Stein Final - Gemara

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Where do the Rabbis get their authority from?

Rabbis derive their authority from the Torah, specifically from the phrase “לא תסור” (Do not deviate).

However, they don't have full authority and can't decree laws on the people if the majority disagrees, the law will not pass.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

How do laws get decided in Halakha? -

1) TPC: Text, precedent, consensus

2) סברא - Logic: Derives from "סברא היא" - "It is logical!"

3) Minhag / Traditions

4) RYK says to look to the past rulings.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

When do we allow for exceptions / leniency in Halakha?

Exceptions allowed for leniency:

*All מקומ's can break the דרבנן laws in a כלאחר יד way. מקומ צערה - Place of Pain

מקומ פסידא - Place of Financial Loss

כבוד הבריות - Place of respect

ex. breaking shomer in order not to embarrass someone when shaking hands between a man/woman

מקום מצוה -Can be violated in place of Mitzvah

פיקוח נפש - when saving a life

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

What is the difference between דרבנן and דאורייתא laws?

דאורייתא: straight from Torah

דרבנן: more lenient on rabbis laws than דאורייתא laws

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Who is more powerful, the Rabbi's or the people?

depends: it's a check and balance on each other

- Rabbis have Halachik authority, while the people have the power to practice through מנהג

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

How do the people serve as a check and balance against the power of the Rabbis?

veto, expanding through מנהג

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

What role does the community play in Halakha? (In each Gemara)

- minhagim

Circumstances like fear and injustice impact rulings

Laws are adapted when the community can't uphold them

Different communities maintain different minhagim, shaping halacha

Halacha must fit the present-day reality of the community

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

What role does סברא play in Gemara? (Bava Kama? Brachot? San Hedrin? Bava Metzia?)

- In Bava Kama, Sevara creates the law that we need evidence.

- In Brachot, Sevara creates the law that we need to make brachot.

- In San Hedrin, Sevara is used to expand the law of murder (Making it super דאורייתא).

- Bava Metzia: Mary Bar Yisak, not needing evidence, overrules the law of המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה (You need evidence).

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Should Halakha follow earlier (older) authorities, or contemporary opinions?

- According to RYK, we follow older authorities. (Rambam, Riff, Rash - 2 sfardis 1 ashki)

- According to Rama we follow contemporary/present ones

"a judge can only decide based on what his eyes can see"

"אין לדיין אלא מה שעיניו רואות"

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

How does Halakha balance competing values?

Halakha balances competing values through the past and present, community, rabbis, text, and precedent.

(basically everything encompassed)

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Can Halakha change?

Halakha can change.

ex. Mary Bar-Esuk says to make his brother bring evidence.

Rav Chisda made it change to MBY having to bring evidence/witnesses instead of the brother

(because everyone was scared to go against MBY.)

- Rav Chisda overruled המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה law.

(Bava Batra)

- Oil: The people didn't adopt the law of kosher oil, so they changed the Halakha to being able to have oil from a non-Jew.

(Avoda Zara)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

תקנות

Rabbinic Commandments

- דאורייתא law

ex. holidays like Purim or Chanukah

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

לא תסור״"

"Do not deviate" (from the Rabbis)

- דאורייתא law that gives Rabbis authority.

(G-d commanded us to listen to the Rabbis)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

גזירות

a דרבנן law that is created to protect another דאורייתא law.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

״ושמרתם את משמרתי״

"Guard your guardings"

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

דרשות

Rabbinic interpretations of דאורייתא laws.

- ex. "עין תחת עין" (An eye for an eye) - does not actually mean an eye for an eye, it means:

pay an equal amount for damages.

- ex. לא תגנוב (Do not steal). Rabbis interpret this as do not kidnap because of the context.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

דאורייתא

laws from the Torah.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

דרבנן

Laws from the Rabbis.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

מקום צערא

can violate in "Place of Pain"

- Can break the דרבנן laws כלאחר יד (in a backhanded way)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

מקום פסידא

can violate in "Place of financial loss"

- Can break the דרבנן laws כלאחר יד (in a backhanded way)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

כבוד הבריות

can violate in "Place of respect"

- ex. allowed to break shomer so not to embarrass someone: (like when a female goes in to shake a male's hand).

- Can break the דרבנן laws כלאחר יד (in a backhanded way)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

מקום מצוה

can violate in "Place of Mitzvah"

- Can break the דרבנן laws כלאחר יד (in a backhanded way)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

שלוש ברכות / Birkat Hamazon

We go by Birkat Hamazon if we eat bread

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

ברכה אחת מעין שלוש / על המחיה

על המחיה (Shorter blessing made after if we did not eat bread)

- also for the שיבעת המינים

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

בורא נפשות

Blessing after food for everything else... (Cheese, meat, fish etc..)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

יסוד נביאים (first possibility of Arava)

It is a Takana- דאורייתא law (Rabbi’s command / create)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

מנהג נביאים

Minhag - Alexa: Arava (branch of the lulav) was a minhag / practice of the people during the time of the נביאים (the ppl created the law, no bracha required bc it is not directly commanded - "וציונו")

Nevi’im - Rashi: The נביאים caused the ppl to adopt the practice. (Rabbis created the laws, ppl adopted them, no Bracha required bc it is not directly commanded - “וציונו”)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

חלב ישראל

Milk produced by a Jew

- Rav Moshe Feinstein says it's okay to drink any milk as long as the FDA or a reliable source guarantees it's from a cow.

- Rashi says it's an intermarriage problem

- Milk from non-Jews is חלב עבו״ם

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

בישול עבו״ם

Food cooked by a non-Jew

- A Jew just needs to be involved in the cooking process (even just turning on the oven or flame. It's the same in Kosher restaurants.)

- Preventing intermarriage (Rashi)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

אין גוזרין גזירה על הציבור אא״כ רוב הציבור יכולים לעמוד בה

"You can't decree a decree on a community that can not withhold it."

- If the people don't follow the Halakha, don't bother making the decree.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

נותן טעם

"retaining taste"

-Molecules that absorb onto dishes and utensils.

- This is why we use separate silverware for milk and meat

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

שור תם

"innocent/gentle cow"

- not worn with a history of damage

- only liable for 50% damages

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

שור מועד

"repeatedly dangerous cow"

- history of violent behavior (3x pattern)

-liable for 100% damages

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

חולקין

"to divide/split"

- In situations of doubt (not knowing whose fault it is), split it = סומכוס position

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה

"If you want to take from someone else, you must have evidence" (because people can lie for money) - חכמים's position

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

סברא היא

"It is logical"

- logic has the power to create laws

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

יהרג ואל יעבור

3 cardinal sins: "You shall be killed, do not break them"

- cannot break the 3 cardinal sins of adultery, idolatry, and murder (רוצח)

- super דאורייתא

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

פיקוח נפש

"to save a life"

- You are allowed to break MOST דאורייתא laws

(except for cardinal sins) to save a life.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

קודש הילולים לה׳

"They are Holy, give praise to G-d."

- Gemara tried using this as the source of ברכות, but it ultimately teaches us we must desanctify fruit.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

חילול (פדיון)

"desanctify"

- If you want to use something Holy, you must desanctify it.

- or you can exchange it for its monetary value.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

מעילה

"stealing/theft" (from G-d)

- If you don't say a blessing on your food, you are stealing from G-d.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

מרי בר עיסק

(Gangster) is told by his brother that he wants part of his inheritance, but has to end up proving that MBY isn't his brother, since Rav Chisda overturned the law of המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה. (Bava Metzia)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

פרוזבול

*גיטין

- פרוזבול is a legal document that overturned the law of שמיטה and made it so you still have to give loans.

- Ruling is based on: present circumstances/needs, but only in order to uphold the precedent.

- In the present, this law is only דרבנן according to Abayei since we do not have the בית המקדש anymore.

- However, Rava says Hillel is violating a דאורייתא.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

שמיטה

*גיטין

Loans and land during שמיטה are canceled according to the Torah.

- The seventh year we rest

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

שביעית בזמן הזה

*גיטין

"The seventh year in this time"

- Meaning that it's only דרבנן because the circumstances had changed. (Follows present day)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

אין לדיין אלא מה שעיניו רואות

"The Judge has only what his eyes see."

- The judge looks at the present and what's in front of him.

- Rava teaches his students how to navigate precedent.

- If you see in front of you, you can rule differently based on present circumstances.

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

רב יוסף קארו

*Born in Spain

- Wrote the שולחן ערוך based on who he thinks the three greatest scholars are: the Rambam, the Riff, and the Rash. (Two of them are Sephardic)

- The rest of the Torah scholars were not mentioned, even though they were earlier. (RYK goes with the earlier Rabbis)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

רב משה איסרליס (Rama)

*Poland

The Rama didn't like that רב יוסף קארו made it with only three opinions. (2/3 of them were Sephardic)

- The Rama wanted to go with the later Rabbis instead of the three earlier ones.

- מפה (On top of the set table - RYK's שולחן ערוך)

KEY TERMS / PHRASES / CONCEPTS:

הלכה כבתראי

- Came up in דרכי משה of Rama, meaning Halacha is like the most recent generation, as opposed to following the earlier generations like RYK.

- We follow the present minhag and authorities.

HISTORY:

Tanaim (When, where, what they did, example figures)

When: 0-200; after 2nd Beit Hamikdash destruction

Where: Israel

What: wrote Mishna, Brita (rulings of the Tanaim not included in the Mishna)

Examples: רבי אליעזר; רב יהושע; הלל ושמאי; רבן גמליאל

HISTORY:

Amoraim (When, where, what they did, example figures)

When: 200-500

Where: Israel; בּבל (Iran/Iraq)

What: wrote the Gemara (analysis of the Mishna)

Examples: שמואל; רבי יוסף; ריטבא

HISTORY:

Rishonim (When, where, what they did, example figures)

When: 1000-1500

Where: spread through Western Europe

What: commentary/analysis of Gemara

Examples: (born in Spain-> died in Egypt)- רשי; רמבן- (born Germany died in France); רמבם (lived from 1204-1245, 41yrs); בעלי תוספות- ( 1250-1350, France, "the additions" (additional analysis), רבינו תם was a Tosfot

HISTORY:

Acharonim (When, where, what they did, example figures)

When: 1500-1940

Where: Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, etc...)

What: wrote commentary on שולחן ערוך (code of law written by Rav Yosef Karo)

Examples: רבי ישראל מאיר קיגן who wrote משנה ברורה/הילכות שבת (1907)

חפץ חיים

HISTORY:

Shulhan Arch / Rama (When, where, what they did, example figures)

When: 1550's

Where & Who: Israel, צפת - Rav Yosef Karo; Poland - רמא (Rav Moshe Isrelis)

What: Rav Yosef Karo created the code of law/ שולחן ערוך (beat רמא to it)

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

אתא (שורש: אתא)

"to come / arrive"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

פלוג

"split"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

ידענא

"I know"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

לקמיה

"before him"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

שפיר

"good!"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

שנאמר

"as it was said" (always introduces a פסוק)

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

זיל

"go!"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

אייתי (שורש: אתא)

"bring"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

סהדי (שורש: סהד - testimony)

"witnesses"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

אית

"have"

VOCAB: בבא מציאה

הכי

"this"

VOCAB: גיטין

תנן

"We learned in a Mishna"

VOCAB: גיטין

התם

"over there"

VOCAB: גיטין

מי

introduces a question

VOCAB: גיטין

איכא

"have"

VOCAB: גיטין

מידי

"something"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

כי

"when"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

דידי

"mine"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

דידיה

"his"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

לקמייכו

"before you" (plural)

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

חזיתו

"when you see" (plural)

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

לקמאי

"before me"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

הדרנא

"I will return / take back"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

טעמא

"reason"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

מיניה

"from him"

VOCAB: בבא בתרא

דלמא

"perhaps / maybe"

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

How much does an owner have to pay if his / her שור תם causes damage?

An owner has to pay 50% in damages if caused by their שור תם, innocent/gentle cow (as long as there is proof).

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

How much does an owner have to pay if his / her שור מועד causes damage?

An owner has to pay 100% in damages if caused by their שור מועד, a repeatedly dangerous cow (as long as there is proof).

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

Under what circumstances can you violate a דאורייתא law?

You can violate a דאורייתא law for פיקוח נפש (saving a life) as long as it is not for the 3 cardinal sins of "יהרג ואל יעבור."

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

What are the three “יהרג ואל יעבור" laws?

Three Cardinal Sins:

- murder (רוצח)

- adultery

- idolatry

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

Does one always have to make a ברכה אחרונה after eating? Explain.

One does not always need to make a ברכה אחרונה after eating, ONLY if they had a כזית (a significant amount - volume of an olive in size).

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

Does one always have to make a ברכה ראשונה before eating? Explain.

One always has to make a ברכה ראשונה before eating because it is like saying please to G-d or asking Him for permission.

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

Why are we allowed to drink milk today that is produced by non-Jews?

Today, we are allowed to drink milk that is produced by non-Jews because even though the Mishna says we cannot, Rav Moshe Feinstein says that as long as the FDA monitors the milk, we are permitted to drink it.

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

What is the reason for the prohibition of בישול עכו״ם?

- Intermarriage

- Kashrut Issue of ingredients & utensils

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

What leniencies are there to the laws of בישול עכו״ם?

If a Jew turns on the flame or is involved in the cooking process for a non-Jew cooking for them, it can still be considered Kosher.

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

Why can't I eat something cooked in a non-Kosher pot if all the ingredients are Kosher?

"נותן טעם" - "retaining taste"

It is because the utensils leave molecules and taste.

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

Do you have to make a Bracha on a Mitzvah that is a minhag?

"וציונו" - (commanded us)

You do not have to make a Bracha on a Mitzvah that is a minhag because a minhag is not a commandment; it is a tradition.

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

What Bracha Achrona do you make on fruit, meat, and cheese?

בורא נפשות

HALACHA L'MAASEH - PRACTICAL HALAKHA

What Bracha Achrona do you make on grapes, figs, and pomegranates?

ברכה אחת מעין שלוש (על המחיה)

CONTENT FROM EACH SOURCE - SUMMARY & BIG IDEAS:

בבא מציעא לט:

Bava Metzia - MBYs bro comes to his house for an inheritance, however MBY claims to not know his brother. Since MBY is like a gangster, his brother and his witnesses are scared of him, so MBY is told to bring witnesses that he isn't the brother. Rav Chisda overrules המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה (Needing evidence) due to the circumstances.

Concepts

- המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה

Overruling halachot based of circumstances

CONTENT FROM EACH SOURCE - SUMMARY & BIG IDEAS:

גיטין לו.

Content:

Concepts:

Gitin - Hillel establishes a פרוזבול for שמיטה because people are not giving out loans.

“Pruzbol doesn't rest” (means it doesn't get canceled during the year of שמיטה)

- People wonder how Hillel canceled/overruled the law of שמיטה. Abayai says it because he only overruled a דרבנן because there is no longer a בית המקדש.

- Rava says Hillel did this before the בית המקדש just because he had the power to.

Concepts

- Over-rides דרבנן precedent for the sake of דאורייתא.

- Very connected to פסחים סו: which says we can override דרבנן for the sake of a mitzvah

(Very full circle)

CONTENT FROM EACH SOURCE - SUMMARY & BIG IDEAS:

בבא בתרא קלא

Bava Batra

- Don't ignore rulings, just recover the past. After Rava dies, don't tear up his rulings because he won't be there to give an explanation.

- He also says don't rely on them because a judge can only see what's in front of him.

Concepts

- Take precedent into account, but don't blindly rely on it without an explanation.

- Past and present should be a check and balance, don't just rely on one or the other.

CONTENT FROM EACH SOURCE - SUMMARY & BIG IDEAS:

הקדמת בית יוסף

Rav Yosef Karo (Beit Yosef, Shulchan Aruch)

- He said we should decide Halacha based on previous rulings/Rabbis

Concepts (same as Rama)

Present and Past Rulings and how we choose to go about halacha.

CONTENT FROM EACH SOURCE - SUMMARY & BIG IDEAS:

הקדמת דרכי משה

Content:

Concepts:

Rama (Darchei Moshe, מפה) -

- Rama says we should base rulings on present Rabbis.

- These are just two different minhagim:

Sefardim follow Rav Yosef Karo

Ashkenazim follow Rama.

Concepts

Present and Past Rulings and how we choose to go about halacha.