POINT BY POINT SUMMARY
prepared by Rabbi Yisrael Shaw
of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Chagigah 12
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CHAGIGAH 12 - has been generously dedicated by Lee and Marsha Weinblatt of
Teaneck, N.J.
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(i) Question: Now that the verse says that one may ask
only about what is within the world (and not about
what was before its creation), for what do we need
the verse, "from the day that Hashem created man
on the earth?"
(ii) Answer: That verse is needed to teach that the
first man extended from the earth to the heaven,
but when he sinned, Hashem shortened him.
(iii) Another opinion says that the first man extended
from one end of the world to the other, as it
says, "from the day that Hashem created man on the
earth from one end of the heaven to the other
end of the heaven," but when he sinned, Hashem
shortened him.
(iv) Both of these measures are the same.
1) THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
(a) Ten things were created on the first day of Creation: heaven
and earth, Tohu and Bohu, light and darkness, wind and
water, the attribute of day and the attribute of night.
1. (R. Yakov) Two types of light were created: the
eternal light on the first day, which was hidden away
for the Tzadikim, and the worldly light on the fourth
day.
2. (Chachamim) Only one type of light was created; it was
created on the first day, and set in place on the fourth.
(b) The world was created with ten things: Chachmah and Tevunah,
Da'as and Ko'ach, Ge'arah and Gevurah, Tzedek and Mishpat,
Chesed and Rachamim.
(c) Which was created first, the heaven or the earth?
1. (Beis Shamai) The heaven was created first and then the
land.
2. (Beis Hillel) The land was created first and then the
heaven
3. (Chachamim) They were created at the same time.
(d) What does "Shamayim" mean?
1. (R. Yosi b. Chanina) "Sham Mayim" ("water is there").
2. (Beraisa) "Esh u'Mayim" (where there is "fire and water"
mixed together).
12b---------------------------------------12b
(e) (R. Yosi) Woe to the creatures who see but do not know
what they are seeing, and stand but do not know upon what
they stand.
1. The earth stands on pillars (Iyov 9:6), the pillars
on water (Tehilim 136:6), the water on the mountains
(Tehilim 104:6), the mountains on the wind (Amos 4:13),
the wind stands on storms (Tehilim 148:8), and the storms
hang from the mighty arm of Hashem (Devarim 33:27).
2. (Chachamim) The earth stands on twelve pillars (Devarim
32:8).
3. (Yesh Omrim) The earth stands on seven pillars (Mishlei
9:1).
4. (R. Eliezer b. Shamua) The earth stands on one
pillar, and "Tzadik" is its name (Mishlei 10:25).
(f) How many firmaments of the heavens are there?
1. (R. Yehudah) There are two firmaments (Devarim 10:14).
2. (Reish Lakish) There are seven firmaments, and each one has
its own specific role, as is learned from verses.
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