Monday, October 16, 2006

Daf Yomi - Sukkah 45 - Highlights

1. The Mishna states that the procedure regarding the mitzvah of aravos was that they would go down to a place below Yerushalayim which was called Motza and they would cut the aravos. They would then place the aravos by the side of the mizbeiach and the tops of the aravos would bend over the top of the mizbeiach. The Kohanim would then sound the shofar. (45a1)
2. The Mishnah states further that every day they would circle the mizbeiach one time and on Hoshanah Rabbah they would circle the mizbeiach seven times. There is a dispute regarding what was recited as they were circling the mizbeiach. (45a1)
3. The aravos were at least eleven Amos high which enabled them to lean over an amah on top of the mizbeiach. The Gemara states that the aravos were placed on the yesod of the mizbeiach which was one amah off the ground because otherwise the aravos could not lean over the mizbeiach. The reason for this is because the top of the mizbeiach was indented two amos more than the bottom because of the two upper protrusions of the mizbeiach and since the aravos were only eleven amos high, they would not reach the top of the mizbeiach. (45a3)
4. The Gemara states that one who eats and drinks on the festivals is deemed to have built a mizbeiach and offered a korban on it. Rashi in his second explanation of the Gemara learns that this statement refers to one who eats and drinks on the day after the festival, known as Isru Chag. (45b1)
5. The Gemara states in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai that all mitzvos must be performed by holding the object used for the mitzvah in the manner in which it grows. (45b1)
6. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai stated that he and his son Rabbi Elazar along with King Yosam the son of Uziyahu, King of Judea, had such great merits that they would have been capable of exempting the entire world from punishment for the sins that were committed since the world was created until its end. Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai also stated that there were very few people in the world who merited receiving the Divine Presence. (45b2)
7. The Gemara discusses the manner in which the people praised Hashem and the mizbeiach after performing the mitzvah with the aravah. (45b3-45b4)
8. The Gemara cites differing opinions regarding the recital of the blessings prior to performing the mitzvah of Sukkah and lulav. Shmuel maintains that one recites a new blessing every day for the lulav. Regarding the blessing for the Sukkah, however, one recites a blessing on the first day and this blessing suffices for all seven days. Rabbah in the name of Rabbi Yochanan maintains the exact opposite opinion and Ravin in the name of Rabbi Yochanan maintains that one recites daily a new blessing on the lulav and on the Sukkah. (45b4-45b5)

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