REVIEW QUESTIONS ON GEMARA AND RASHI
prepared by Rabbi Eliezer Chrysler
Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Jerusalem
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Sukah 51
SUKA 36-56 (End of Maseches) have been dedicated by the wife and daughters
of the late Dr. Simcha Bekelnitzky (Simcha Gedalya ben Shraga Feibush) of
Queens N.Y. Well known in the community for his Chesed and Tzedakah, he will
long be remembered.
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1)
(a) According to Rebbi Meir (in the Mishnah in Erchin), it was the slaves of
the Kohanim who played the instruments whilst the Korban was being brought;
according to Rebbi Yossi, it was members of distinguished families of
Yisrael. What does Rebbi Chanina ben Antignos say?
(b) On what grounds do we refute the initial contention that Rebbi Meir
holds 'Ikar Shirah be'Peh', and Rebbi Chanina ben Antignos, 'Ikar Shirah
b'Ch'li'?
(c) So we conclude that each one holds that that is how they happened to do
it. What do they all hold, 'Ikar Shirah be'Peh' or Ikar Shirah 'bi'Ch'li'?
(d) Can we nevertheless learn from ...
- ... Rebbi Meir (slaves)?
- ... Rebbi Yossi (distinguished Yisre'eilim)?
- ... Rebbi Chanina ben Antignos (Levi'im)?
2)
(a) Rebbi Yirmiyah bar Aba disagrees with Rav Yosef (on the previous Amud).
According to him, both Rebbi Yossi bar Yehudah and the Rabbanan agree that
the instruments were considered an Avodah, and that they overrode Shabbos.
What is then the Machlokes, in his opinion?
(b) The Tana of a Beraisa, who quotes the Machlokes with regard to the
instruments of the Simchas Beis Hasho'eivah, corroborates Rebbi Yirmiyah bar
Aba, and proves Rav Yosef wrong. We try to establish their Machlokes by the
Shir shel Korban too, (in order not to disprove Rav Yosef - who maintains
that *that* is where they argue - wrong on *two* scores). Then why does
the Tana choose to present their argument specifically by the instruments of
the Simchas Beis Hasho'eivah?
(c) What do we finally establish from the Lashon of the Tana in our Mishnah
'*Zehu* Chalil shel Beis Hasho'eivah, she'Eino Docheh Lo es ha'Shabbos ...
'? Who must be the author of our Mishnah?
3)
(a) How does the opinion that holds that the main Shirah is ...
1. ... the *singing* explain the Pasuk in Divrei Hayamim, which writes with
regard to the singing "ve'Al-Yedei *K'lei* David Melech Yisrael"?
2. ... *playing the instruments*, explain the Pasuk there "Vayehi ke'Achad
la'Mechatzerim *ve'la'Meshorerim"*?
(b) Who were the "Mechatzerim"?
4)
(a) What does the Tana of our Mishnah say about someone who did not see the
'Simchas Beis Hasho'eivah'?
(b) Where did the Simchas Beis Hasho'eivah take place, and when did they
make a big Tikun there (in preparation for it)?
(c) Why does the Tana say that they went *down* there? Who does *they* refer
to?
(d) How many basins did each of the giant Menoros contain, and how many
ladders led up to each basin?
5)
(a) Who ascended these ladders and what were they holding when they went up?
(b) What were the wicks made of?
(c) How does the Tana describe the extent of light that emanated from these
lamps?
(d) What did the Chasidim and Anshei Ma'aseh do in front of the crowds who
had come to celebrate?
Answers to questions
51b---------------------------------------51b
6)
(a) What role did the Levi'im play in the proceedings? Where did they stand?
(b) What is the connection between that and the Shir ha'Ma'alos in Tehilim?
(c) Two Kohanim were standing by the upper-gate that separated between the
Ezras Yisrael and the Ezras Nashim. What was their function?
(d) What happened when the man gave the signal (or the rooster crowed)?
7)
(a) According to our Tana, they blew the trumpets two more times. When was
that?
(b) For how long did the Kohanim continue blowing the last set of 'Teki'ah,
Teru'ah, Teki'ah'?
(c) What did they do (and say) when they reached the Eastern-gate?
(d) According to the Tana Kama, they ended with the words 'Anu le'Kah
Eineinu'. What were their final words, according to Rebbi Yehudah?
8)
(a) What does the Tana say about someone who did not see ...
- ... Yerushalayim in the time of its glory?
- ... the Beis Hamikdash before its destruction?
(b) Which Beis Hamikdash is the Tana referring to? Who built it?
(c) What materials did he use? How did he build it?
(d) Why did he not use gold?
9)
(a) And what does the Tana say about someone who did not see the
'*D'yu*flustun' of Alexandria? Why was it called by that name, and what was
its purpose (for whom was it built)?
(b) It is also called a sort of 'Basilki'. What does that mean?
(c) How many people did Shul seat?
(d) What was the significance of the seventy-one thrones? How much gold did
each one consist of?
10)
(a) What was unusual about the seating plan of Alexandria's gigantic Shul?
What was the purpose of this arrangement?
(b) What purpose did the large wooden platform in the middle of the Shul
serve?
(c) A King called Alexander (not Alexander Mokdon, who built it) destroyed
it. Why was it destroyed?
(d) What is the significance of the Pasuk from the Tochachah in Ki Savo
"Yisa Hashem Alecha Goy me'Rachok"? What did this Pasuk have to do with the
destruction of Alexandria?
11)
(a) What was the big Tikun that they made in the Ezras Nashim?
(b) Which two other arrangements did they try earlier, and why did they
fail?
(c) Why did it not seem right to add these balconies to the walls of the
Beis Hamikdash?
(d) How do we finally justify the Tikun?
Answers to questions
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