The Weekly Daf #77 Sanhedrin 107-113 Week of 28 Tamuz - 5 Av 5755 / 26 July - 1 August 1995 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions =========================================================================== Listening to a Eulogy The great flood which destroyed a wicked world was delayed until the tzadik Mesushelach (A/K/A Methuselah - ed.) passed away so that he would not be included in their judgment. The Torah, however, makes a point that another seven day period of grace was granted after his passing. What was the point of these seven days? These seven days, explains the Sage Rav, were the days of mourning for Mesushelach. This teaches us that the eulogies said for tzadikim have the power to delay tragedy. Two insights are offered by the commentaries regarding this power, each of them focusing on a different sort of listener: The eulogy for a tzadik can inspire repentance in the listening sinner who is stirred to an awareness that he no longer has the tzadik's merits to protect him. (Maharsha) The deceased hears the eulogy said for him. The Sage Rav urged Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilas to warm up the audience when the time came to say a eulogy for him "because I will be standing there." If the tzadik delayed tragedy in his lifetime he is considered as still being here during the seven day period of mourning and eulogies. (Iyun Yacov) Sanhedrin 108b =========================================================================== Lesson of the Olive Leaf The dove which Noach sent from the ark to check on whether the great flood had subsided returned with an olive leaf in its mouth. This, says Rabbi Elazar, was the dove's way of uttering this prayer: "Sovereign of the Universe, may the food which nourishes me be as bitter as the olive leaf but coming directly from Your hand and not sweet as honey but dependent on flesh and blood." This, explains Maharsha, is a lesson for every man to be content with even the little he receives from Heaven and not seek the luxuries which will make him dependent on other humans. Keep your Shabbos meals down to a simple weekday level, say our Sages, rather than be dependent on others. Sanhedrin 108b =========================================================================== Spend this Coming Winter Break in Israel for as little as $599 (including airfare from New York) with the Jewish Learning Exchange -> JLE Israel Winter Seminar '95/'96 -> 3 weeks of study and touring (Departure December 21) -> Optional free week Jan 11-18 -> For Jewish men between the ages of 19 and 30 with demonstrated academic achievement and a sincere motivation to explore their roots. For information: send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin: RZCorlin@aol.com or call 800-431-2272 / 212-213-3100 =========================================================================== 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. 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 Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il =========================================================================== (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.