Chagigah 20 - March 1, 28 Adar 1

Study Guide Chagigah 20

This month’s shiurim are sponsored by Heather Stone in loving memory of her father, Robert Stone, Yehuda Leib ben Naphtali HaLevy ve’Chaya, z”l, who passed away on 21 Adar 1. “He lived his Jewish values blending them with his fierce belief in democracy and feminism.”

Today’s daf is sponsored by Ariella Slovin in honor of her mother, Reena Slovin's birthday. “With love from her three children and their spouses. We are so impressed by her unwavering dedication to daf yomi which reflects her dedication to Jewish education and Jewish practice. We love you!” 

Today’s daf is sponsored by Rikki and Alan Zibitt in loving memory of Alan's mother, Helen Zibitt, Henia bat Yaacov v' Rachel Leah on her 22nd yahrzeit. “Mom loved Israel and learning, and would have been active in Daf Yomi.”

Today's daf is sponsored in honor of Miriam Tannenbaum on her English birthday. "In honor of our dear mother. Thank you for being a role model in everything you do. Whether your students, your family, your aspirations, or Torah, בליבו לשמרו, your full heart and efforts are felt always. We love you!

Rav Meri said that one can infer from the Mishna that those who treat their non-sacred items as if they are sacrificial meat, the laws of sacrificial meat actually apply to them. From where in the Mishna is this inferred? A number of laws are brought regarding one who has a lapse of thought in protecting an item from impurity and the item is therefore not considered protected and is treated as impure. Some of the cases are where one confuses one item for another. Is that really a case where we say there was a lapse of thought? In a braita, a case is brought where one confuses wine with oil and yet it is still considered pure! Before the Gemara answers the question, they ask a counter-question - why does the braita forbid one to eat the oil? Rabbi Yirmia answers that the case is one where it was watched from becoming impure in a way that it would pass on impurity (contact with a first or second-degree impurity - because of the stringency of the rabbi regarding liquids) but not from becoming disqualified/impure (contact with a t'vul yom). Is there really such a thing as watching an item partially? Yes, and a braita is brought to prove that. The Gemara goes back to the question about why a lapse of thought would cause an item to be impure and raises more questions from sources that indicate that if one intends to watch an item, it is considered protected from impurity. In the end, answers are brought to explain why these situations were unique. The Mishna lists many issues for which sacrificial meat is treated more severely than teruma.