Young Israel of Westside Shiurim

How making shoes was so holy

1. There a dispute if one has to eat 3 or 4 meals on Shabbos. The Gemara proves that our Mishnas position is that one eats 3 meals. 2. A person is entitled to charity from the “kuppah” if they don’t have 14 meals for the week. We dont consider 15 or 16 bc for Shabbos meals bc R akiva teaches it’s better to forgo having special Shabbos meals and not take from charity. 3. When a poor person passes t...

Transitions between impurity and purity

1. Our Mishna rules that a Sefer may be saved from a fire on Shabbos together with a case that has money in it. It seems that we are lenient here on two accounts- carrying the case unnecessarily to a place that may be forbidden rabinically to carry and the moving of muktzeh money. We are lenient bc it’s the easiest and most efficient way to save the Torah. Even though the owner ends up benefiting...

Why speaking is different

1. The small section of ויהי בנסוע הארון: There’s a dispute if it’s meant to be in פרשת בהעלותך or its really supposed to be in פרשת במדבר with the flags and camping of the Jews. It has inverted נs around it to show it’s in the wrong place, and the reason it’s “temporarily” placed here is to seperate between the calamities of בהעלותך (Jews complaining and the story of the meat with the שלו). Acc t...

A new generation with different outlook

1. One isn’t allowed to save all their stuff from a fire on Shabbos, but they may save any כתבי הקדש. This applies to a Torah, Neviim, or Kesuvim. Even though there’s a rule against studying kesuvim in Shabbos bc we want to encourage ppl to attend the lecture at the beis midrash, the kesuvim is still saved in a fire. 2. There’s a tannaic dispute in Maseches Megillah if כתבי הקדש May be written and...

1. Having special clothes for more important occasion has a source in the Torah from the Kohen having special clothes for taking out the ash from the mizbeach thst were lower from regular בגדי כהונה. 2. A talmid chochom must be especially careful that they appear neat and respectful. Their shoes shouldn’t have double patches, their outer clothes shouldn’t have any stains, and the inner shirt shoul...

1. One is allowed to make a knot for attaching rope across the opening of a yard so animal doesn’t leave bc it’s temporary and will be undone when animal goes out. This is true even if there are two ropes. 2. One may tie a girdle to a pail (like to draw water) bc the girdle is used so knot will be temporary. But it’s forbidden to use a rope bc it may be a permanent knot. R Yehuda allows a weavers...

What the Heavens teach us about dispute

1. There are 3 different categories of knots. Knots made to last forever that are forbidden Biblically. Knots that are made to untie on the same day that are permitted. Knots made to last for a while but not forever that are forbidden Rabbinically. 2. Women would wear garment with knots that tied over the shoulders- those are permitted to make on Shabbos bc they’re made to unite that day. We’re no...

Picking up Korachs fire pans

Action Keeps wisdom

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Tragedy and Korach

1. Snakebites can be cured by the embryos of white donkeys, as long as the donkey is not a treifa. This is for regular snake bites, but special snake bites that occur for punishment for disobeying Rabbinic decrees cannot be cured. 2. Snakes go after the scent of a persons footsteps, and one should avoid giving a scent when a snake is after him. Also, snakes don’t go on sandy terrain. 3. Sometimes...

1. Certain treatments are ineffective for healing the eye. Hops, coriander, some other herbs. They may be used then on Shabbos. Eating hops can be done even when it is effective bc healthy ppl also eat hops. 2. Basting roast in ok. Even though it’s “fixing” the food, it’s still permitted the roast is edible without the it. This is comparable to the heter of putting clear wine or water in a straine...

Rav Lachem

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1. Animal inside a house and ראובן stands by the door but does not fill it, and then Shimon comes and completes the blocking, Shimon is liable. If Reuven fully blocked the opening and Shimon also sat there adding security, only Reuven is liable. Even if Reuven leaves and Shimon is automatically left there blocking the door, Shimon remains exempt. This is no different from someone locking a door in...

1. Generally, a destructive act is exempt on shabbos (מקלקל). However, a Braisa says that חובל - making wounds and מבעיר- burning fires are exceptions and even in destructive manner one is liable. These must be exceptions bc there can never be any inherent positive outcome from wounds and burning. Even if one wants blood for their cat or ashes from the fire, the melocho itself is still inherently...

The aftermath of the Meraglim

1. If someone intended to write one letter and ended up with two (like trying to write a ח and instead writing two ז)- if the זs and complete and not missing the crowns on top like in the Torah one is liable. But if they are lacking the crowns they are incomplete and one is exempt. 2. Writing a notrikon- one letter with a ׳ that stands for a word is a dispute if one is exempt or liable. We find us...

Attitude shapes the eye