1)

(a)What does 'Ma'n d'Amar Rachamana Vatran Hu, Yivatru Bnei Ma'oy'?

(b)What do we learn from the Pasuk in Tehilim "u'Sevivav Nis'arah Me'od"?

(c)How do others learn that from the Pasuk "v'Nora Hu al Kol Sevivav"?

(d)What is the connection between all this and the fact that Nechunya's Chofer Sichin u'Me'aros' son died of thirst (see Tiklin Chadtin)?

1)

(a)'Ma'n d'Amar Rachmana Vatran Hu, Yivatru Bnei Ma'oy' - means that someone who says that Hash-m blindly forgives everybody, will find that 'the strings that tie his stomach in place will become untied and they will spill out amidst great suffering'.

(b)We learn from the Pasuk "u'Sevivav Nis'arah Me'od" - that Hash-m is particularly strict with those who are close to Him .

(c)Others learn that from the Pasuk "v'Nora Hu al Kol Sevivav" - which means that Hash-m casts more fear on those who surround Him (i.e. are close to Him) than on those who are far.

(d)The connection between all this and the fact that Nechunya Chofer Sichin u'Me'aros' son died of thirst - is that we can incorporate in this concept the fact that it is precisely when someone is particularly strong in one area, Hash-m expects great things from him in that area, and is extremely strict with him if he does live up to those expectations. This explains why Rebbi Nechunya's son died of thirst (because, at his supreme level of Chesed, Rebbi Nechunya had been lax in some point, and that is where Hash-m punished him).

2)

(a)What did Rebbi Pinchas ben Ya'ir say when that Chasid refused to be comforted after his daughter fell into the river?

(b)How did the people defend him?

(c)What did Rebbi Pinchas ben Ya'ir's say to that?

(d)What happened in the end?

2)

(a)When that Chasid refused to be comforted after his daughter fell into the river - Rebbi Pinchas ben Ya'ir queried his Chasidus, since a genuine Chasid does not query Hash-m's Midas ha'Din.

(b)The people defended him by pointing out to Rebbi Pinchas ben Ya'ir that his piety regarded providing everyone with water, and that it was inconceivable that Hash-m should punish him in that very same area.

(c)He replied that, if that was the case, they were right.

(d)Immediately, a rumor spread that the girl had arrived, and she did. Some say that she grabbed hold of a branch and pulled herself out of the water, others, that an angel resembling Rebbi Pinchas ben Ya'ir, came down and saved her.

3)

(a)What did Gevini used to announce?

(b)Why did King Agripas give him many gifts?

(c)When Rav translated the Mishnah in Yoma 'Kara ha'Gever' as 'the man announced', Rebbi Shilo asked him why he did not translate it as a rooster. What did Rav reply?

3)

(a)Gevini used to awaken the Kohanim each morning, and set the Avodah in motion. He would announce 'Get up Kohanim, to do the Avodah, Leviyim to your Duchan (where they used to sing) and Yisrael, to your Ma'amados'.

(b)King Agripas gave him many gifts - when he heard his voice from a distance of eight Parsah (some say that this took place at night-time, and it may well be that he was lost, and he rewarded him for helping him to find his way - ha'Rav Kornfeld).

(c)When Rav Shilo asked Rav why he translated 'Kara ha'Gever' as the man called, and not as 'the rooster crowed', he replied that, in his opinion, 'Kara ha'Gever' clearly referred to the officer called 'Gever' in our Mishnah, and could hardly mean a rooster.

4)

(a)Rebbi Yosi went to Kufra. Why did he quote Ben Bavi to them? What was he proving to them?

(b)Ben Arza set the music in motion by clashing the cymbals. How did he know when to start?

(c)What was Hugras ben Levi's specialty, and what effect did it have on the other Leviyim?

4)

(a)Rebbi Yosi quoted Ben Bavi to the people of Kufri - because they refused to accept positions as community leaders (which they considered degrading). So he pointed out to them how Ben Bavi, who was an ordinary person who was in charge of nothing more important than twisting the wicks; yet, because he assumed a minor form of leadership, he merited to be listed with such an array of prestigious men as we find in our Mishnah. How much so should one not decline to be appointed to such important posts as community leaders.

(b)Ben Arza set the music in motion by clashing the cymbals - as soon as he saw the deputy-Kohen Gadol waving cloths.

(c)Hugras ben Levi was able to produce beautiful, but very loud, sounds by placing his thumb in his mouth - when he did that, all his friends would give a start.

5)

(a)'Beis Garmu al Lechem ha'Panim'. In which area of the baking process were Beis Garmu experts, and as a result of that expertise, what did they used to do that allowed the Lechem ha'Panim to last a whole week, which even the experts from Alexandria were afraid to do?

(b)What has this got to do with the Pasuk in Mishlei "Kol Po'al Hash-m Lema'aneihu"?

(c)What caused the Beis Garmu to change their minds and continue to bake the Lechem ha'Panim?

5)

(a)Beis Garmu knew how to remove the awkwardly-shaped loaves from the oven without spoiling them. Consequently, they were able to let them bake directly in the oven (not in their baking-tins), as a result of which they were well-baked and did not go bad in the course of the week.

(b)The Chachamim quoted the Pasuk "Kol Po'al Hash-m Lema'neihu" - when Beis Garmu refused to teach the art to any successors, with the result that experts from Alexandria were brought in. However, unable to remove the loaves from the oven without spoiling them, they baked them in the baking-tins. Consequently, they were not sufficiently baked and they went bad during the week. So Chazal castigated Beis Garmu - by quoting the Pasuk "Kol Po'al Hash-m Lema'aneihu", meaning that everything that Hash-m made is for His honor (even knowledge), and they should have used their expertise to enhance Hash-m's honor, and not for their own.

(c)Beis Garmu returned to take charge of the baking (though they still refused to teach the art to others) - when they were offered double wages (from twelve Manah to twenty-four, according to Rebbi Yehudah, from twenty-four to forty-eight).

6)

(a)What was Beis Garmu's motive for refusing to teach the art of removing the bread from the oven to others?

(b)What did Beis Garmu do that evoked the praise of the Chachamim?

(c)Beis Avtinas too, for the identical reason as Beis Garmu, refused to teach the Pitum ha'Ketores to others. They too, condescended to pass on their expertise to others, when they were offered double wages. In what area of preparing the spices did their expertise lie?

(d)And for them too, the Chachamim had words of praise. What did they do that evoked the praise of Chazal?

6)

(a)Beis Garmu's motive for refusing to teach their art - was because they were afraid that, after the Churban (which they knew would eventually occur) - the art would fall into the hands of idolaters.

(b)Beis Garmu evoked the praise of the Chachamim - because they never used clean white-bread (so that no-one could suspect them of having taken some of the Lechem ha'Panim).

(c)Beis Avtinus' expertise lay in their ability to prepare the spices in such a way that the smoke would go up straight, without spreading to the sides. They did this, by adding the herb called 'Ma'leh-Ashan', which nobody else was able to identify.

(d)The Chachamim praised Beis Avtinus too, for never allowing a woman to leave their house wearing perfume, so that nobody should be able to say that they had benefited from the Ketores. Even women who married into their family could only do so if they expressly stipulated (before the marriage) that they would follow this custom.

7)

(a)Why did the prestige of the family of Beis Avtinas fall and that of Hash-m rise with the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash? How did Hash-m's prestige rise?

(b)Why did that child from the family of Beis Avtinas first cry and then laugh?

(c)It was the plant 'Ma'leh Ashan' that he had seen that sparked off his reaction. What did he reply when Shimon ben Luga asked him to point it out to him?

(d)What happened that prompted Rebbi Akiva to cry and announce that there was no longer any need to mention the family of Beis Avtinas derogatorily?

7)

(a)The prestige of the family of Beis Avtinas fell and that of Hash-m rose, with the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash - measure for measure, because they tried to boost their own prestige at the expense of Hash-m's. Hash-m's prestige rose when the ten tribes and the nations of the world acknowledged Hash-m's quality of justice and fairness - that everyone, even gets their desert, and there is no favoritism.

(b)That child from the family of Beis Avtinas first cried - because of the honor of his family which diminished with the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash; and then laughed, when he realized how the honor of the Tzadikim will increase in the World to Come.

(c)When Shimon ben Luga asked him to point out to him the Ma'leh-Ashan - he reminded him of the family tradition not to pass on that information to anyone else.

(d)It was when at long last, an older member of the family of Beis Avtinas handed over a scroll with the secret of how to make the Ketores, on the grounds that their family had lost its integrity - that Rebbi Akiva cried and announced that it was no longer necessary to mention the family of Beis Avtinas in a derogatory light.

14b----------------------------------------14b

8)

(a)What was the job of ...

1. ... Elazar (al ha'Paroches)?

2. ... Pinchas ha'Malbish?

(b)Why did that officer pay the Kohen eight or twelve golden Dinrim? What does the Gemara prove from this here?

8)

(a)The job of ...

1. ... Elazar (al ha'Paroches) - was to weave two new Parochos each year (see Mishnah 21b).

2. ... Pinchas ha'Malbish - was to see to it that the Kohen Gadol's clothes were in tip-top condition (Note: He was also in charge of dressing the Kohanim each day. It is not clear why the Gemara only mentions here the Kohen Gadol.)

(b)That officer payed the Kohen eight or twelve golden Dinrim - for dressing him smartly. So we see that this is a valuable service, which is therrefore necessary in the Beis Hamikdash.

9)

(a)How many ...

1. ... treasurers of Hekdesh were there?

2. ... Amarkolin? Who were the Amarkolin?

(b)Since any monetary position of authority requires at least two people, why did Ben Achya (who was in charge of the Kohens' ailing stomachs) and Elazar (who was in charge of the Paroches) not require an assistant?

(c)Besides the Gizbarin and the Amarkolin, there were also two Katolikin. Where did the Katolikin belong in the hierarchy?

9)

(a)Hekdesh had ...

1. ... three treasurers and ...

2. ... seven Amarkolin - a higher official than a treasurer (an acronym for 'Amar Kol').

(b)As a rule, any monetary position of authority requires at least two people. Nevertheless, Ben Achya (who was in charge of the Kohens' ailing stomachs) and Elazar (who was in charge of the Paroches) did not require an assistant - because the people accepted their sole authority, placing them above suspicion.

(c)The two Katolikin were even higher officials than the Amarkolin.

10)

(a)In the list of the hierarchy listed in Divrei ha'Yamim, the Pasuk places the King before the Kohen Gadol. Does that mean that the Kohen Gadol was greater than the King?

(b)Why are all the officers (starting with the Gizbarin and ending with the King) listed there?

(c)From which one of two sources did Moshe draw his wealth?

(d)What are the two contradictory ways of explaining the Pasuk in Ki Sisa "Vayabitu Acharei Moshe Ad Bo'o ha'Ohela"?

10)

(a)In the list of the hierarchy listed in Divrei ha'Yamim, the Pasuk places the King before the Kohen Gadol, not because the Kohen Gadol was greater than the King - but in order to conclude with the words (which describe the Kohen Gadol) "Negid Beis ha'Elokim" placing Hash-m last, because He (kiv'Yachol) is the most important officer of them all.

(b)The Pasuk in Divrei ha'Yamim lists all the officers to inform us how the Lishkah was opened - namely, only when each of the officers listed had opened his sealed lock.

(c)Moshe became wealthy, either through the shavings of the second Luchos, which he himself carved, or through a mine of precious stones that he discovered in his tent.

(d)Some explain "Vayabitu Acharei Moshe Ad Bo'o ha'Ohela" in a derogatorily - that people were accusing Moshe of looking nice and healthy, because he ate well - from the money of the Jews. But according to others, the Pasuk speaks in his praise, because it is a Zechus to look at a Tzadik. Consequently, the people watched him whenever he went to the Ohel Mo'ed.

11)

(a)Four different discs were handed out in the Beis Hamikdash, marked 'Eigel', 'Zachar', 'Gdi' and 'Chotei'. What did these represent? What would he receive when he handed in the disc marked ...

1. ... 'Eigel'?

2. ... 'Zachar'?

3. ... 'Gdi'?

(b)The fourth disc containing 'Chotei' was for a wealthy Metzora. Why was it marked 'Chotei'?

(c)What did he receive when he handed in his disc?

(d)According to Ben Azai, there were five discs. In which other point does he disagree with the Tana Kama?

11)

(a)Four different discs were handed out in the Beis Hamikdash, marked 'Eigel', 'Zachar', 'Gdi' and 'Chotei' - for the different Nesachim. The Nesech of ...

1. ... an Eigel (incorporating a cow or a bull) - was three tenths (of an Eifah - an Eifah = 432 egg-volumes) of flour mixed with half a Hin (i.e. six Lugin) of oil, and half a Hin of wine. It was given to anyone who needed to bring a calf, a cow or a bull.

2. ... a Zachar (a ram) was - two tenths of flour mixed with a third of a Hin (i.e. four Lugin) of oil, and a third of a Hin of wine. It is obvious to whom this disc was given.

3. ... a Gdi (incorporating a lamb and a kid-goat) was - one tenth of flour mixed with a quarter of a Hin (three Lugin) of oil, and a quarter of a Hin of wine. It was given to anyone who had to bring a lamb, a sheep (unless he was obligated to bring a ram) or a goat.

(b)The fourth disc containing 'Chotei' was for a wealthy Metzora. Is was marked 'Chotei' because Tzara'as was a punishment for one of seven sins, as we learnt in Erchin.

(c)A Metzora received ten Lugin of oil, nine for his three lambs, and a tenth one to place on his right thumb and right big toe.

(d)According to Ben Azai, there were five discs. He also disagrees with the Tana Kama - inasmuch as, according to him, the discs were written in Aramaic, and not in Lashon ha'Kodesh, like the Tana Kama.

12)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, they would give the poor Metzora the disc marked 'Gdi', for which he would receive three Lugin. But didn't he require four (an extra one for placing on his thumbs and big toes)?

(b)Someone who needed Nesachim would go to Yochanan, the officer of the discs. What was the procedure from then on?

(c)How did Yochanan and Achya (who was in charge of the actual Nesachim) check that no money was missing, and what happened ...

1. ... if they were short?

2. ... if there was excess money?

(d)What happened to someone who lost his disc?

12)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, they would give the poor Metzora the disc marked 'Gdi', for which he would receive three Lugin. The fourth Lug, which he needed for placing on his thumbs and big toes, he had to bring with him from home.

(b)Someone who needed Nesachim would go to Yochanan, the officer of the discs, would give him the money and receive his disc. Then he would take his disc to Achya. who would provide him with the required Nesech. (Note: We have already learnt that one had the option of placing one's money in the box, and letting the Kohanim perform the above tasks and then go on to bring the Korban - which they would do without fail, on the same day.)

(c)Every evening, Yochanan and Achya would meet. Achya would produce the discs, against which he would check the amount of money that Yochanan then gave him.

1. If they were short - Yochanan had to pay the difference.

2. Any excess money - went to Hekdesh (it was not assumed that Yochanan had inadvertently placed his own money together with that of Hekdesh).

(d)Someone who lost his disc would have to wait until nightfall. If Yochanan had an excess sum of money that was equivalent to what he had paid for his disc, then they would re-place his disc for him, and he would be able to receive his Nesech the following day. If not, he simply lost his money and had no choice but to purchase the Nesech again.

13)

(a)Why did they print the day of the week on the coin?

13)

(a)They printed the day of the week on the coin - to prevent anyone from exploiting Hekdesh, by keeping his coin for another day of the week, should he anticipate a drop in the the market value of the relevant commodities.

14)

(a)According to Ben Azai, they had a special disc for a poor Metzora. Why does Ben Azai not like the idea of giving him the disc marked 'Gadya', and letting him bring the extra Lug from home?

(b)What is the problem with the Rabanan, who do hold of that with regard to a poor Metzora?

14)

(a)Ben Azai does not like the idea of giving the poor Metzora the disc marked 'Gadya', and letting him bring the extra Lug from home - because according to him, the Nesech had to be 'al Taharas ha'Kodesh' and not brought from home.

(b)The problem with the Rabanan is - since they hold that a Metzora Ani receives an ordinary disc marked Gdi, and the remaining Lug, he brings from home, why do we not say the same by a Metzora Ashir? Why not give him three discs marked Gdi, and make him bring the remaining Lug from his house?

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