Moed Katan 4 - January 16, 14 Shvat

Study Guide Moed Katan 4

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This week’s learning is sponsored by Debbie Pine and Mark Orenshein in loving memory of their father’s Harry Pine, Noach Aharon ben Yaakov v’Devorah’s 20th yahrzeit on Tu B’shvat and Herb Orenshein, Tzvi ben Yehuda v’Minna’s shloshim, on the 19th Tevet. “Neither of our fathers had the benefit of a formal Jewish education and yet both of them were committed to providing that for us. They were proud of their families and our dedication to Torah-true Judaism. They would love our commitment to Daf Yomi and how we often learn the daf together. They would be especially appreciative of Rabbanit Michelle who has made the daf accessible to those didn’t grow up learning gemara through her intentionally inclusive style of teaching. We miss them every day. Yehi zichram Baruch”.

Today’s daf is sponsored by Ronnie Rom in honor of her sister, Joanna Rom’s 70th birthday. “Thank you for being my sister & may you go from strength to strength!” 

Today's daf is dedicated by Becki Goldstein in memory of her mother Shoshana Rosa bat Shmuel and Minda Lea. My mother would be so proud and humbled to share this learning with all these special women men worldwide. A self-made woman who attained her high school diploma at the tender age of 70, she would strive all her life to deepen and expand her Torah learning and after she made aliyah she would encourage her children and grandchildren to share their store of knowledge with her. She thanked Hashem every day for the gift of being able to be here with us and we had the zchut to learn with her and from her and make many precious memories together. Yehi Zichra Baruch.

Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael differ on tosefet shviit (adding on time before and after the shmita year) whether it is a Torah law or a halakha l’Moshe mi’Sinai. Rabbi Akiva learns it from the verse “And one should rest from plowing and reaping.” Rabbi Yishmael holds that the verse is referring to Shabbat and it is coming to teach that only actions that are optional are forbidden on Shabbat but if the reaping is for a mitzva, such as the Omer, it is permitted on Shabbat. Rabbi Yochanan’s explanation of Rav Dimi’s statement is explained according to Rabbi Akiva that tosefet is from the Torah and one would have thought one would get lashes, but Rabban Gamliel learned by a gezeira shava that there is no law of tosefet. Rav Ashi questions this and explains Rabban Gamliel differently – he held like Rabbi Yishmael and that it was only for a time when the Temple was in existence. Once it was destroyed, there was no longer a law of tosefet. Why can’t a field be watered from a cistern filled with rainwater? Is it just because if we allow that, one may think it is permitted to use water drawn from a well. Or is it because the water level may drop to the point where one will need to draw it with a pail. A series of braitot are brought which have various cases of watering that are either permitted or forbidden. Comments of amoraim on each braita are brought. If the Mishna says one cannot dig circular ditches around a vine, why did Rav Yehuda allow the people of his city to do that? Why does Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria forbid digging a channel on the shmita year? Two answers are brought and questions are raised on each answer. One can fix a broken channel on Chol Hamoed. Under what circumstances?