Daf Yomi for Women - Hadran

Today's daf is sponsored by Marcia Baum in memory of Sam Baum חיים שמחה בן אהרון הלוי וליבה on his 22nd yartzeit. "My father was a larger-than-life individual whose impact is still felt to this day. He would be immensely proud of his daughters and their progeny! " What are the laws of bishul akum (food cooked by a non-Jew)? Under what conditions is it permitted and when is it forbidden? If a Jew i...

Today's daf is sponsored by Doreen Samuels for the shloshim of her dear mother, Elaine Charlton, Ella bat Rachmiel v'Riva Leah, z"l, on 23rd July - 27th Tammuz 5785. She was so proud of my Jewish learning." Rav and Shmuel disagree about the reason and origin of the prohibition on consuming oil from non-Jews. Rav maintains that Daniel instituted the ban to prevent intermarriage, while Shmuel attrib...

The interaction in the Mishna between Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Yishmael regarding this issue is analyzed and is also brought as proof for the previous sugya about the difference between betrothing a woman with the dung of an ox who killed a person and the dung of an animal that was used for worshipping idols. What are the reasons that the rabbis decreed that cheese from idol worshippers is forbidd...

Do glazed earthenware vessels absorb, and if so, to what extent? Can they be kashered? Meriemar appears to issue contradictory rulings regarding this topic, particularly vessels that contained wine of idol worshippers versus the kashering of vessels for Pesach. How is this contradiction resolved? Rabbi Akiva was asked three questions, one of which pertained to clay jugs previously owned by non-Jew...

What are the distinctions when engaging in business with an idol worshipper, a practicing Jew, or a Jew who has become an idol worshipper while traveling to or returning from the Tarput festival? What are the reasons that Jewish law differentiates between each of these cases? What types of vessels are considered more or less absorbent? This characteristic determines whether they require kashering,...

Vinegar produced by idol worshippers from beer is prohibited if there is a concern that wine yeast may have been added during its preparation. The Hadrianic earthenware shards are prohibited for any benefit, as they were soaked in wine with the intention that the absorbed wine would later be used to produce more wine. Rav Dimi provides a description of their preparation and use. A question is rais...

If one entrusts items to an idol worshipper for safekeeping, should there be concern that they might have substituted their own items in place of the originals? How many seals are required on the item to eliminate suspicion of tampering? Can one purchase wine from the Cutim? Is there a concern that idol worshippers may have come into contact with the wine, rendering it prohibited? Why is beer prod...

Today's daf is sponsored anonymously in honor of Elisa and Morris Hartstein, the founders of the amazing Amuta (NGO) – Operation Ethiopia. "Good luck on the upcoming medical mission this week.  Your dedication and drive to bring basic and state-of-the-art eye care to those who are in dire need are inspirational." Which types of wine are not forbidden due to the concern that an idol worshipper may...

What are the foods or activities that one should avoid before or after undergoing bloodletting? Remedies for other ailments are also suggested. Additionally, what are ten specific food items that someone who was ill should avoid, as they may cause the illness to return more aggressively? If one receives a haircut from an idol worshipper, what precautions can be taken to ensure that they are not ha...

  Two different opinions are presented regarding if and when one may receive medical treatment from an idol worshipper. Rav Yehuda strictly prohibits it under all circumstances, except when treating one's animals. Rabbi Yochanan, however, permits it if the patient would otherwise die without treatment. Additionally, two versions of a statement by Rabbi Yochanan offer further nuance. In the first,...

Can an idol worshipper perform a brit mila  on a Jew? If no Jew is available, is it preferable for a Samaritan (Cuti) or an idol worshipper to perform it? What are the sources for the various opinions, and which authorities support each view? Is brit mila  required to be performed lishma —specifically for the sake of the mitzva? Two different verses are cited to explain why an idol worshipper may...

Today's daf is sponsored by the Sussman family on their aliyanniversary. Mazal tov! "As we stepped off the plane 21 years ago with two little boys, we could never have imagined all that Israel would give to us these many years; nor could we fathom what our boys would be giving back to the land and nation. Am Yisrael Chai." Today's daf is sponsored by Julie Mendelsohn in honor of her daughter Hanna...

Study Guide Avodah Zarah 25 Today's daf is sponsored Malka Louzoun in memory of her father, Gilbert Louzoun, Nissim ben Sultana, on his 9th yahrzeit. "A man of many accomplishments, he taught us to work hard, to act honestly and with integrity, to be charitable, and to explore the world. Despite his great successes, he was a person of incredible humility. His warmth and intelligence are missed dai...

Several challenges are raised against Shila's interpretation of Rabbi Eliezer, who prohibits purchasing a red heifer from pagans based on a drasha on the word " vayikchu ." The well-known story of Dama ben Netina—a non-Jew highlighted as a model for honoring one's parents, illustrating the extent to which one must go to fulfill this mitzva—is cited in objection. This story raises questions both ab...

Study Guide Avodah Zarah 23 Today's daf is sponsored by Judy Schwartz in honor of her daughter Rina. "With love to my incredible daughter who started me on my Daf journey with Hadran. I am continuously in awe of her, with gratitude for who she is and what she contributes to the world." Two additional explanations (three in total) are presented to resolve the contradiction between our Mishna and th...

Study Guide Avodah Zarah 22 Today's daf is sponsored in memory of Deena Kalker's grandmother Tzipora Shoshana bat Bracha z"l. May her memory be a comfort and a blessing. Today's daf is sponsored by Becky Goldstein for the refuah shleima of David Mordechai ben Raizel who is undergoing a procedure this morning. Please Gd for a succesful operation with שליחים נאמנים. The Mishna prohibits one to leave...

Study Guide Avodah Zarah 21 Can one sell or rent property to non-Jews in Israel, Syria, or outside of Israel entirely? What are the issues involved? What is at the root of this prohibition? How is it that people sell property anyway? What explanations did later authorities provide to explain this? Is it applicable to all non-Jews, or only to the seven nations, or only to idol worshippers? An addit...

Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda disagree about whether one may sell an item that is still attached to the ground—such as a tree—to a non-Jew, on the condition that the non-Jew will cut it down himself, or whether the item must first be detached in order for the sale to be permitted. The basis for this prohibition is the Torah's ban on selling land in Israel to gentiles, which extends to anything attac...

In Tehillim 1:1, the verse begins with " ashrei ha'ish ," happy is the man. According to Rabbi Yonantan, the man is Avraham, who did not associate himself with the dor haflaga , the people of Sodom and the Philistines. A similar verse in Tehillim 112:1 employs the same phrase "ashrei ish" who fears God. Why is the masculine form used and not the feminine? Two explanations are offered: happy is the...