Title: Zichru - Brachos
Tags: Perek_5 Zichru Brachos_31 Brachos_32 Brachos_33 Brachos_34 Siman

Q: Daf 31 - דף לא
A: Judge (connected to law)

Q: Daf 31 - לא - Judge (connected to law)
A: Siman – Judge (connected to law) The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.

Q: Judge (connected to law) The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.
A: 1. Breaking a glass at a chuppah
The Gemara recounts several incidents where the Rabbis tempered joyous events with seriousness when they felt their peers were overly cheerful. This is the reason (Tosafos) for breaking the glass at a wedding:
- Mar the son of Ravina broke a precious glass worth four hundred zuz in the presence of the Rabbanan
- Rav Ashi broke a white glass in their presence as well
2. The proper mindset for tefillah
The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa that one should not daven Shemoneh Esrei amidst a state of sorrow עצבות ,slothfulness עצלות ,laughter שחוק ,silly chatter שיחה ,light headedness ראש קלות or idle words בטלים דבירם .Rather one should daven amidst the joy associated with a mitzvah, של שמחה .מצוה.
3. Halachos learned from Chanah’s tefillos
A large part of this Daf details the many halachos and concepts related to tefillah learned from Chanah’s tefillos and her conversation with Eli. A few examples include:
- One must direct their heart to G-d.
- One must pronounce the words with his lips.
- It is forbidden to raise one’s voice to the degree that others can hear.
- It is forbidden to sit within four amos of one who is davening

Q: Judge (connected to law) The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.
A: 2. The proper mindset for tefillah
The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa that one should not daven Shemoneh Esrei amidst a state of sorrow עצבות ,slothfulness עצלות ,laughter שחוק ,silly chatter שיחה ,light headedness ראש קלות or idle words בטלים דבירם .Rather one should daven amidst the joy associated with a mitzvah, של שמחה .מצוה.

Q: Judge (connected to law) The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.
A: 1. Breaking a glass at a chuppah
The Gemara recounts several incidents where the Rabbis tempered joyous events with seriousness when they felt their peers were overly cheerful. This is the reason (Tosafos) for breaking the glass at a wedding:
- Mar the son of Ravina broke a precious glass worth four hundred zuz in the presence of the Rabbanan
- Rav Ashi broke a white glass in their presence as well

Q: Judge (connected to law) The judge was so impressed with the joyous davening that took place right after the breaking of the glass at a chuppah, that he signed up for the course on tefillah given by a woman named Chanah.
A: 3. Halachos learned from Chanah’s tefillos
A large part of this Daf details the many halachos and concepts related to tefillah learned from Chanah’s tefillos and her conversation with Eli. A few examples include:
-One must direct their heart to G-d.
- One must pronounce the words with his lips.
- It is forbidden to raise one’s voice to the degree that others can hear.
- It is forbidden to sit within four amos of one who is davening

Q: Daf 32 - לב
A: Lab

Q: Daf 32 - לב
A: Mad scientist in a lab.
The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
3 Word Hint – Calf, Praises, Tears

Q: The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
A: 1. Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael for their involvement in the chet ha’egel
The Gemara goes through an extensive analysis of Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael before Hashem for their involvement in the chet ha’egel (sin of the Golden Calf),
- Moshe argued that the cause of the sin was the abundance of gold that Hashem had lavished on Bnei Yisrael.
- Moshe realized that Hashem telling him to leave (לי הניחה (really provided an opening for him to continue to try to save the nation by imploring Hashem on their behalf. - Moshe countered Hashem’s notion to rebuild the nation entirely from Moshe, arguing that if a threelegged chair—Bnei Yisrael founded on the Avos—could not endure, then surely a one-legged chair— Bnei Yisrael founded from him alone—would not endure.
2. Praising Hashem
R’ Simla’i teaches that one should always praise Hashem before praying: של שבחו אדם יסדר לעולם .הקב'ה ואחר כך יתפלל
- This is learned from Moshe, who first praised Hashem before petitioning to be granted permission to enter Eretz Yisrael.
3. The Gates of Tears are never locked
The Gemara relates that though the heavenly gates of tefillah have been locked since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, the gates of tears have not been locked.
אף על פי ששערי תפילה ננעלו שערי דמעה לא ננעלו -
This is learned from the passuk – שמעה תפלתי ה' ושועתי האזינה אל דמעתי אל תחרש , Hear my prayer, Hashem, give ear to my outcry, to my tears be not silent.

Q: The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
A: 1. Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael for their involvement in the chet ha’egel
The Gemara goes through an extensive analysis of Moshe’s defense of Bnei Yisrael before Hashem for their involvement in the chet ha’egel (sin of the Golden Calf),
- Moshe argued that the cause of the sin was the abundance of gold that Hashem had lavished on Bnei Yisrael.
- Moshe realized that Hashem telling him to leave (לי הניחה (really provided an opening for him to continue to try to save the nation by imploring Hashem on their behalf. - Moshe countered Hashem’s notion to rebuild the nation entirely from Moshe, arguing that if a threelegged chair—Bnei Yisrael founded on the Avos—could not endure, then surely a one-legged chair— Bnei Yisrael founded from him alone—would not endure.

Q: The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
A: 2. Praising Hashem
R’ Simla’i teaches that one should always praise Hashem before praying: של שבחו אדם יסדר לעולם .הקב'ה ואחר כך יתפלל
- This is learned from Moshe, who first praised Hashem before petitioning to be granted permission to enter Eretz Yisrael.

Q: The mad scientist in the lab tried to create a gold colored calf that would sing his praises all day long but when the calf came to life it escaped, causing the mad scientist to break down into tears.
A: 3. The Gates of Tears are never locked
The Gemara relates that though the heavenly gates of tefillah have been locked since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, the gates of tears have not been locked.
אף על פי ששערי תפילה ננעלו שערי דמעה לא ננעלו -
This is learned from the passuk – שמעה תפלתי ה' ושועתי האזינה אל דמעתי אל תחרש , Hear my prayer, Hashem, give ear to my outcry, to my tears be not silent.

Q: Daf 33 - לג
A: Pirate with a peg leg

Q: Daf 33 - לג - Pirate with a peg leg
A: The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim.
Quick Words – Pirate, Havdala, Praises, Yiras Shamayim.

Q: The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim.
A: 1. Havdalah
When the Jews first returned to Eretz Yisrael from the Babylonian exile, the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) fixed the berachah of Havdalah within Shemoneh Esrei, because the people were poor and couldn’t afford wine.
Later, when the people grew wealthier, the berachah was removed from tefillah and its recital was fixed over a cup of wine. The details of the original enactment were forgotten.
Later still, when the people became impoverished, they reverted to the original enactment and fixed Havdalah in tefillah, but required people who could afford it to recite Havdalah a second time over wine.
2. Limiting praising Hashem’s traits
R’ Chanina reprimanded a shliach tzibbur who enumerated a long list of Hashem’s traits. When the man finished his tefillah, R’ Chanina asked him, “Did you complete all the praises of your Master סיימתינהו לכולהו שבחי דמרך? – “?
He explained that were it not for the fact that Moshe praised Hashem with the three attributes of Gadol, Gibbor and Nora in the Torah and the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah established them in the text of our tefillos, we would not have been able to recite even those attributes.
יראת שמים .3
R’ Chanina taught that שמים מיראת חוץ שמים בידי הכל – Everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven.
This is derived from the passuk - ועתה ישראל מה ה' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה  -  Israel, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you, but merely to fear Hashem.

Q: The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim.
A: 1. Havdalah
When the Jews first returned to Eretz Yisrael from the Babylonian exile, the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) fixed the berachah of Havdalah within Shemoneh Esrei, because the people were poor and couldn’t afford wine.
Later, when the people grew wealthier, the berachah was removed from tefillah and its recital was fixed over a cup of wine. The details of the original enactment were forgotten.
Later still, when the people became impoverished, they reverted to the original enactment and fixed Havdalah in tefillah, but required people who could afford it to recite Havdalah a second time over wine.

Q: The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim.
A: 2. Limiting praising Hashem’s traits
R’ Chanina reprimanded a shliach tzibbur who enumerated a long list of Hashem’s traits. When the man finished his tefillah, R’ Chanina asked him, “Did you complete all the praises of your Master  סיימתינהו לכולהו שבחי דמרך? – “?
He explained that were it not for the fact that Moshe praised Hashem with the three attributes of Gadol, Gibbor and Nora in the Torah and the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah established them in the text of our tefillos, we would not have been able to recite even those attributes.

Q: The pirate with a peg leg lifted up his cup of Havdala and started enumerating many praises for Hashem when his wife came in and reprimanded him for having no yiras shamayim.
A: יראת שמים .3
R’ Chanina taught that שמים מיראת חוץ שמים בידי הכל – Everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven.
This is derived from the passuk - ועתה ישראל מה ה' אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה  -  Israel, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you, but merely to fear Hashem.

Q: Daf 34 - לד - Siman
A: Ladder

Q: לד - 34 - Ladder
A: The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.

Q: The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.
A: 1. How to approach the three different parts of Shemoneh Esrei
R’ Chanina taught how one should comport himself while davening Shemoneh Esrei:
- When he recites the first three berachos, he is like a servant who states words of praise before his master before daring to make a request.
- When he recites the middle berachos, he is like a servant who requests his allotment.
- When he recites the last three berachos he is like a servant who received his allotment from his master, begs leave and goes on his way, expressing gratitude.
2. The proper times to bow
The Gemara discusses the proper times to bow during Shemoneh Esrei and teaches that the more exalted the stature of the individual, the greater the need to humble oneself through bowing:
A regular Jew: At the beginning and end of the first beracha of Avos as well as the beginning and end of the beracha of Hoda’ah (Thanksgiving).
Kohen Gadol:
One opinion states at the end of each beracha. Another opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha.
Melech:
One opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha. Another opinion states that he remains bowed from the first beracha until the completion of the tefillah.
3. Ba’alei Teshuva vs. Tzadikim Gemurim
The Gemara introduces the question of who is more exalted: Ba’alei teshuva or Tzadikim Gemurin (The completely righteous):
R’ Abahu is of the opinion that the place where ba’alei teshuvah stand, the completely righteous do not stand. במקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין צדיקים גמורים אינם עומדין
His opinion is based on the pasuk, "ולקרוב לרחוק שלום שלום – "Peace, peace to the distant and to the near. (Isaiah 57:19). Hashem extends greetings to those that are distant (ba’alei teshuva) before those that are close (tzadikim gemorim):
R’ Yochanan, who is of the opinion that tzadikim gemurimn are nore exalted, interprets “the distant” as those that are distant from sin, and “the near” as those nearer to sin.

Q: The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.
A: 3. Ba’alei Teshuva vs. Tzadikim Gemurim
The Gemara introduces the question of who is more exalted: Ba’alei teshuva or Tzadikim Gemurin (The completely righteous):
R’ Abahu is of the opinion that the place where ba’alei teshuvah stand, the completely righteous do not stand. במקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין צדיקים גמורים אינם עומדין
His opinion is based on the pasuk, "ולקרוב לרחוק שלום שלום – "Peace, peace to the distant and to the near. (Isaiah 57:19). Hashem extends greetings to those that are distant (ba’alei teshuva) before those that are close (tzadikim gemorim):
R’ Yochanan, who is of the opinion that tzadikim gemurimn are nore exalted, interprets “the distant” as those that are distant from sin, and “the near” as those nearer to sin.

Q: The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.
A: 2. The proper times to bow
The Gemara discusses the proper times to bow during Shemoneh Esrei and teaches that the more exalted the stature of the individual, the greater the need to humble oneself through bowing:
A regular Jew: At the beginning and end of the first beracha of Avos as well as the beginning and end of the beracha of Hoda’ah (Thanksgiving).
Kohen Gadol:
One opinion states at the end of each beracha. Another opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha.
Melech:
One opinion states at the beginning and end of each beracha. Another opinion states that he remains bowed from the first beracha until the completion of the tefillah.

Q: The baal teshuva climbed the ladder to the special room to learn how the King davens Shemoneh completely bowed as the servant down below begged the king for his allotment.
A: 1. How to approach the three different parts of Shemoneh Esrei
R’ Chanina taught how one should comport himself while davening Shemoneh Esrei:
- When he recites the first three berachos, he is like a servant who states words of praise before his master before daring to make a request.
- When he recites the middle berachos, he is like a servant who requests his allotment.
- When he recites the last three berachos he is like a servant who received his allotment from his master, begs leave and goes on his way, expressing gratitude.