10 Minutes of Gemera with Rabbi Avigdor: Miller Meseches Beitzah

080: Rabbi Abba: Eiruv Tavshilin must be a k’zayis. Question: Does a single k’zayis suffice for everyone, or is a k’zayis necessary for each individual? Rabbi Abba quoting Rav: Eiruv tavshilin must be a k’zayis, whether for an individual or for a hundred people. Challenge: We learned in the Mishnah (074): “If he ate it [the Eruv] or it was lost, it cannot be relied on. If something was left over, he can rely on it and cook for Shabbos.” So it seems that we can rely on an eiruv as long as ‘something’ is left over - even if it’s less than a k’zayis? Resolution: ‘Something’ means ‘something that is at least a k’zayis’. Challenge: We learned: “This cooked item may be broiled, soaked or highly cooked or normally cooked. It may be kulyas ha’ispanin upon which hot water was poured [that is its usual method of cooking]; and it has no measure.” So it seems that there is no measure and a k’zayis is not required. Resolution: It means that there is no measure in how large it may be, but it must be at least a k’zayis. Rav Huna quoting Rav: An eiruv tavshilin must be intentional. Question: The person designating the eiruv must certainly do so with intent; what about the person on whose behalf it is being placed? Response: Shmuel’s Father would make an eiruv for all of Neharda’a. Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would make an eiruv for all of Tveria. It was the custom of Rabbi Yaakov bar Idi to announce “whoever did not designate an eiruv tavshilin may rely on the one I made”. Question: Up until how far may people rely on an eiruv? Rav Nechumi bar Zecharyah in the name of Abayye: Up to a techum Shabbos [since they cannot eat from the eiruv - because they’re not within walking distance, they cannot rely on it]. A certain blind man used to set forth beraisas [he was like a living sefer] before Mar Shmuel. Shmuel noticed that this blind man appeared pensive. Shmuel asked him what was troubling him and he explained that he hadn’t prepared an eiruv. Shmuel told him “you can rely on mine”. When this repeated itself the next year, Shmuel said to him “You’re negligent. Anyone can rely on my eiruv but you can’t”.  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

Rav Asi quoting Rav: Small salted fishes are not forbidden due to bishul Akum.Rav Yosef: If a gentile broiled these fishes, they can be relied upon for Eiruv Tavshilin. But if the gentile cooked them as kosi d’harsena, it is forbidden due to bishul Akum [because the flour was not fit to eat previously].We might have thought that the fish is the mainstay of the dish, so we’re taught that the flour is actually the mainstay of the kosi d’harsena. Tosfos: In mesichta Avodah Zarah we learn that another condition of bishul Akum is that it must be fit to be served at a dignified meal. The example given there is that small fishes are not fit to be served and would not qualify for bishul Akum?We must say that here we’re discussing fish that are slightly bigger. [Some poskim explain that there it is discussing fish that will grow big but are still small - those are not important. Here we’re discussing small fish that do not grow bigger, these are indeed considered significant enough to be affected by bishul Akum]. The Flour is the Mainstay: Based on this, we permit bread broiled with eggs, baked by gentiles. Since the bread is the mainstay, and gentile bread is permitted.We might want to differentiate between the cases: since here this concept is being used as a stringency, while over there it would result in leniency. But actually, here the Gemara is willing to use it as a leniency - if only the fish would be considered the mainstay. Since the flour is considered the mainstay it results in stringency but had the fish been the mainstay our Gemara would ruled leniently, so we can apply this principle to our egg-bread.We need not worry that the eggs are from non-kosher species since it is uncommon, neither do we need to worry about bloodspots which are not found in most eggs. Our practice of checking eggs for bloodspots is a stringency,, if they weren’t checked, they’re kosher. We also do not need to worry that the eggs are from neveilah or treifah chickens, since most eggs are not.  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

Some Say: Abayye: Only a cooked item may be used as Eiruv Tavshilin, but not bread. Question: Why is bread specifically excluded? Because bread is a staple and constantly available (079)?But porridge is not constantly available and Rav Nechumi bar Zechariah said in the name of Abayye: One cannot use porridge as an Eiruv. Why is that? Response: Bread or porridge cannot be used, because it must be something that is an accompaniment. Porridge is not, as Rabbi Zeira said: The Babylonians are foolish, they eat bread with bread [they would eat bread (baked grain) with porridge (boiled grain), he was ridiculing them for their lack of variety in diet] [so we see it’s not an accompaniment]. We will presently learn that the Eiruv need not be something especially cooked for that purpose. Beraisa of Rabbi Chiya: Lentil beans that are left over on the bottom of the pot may be scraped together and relied on for Eiruv Tavshilin, provided they amount to a k’zayis [and have been assigned for this purpose]. Rav Yitzchok brei d’Rav Yehuda: Fat that’s left on the side of the knife, can be scraped off and relied on for Eiruv Tavshilin, provided they amount to a k’zayis. Rav Asi quoting Rav: Small salted fishes [the fish were salted to make them fit for eating], are not forbidden due to bishul Akum [a Jew may not eat something cooked by a gentile if it is something that requires cooking to make it edible]. Rav Yosef: If a gentile broiled these fishes [after they were salted], they can be relied upon for Eiruv Tavshilin. But if the gentile cooked them as kosi d’harsena [a recipe in which the fish are cooked with flour], it is forbidden due to bishul Akum [because the flour was not fit to eat previously]. Question: Isn’t it obvious that kosi d’harsena is forbidden? Response: We might have thought that the fish is the mainstay of the dish [and it is fit to eat without being cooked], so we’re taught that the flour is actually the mainstay of the kosi d’harsena. Rabbi Abba: Eiruv Tavshilin must be a k’zayis. Tosfos: There are three rules regarding eiruvin: Techumin require two meals worth for each individual. Chatzeiros require a fig’s worth for each individual, once two meals worth has been set aside, it is enough for even a hundred people. Tavshilin one k’zayis of each type suffices even for a hundred people.   This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

We learned (078): Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel derived from here that if one gives a child a piece of bread, he must let the mother know. Question: How is this accomplished? Response: He can smear some oil on the child [it was customary in those days to smear oil on the forehead and cheeks] and fill around his eyes with bluestone.Nowadays since people [deteriorated and] are worried about sorcery, some of that food is smeared on the child. Rabbi Yochanan from Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai: All mitzvos were given to us publicly, except for Shabbos which was given privately, as it states “Between Me and the children of Yisroel, a sign forever”. Challenge: If that’s the case, Gentiles should not be punished for not accepting this mitzvah [they are held responsible for not accepting the Torah, as the Gemara explains elsewhere that Sinai means that the nations are now despised (sinah) because they did not accept the Torah]? Resolution: Shabbos is revealed, but its reward was not revealed. Another explanation: Its reward was revealed but the neshamah yeseirah [an expansion of the neshamah] was not revealed. As Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Hakodosh Boruch Hu gives a neshamah yeseirah into every Jew on erev Shabbos which is taken from him on Motzoei Shabbos, as it states “He rested and was refreshed (vai-nefesh)”, once the rest is over, vai [alas] the nefesh [soul] departs. [The Rov spoke here about the reward of Shabbos which was explained in last week’s Toras Avigdor booklet here]. 074: If you cook something [for Shabbos] before Yom Tov, you can rely on it for Shabbos. Abayye: This is in order to cook, but bread need not be prepared in order to bake bread. Question: Why is bread specifically excluded? Because bread is a staple and not eaten without an accompaniment? Perhaps only something which is an accompaniment can be used as an Eiruv Tavshilin?But porridge is not eaten as an accompaniment as Rabbi Zeira said: The Babylonians are foolish, they eat bread with bread [they would eat bread (baked grain) with porridge (boiled grain), he was ridiculing them for their lack of variety in diet] [so we see it’s not an accompaniment]. And Rav Nechumi bar Zechariah said in the name of Abayye: One can use porridge as an Eiruv. Response: Bread cannot be used, because it must be something that is not a constant.  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

Beraisa: They related about Shammai Hazakein: He would eat every day l’kavod Shabbos. If he found a nice animal [on Sunday] he would say “this is for Shabbos”. If he found a better animal [on Monday] he would put it away for Shabbos and eat the first animal. But Hillel Hazakein followed another system wherein all his deeds were for the sake of Heaven [Shammai did everything l’shem Shomayim as well, but Hillel followed a system of trusting in Hashem] as it states “Hashem is Blessed every day” [there is no need to be anxious on Sunday for the needs of Shabbos. Shammai’s opinion was that when it comes to a mitzvah you need to have less bitachon and do more hishtadlus]. We learned in a Beraisa also thus: Beis Shammai: From Sunday, worry about Shabbos. Beis Hillel: “Hashem is Blessed every day”. Rabbi Chama b’Rebbi Chanina: One who gives someone a gift, need not inform the recipient [who the giver is, nor the quality of the gift], as it states “Moshe did not know that his face was shining with rays of light”. Challenge: It states [regarding Shabbos] “So that they know that I am Hashem who makes them holy [by means of Shabbos]”. Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to Moshe: “Moshe, I have a good gift in my treasure house, it’s called Shabbos. I’d like to present it to Yisroel, go and let them know [how great the gift is and that it’s from me, like it states וְיֵדְעוּ כִּי מֵאִתְּךָ הִיא מְנוּחָתָם]”. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel derived from here that if one gives someone a gift: if he gives a child a piece of bread, he must let the mother know [smear some jelly on his nose so that there is still evidence even after the gift is devoured, this will cause love between neighbors when the child tells his mother “the lady next door gave me a sandwich”]. Resolution: Rabbi Chama b’Rebbi Chanina is referring to a gift which will become evident [thus modesty is preferred]. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel is referring to a gift which will not become evident. Challenge: The gift of Shabbos became evident? Resolution: Although we enjoy the Shabbos, its reward is unknowable [because it is the source of all blessings. See more in last week’s Toras Avigdor booklet here].  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

[Another, unrelated statement from] Rabbi Yochanan from Rabbi Elazar b’Rebbi Shimon: If someone wants his property to endure for him [the farmers would live in villages and were not on site to protect their boundaries] he should plant an Adar plant there [in addition to the fact that it’s conspicuous and stubborn, and not easily uprooted, it also repels pests] as it states “Hashem is mighty [Adir] on High” [it is a mighty plant that does the work of Hashem to protect our assets].Another explanation: Adar - as people say: ‘it lasts for generations [dor]’. We also learned a Beraisa to that effect: A field that has Adar in it, cannot be robbed, and its crops are protected. Rav Tachlifa, the brother of Ravnai Choza’ah [of Mechuza]: All of a man’s household expenses are set on Rosh Hashanah [and then if he’s overly lavish, he will be left without money to finish off the year], except for the expenses of Shabbos and Yom Tov and tuition for his children’s Torah learning. If he skimps on these expenses he won’t gain anything, and if he overspends on these, more will be added to him. Rabbi Abahu: Where is this stated? “Blow Shofar on Rosh Chodesh, on the festival when the moon is covered” - this must refer to Rosha Hashanah. And it states there “It is a ‘chok’ for Yisroel”. Chok means sustenance, as we find regarding the priests of Pharaoh. Mar Zutra quoted a verse stated by Shlomo Hamelech which also uses this expression to mean a food allocation.  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

The Gemara related a story of how Rabbi Eliezer spoke in Halacha all day long on Yom Tov. He was upset with people who left early “who forsook the everlasting life for pleasures of this world”. But blessed the people who left at the end “Go and eat delectable foods, and drink sweet wines.” Challenge: Why would Rabbi Eliezer refer to feasting on Yom Tov as forsaking everlasting life for pleasures of this world? Feasting on Yom Tov is a mitzvah. Resolution: Rabbi Eliezer is following his opinion that simchas Yom Tov is a reshus, as recorded in the Beraisa: Rabbi Eliezer: On Yom Tov, one may eat and drink all day or sit and learn all day [it doesn’t mean ‘all day’ in a literal sense, Yom Tov is not a fast day. Tosfos: Indeed, the people who left at the end received his blessing]. Rabbi Yehoshua: Split the day; half ‘for Hashem’ and half ‘for yourselves’ [one must eat more than usual]. Rabbi Yochanan: They both derived this from the same verse: One possuk says “An Atzeres for Hashem” and one possuk says “An Atzeres for yourselves”. Rabbi Eliezer understands that either one is legitimate. Rabbi Yehoshua understands that the day must be split. Question: What is meant by the statement in Nechemya [075]: “Send portions to those who are lacking.”? Rav Chisda: It refers to those who have not prepared Eiruv Tavshilin. Some Say: To those who couldn’t make Eiruv Tavshilin [due to poverty], but if one was able to and he neglected his duty, he is negligent, and we’re not concerned for him. Question: What is meant by the statement in Nechemya [075]: “the joy in Hashem will be your strength”? Rabbi Yochanan from Rabbi Elazar b’Rebbi Shimon: Hakadosh Baruch Hu says to the Jewish nation “My children, borrow on my credit for the necessities of Shabbos and Yom Tov, and trust in me; I will pay for it”. [Tosfos: The Gemara elsewhere says that one should make his Shabbos meal like a weekday meal, rather than taking from others, that is only if he doesn’t know where he will be able to pay back from. The Gra has a different version - that the other Gemara is referring to a case where he doesn’t have anyone to borrow from. It seems that if he does have someone to borrow from, he may borrow even if he doesn’t know how he will pay back].  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

The Gemara asked where we can find a remez to the topic of Eiruv Tavshilin. The Tanna [of the beraisa] brings it from here, Beraisa: “Whatever you have to bake, bake [before Shabbos], whatever you have to cook, cook [before Shabbos].” From this verse [it is superfluous, since one may not cook or bake on Shabbos, obviously everything must be prepared before Shabbos] Rabbi Eliezer derived that one may only cook [relying] on a cooked item, and bake [relying] on a baked item. Based on this, the Chachomim instituted Eiruv Tavshilin. Beraisa: Once [on Yom Tov] Rabbi Eliezer regaled the people all day with hilchos Yom Tov, when the first group left, he said “they have big barrels of wine”. When the second group left, he said “they have kegs of wine”. When the third group left, he said “these have pitchers of wine”. When a fourth group left, he said “these have bottles of wine”. When a fifth group left, he said “they have cups”. When the sixth group got up to leave, he said “they have lack” [the word used can mean curse]. And he noticed that they were blanched, so he said, “My children, I have nothing against you. Only against those who left earlier, who forsook the everlasting life for pleasures of this world”. As they left he said to them the possuk in Nechemya “Go and eat delectable foods, and drink sweet wines. Send portions to those who are lacking. For this day is holy to our Master, do not be saddened, because the joy in Hashem will be your strength”.  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

Now we come to the topic of Eiruv Tavshilin: Mishnah: If Yom Tov falls out on Friday, you cannot cook on Yom Tov for Shabbos. You can cook for Yom Tov, and if there’s anything left over, it may be used on Shabbos. If you cook something [for Shabbos] before Yom Tov, you can rely on it for Shabbos [this item that you cooked on Thursday becomes an “Eruv Tavshilin” - it’s your food for Shabbos, and then you can continue cooking on Friday (Yom Tov) for Shabbos; because you already have cooked food for Shabbos].Beis Shammai: Two cooked items are necessary. Beis Hillel: One is enough. [One cooked item. But in order to bake, one baked item is necessary. For this reason we use a Matzah and an egg - a baked item and a cooked item]. They both agree that a fish with an egg cooked on it is considered two cooked items.If he ate it [the Eruv] or it was lost, it cannot be relied on. If something [at least a kzayis] was left over, he can rely on it and cook for Shabbos. Gemara: Question: From where do we know these things [the Gemara will quote pesukim. Rashi explains that eruv is obviously a takanah of Chazal. The pesukim are quoted as a source for the necessity of Eruv]? Shmuel: The verse states “Keep in mind to sanctify the Shabbos”, Shabbos must especially be kept in mind when another day [Yom Tov] comes that will make you forget. Question: What’s the reason [that it is necessary to make an Eruv Tavshilin]? Rava: So that he should choose a good portion for Shabbos just like he does for Yom Tov. Rav Ashi: To remind people that it is forbidden to cook for Shabbos on Yom Tov, and certainly not for the weekdays. Challenge: We learned in the Mishnah: “If you cook something [for Shabbos] before Yom Tov, you can rely on it for Shabbos”. According to Rav Ashi we understand why it must be done before Yom Tov. But according to Rava, why can’t it be done on Yom Tov?Resolution: You’re right. Only we’re concerned he may forget on Yom Tov [due to feasting and inebriation].  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

Abayye: If a man was walking on the road, wearing Tefillin, and the sun began its descent, he should cover his Tefillin with his hand until he gets home.If he’s sitting in the Beis Medrash [which was outside of the town], and Shabbos began to come in: he should cover his Tefillin with his hand until he gets home. Challenge from Rav Huna brei d’Rav Ikka: “If one was travelling and wearing Tefillin when Shabbos came in, he should cover his Tefillin with his hand until he arrives in town, and he should deposit the Tefillin in the first house within the city walls. If he was sitting in the Beis Medrash when Shabbos came in, he should cover the Tefiilin with his hand until he arrives in town, and he should deposit the Tefillin in the first house within the city walls.” [so we see, that he can’t continue to wear them until he gets home]? Resolution: Abayye is discussing a case where the Tefillin wouldn’t be safe until he arrives home. Challenge: If there is no safe space for the Tefillin, it should be permitted to put them on, even if he was not yet wearing it? As we learned in aMishnah: If one finds Tefillin [in the street on Shabbos and cannot carry them] he may put them on one at a time, and take them inside. Resolution: There the Tefillin are not safe from thieves and dogs [and he may even put them on]. In Abayye’s case, they’re safe from dogs but not from thieves. One might think that most thieves [in that neighborhood] are Jews and one need not be concerned about them disrespecting the Tefillin [which is why we do not permit one to put them on especially to carry them], but in fact, we are concerned [so if one is already wearing the Tefillin, he need not take it off]. MAZEL TOV UPON FINISHING THE FIRST PEREK! SEND US A RECORDING OF YOURSELF SAYING OVER THE ENTIRE PEREK [UNTIL TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14] FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A BEAUTIFUL LEATHER BOUND GEMARA MASICHTA BEITZAH.  This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate