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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON GEMARA AND RASHI

prepared by Rabbi Eliezer Chrysler
Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Jerusalem

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Berachos 17

1) Rav Sheishes used to pray to Hashem, asking Him that, in place of the Korban, whose Cheilev and Dam they used to bring on the Mizbei'ach, he had brought his own diminished Cheilev and Dam before Hashem on the Mizbei'ach, and that Hashem should accept him.

(a) On what occasion would he offer this prayer?
Rebbi Yochanan would say "Sof Adam la'Mus, ve'Sof Beheimah li'Shechitah; ve'ha'Kol le'Misah Heim Omdim. Ashrei Mi she'Gadal ba'Torah, va'Amalo ba'Torah, ve'Oseh Nachas Ru'ach le'Yotzro, ve'Gadal be'Shem-Tov, ve'Niftar be'Shem-Tov Min ha'Olam".
(b) When would he say this?

(c) Which other Pasuk from Mishlei would he add to this beautiful statement?

(d) What recipe does Rebbi Meir have for those who want Hashem to be with them wherever they go?

2) The Rabbanan of Yavneh used to say "Ani Beryah, ve'Chaveiri Beryah" etc.
(a) Who are the two Beryos?

(b) What contrast did the Rabbanan strike between these two categories of people?

"ve'She'ma Tomar: 'Ani Marbeh, ve'Hu Mam'it"?

(c) What is the question?

(d) And what is the answer?

3) Abaye used to say that a person should always be 'Arum be'Yir'ah', speak softly, and be 'Marbeh Shalom'.
(a) What did Abaye mean by 'Arum be'Yir'ah'?

(b) To what extent did he expect people to be Marbeh Shalom, and why?

(c) What did they say about Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai?

4)
(a) What did Rava derive from the Pasuk in Mishlei "Reishis Chochmah Yir'as Hashem, Seichel Tov le'Chol Oseihem", and in which light is someone who learns she'Lo li'Shemah perceived?

(b) What does she'Lo li'Shemah mean?

(c) What is said about someone who studies Torah she'Lo li'Shemah'?

5) Rav used to make a striking contrast between this world and Olam ha'Ba.
(a) What will be blatantly missing there?

(b) What *will* Olam ha'Ba comprise?

(c) How does he derive this from the Pasuk written about Har Sinai "va'Yechezu es ha'Elokim va'Yochlu va'Yishtu"?

6)
(a) The women can expect an even greater reward than the men in Olam ha'Ba. Considering that the men's reward there is based mainly on Torah-study Chazal have said that it is only those who learn Torah who will arise at Techiy'as ha'Meisim), to what merit do they owe that reward?
When the Rabbanan of Rebbi Ami or Rebbi Chanina's Yeshivah would go home, they would wish each other much success in both worlds, and in their Torah-learning.
(b) What is the meaning of 'Ki Havu Mifteri Rabbanan' .... ?

(c) What does the following mean?
"Alufeinu ... Mesabulim (two explanations) ... Ein Peretz ... ve'Ein Yotzeis ... ve'Ein Tzevachah ... bi'Rechovoseinu?

Answers to questions

17b---------------------------------------17b

7) Yeshayah writes "Shim'u Elai Abirei Leiv *ha'Rechokim mi'Tzedakah*". According to one interpretation, the whole world is fed on Tzedakah, and the Abirei Leiv 'bi'Zero'a'.

(a) What does 'bi'Zero'a' mean?

(b) What is the second interpretation of this Pasuk, and what does 'Chanina Be'ni' have to do with it?

(c) How does Rav Yehudah interpret "Abirei Leiv, and how does Rav Yosef prove this explanation"?

(d) Why did the non-Jewish inhabitants of Masa Mechsaya qualify for the title 'Abirei Leiv'?

8) Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel (in our Mishnah) forbids any Chasan to recite the Shema on the day of his wedding, and the Rabbanan permit it.
The Gemara asks from the Mishnah in Pesachim, where the Rabbanan forbid anyone to adopt the Minhag of the Talmidei Chachamim not to work on Tish'ah be'Av, even where the Minhag is to permit it; whereas Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel holds that anyone may consider himself a Talmid Chacham for the occasion.

Rebbi Yochanan answers that in one of the two places the opinions were inadvertently switched (it is not clear which one).
How does the Gemara reconcile both the Rabbanan and Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel without switching their opinions either here or in Pesachim?

Hadran Alach, 'Hayah Korei'!

9)

(a) From which Mitzvos is an Onen (before the burial) Patur, and why?
It is customary to change the pall-bearers whilst the coffin is being carried to the Beis-Olom.
(b) Why is that?
Sometimes, it is someone in front of the coffin who takes over the transportation, and sometimes it is someone behind it.
(c) What is the difference between the two, regarding being Patur from reciting the Shema (as long as they are actually carrying the coffin), and why the difference?

(d) Why are they both Patur from Tefilah?

10)
(a) What is the Din concerning reciting the Shema when they return from the actual burial, and are walking towards the 'Shurah'?

(b) And how about those who are actually standing in the Shurah as the Mitzvah of Nichum Aveilim is being performed?

Answers to questions

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