The Weekly Daf #83 Shavuos 14-20 Week of 11-17 Elul / 6-12 September By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions =========================================================================== Torah as Preventive Medicine Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi recited Psalm 91 of Tehillim before retiring at night to protect himself against the dangers of the night. (This has been universally accepted as part of the Shma recited before going to sleep.) In response to the challenge that it is forbidden to conjure healing with words of Torah the Talmud explains that what the sage did was preventive rather than curative. This distinction is utilized by Maharsha in explaining the counsel given by this same sage (Eruvin 54a) that "one who feels an ache in his head should study Torah." The subject there is not one who already suffers a serious ailment in his head, only a slight ache which causes him to be concerned that it will develop into full fledged illness. His study of Torah is therefore of a preventive nature which is not only permitted but advisable. Shavuos 15a =========================================================================== Divine Architecture The Beis Hamikdash, states the Sage Abaye, cannot be constructed at night. When the Torah describes the erection of the first Sanctuary in the wilderness it speaks of "the day the Mishkan was established" to teach us that such construction cannot take place at night. This raises a problem regarding a scenario presented by the Talmud (Sukkah 41a) of the Third Beis Hamikdash being constructed on the night between the 15th and 16th of Nissan and the implications of such a situation for the post-Beis Hamikdash decree of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai to refrain from eating new grain until the entire 16th day has passed. The ban on nocturnal construction, explains Rashi (ibid.), applies to human effort. The Beis Hamikdash of the future, to which we are looking forward, will descend from Heaven completely built as we say in the Shirah which the Children of Israel sang at Yam Suf "the Mikdash which Your hands formed, Hashem" (Shmos 15:17). Shavuos 15b =========================================================================== Announcing a new Ohr Somayach Publication: Seasons of the Moon The Jewish Year Seen Through Its Months... A new monthly newsletter that shows you the Jewish Year through its seasons of the moon. The first issue will be sent out just before Rosh Hashanah. To subscribe, send the message "sub month {your name}" to "listproc@jer1.co.il" =========================================================================== SUBSCRIBE! to one of the many weekly "lists" published by Ohr Somayach Institutions: weekly - Summary of the weekly Torah portion dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into the Daf Yomi ask - The Rabbi answers YOUR questions on Judaism parasha-qa - Challenging questions on the weekly Torah portion os-special - All the SPECIAL publications produced by Ohr Somayach os-alum - "B'Yachad" - the Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter judaismo - Spanish-Language newsletter on the Parsha & Judaism month - Seasons of the Moon - The Jewish Year through its months There is NEVER a charge for any of the above lists (though your local information provider, such as AOL, Prodigy or CompuServe, might charge a nominal fee). To subscribe to any of these lists, send the message: subscribe {listname} {your full name} to: listproc@jer1.co.il =========================================================================== Dedication opportunities are available for The Weekly Daf. Please contact us for details. =========================================================================== Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by the Jewish Learning Exchange of J L E Ohr Somayach International J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J L E Tel: 972-2-810315 Fax: 972-2-812890 J J L E Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE WWW: http://jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr =========================================================================== (C) 1995 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.