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MENACHOS 29

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(a) When Rav gave the height of the Menorah as nine Tefachim, Rav Shimi bar Chiya queried him from a Beraisa concerning the three steps leading up to the Menorah. Now if the height of the Menorah was only nine Tefachim, he asked, what was the point of the steps?
(b) Rav reconciled his statement with the Beraisa - by qualifying his statement, confining it to the top half of the Menorah only, starting from the beginning of the branches.
(c) The Pasuk in Divrei Hayamim ...
1. ... states that the flowers, the lamp-holders and the tweezers - were all made of gold.
2. ... adds "Michlos Zahav" - meaning that the Menoros consumed Shlomoh ha'Melech's entire stock of Zahav Sagur (called by that name because when it came on the market, all other stores selling gold would close) .
(d) In this connection, Rav Ami cites Rav Yehudah Amar Rav, who states - that initially, Shlomoh ha'Melech used a thousand Kikar of Zahav Sagur in the manufacture of the ten Menoros that he made, but that, after returning it one thousand times to the furnace, each one was reduced to one Kikar.

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(a) In spite of our interpretation of "Michlos Zahav", the Pasuk in Melachim, after discussing Shlomoh's drinking vessels and the Beis Ya'ar ha'Levanon, adds that silver was valueless in the name of Shlomoh (implying that he was wealthy), since we did not say that Sh'lomoh ha'Melech was poor, only that he ran out of his stock of Zahav Sagur.
(b) Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah relates that once one of the Menoros of the Beis-Hamikdash turned out to be fractionally heavier (by only one Kurdinki Dinar) than the Menorah of Moshe (of one Kikar). They reduced it to a Kikar by returning it to the furnace another eighty times.
(c) This clashes with Rav Yehudah Amar Rav's previous statement - in that he maintained that the gold was reduced by one Kikar each time it was returned to the furnace, whilst according to the current statement, it was reduced by only an eightieth of a Dinar each time.
(d) We answer - that once Shlomoh had finished with the gold, its ability to be smelted had been drastically reduced.

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(a) Rebbi Shmuel bar Nachmeini Amar Rebbi Yonasan explains the Pasuk "al ha'Menorah ha'Tehorah" to mean - that it came from a Tahor place (meaning that Moshe was shown how to construct the Menorah from Heaven [as we shall see shortly]).
(b) We interpret the Pasuk "al ha'Shulchan ha'Tahor" to mean - that although it was Tahor now, it was fit to become Tamei.
(c) We cannot make the same D'rashah with regard to the Menorah - because it is obvious that the Menorah, which is made of metal (whereas the Shulchan was made basically of wood), is subject to Tum'ah.

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(a) Resh Lakish explains that it is necessary to teach us that the Shulchan was subject to Tum'ah, because we would normally expect it not to be - since generally, a table remains in one place (and is therefore not comparable to a sack, which the Torah mentions together with wooden vessels and) which is made to be carried.
(b) What makes it subject to Tum'ah however - is the fact that the Kohanim used to lift up the Shulchan to show the Lechem ha'Panim to the people.
(c) The reason for this is based on a statement by Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi, who explains - that the Lechem ha'Panim was as fresh when they took it off the Chulchan as when they put it on (a week earlier), as the Pasuk writes in Shmuel "Lasum Lechem Cham ke'Yom Hilakcho".
(d) The purpose of the demonstration was - to show the people how the Lechem ha'Panim was still steaming hot one week later (to show them how much Hash-m loved them).

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(a) Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah learns from the Pasuk in Terumah "u'Re'ei Va'asei ke'Savnisam asher Atah Mor'eh ba'Har" - that Moshe was shown an Aron of fire, a Shulchan of fire and a Menorah of fire, all of which descended from Heaven.
(b) He does not likewise Darshen the Pasuk there "Va'hakemosa es ha'Mishkan ke'Mishpato asher Hor'eisa ba'Har to mean that a Mishkan of fire descended from Heaven - because the word "ke'Mishpato" has other implications.
(c) Consequeny, he Darshens the Pasuk to mean - 'that he should erect the Mishkan according to the specifications that he learned on Har Sinai'.
(d) We learn from the word "ve'Zeh (in the Pasuk in Beha'aloscha "ve'Zeh Ma'aseh ha'Menorah") that Moshe was shown the Mehorah - (by the angel Gavriel) ...
(e) ... who was wearing long gown which he tucked into his worker's belt (worn by craftsmen at that time) to prevent it from dragging on the floor).

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(a) According to Tana de'bei Rebbi Yishmael, Moshe had difficulty with ...
1. ... the Menorah - the ornamentation specified by the Torah.
1. ... Rosh Chodesh - the tiny sliver of moon which is seen for the first time that month), and which is extremely difficult to discern.
3. ... the Sheratzim - in distinguishing the eight species that are Tamei.
(b) Rebbi Yishmael's source for ...
1. ... 'the Menorah' is the Pasuk in Terumah - "ve'Zeh Ma'aseh ha'Menorah".
2. ... 'Rosh Chodesh' is the Pasuk in Bo) - "ha'Chodesh ha'Zeh Lachem"
3. ... 'Sheratzim' is the Pasuk in Shemini - "ve'Zeh lachem ha'Tamei" (Shemini), respectively.
(c) The Beraisa quotes the Pasuk in Tetzaveh "ve'Zeh Ta'aseh al ha'Mizbe'ach" - in connection with Hilchos Shechitah with which Moshe had difficulty (see also Tosfos DH 'Sheloshah') and which some therefore add to the list.
(d) They learn this from the fact that there too, the Torah inserts the word "ve'Zeh" (in the Pasuk "ve'Zeh asher Ta'aseh al ha'Mizbe'ach") ...
(e) ... which refers specifically to Hilchos Shechitah - because the first stage of "Ta'aseh" (bringing the Korban) is Shechitah.

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(a) The problem with ...
1. ... our Mishnah, which rules that even one missing or badly-written letter renders a Mezuzah Pasul is - that this is obvious (since the Torah writes "u'Chesavtam", which is the acronym of 'Kesivah Tamah', as we explained earlier).
2. ... the suggested answer, that the Tana is referring to the Kutzo shel Yud (meaning the right-hand leg of the 'Yud' [see also Tosfos DH 'Kutzo']) is - that this too, is obvious, seeing as the letter is not written according to the Torah's requirements.
(b) So we establish the Mishnah's statement by a ruling of Rav Yehudah Amar Rav, who invalidates a letter that is not surrounded on all four sides - meaning that one letter touches another (or that it reaches to the bottom of the parchment).

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(a) When Rav Ashi'an bar Nidvach rules in the name of Rav Yehudah 'Nikav ...
1. ... Tocho shel Hey Kasher', he is referring either to a hole that breaks the left-hand leg of the 'Hey' (which some write in the middle of the letter, rather than on the left), or to a hole that fills the middle of the letter.
2. ... Yereicho, Pasul', he is referring to a hole that breaks the right-hand leg.
(b) Rav Huna (or Rav Yehudah) qualifies the latter ruling - confining it to where nothing of the leg remains; but if enough to form a 'Yud' remains attached to the roof of the 'Hey, then even 'Nikav Yereicho shel 'Hey' will be Kasher (see Hagahos R'dal).
(c) When Rebbi Aba's father-in-law Agra told him that the right foot of the 'Hey' of "ha'Am" had a hole in it, he replied that - if enough to form a 'Yud' remains attached to the roof of the 'Hey', then the Tefilin are Kasher.
(d) We are currently referring to Hilchos Tefilin. We know that the episode with Agra occurred with Tefilin and not Mezuzah - since the word "ha'Am" appears in the Parshah of 'Kadeish', which does not occur in the two Parshiyos of Mezuzah (see Hagahos R'dal).

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(a) When Rami bar Tamri, the father-in-law of Rami bar Dikuli discovered the leg of the 'Vav' in "Va'yaharog"(in the Parshah of "Ve'hayah ki Yevi'acha") to be broken - Rebbi Zeira advised him to ask a child who was neither precocious nor stupid to read it.
(b) To render it Pasul - the child would have had to read it as ve'Yehareg'.
(c) The child needed to be ...
1. ... not precocious - because a precocious child would know that "ve'Yehareg" in connection with Hash-m is blasphemy.
2. ... not stupid - since a stupid child would not be able to read an incomplete letter in any event.

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(a) When Moshe ascended Har Sinai to receive the Torah he found Hash-m - tying crowns (i.e. the Tagin) on to the letters that require them (as we shall soon see).
(b) Moshe asked Hash-m why He needed to be reminded of the letters of the Torah (see Agados Maharsha). Hash-m explained to him that the significance of the Tagin He was tying was - related to a great man who many years later, would Darshen stacks of Halachos on every Tag.
(c) The man to whom Hash-m was referring was -Akiva ben Yosef (Rebbi Akiva).

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(a) After Hash-m acceded to Moshe's request for him to see Akiva ben Yosef - he sat among his Talmidim, at the end of the eighth row, but could not understand what they were saying ...
(b) ... at wich he felt faint. His spirits were revived however - when, at a certain point, Rebbi Akiva's Talmidim asked him where he knew that from, and he replied that it was 'Halachah le'Moshe mi'Sinai.
(c) When Moshe asked to see the 'reward' that Rebbi Akiva was destined to receive, He told him to turn round and look. He saw - the Romans tearing off his flesh with iron combs.
(d) When Moshe asked Hash-m ...
1. ... why He did not then give the Torah through Rebbi Akiva, He ordered him to be silent, since that was what He had decided, and He gave the same response, when Moshe asked him ...
2. ... whether that was the apt reward for Rebbi Akiva's Torah (because Tzadikim receive their punishment in this world, in order to receive the full reward for their good deeds in the World to Come [Agados Maharsha]).

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(a) The seven letters listed by Rava that require three Tagin are - those that form the words 'Sh.A.T.Ne.Z Ga.Tz. (all of which have a leg in the shape of a 'Zayin' ('Shiyn', 'Ayin', 'Tes', 'Nun', 'Zayin', 'Gimel' and 'Tzadik')[see also Chidushei ha'Rashba]).
(b) The Tagin - which are written like a 'Shiyn' (one head facing to the right, one to the left and one upwards) are situated on the left corner of the letter (see also Tosfos DH 'Sha'atnez').
(c) According to Rav Ashi, the Sofrim who wrote with due care used to write ...
1. ... the 'Ches' - with the top-left tip jutting upwards (see also Tosfos DH 'de'Chatreih').
2. ... the 'Hey' - with the left leg hanging in the air (not attached to the top), which we will explain shortly.
(d) The former hints at - the fact that Hash-m is 'alive ('Ches' = 'Chai') in the upper realms (see Agados Maharsha).

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(a) When Rebbi Yehudah Nesi'ah asked Rebbi Ami ...
1. ... about the Pasuk "Bit'chu ba'Hashem Adei ad, ki be'Kah Hash-m Tzur Olamim", he explained it to mean - that whoever 'hangs' (corresponding to the hanging leg of the Hey') his trust in Hash-m in this world will earn His protection in both this world and the next.
2. ... why the Pasuk writes "be'Kah" and not just "Kah", he quoted him Rebbi Yehudah b'Rebbi Ilai, who translated it as - 'for Hash-m formed both worlds with the Yud and the Hey of His Name Kah'.
(b) And he proved with the Pasuk in Bereishis "Eileh Toldos ha'Shamayim ve'ha'Aretz be'Hibar'am" that He created this world with the 'Hey' and Olam ha'Ba with the 'Yud' (and not the other way round) -because the word "be'Hibar'am" is the acronym of 'be'Hey' Bar'am.
(c) The significance of the fact that ...
1. ... Hash-m created this world with a 'Hey' (which is shaped like an Achsadra(a sun-porch), which in turn, is enclosed on three sides) is - that figuratively speaking, it is possible (through one's sins) to leave it via the fourth side, which is open.
2. ... the left leg of the 'Hey' is suspended is - that through Teshuvah, it is possible to climb up it and re-enter the world (to be given another chance).
3. ... of the three drops that dripped from the 'Hey' and the 'Yud' respectively, with which Hash-m created the two worlds - is that from the one, He created water, fire and wind (and earth), the four elements which form the basis of the creation).

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(a) The Ba'al Teshuvah cannot climb back via the same route that he went out - because it is not that simple to gain re-entry, In fact, if he tries to do that, he will not succeed.
(b) And we prove this with Resh Lakish, who said, based on the Pasuk in Mishlei "Im le'Leitzim Hu Yalitz, ve'la'Anavim Yitein Chein" - that someone who comes to purify himself (i.e. to do Teshuvah on his past sins) will receive Divine Assistance; whereas if he wishes to render himself Tamei, by leaving the fold, he will find all the doors open.
(c) This proves - that Teshuvah requires Divine Assistance, and cannot be achieved on one's own. Note, not being able to gain re-entry via the same route as one left seems to be tied up with the principle that 'Hashem will not accept the prosecutor as the defense counsel'.
(d) The small Tag on the left-hand side of the 'Hey' represents - the crown that Hash-m ties on the Ba'al-Teshuvah's head.

15)   click for question
(a) Based on what we have just explained, the 'Yud' is so small - because it signifies the small numbers of Tzadikim who are to be found in Olam ha'Ba. Note, that although everyone has a portion in the World to Come, it seems that not many people are able to consolidate it.
(b) The left-hand side of its head is bent slightly downwards) - signifying the embarrassment that each Tzadik will feel at not having achieved excellence in particular Midos that other Tzadikim did.
(c) Rav ruled that a Seifer-Torah where each column contains ...
1. ... two mistakes - can still be rectified.
2. ... three mistakes - cannot be rectified, but must go into Genizah ('Sheimos').
(d) We ask two Tiyuvtas on Rav however; the first, on the current ruling, from a Beraisa, which states - that 'Three mistakes can be rectified, four, must go into Genizah'.

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(a) The current ruling will not apply however, and the Seifer-Torah will become rectifiable even with four mistakes per column - if there is just one complete column which does not contain four mistakes.
(b) In addition, for the one column to save the Seifer from Genizah, Rebbi Yitzchak bar Shmuel bar Marsa in the name of Rav requires the rest of the Seifer to be well-written.
(c) When Abaye asked Rav Yosef whether 'one complete column' incorporates a column containing only three mistakes, Rav Yosef replied - in the affirmative (seeing as that column is rectifiable).
(d) Wen the Tana requires a Seifer-Torah with four mistakes per column to go into Genizah, he is referring to where the mistakes constitute Chaseros (missing letters), but not Yeseiros (extra ones) - because, as Rav Kahana explains, filling in the Chaseros causes the Seifer to look blotched, whereas erasing the Yeseiros, does not.
(e) When Agra, Rebbi Aba's father-in-law, asked Rebbi Aba about a Seifer-Torah with four Yeseiros on each Amud - he cited our previous ruling, permitting a Seifer-Torah with four Yeseiros on each Amud to be rectified.

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