Weekly Daf

Become a Supporter Library Library

The Weekly Daf

Shavuos 35-41 -- Issue #86
Week of 3-9 Tishrei 5756 / 27 Sept.-3 Oct. 1995

Rav Weinbach's insights, explanations and comments for the 7 pages of Talmud studied in the course of the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle

World Shaking Words

When the court administers an oath in a financial case the judges impress upon the party about to take the oath the gravity of swearing falsely. "Be aware," they tell him, "that the entire universe trembled when Hashem said at Sinai: 'You shall not take the Name of Hashem your G-d in vain.'"

The gravity of this sin, points out the Talmud, lies in the fact that the Torah says that Hashem does not absolve the one who swears falsely with His Name. For all other sins repentance alone can achieve Heavenly absolution, but taking Hashem's name in vain must receive some sort of punishment even with repentance.

The trembling of the universe, explains Maharsha, was based on the fact that Hashem created the world by uttering His sacred Name. One who defiles that Name by swearing falsely with it is therefore guilty of shaking the very foundation of existence.
Shavuos 39a


Heavenly Hospitality

Hospitality towards guests is greater even than receiving the Divine Presence.

This is deduced from the Torah account of Avraham Avinu welcoming three guests to his home. Although the Divine Presence had come to pay a sick call to him while he was recovering from his Bris Milah, Avraham excused himself with the plea "Hashem if I have found favor in Your eyes please do not leave Your servant" (Bereishis 18:3) in order to attend to his guests.
Shavuos 35b


General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer

© 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.

This publication is available via E-Mail
Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students. The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.
Copyright © 1995 Ohr Somayach International. Send us feedback.
Dedication opportunities are available for Weekly Daf. Please contact us for details.
Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.