raw vegetable is shehakol on for the cooked
vegetable ha’adamah.
- When cooking is not the primary way to eat the vegetable, as, for example, with a leek,
then the berachah on the raw vegetable is ha’adamah and on the cooked vegetable shehakol.
Siman – Chicken soup (a davar lach)
The sick yeshiva bochur made Hamotzi on the challahs, before he was served some medicinal
chicken soup together with some cooked vegetables.
Key words – Hamotzi, medicinal, cooked vegetables

1. The berachah on cooked rice
Cooked rice is similar to the five grains, inasmuch as the berachah before eating it is מיני בורא
מזונות ,but it is dissimilar regarding the berachah said afterwards, which is נפשות בוראrather
.על המחיה than
2. Berachah after eating one of the seven species
A Baraisa records a machlokes over the proper berachah after eating one of the seven species,
and relates a relevant incident:
a. R’ Gamliel says one should recite המזון ברכת.
b. The Chachamim say one should recite שלש מעין.
- When R’ Gamliel gave permission to R’ Akiva to lead the bentching after eating dates, R’
Akiva quickly said the berachah of שלש מעין .He subsequently explained that although R’Gamliel
taught that one should bentch in such a case, he also taught that one should follow the majority
opinion, which in this case was to say שלש מעין.
3. Berachah on cooked dish made with pieces of bread
According to Rav Sheishess, one makes a המוציא on a cooked dish made with pieces of bread
even if the pieces are smaller than a kezayis (an olive). Rava stipulates that if the pieces are
smaller than a kezayis, they must still have the appearance of bread.
Siman – Laser tag
The Chol Hamoed Pesach laser tag trip got out of hand when the losing team started throwing
rice and dates and the winning team discovered little pieces of bread in their cooked dish.
Key words – Rice, dates, pieces of bread

1. Beracha over wheat flour
There is a machlokes concerning the berachah recited over wheat flour )דחיטי קמחא:)
- Rav Yehuda says that one recites a ha’adamah, since it is likened to eating wheat
kernels. The fact that the flour is ground does not change its status.
- Rav Nachman says that one recites a shehakol, because the ground flour is no
longer in its original state of wheat kernels, which would require a ha’adamah, but has
not yet reached its final state of bread, which would require a hamotzi.
2. Husks of Caper Bush
The Gemara asks why the husks of a caper bush are not subject to the orlah restriction,
given that a shomer (protective covering) of an orlah fruit is considered orlah. Rava
teaches that something is only considered a fruit’s shomer if without it the fruit would
die. Caper bush husks are not needed to keep the berries alive, so they do not attain the
status of shomer and are not subject to orlah.
3. Foods that contain one of the five grains
Rav and Shmuel teach that one recites a borei minei mezonos on any food that contains
one of the five species of grain, even if the grain is not the primary ingredient. Tosafos
adds that this is only when the grain is there to enhance the dish, rather than merely to
serve as a binder.
Siman - Lulav
The lulav that was covered in fine white wheat flour and was sprouting caper bush
husks out of its top was sitting in a bowl of porridge.
Key words –flour, husks, porridge

1. ראשונה ברכה is based on reason
After concluding that there is no Torah source for the concept of a ראשונה ברכה) blessing before
eating), the Gemara teaches that the obligation to do so is based on reason:
benefit derive to person a for forbidden is It – אסור לו לאדם שיהנה מן העולם הזה בלא ברכה -
from this world without first reciting a blessing.
- Since one derives pleasure from the world, he should thank the Creator of those pleasures.
The Gemara lists implications of eating without a berachah:
first without world the from benefit derives Whoever – כל הנהנה מן העולם הזה בלא ברכה מעל -
reciting a berachah has committed an act of me’ilah (misappropriation of Temple property).
from benefit derives Whoever - כל הנהנה מן העולם הזה בלא ברכה כאילו גוזל להקבה וכנסת ישראל -
the world without first reciting a berachah is regarded as if he robs from Hashem and the Assembly
of Israel.
ואספת דגנך .2
There is a machlokes over how to understand the words in Krias Shema, דגנך ואספת ,you shall
gather in your grain:
- R’ Yishmael understands it as a general directive that Torah study should be combined with
earning a living.
- R’ Shimon bar Yochai argues that preoccupation with earning a living would leave no time for
Torah study, so he interprets the verse as referring to a time when the nation does not fulfill
Hashem’s will. At such a time, they will not only have to do their own work, gathering their own
grain, but even have to do the work of others. But when they do fulfill Hashem’s will, the work of
gathering in their grain will be done for them by others.
3. Why wine has a special beracha
The Gemara concludes that the reason that wine—unlike olive oil—merits having a unique
berachah of its own (הגפן ,)is because wine satiates (סעיד (and olive oil does not.
Siman – Children’s choir singing La La La
The children’s choir at the Berachos Party sang the Berachah Rishonah song for wine, while the
darling little kids on stage pretended to harvest wheat.
Key Words: Berachah Rishonah, wine, harvest

1. How to approach the three different parts of Shemoneh Esrei
R’ Chanina taught how one should comport himself while davening Shemoneh Esrei:
- When he recites the first three berachos, he is like a servant who states words of praise before his
master before daring to make a request.
- When he recites the middle berachos, he is like a servant who requests his allotment.
- When he recites the last three berachos he is like a servant who received his allotment from his
master, begs leave and goes on his way, expressing gratitude.
2. The proper times to bow
The Gemara discusses the proper times to bow during Shemoneh Esrei and teaches that the more
exalted the stature of the individual, the greater the need to humble oneself through bowing:
A regular Jew: At the beginning and end of the first beracha of Avos as well as the beginning and end of
the beracha of Hoda’ah (Thanksgiving).
Kohen Gadol:
One opinion states at the end of each beracha.
Another opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha.
Melech:
One opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha.
Another opinion states that he remains bowed from the first beracha until the completion of the
tefillah.
3. Ba’alei Teshuva vs. Tzadikim Gemurim
The Gemara introduces the question of who is more exalted: Ba’alei teshuva or Tzadikim Gemurin (The
completely righteous):
R’ Abahu is of the opinion that the place where ba’alei teshuvah stand, the completely righteous do not
stand.
במקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין צדיקים גמורים אינם עומדין
His opinion is based on the pasuk, "ולקרוב לרחוק שלום שלום – "Peace, peace to the distant and to the
near. (Isaiah 57:19). Hashem extends greetings to those that are distant (ba’alei teshuva) before those
that are close (tzadikim gemorim):
R’ Yochanan, who is of the opinion that tzadikim gemurimn are nore exalted, interprets “the distant” as
those that are distant from sin, and “the near” as those nearer to sin.
Siman – Ladder
The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh
completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.

1. Havdalah
When the Jews first returned to Eretz Yisrael from the Babylonian exile, the Anshei Knesses
Hagedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) fixed the berachah of Havdalah within Shemoneh
Esrei, because the people were poor and couldn’t afford wine.
Later, when the people grew wealthier, the berachah was removed from tefillah and its recital
was fixed over a cup of wine. The details of the original enactment were forgotten.
Later still, when the people became impoverished, they reverted to the original enactment
and fixed Havdalah in tefillah, but required people who could afford it to recite Havdalah a
second time over wine.
2. Limiting praising Hashem’s traits
R’ Chanina reprimanded a shliach tzibbur who enumerated a long list of Hashem’s traits. When
the man finished his tefillah, R’ Chanina asked him, “Did you complete all the praises of your
סיימתינהו לכולהו שבחי דמרך? – “?Master
He explained that were it not for the fact that Moshe praised Hashem with the three attributes
of Gadol, Gibbor and Nora in the Torah and the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah established them in
the text of our tefillos, we would not have been able to recite even those attributes.
יראת שמים .3
R’ Chanina taught that שמים מיראת חוץ שמים בידי הכל – Everything is in the hands of Heaven
except for the fear of Heaven.
,now And – ועתה ישראל מה ה' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה ,pasuk the from derived is This-
Israel, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you, but merely to fear Hashem.
Siman – Pirate with a peg leg
The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for
Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim. Quick Words – Pirate, Havdala, Praises, Yiras Shamayim.

1. Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael for their involvement in the chet ha’egel
The Gemara goes through an extensive analysis of Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael before Hashem for
their involvement in the chet ha’egel (sin of the Golden Calf),
- Moshe argued that the cause of the sin was the abundance of gold that Hashem had lavished on Bnei
Yisrael.
- Moshe realized that Hashem telling him to leave (לי הניחה (really provided an opening for him to
continue to try to save the nation by imploring Hashem on their behalf.
- Moshe countered Hashem’s notion to rebuild the nation entirely from Moshe, arguing that if a three-
legged chair—Bnei Yisrael founded on the Avos—could not endure, then surely a one-legged chair—
Bnei Yisrael founded from him alone—would not endure.
2. Praising Hashem
R’ Simla’i teaches that one should always praise Hashem before praying: של שבחו אדם יסדר לעולם
.הקב'ה ואחר כך יתפלל
- This is learned from Moshe, who first praised Hashem before petitioning to be granted permission to
enter Eretz Yisrael.
3. The Gates of Tears are never locked
The Gemara relates that though the heavenly gates of tefillah have been locked since the destruction of
the Beis Hamikdash, the gates of tears have not been locked.
אף על פי ששערי תפילה ננעלו שערי דמעה לא ננעלו -
,prayer my Hear – שמעה תפלתי ה' ושועתי האזינה אל דמעתי אל תחרש ,pasuk the from learned is This-
Hashem, give ear to my outcry, to my tears be not silent.
Siman – Mad scientist in a lab.
The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long
but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
3 Word Hint – Calf, Praises, Tears

1. Breaking a glass at a chuppah
The Gemara recounts several incidents where the Rabbis tempered joyous events with seriousness when
they felt their peers were overly cheerful. This is the reason (Tosafos) for breaking the glass at a wedding:
- Mar the son of Ravina broke a precious glass worth four hundred zuz in the presence of the Rabbanan
- Rav Ashi broke a white glass in their presence as well
2. The proper mindset for tefillah
The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa that one should not daven Shemoneh Esrei amidst a state of sorrow
)עצבות ,)slothfulness )עצלות ,)laughter )שחוק ,)silly chatter )שיחה ,)light headedness )ראש קלות)or idle
words )בטלים דבירם .)Rather one should daven amidst the joy associated with a mitzvah, של שמחה)
.מצוה(
3. Halachos learned from Chanah’s tefillos
A large part of this Daf details the many halachos and concepts related to tefillah learned from Chanah’s
tefillos and her conversation with Eli. A few examples include:
- One must direct their heart to G-d.
- One must pronounce the words with his lips.
- It is forbidden to raise one’s voice to the degree that others can hear.
- It is forbidden to sit within four amos of one who is daveningSiman – Judge (connected to law)
The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the
glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.

. Davening towards Yerushalayim
One must daven facing towards Yerushalayim, the Beis Hamikdash and the Kodesh Hakadashim.
This is derived from the pasuk לתלפיות בנוי צוארך דויד כמגדל –Like the tower of David is your neck,
built as a landmark, which the Gemara explicates as בו פונים פיות שכל תל –A hill towards which all
mouths turn.
2. Travelling early in the morning
There is a machlokes regarding how one who must travel early in the morning, before the time of
tefillah, should proceed. The dispute hinges on which requirement is more important—davening
Shemoneh Esrei while standing or juxtaposing redemption to tefillah (לתפילה גאולה סומך(
- The Tanna Kamma holds that it is more important to daven Shemoneh Esrei while standing;
thus the traveler should daven at home, standing, and then recite Krias Shema on the journey
when the time comes.
- R’ Shimon ben Elazar holds that juxtaposing redemption to tefillah is more important, so the
traveler should start his journey without saying Shemoneh Esrei and then recite Krias Shema at
the proper time, followed by Shemoneh Esrei , even if it must be said sitting.
3. Davening with ראש כובד) an attitude of reverence)
The source for the requirement that one daven with an attitude of reverence (ראש כובד (is the pasuk
ברעדה וגילו ביראה' ה את עבדו – Serve Hashem with awe, and rejoice with trepidation.
Siman – Rebbe in a classroom
With the map of the world behind him, the Rebbe was teaching his righteous students the importance
of davening towards Yerushalayim when the Uber driver arrived to take him on his pre-sunrise trip.

1. The differing number of berachos in the various Amidahs
The Gemara explains the differing number of berachos in the various Amidahs recited on special days:
- The seven berachos in the Shabbos Amidah correspond to the seven kolos (sounds) that Dovid
Hamelech mentioned in Psalm 29.
- The nine berachos in the Rosh Hashanah Amidah correspond to the nine times Chanah uttered
Hashem’s name in her tefillah.
- The 24 berachos in the fast day Amidah correspond to the 24 expressions of song (רננות (that Shlomo
Hamelech recited on the day the Aron was brought into the Kodesh Hakadashim (Holy of Holies).
2. Additional Tefillos
A number of additional tefillos are introduced:
- הביננו)Havineinu) - an abridged version of Shemoneh Esrei
- סכנה במקום קצרה תפילה - A short tefillah recited when in a dangerous place
- הדרך תפילת – Tefillas Haderech, the traveler’s prayer
3. Not making one’s teffilah “keva”
The Gemara cites four opinions regarding the meaning of “keva” (קבע (in R’ Eliezer’s statement that
one should not make his tefillah “keva.”
- Treating one’s tefillah like a burden
- Not davening like a supplicant (תחנונים דרך(
- Not innovating anything in one’s tefillah, i.e. not introducing any new requests from one tefillah
to the next
- Not davening when the sun is red, meaning immediately after sunrise or before sunset
Siman - Cots
The hospital cots were unfortunately full on Shabbos, Rosh Hashana and Fast Days because people
who had been travelling and going through dangerous places had treated their tefillos as a burden.

1. Hundreds of talmidim enter the beis midrash
On the day that R’ Elazar ben Azaryah became the Nasi, the doors to the beis midrash were opened to
all the talmidim who had been excluded by R’ Gamliel because they were not as good on the inside as
they appeared on the outside (כברו תוכו שאין .(As a result of their participation, all heretofore
unresolved halachos were resolved that day.
- Masechta Eduyos is composed of halachos that were taught that day, and wherever in Shas the
term “that day” (ביום בו (is used it refers to that day.
2. Final words from R’ Eliezer and R’ Yochanan ben Zakkai to their talmidim
The Gemara relates what two ailing Tanna’im said to their talmidim:
- R’ Eliezer said (among other things) עומדים אתם מי לפני דעו מתפללים כשאתם – When you
daven, know before whom you are standing.
- R’ Yochanan Ben Zakai blessed his students from his deathbed – שמים מורא שתהא רצון יהי
ודם בשר כמורא עליכם -May it be Hashem’s will that your fear of Heaven be as great as your fear of
man.
3. What 18 berachosin the Amidah correspond to
The Gemara brings a three-way machlokes regarding what the 18 blessings in the Amidah correspond
to:
- The 18 times Hashem’s name appears in Psalm 29 – אלים בני' לה הבו
- The 18 times His name appears in Krias Shema
- The 18 vertebrae in the spine
- The nineteenth blessing (ברכת הצדוקים (was composed by Shmuel Hakatan against the heretics.
Siman – Strong Man (strength)
The big strongman let hundreds of talmidim into the beis midrash to visit their two sick Rabbanim,
resolve halachos and to daven Shemoneh Esrei for their refuah.

1. The latest time to daven Minchah
Since the Gemara does not render the halachah regarding the latest permissible time to daven
Minchah, one may follow the opinion either of the Rabbanan and daven until nightfall, or of R’
Yehudah and daven until plag Haminchah (10 ¾ seasonal hours into the day). R’ Yehudah also
permits one to daven Maariv right after plag Haminchah, even though it’s before nightfall.
- According to many, one may not, however, do a split decision, following the Rabbanan to
daven Minchah after plag and then following R’ Yehudah to immediately daven Maariv before
nightfall.
2. Walking in front of someone davening Shemoneh Esrei
One may not pass in front of someone who is davening Shemoneh Esrei - כנגד לעבור אסור
.המתפללין
- Furthermore, one may not daven either alongside or behind his Rebbi, as doing so would appear
arrogant.
3. R’ Gamliel is deposed
The Gemara relates that the machlokes between R’ Gamliel and R’ Yehoshua over whether Maariv
is voluntary or obligatory led to R’ Gamliel being deposed and R’ Elazar ben Azarya being
appointed Nasi in his place.
Siman – Kazoo (a toy musical instrument that one blows into to create a buzzing sound)
A little boy blew his annoying kazoo during the Minchah minyan after plag whenever he saw
someone passing in front of someone who was davening Shemoneh Esrei, feeling so proud as he stood next to the new Nasi.

1. Excrement in front of a person
According to Rav Huna, when the Mishnah said that one must be four amos away from
excrement in order to recite Krias Shema, it was referring to when it is behind the person.
If it’s in front of the person, then it’s prohibited to recite Shema as long as it is in one’s
field of vision.
2. Making up for missed tefillos
After introducing the time periods of various tefillos in the perek’s opening Mishnah, the
Gemara teachers that one may make up for missed tefillos (תשלומים (as follows:
- If one missed Minchah, he may daven Maariv twice even though it is not the same
day.
- If one missed Minchah Erev Shabbos, he may daven the Shabbos Maariv twice, even
though it is not the same Shemoneh Esrei.
- If one missed Shabbos Minchah, he may daven the weekday Maariv twice, inserting
Havdalah in the first Maariv.
3. The source for davening three times a day
The Gemara brings a machlokes whether davening three times a day originates with the
Avos (תקנום אבות (or the Anshei Knesses Hagdolah (the Men of the Great Assembly), who
instituted the tefillos to correspond to the daily tamid offerings (תקנום תמידין כנגד .(
Siman – A military coup
Soldiers wearing binoculars burst into the shul but didn’t notice the man in the corner
davening his second Maariv, because they were transfixed by the Sukkah poster depicting the Avos.

1. Reciting Krias Shema near a foul smelling substance
There is a machlokes regarding how far one must be from a foul odor that emanates from a
:Shema Krias recite to) ריח רע שיש לו עיקר) substance
- Rav Huna holds the person must be four amos away from the actual substance
- Rav Chisdah holds the person must be four amos away from spot where the odor stops
2. Learning with an odor without substance
While it is forbidden to say Krias Shema if there is an odor without substance ( לו שאין רע ריח
עיקר (Rav Sheishes ruled that it is permitted to learn if the smell is coming from another person.
This is learned from the fact that people learned in a place where people dozed on mats.
3. Reciting Krias Shema opposite a chamber pot
It is forbidden to recite Krias Shema opposite a clay chamber pot )רעי של גרף )used for
excrement or urine, even if there is nothing in it, since it is especially absorbent and makes the
vessel repulsive.
Siman – Silver Anniversary
The surprise silver anniversary party the husband threw for his wife was a disaster when the
party room he rented was less than four amos away from a barn that was full of foul smelling
substances, people sleeping on mats, and used chamber pots.

1. Husband and wife reciting Krias Shema in bed
A husband and wife sleeping in the same bed can recite Krias Shema as long as they are turned away
from each other and face in opposite directions.
2. Ervah
The Gemara identifies those parts/aspects of a woman that are considered ervah (nakedness), which,
when within view or earshot of a man, halachically prevent him from reciting Shema, saying berachos,
learning Torah, etc. Included in the list are:
- A tefach of exposed skin that is normally covered (including one’s wife)
שוק – Thigh-
- [Singing] Voice – קול
שעיר - Hair-
3. Inappropriate behavior during tefillah
The Gemara lists various improper behaviors during tefillah, such as davening audibly, belching,
yawning, sneezing and spitting.
Siman - Pitcher
A married couple lie in a bed with an empty pitcher used as a sheitelstand placed between them. The Husband yawns while the wife says Shema.

1. Going to the bathroom before Shemoneh Esrei
One who feels the need to relieve himself and cannot restrain himself for 72 minutes (the time it takes to
travel the distance of a parsah), should not begin Shemoneh Esrei. To do otherwise would be to render
his tefillah a to’eivah (an abomination).
- The source for the need to prepare oneself for tefillah is the pasuk, אלקיך לקראת הכון
ישראל – Prepare to meet your G-d, O Israel.
2. Where to take tefillin off when going to the bathroom
One must remove his tefillin at least four amos way from an established bathroom before entering. If the
place had never been used as a bathroom, he can take his tefillin off there and relieve himself, but he
must move at least four amos away before putting them back on.
3. Forbidden to store anything in a tefillin bag
It is forbidden to store anything other than tefillin in a bag set aside to hold tefillin.
- It’s a machlokes whether the bag becomes forbidden as soon as it is set aside for such usage
.(הזמנה לאו מילתא היא) used been has it after only or) מילתא היא הזמנה )
Siman - Keg
A man running to the bathroom before davening Shemoneh Esrei puts his tefillin in his new tefillin bag
on a keg that was four amos away from the outhouse.

1. Why a Baal Keri immerses in a mikveh
A Braisa teaches that the reason a baal keri is the only type of tumah that requires immersion in
a mikveh before one is able to learn Torah is because the tumah came about as a result of levity.
This is inconsistent with how the Torah was received at Har Sinai, which was with fear and
trepidation.
2. Words of Torah don’t contract tumah
R’ Yehuda ben Beseira does not require a baal keri to immerse before learning Torah, because
he holds that words of Torah are like fire, which do not contract tumah. He learns this from the
pasuk: ‘ה נאם כאש דברי כה הלא ,Behold my words are like fire, says Hashem.
3. 40 Se’ah or 9 Kabin?
There is a machlokes whether a baal keri requires immersion in a mikveh of forty se’ah or
whether having nine kabin of water poured over him suffices.
Siman - Cab
A cab driver laughed as his cab was surrounded by fire, which he doused with forty se’ah of water,
pouring from a nine-kabin pail.

1. The two Biblically mandated berachos
The Gemara identifies the sources for two Biblically mandated berachos.
Birkas Hamazon – "וברכת ושבעת ואכלת - "and you shall eat, be satisfied and bless
Birkas HaTorah– "לאלקינו גדל הבו אקרא' ה שם כי - "when I call the name of Hashem,
ascribe greatness to our G-d
2. Machlokes is Krias Shema Biblical or Rabbinic
There is a machlokes whether the obligation to recite Krias Shema is Biblical or Rabbinic.
According to Rav Yehuda, the Biblical obligation of ובקמך ובשכבך) and when you lie down and
arise) is to recite any section of the Torah, once in the morning and once in the evening. The fact
that we fulfill this requirement by reciting the words of Shema is Rabbinic.
3. Latecomer to shul
There is a machlokes regarding at what point a latecomer to shul can join the tzibbur
(congregation) if they are in the middle of davening Shemoneh Esrei.
One view permits it only if he can finish before the shliach tzibbur (the one leading the davening)
reaches Kedushah; the other view holds that he only needs to finish before the shliach tzibbur
reaches Modim.
Siman - Car
The latecomer to shul raced out of his car and jumped over one man bentching mid’Oraisa, and another
man saying Shema mid’Rabbanan, but when he got to the minyan they were in the middle of Kedushah.

1. Why miracles occurred for earlier generations
Earlier generations merited seeing miracles that later generations—despite their superiority in
breadth and mastery of Torah—did not, because the earlier generations were moser nefesh
(sacrificed themselves) for kiddush Hashem (to sanctify G-d’s name).
Example: Rav Adda bar Ahavah tore an inappropriate garment off a woman walking in the street
because he thought she was Jewish.
2. A woman’s obligation to recite birkas hamazon
Is the obligation for women to recite birkas hamazon Biblical or Rabbinic? The practical
difference would be whether they can recite birkas hamazon on behalf of men, who are
Biblically obligated.
3. Ezra’s takanah modeled after Har Sinai
Ezra’s takanah (decree) requires a baal keri (one who experiences a seminal discharge) to
immerse in a mikveh in order to speak words of Torah and to daven. The takanah was modeled
on the events at Har Sinai, where immersion was required for the recitation of words of Torah.
Thinking Torah thoughts without immersion is permitted.
Siman – Coffee
A woman drinking coffee in a café and was about to bentch, when a Rabbi ran in and knocked the
immodest headpiece off her head which landed in a mikveh that was in front of a model of Har Sinai.

One who disparages a deceased talmid chacham
Anyone who disparages a deceased talmid chacham ultimately falls into Gehinnom.
כל המספר אחר מטתן של תלמידי חכמים נופל בגיהנים
2. Do not open mouth to the Satan
One should never open himself up to prosecution by the Satan by saying of himself that he is worthy of
punishment.
אל תפתח פה לשטן -
3. Personal dignity (kavod habrios) does not override a Torah prohibition
Rav taught that if someone discovers shaatnez in his clothing he must remove the garment even in the
middle of the marketplace, because where there is a threat of chillul Hashem (meaning violating a Torah
prohibition) we do not worry about a person’s dignity (kavod habrios).
"אין חכמה אין תבונה אין עצה לנגד ה'",pasuk the on based is This-
- There is no value to wisdom, or understanding, or counsel when weighed against the honor of Hashem.
Respect for a person’s dignity does, however, override a Rabbinic prohibition.
Siman – Yacht
A nasty person who disparaged a deceased talmid chacham fell off a yacht and was swallowed by a whale
with a big open mouth, as the captain who ripped off his shaatnez-containing uniform steered the boat.

1. Exemption from mitzvos even when not in front of the deceased
The Mishnah on 17b states that someone who is required to bury his dead relative, who is
right now in front of him, is exempt from mitzvos.
According to Rav Ashi, he is exempt from all mitzvos, even when not in the presence of the
deceased.
Rav Ashi learns this from Avraham and the burial of Sarah. The pasuk says, And Avraham
arose from the presence of his dead, followed by the next verse after Avraham had walked
away, … that I may bury my dead from before me.
2. Mocking the dead
One is not permitted to wear tefillin, learn from a sefer or wear his tzitzis out in a cemetery.
Doing so is considered mocking the dead (לרש לעג ,(because they can’t do mitzvos anymore.
3. Are the dead aware of worldly events?
In discussing the question of whether the dead are aware of wordly events, the Gemara
relates the story of a chasid who successfully planted his crops each year based on forecasts
he overheard from two spirits talking in a cemetery.
בן י'ח לחופה – Chuppah – Siman
Two spirits standing under a chuppah in a cemetery discuss next year’s weather forecast and
are overheard by a rich farmer with tucked-in tzitzis, who is about to bury his mother.

1. Tefillos of Tanna’im and Amora’im after Shemoneh Esrei
The individual tefillos that various Tanna’im and Amora’im recited after Shemoneh Esrei. Included in this list
are some that were incorporated into our tefillos:
The tefillah recited after the Viduy of Yom Kippur –נוצרתי שלא עד אלקי...
The tefillah recited after Shemoneh Esrei – ...מרע לשוני נצור אלקי
Mentioned at the bottom of 16b are:
The tefillah when we bless the new moon – ...ארוכים חיים לנו שתתן
The tefillah after Hamaavir sheinah meinai – ...פנים מעזי שתצלינו
2. Reason women merit Olam Haba
Women merit Olam Haba for bringing their children to school and letting their husbands learn, even
though they have to wait for them to return.
3. Concerns about looking haughty
The concern over doing things that might make a person look haughty, such as a chassan reciting Krias
Shema on his wedding night.
Siman – Used Car
The great Rabbis are all saying extra tefillos next to the holy pink used car that was used by the mother
to bring her children to school, when a haughty chassan drives by in his fancy limousine.

1. Workers can recite Krias Shema up in a tree
Workers can say Shema while working up in trees since kavana is only required for the first passuk. They
must come down for tefilla since it is a request for rachamim (mercy) and requires more kavana.
2. Condolences for servants
Rabban Gamliel accepted condolences (תנחומים מקבל (when his servant Tavi passed away because he
was a talmid chochom, even though one generally does not accept condolences for a servant.
3. A choson is exempt from Krias Shema
A choson is exempt from Krias Shema because he is preoccupied with the mitzva (דמצוה טרדא .(
Siman - Toes
A distracted choson walks into a tree and stubs his toes which causes the worker to fall off the
branch and down to the ground just as a funeral for a beloved servant is passing by.