(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material
as long as this header and the footer at the end are included.)


REVIEW QUESTIONS ON GEMARA AND RASHI

prepared by Rabbi Eliezer Chrysler
Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Jerusalem

Previous daf

Bechoros 20

BECHOROS 19-20 - Ari Kornfeld has generously sponsored the Dafyomi publications for these Dafim for the benefit of Klal Yisrael.

1)

(a) We learned in our Mishnah that a cow and a donkey have generally conceived and given birth by the time they reach their fourth year.
What does Rebbi Yossi b’Rebbi Yehudah say about a donkey?

(b) The Beraisa repeats the opinion of Rebbi Yishmael, citing Rebbi Yehoshua, who presents the objection of ‘Tinuf, Sh’fir and Shilya’ (like Rebbi Akiva in our Mishnah), which he heard from his Rebbes.
How do we initially establish the basis of the Machlokes between Rebbi Yishmael and Rebbi Yehoshua?

2)
(a) Alternatively, even Rebbi Yishmael will hold that Tinuf exempts the animal from the Bechorah.
What is then the basis of their Machlokes? Why does Rebbi Yishmael consider the next baby a Safek Bechor?

(b) How can we say that, after having just learned that Rebbi Yishmael holds like Rebbi Meir, who contends with the minority?

(c) As a second alternative, we suggest that Rebbi Yishmael might even hold like Rebbi Meir le’Kula, too.
Why will he nevertheless consider the next baby to be a Safek Bechor?

(d) What does Rebbi Yehoshua then hold?

3)
(a) Rebbi Yehoshua concludes however, that he disagrees with what he heard from his Rebbes. He maintains that a goat which emitted a ‘Tinuf’ at six months, can still give birth within the year. What did he originally hold?

(b) We establish that the two opinions of Rebbi Yehoshua argue over a statement of Ze’iri.
What does Ze’iri mean when he says ‘Ein Tinuf Pachos mi’Sheloshim Yom’?

(c) What is the period of pregnancy of a Beheimah Dakah?

(d) Why can Rebbi Yehoshua’s second opinion therefore not concur with Ze’ iri?

4)
(a) Why is there no problem, according to Rebbi Yehoshua’s first opinion?

(b) Alternatively, even Rebbi Yehoshua’s second opinion concur’s with Ze’ iri.
Why might it nevertheless be possible for an animal which emitted a ‘Tinuf’ at six months to give birth ...

  1. ... within the year?
  2. ... within a year, even assuming that it requires five full months of pregnancy?
Answers to questions

20b---------------------------------------20b

5)

(a) Rebbi Akiva disagrees with Rebbi Yehoshua in the Beraisa. Initially, Rebbi Chanina from Sura assumes that he exempts even an animal that has milk, from the Bechorah.
Why is that?

(b) What does Rebbi Yehoshua then hold?

(c) The Tana Kama in the Mishnah in Yevamos rules that if a man moves to another country with his wife, and dies without children, in the event that his mother-in-law was pregnant when they left, his wife is forbidden to get married. Rebbi Yehoshua disagrees.
Why is that?

(d) What problem does this create with Rebbi Yehoshua’s ruling in the previous Beraisa?

6)
(a) How do we amend the Beraisa to conform to the Mishnah in Yevamos?

(b) What does Rebbi Akiva now mean, when he says ...

  1. ... Kol she’Yadua she’Bichrah, Ein Ka’an le’Kohen K’lum’?
  2. ... ‘Safek, Ye’achel be’Mumo le’Ba’alim?
(c) And we support this with a Beraisa, where Rebbi Yehoshua and Rebbi Akiva argue over whether milk exempts a cow from the Bechorah.
What does each one hold?
7)
(a) What does the Beraisa say about a goat that gave birth to three female babies, each of which subsequently gave birth to three female babies of their own?

(b) Does this include the original goat?

(c) Is there any reason why the Tana chooses to speak about goats?

(d) What does Rebbi Shimon add?

8)
(a) Why does the Tana Kama refer to three babies each, when two of them might just as well have given birth to two each?

(b) What problem do we nevertheless have with the fact that the Tana chose a case where each of the three gave birth to three? How do we think he could have got away with two each?

(c) We suggest that perhaps the Tana holds that an animal that emits a ‘Tinuf’ cannot give birth within a year.
How does this statement differ dramatically from a similar statement that we made earlier in connection with the Machlokes between Rebbi Yishmael and Rebbi Akiva?

(d) How do we reject this suggestion.
Why will everyone agree here that the mother cannot give birth within a year?

Answers to questions

Next daf

Index


For further information on
subscriptions, archives and sponsorships,
contact Kollel Iyun Hadaf,
daf@shemayisrael.co.il