Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran Michelle Cohen Farber

In the expanded narrative of Avraham's encounter with the angels, numerous interpretations delve into the lessons embedded within his actions, offering insights into behaviors to emulate. Regarding the consumption of produce by a worker in the field where they toil, the Mishna lays out the conditions under which such consumption is permissible. What circumstances warrant this allowance? What are the boundaries to be observed? From where in the Torah are these laws derived?

Rabbi Yehuda haNasi and Rabbi Natan were the last from the Mishna period and Ravina and Rav Ashi were the last of the Talmudic period. This statement is likely referring to the editing of the Mishna and Talmud. Raba bar Nachmani was killed out of fear of the king. Raba bar Nachmani's tragic death is recounted and how it related to the need for him in the heavens to resolve a debate between God and the rabbis in the yeshiva in the heavens. The Mishna related to the custom in the land and a story about Rabbi Yochanan ben Matia and his son's commitment to their workers. On account of that story, the Gemara digresses into a series of drashot on the story of Avraham and the angels and the food that he served to them.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, the father of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, is commended for his humility, a trait shared by Yonatan, the son of King Saul, and the descendants of Bnei Beteira. Rabbi Yehuda haNasi himself endured significant suffering, which eventually abated. His suffering was attributed to his actions, and likewise, his healing was credited to his actions. Following Rabbi Elazar's passing, Rabbi Yehuda haNasi sought out Rabbi Elazar's estranged son and guided him back to the path of Torah learning. He extended the same attention to the grandson of Rabbi Tarfon, nurturing him into a Torah scholar. Numerous statements underscore the significance of Torah study, emphasizing its paramount importance. Rabbi Chiya distinguished himself by disseminating Torah knowledge among numerous students, empowering them to become teachers in their own right. Stories abound of Rabbi Chiya's exceptional greatness and his impactful contributions to the spread of Torah.

Today's daf is sponsored by the Hadran Women of Long Island in honor of our fellow daf Sister, Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld on the marriage of her granddaughter Esti to Baruch. "Having four generations at the wedding is a tremendous zechut. May Gitta together with David have continued nachat from Esti and all of their children and grandchildren."
The story of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, leads to discussions about his obesity, alongside those of Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosi. Rabbi Yochanan, renowned for his beauty, used to sit by the mikveh, hoping that women who saw him would conceive and bear children as beautiful and learned as he was. One day, while bathing in the Jordan River, Reish Lakish, a bandit, mistook Rabbi Yochanan's reflection for that of a woman and leaped in after him. Rabbi Yochanan, recognizing potential, encouraged Reish Lakish to channel his strength into Torah, becoming his esteemed student-colleague. Yet, a rift formed when in the context of a halakhic debate, Rabbi Yochanan's remarks about Reish Lakish's past led to a fatal argument, resulting in Reish Lakish's demise, and ultimately, Rabbi Yochanan's own death due to the loss of his closest companion. The Gemara then revisits Rabbi Elazar's story, haunted by his past deeds, he beseeches God for suffering as penance. The narrative follows his remaining years, culminating in his passing, where he requests to be left in an attic, anticipating reluctance from fellow rabbis to bury him. Eventually, approximately two decades later, he is interred in a cave adjacent to his father's resting place. Rabbi Yehuda haNasi proposes to Rabbi Elazar's wife, who rejects the offer as he cannot compare to Rabbi Elazar in greatness. 

Today's daf is sponsored by Max Shapiro in honor of his mother Judy Shapiro. "Your daf yomi learning motivates me to continue doing so daily!"
Another issue of Rabbi Elazar on Rabbi Meir's opinion is elucidated through the viewpoint of Isi ben Yehuda, who asserts that in cases with witnesses, one cannot simply take an oath to absolve oneself; instead, witnesses must be brought forward. Rabbi Chiya bar Abba quoting Rabbi Yochanan provides a second explanation for the seeming discrepancy between Rabbi Meir's stance in our Mishna and in the sugya in Bava Kamma regarding the liability of one who trips. According to him, the oath mentioned in our Mishna, which exempts one from damages, is a rabbinic provision aimed at ensuring that individuals won't refrain from moving barrels for others due to fear of potential compensation obligations in case of breakage. Several anecdotes illustrate instances where Rava aligned with Isi ben Yehuda's requirement for witnesses to establish innocence. Additionally, a narrative recounts the expectations placed on Torah scholars (or perhaps others as well) to uphold standards beyond mere legal requirements (lifnim meshurat hadin). The seventh chapter delves into labor relations, exploring questions such as the typical duration of a workday, an employer's authority to mandate longer hours, and the obligation of the employer to provide food. It also addresses whether travel time is considered part of the standard workday. Within this discourse, a verse from Tehillim is invoked, drawing parallels between the eventual retribution for evildoers and the reward awaiting the righteous in the afterlife. An anecdote featuring Rabbi Elazar, the son of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, illustrates his methods for identifying and punishing sinners. Despite facing criticism for his actions from Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korcha, he remains resolute.

The Mishna rules that one who loans with collateral has the level of responsibility for the collateral akin to a paid worker. It seems that the Mishna does not follow the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, who holds that if the collateral is lost, the lender can take an oath and be exempt, like a shomer chinam. The Gemara then attempts in two different ways to reconcile the Mishna's ruling even according to Rabbi Eliezer. However, this is rejected because Rabbi Akiva disagrees with Rabbi Eliezer, and since most unattributed Mishnayot accord with Rabbi Akiva's opinion, the Gemara prefers to reconcile the Mishna according to Rabbi Akiva. There are four different explanations suggested to explain the situation in which Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva disagree and the basis of their disagreement. The halakha follows Abba Shaul, as quoted in the Mishna, that one can rent out a collateral of a poor person and deduct the rent amount from the loan. If one is moving a barrel of another and it breaks, there is a debate between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda about whether the halakha distinguishes between one who was paid for the job and one who was not. Rabbi Meir rules that both are exempt if it was not intentional. However, this contradicts Rabbi Meir's opinion in Bava Kamma that one who trips is considered negligent. Rabbi Elazar explained that there are two different opinions about what Rabbi Meir held. Rabbi Yehuda considers one who broke the barrel as similar to an item getting lost or stolen and therefore distinguishes between one who was paid and one who did it for free. Rabbi Elazar claims the ruling is like Rabbi Meir, but he does not understand how each can swear and exempt themselves.