* The Weekly Daf * #2 Kiddushin 75-82 Week of 6-13 Adar 5754/17-24 February 1994 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions ========================================================================= In August 1923, the First International Congress of Agudath Israel World Movement met in Vienna, at which Rav Meir Shapiro proposed uniting people worldwide through the daily study of a page of Talmud. The project is currently in its 10th cycle, and is engaged in the study of Tractate Kiddushin. Each week, Rav Weinbach will be providing us with his insights on the seven pages of the Daf Yomi study. Rav Weinbach's background as a Rosh Yeshiva, author and lecturer, is sure to guarantee interesting reading. Presented here are sample "nuggets" based on this week's Daf Yomi study. ========================================================================= The Virtue of Vulnerability The requirement for a Kohen to check into the ancestry of the woman he wishes to marry -- to ascertain that there is nothing in her family history to disqualify her as a marriage partner -- is suspended in the case where there were charity wardens in her family. The background for this is the power of these wardens, appointed by the community to collect charity assessments imposed on members of the community, to enforce their collection by confiscating property from reluctant individuals even at such a tense time as Erev Shabbos. This would inevitably bring them into conflict with these individuals and would have led to their being humiliated with the mention of any family blemish. If such vulnerability never led to exposure, it is a guarantee that there were no skeletons in the family closet. Kiddushin 76b ========================================================================= Merits and Livelihood Rabbi Meir declared: One should always teach his son a clean and simple trade and pray to He who is the source of all wealth and property, for there is no trade which cannot lead to poverty and wealth; for poverty and wealth are not determined by trade alone but rather by merit. Kiddushin 82a Rabbi Shimson ben Elazar declared: I have never seen a deer drying fruit, a lion porter, or a fox shopkeeper and yet they are all provided with their food without pain. They were created only to serve me and I was created to serve my Master. If those who were created to serve me are provided with their livelihood without pain then certainly I, who was created to serve my Master, should be provided with my livelihood without pain - but I have corrupted my actions and complicated my livelihood. Kiddushin 82b ========================================================================= Spend this coming Summer in Israel for as little as $599 -> JLE Israel Summer Seminar '94 <- 6 weeks of study and touring (June 1 - July 17) for Jewish men between the ages of 19 and 30 with demonstrated academic achievment and a sincere motivation to explore their roots. Minimum scholarship price: $599 (for round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours) For information: o send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin o from the U.S. call toll-free 800-431-2272 (212-344-2000) o Outside N. America, send E-Mail to: newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il ========================================================================= Ohr Somayach produces four lists: weekly - summary of the parshas hashavua. parasha-qa - questions and answers to the parshas hashavua. ask - Ask the Rabbi Column. dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into and comments on the seven pages of Talmud studied this week. To subscribe to any of these lists, send the message: subscribe {listname} {firstname} {lastname} to: listserv@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il This address is only for SUBSCRIPTIONS. If you have any comments, questions and suggestions, we'd love to hear them! Send them to: newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il Compuserve Members: You MUST preface all addresses with INTERNET: ========================================================================= Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il =========================================================================