Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 25th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis mentions a structure known as ื›ื™ืœืช ื—ืชื ื™ื, literally the canopy bed of the grooms. Bach ( ืื•ืดื— ืฉื˜ื•:ื•) describes this structure as a temporary and only made in honor of the chosson. This concept of a canopy for the Chosson is elaborated upon by Ben Yehoyada Pesachim 86b. A man must make a home for his wife so that she becomes attached to him. I know it’s unpopular and not PC to discuss male and female …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 28th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a dispute about one of the rules about the Schach, regarding a situation where the roofing is very thick. Shulkhan Arukh advises halakha lemaase that the covering should be open enough that one should see the stars, of course still keeping to the requirement that there be more shade than sun. Mishna Berura (636:6) Records an opinion that if the roof is so thick that rain would not even come inside, it is too clos …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 17th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes the two verses a young child should be taught to say, as soon as he is able to speak. The Shema and Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe. Ben Yehoyada raises the question as to why both verses are necessary and why not the first verse in Bereishis? The Shema is obvious because it’s a credo of a Jew, declaring belief in one God who is unified. However, the verse Torah Tziva etc certainly requires some analysis. I will of …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 8th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a dispute between Rabbah and Rav Zeira as to why a Succah whose schach is higher than 20 amos is not kosher.  Rabbah says: In a sukka up to twenty cubits high, even without a concerted effort, a person is aware that he is residing in a sukka. His eye catches sight of the roofing. However, in a sukka that is more than twenty cubits high, a person is not aware that he is residing in a sukka because his eye doe …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 9th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph states: Rabbi Abbahu said that the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: I said that the Jewish people should be before Me as a plant placed by great waters, and what is that plant? It is a willow. And they set themselves as a tzaftzafa of the mountains. Ben Yehoyada interprets this allegorically to be referring to the study of Torah. Hashem wanted the Jews to be sustained by pure Torah study alone, much as the Willow is fully s …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 10th, 2021

  Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us in regard to identifying that the verse is referring to an Esrog: GEMARA: The Sages taught that the verse states: “Fruit of a beautiful tree,” meaning, a tree that the taste of its tree trunk and the taste of its fruit are alike. What tree is that? You must say it is the esrog tree. There is a beautiful Zohar (I:220b) on this which interprets the function of the triad of Yamim Tovim in Tishrei: …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 27th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us about the fate of the wicked and the righteous at the end of days. It is one of my all-time favorite psychological Gemaras: โฆIn the future, at the end of days, God will bring the evil inclination and slaughter it in the presence of the righteous and in the presence of the wicked. For the righteous the evil inclination appears to them as a high mountain, and for the wicked it appears to them as a mere strand of …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 2nd, 2021

Our Gemara continued discussing the middah of laziness, it’s negative and infrequently positive qualities. I was particularly struck by something the Orchos Tzaddikim (16) mentions. In categorizing various forms of laziness he mentions intellectual laziness: โฆNot only does the lazy man fail to attain knowledge of the Torah, since he does not occupy himself with the Torah as he should, but due to his laziness, false notions enter his heart …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 21st, 2021

The Gemara and Mishna on this Daf discuss the concept of ืชืขืฉื” ื•ืœื ืžืŸ ื”ืขืฉื•ื™, which is the requirement that the Schach for the Succah be placed on the Succah with intention as a shade or cover, and not just automatically end up on top. Say you had a vine that grew on top of your Succah frame, even if you cut the vine so it no longer was attached to the ground, it still would not be valid as Schach. However, a small action such as shif …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 9th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph references a verse regarding which people are exempt from certain forms of military service including someone who just built a home or got married: Deuteronomy (20:5-7) ื•ึฐื“ึดื‘ึผึฐืจึฃื•ึผ ื”ึทืฉืึผึนึฝื˜ึฐืจึดื™ืึฎ ืึถืœึพื”ึธืขึธึฃื ืœึตืืžึนืจึ’ ืžึดึฝื™ึพื”ึธืึดึžื™ืฉื ืึฒืฉืึถึจืจ ื‘ึผึธื ึธึคื” ื‘ึทึฝื™ึดืชึพื—ึธื“ึธืฉืึ™ ื•ึฐืœึนึฃื ื—ึฒื ึธื›ึ”ื•ึน ื™ึตืœึตึ–ืšึฐ ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉืึนึฃื‘ ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืชึ‘ื•ึน …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 29th, 2021

Our Gemara on the top of Amud Beis tells us about the third shift of the paschal sacrifice, and that it was a “light shift”, in that it was completed even before Hallel reached “Ahavti”. The Gemara in Pesachim 65a fills us in on more details: The Paschal Sacrifice was brought in the Bais HaMikdash via three shifts, by halakhic mandate. That is, the entire population of Jews who came to bring the sacrifice would be divided …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 16th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us that decorations in the Succah do not invalidate height requirements but they do invalidate width requirements. That is, the minimum height of a Succah is 10 tefachim, and even if some of that is used up by decorations that is not reducing the space. However, the minimum width is seven tefachim, and decorations will reduce that space. The commentaries try to understand what is the technical difference between heig …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 25th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a verse in Malachi (1:8) that is, in my opinion, one of the most morally challenging statements in Tanach.  Malachi states in the name of God: ื•ึฐื›ึดึฝื™ึพืชึทื’ึผึดื™ืฉืึจื•ึผืŸ ืขึดื•ึผึตึคืจ ืœึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึนึ™ื—ึทึ™ ืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืจึธึ”ืข ื•ึฐื›ึดึฅื™ ืชึทื’ึผึดึ›ื™ืฉืื•ึผ ืคึผึดืกึผึตึฅื—ึท ื•ึฐื—ึนืœึถึ–ื” ืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืจึธึ‘ืข?! ื”ึทืงึฐืจึดื™ื‘ึตึจื”ื•ึผ ื ึธึœื ืœึฐืคึถื—ึธืชึถึ—ืšึธ ื”ึฒื™ึดืจึฐืฆึฐืšึธ …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 1st, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a verse in Mishle (6:9): ืขึทื“ึพืžึธืชึทึ–ื™ ืขึธืฆึตึฅืœ ื€ ืชึผึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึธึ‘ื‘ ืžึธึืชึทึ—ื™ ืชึผึธืงึฅื•ึผื ืžึดืฉืึผึฐื ึธืชึถึฝืšึธืƒ โฆHow long will you lie there, oh lazyone;  When will you wake from your sleep? Let us take this time to discuss psychological ideas about laziness and its cure. There is such a thing as bad character. However, psychology, unlike mussar, looks to unders …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 20th, 2021

The Gemara at the end of Amud Aleph going into Amud Beis tells us an important truism about Torah and spiritual attainment: Rabbi Zeira said, and some say that it was Rabbi แธคanina bar Pappa who said: Come and see that the attribute of flesh and blood is unlike the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He. The attribute of flesh and blood is that an empty vessel โฆholds that which is placed within it, while a full vessel does not hold it. Howev …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 13th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis records a dispute between the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel regarding if one can fulfill the mitzvah of Succah (properly) if his head and most of his body is in the Succah, but his table is in the house. Beis Shammai holds that the rabbis forbade this set up, as it could lead too easily to being drawn to eating in the house. (See Tosafos Yom Tov Mishna Succah 2:7 for a discussion of what Beis Shammai would hold …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 12th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the derivation and dispute between Rabbi Shimon and the Sages about the walls of the Succah. In one iteration of the discussion, there was an idea that the three verses that mention the word Succah account for three walls of the Succah. Then there is an oral tradition from Sinai about an additional wall - but the dispute between Rabbi Shimon and the Sages was about whether the tradition is to subtract a wall to t …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 18th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us why we do not take the Lulav on Shabbos โฆApropos the prohibition against taking a lulav on Shabbat, the Gemara asks: Why is this prohibited? After all, taking the lulav is merely moving the object and is prohibited due to the rabbinic prohibition of set-aside. Since the mitzva to take the lulav is a mitzva by Torah law, let it override this relatively minor Shabbat prohibition. Rabba said: This prohibition is a …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 26th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us about the challenges the rabbinic administrators had in maintaining decorum during the Simchas Beis Hashoeyva.  After all, it is human nature to become more loose and indiscriminate during festive times  (see Be'er Mayim Chaim, Deuteronomy 16:18:11): The Sages taught in the Tosefta: Initially, women would stand on the inside of the Women’s Courtyard, closer to the Sanctuary to the west, and the men …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 8th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph explains, regarding the commandment to cover the blood of a slaughtered bird or wild animal: โฆWith regard to one who slaughtered a non-domesticated animal or a bird and is obligated to cover the blood, if he covered the blood and it was then uncovered, he is exempt from the obligation to cover it a second time. However, if the wind blew dust and covered the blood and no person was involved, he is obligated to cover it. …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 20th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph once discussing the pitchfork, which in Hebrew is ืขืชืจ, notes that the Biblical language used to describe Yitschok’s prayers that his wife become pregnant was ื•ื™ืขืชืจ. The Gemara compares the prayers of a Tzaddik to a pitchfork in that it can completely overturn the nature of his fate as a pitchfork tosses the grain on the threshing floor. The Ben Ish Chai (Benayahu) uses word play to show how literally fate is …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 3rd, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai knew every branch of wisdom, including the conversation of ministering angels; the conversation of demons, and the conversation of palm trees. So, what exactly are these branches of wisdom? Rashi says here regarding the conversation of ministering angels; the conversation of demons, and the conversation of palm trees , “I do not know what it is.”  However, other sag …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 16th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the concept of remembering Zion, that is remembering and awaiting a time that it can be rebuilt and we return to our homeland and autonomous rule. Obviously, there has been some restoration with the modern state of Israel, however we must concede that due to our  national political and religious failings, the coming of a prophet who would lead to the rebuilding of the Temple and a world wide religious awake …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 24th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis says that words of Torah are to be hidden. What does that mean, why should Torah be hidden? To the contrary, Moshe says to Yehoshua (Bamidbar 11:29): ื•ึทื™ึผึนึคืืžึถืจ ืœื•ึนึ™ ืžึนืฉืึถึ”ื” ื”ึทึฝืžึฐืงึทื ึผึตึฅื ืึทืชึผึธึ–ื” ืœึดึ‘ื™ ื•ึผืžึดึจื™ ื™ึดืชึผึตึœืŸ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืขึทึคื ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ื ึฐื‘ึดื™ืึดึ”ื™ื ื›ึผึดื™ึพื™ึดืชึผึตึงืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ืึถืชึพืจื•ึผื—ึ–ื•ึน ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถึฝืืƒ โฆBut Mose …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 27th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis references the famous kal v’chomer about shlom bayis, which is used as a halakhic rationale in various instances to be extra lenient and accommodating regarding marital harmony.  Since on Daf 51 we mentioned the twice yearly custom of the Shidduch dance as described in Mishna Ta’anis (4:8), I will discuss it in some more depth here. There were no days as joyous for the Jewish people as the fifteenth of Av …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 23rd, 2021

Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses non-kosher fish and various physical signs. Two of them that are most famously known as they are explicitly mentioned in the pasuk, are not having fins or scales. The Shalah (ืฉืœืดื”, ืชื•ืจื” ืฉื‘ื›ืชื‘, ื•ื™ืงืจื, ื“ืจืš ื—ื™ื™ื ืฉืžื™ื ื™ ื”) offers an explanation for why these species are not kosher. Most are familiar with the obvious concept that the non-kosher beasts and birds are predators as opposed to th …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 26th, 2021

The Gemara on Amud Aleph uses an interesting phrase, ื”ืจื™ื ื™ ื›ืคืจืช ืžืฉื›ื‘ื• let me be an atonement for his resting place. Rashi (here and Kiddushin 31b) explains that the suffering of a son or Talmid could somehow achieve a penance or forgiveness for the father or master. Indeed the halakha is (Ramban Shaar Hagemul 41, Kiddushin 31b, Shulkhan Arukh YD 240:9) that one says this phrase about a deceased father or mother when repeating Torah …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 19th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph uses the following phrase to explain why a naturally Occurring bundle of reeds is still kosher for schach even though, in general, bundles are not kosher for schach: ืึถื’ึถื“ ื‘ึผึดื™ื“ึตื™ ืฉืึธืžึทื™ึดื ืœึธื ืฉืึฐืžึตื™ื”ึผ ืึถื’ึถื“ Binding at the hand of Heaven is not considered a binding The Sod Yesharim (Succah 1, and Succah 15) interprets this phrase allegorically. The Zohar (I:85b) famously tells us that a …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 23rd, 2021

Our Gemara discusses the various spaces that can be accounted for within the schach, that are legally kosher but not actual Schach. They are: under 3 tefachim of blank space (lavood), under four tefachim of space used by material that ordinarily is not kosher for Schach, and up to four amos contiguous from any wall of material not ordinarily kosher for Schach. The Gemara describes the latter as “Dofan Akuma”, a bent wall. That is, leg …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 5th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph rules that one is not allowed to use a stolen Lulav and esrog. The Mei HaShiloach (Likkutei Shas II: Succah) notes that though a stolen Lulav cannot be used, a stolen Succah can be used, because land really cannot halakhically be stolen, as it cannot be lifted up or taken anywhere. He then notes a parallel rule regarding using a Lulav on shabbos, which is not allowed, unlike a Succah which is.  Of course, the nuts an …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 22nd, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes another invalid scenario of ืชืขืฉื” ื•ืœื ืžืŸ ื”ืขืฉื•ื™: If there was a large pile of hay in a field and then one hollowed out a living space, “igloo style” inside the pile, it would not be kosher as a Succah. Even though the material is all kosher and the size is correct, since he hollowed out the internal space, the roofing Schach only came into being inadvertently. Noam Elimelech (Bereishis Va …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 15th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph Speaks of the manner in which the wood of the Succah becomes set aside and holy for the mitzvah, and cannot be used for any other purpose during the holiday. There is a powerful Shalah (ืขืฉืจืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื•ืช, ืžืกื›ืช ืกื•ื›ื”, ื ืจ ืžืฆื•ื” ื›) Who relates experiences he had from his own Rebbe, which he ties into the teachings of this gemara: The Shalah starts out with a reminder of the importance of not speaking idle wo …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 6th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us of a sad and frustrating interlude where the servants of the Exilarch stole an elderly lady’s wood and made it into Schach. She was demanding justice be served, and truthfully according to the letter of the Torah law the actual stolen object must be returned. Financial payment is insufficient, so long as the object is unchanged and available. This is true even if one built an entire house and the one main s …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 31st, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells about the fate of one Mishmar of cohanim, known as Bilga. The entire group of Cohanim was shunned due to the actions of one daughter, whom we might call the Original OTD Kid. She ran off with a gentile soldier, and upon the Greek occupation of the Temple Mount, she kicked the altar with her sandal, and said , “Lukos, Lukos (Greek for wolf, wolf), until when will you consume the property of the Jewish people, an …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 23rd, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes the mitzvah of rejoicing on Shemini Azereth. The Peri Tzaddik (Chag Succos 43) explains the unique mitzvah of joy on this holiday over others: The other holidays mention joy, but with some qualifying Language such as “Rejoice before Hashem” (VaYikra 23:40), or “Rejoice on your holiday” (Deuteronomy 16:14). However, for Shemini Azereth, it states “You will be only happy” (ibid …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 6th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses how we derive which species is the correct one for the mitzvah of Lulav: And say the verse is referring to oleander, which has both characteristics. Abaye said: It is written with regard to the Torah: “Its ways are ways of pleasantness” (Proverbs 3:17), and that is not the case with the oleander tree, because it is a poisonous plant and its sharp, thorn-like leaves pierce the hand of one holding it. …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 4th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph states:  โฆWhen the sun is eclipsed it is a bad omen for the entire world. The Gemara tells a parable. To what is this matter comparable? It is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who prepared a feast for his servants and placed a lantern [panas] before them to illuminate the hall. He became angry at them and said to his servant: Take the lantern from before them and seat them in darkness. How can we make sense …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 11th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes the Cherubim as two human child forms. There is something odd about the entire concept of having Cherubim in the holy of Holies. One of the most taboo objects in the Torah are graven images. In fact, the Rambam in the beginning of the Laws of Idolatry lists no less than 49 negative prohibitions and two positive Commandments regarding idolatry. How then can we account for graven images in what is arguably the holi …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

July 14th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph uses a rule of thumb that a person’s body occupies one cubit. This phrase is understood metaphysically by Rav Tzadok HaCohen (Kometz Mincha 1:81). There is a phrase called, “The four cubits of halakha”, which Rav Tzaddok explains to be referring to the four dimensions of Torah: Peshat, Remez, Derash and Sod. These are not easy to translate, but suffice it to say that they represent increasingly esoteric …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

August 29th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis notes the irony that whilst the Jewish people had a standing center of worship, they were praying for the welfare of the entire world. Even so, their enemies destroyed this powerful beacon of Godly benefit to the entire world. โฆRabbi Yoแธฅanan said: Woe unto the nations of the world that lost something and do not know what they lost. When the Temple was standing, the seventy bulls sacrificed on the altar during the festi …
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