MOED KATAN 28 (8 Adar Alef 5782) - dedicated in honor of the Yahrzeit of Sarah bas Baruch Hersh Rosenbaum, who passed away on 8 Adar 5776, by her husband Zev Dov Rosenbaum.

1)

ELABORATION OF MISHNAH'S STATEMENT ON 27a, 4:c

(a)

There is a dispute as to which women this rule (not placing their bier in the street) applies to.

1.

(Neharda'ei): It applies only to women who died in childbirth.

2.

(R. Elazar): It applies to all women. He backs up his opinion with a Pasuk.

(b)

The Gemara then discusses the deaths of Aharon and Miriam.

2)

DIFFERENT KINDS OF DEATH

(a)

A Beraisa discusses different levels of suddenness of death.

(b)

The Beraisa also discusses ages of people who die:

1.

Death at fifty is what Kares is.

2.

Death at fifty-two is like Shmuel's death.

3.

Death at sixty is what Misah b'Yidei Shamayim is.

4.

Death at seventy is considered reaching old age.

5.

Death at eighty is considered having reached the stage of unusually long life ("strength").

(c)

(Rava): Not only is death at fifty Kares, but so is death from fifty to sixty. The Beraisa did not say this explicitly out of respect to Shmuel, who died at fifty-two.

(d)

At this point the Gemara tells several stories about various rabbis and their encounters with the angel of death.

28b----------------------------------------28b

3)

MISHNAH - MOURNING GESTURES ON SEMI-HOLIDAYS

(a)

Women may do Me'aneh on Chol ha'Mo'ed, but should not do Metape'ach.

1.

R. Yishmael disagrees, and allows Metape'ach for the women standing next to the bier.

(b)

On Rosh Chodesh, Chanukah and Purim women may do Metape'ach, but not Mekonen. After the burial, the Me'aneh and Metape'ach actions must stop.

(c)

Definitions: Me'aneh is when all the women recite a dirge together. Mekonen is when one leads and the others respond.

(d)

Statement: In the future there will be no more death.

4)

ABOUT DIRGES AND EULOGIES

(a)

The Gemara brings several samples of dirges that women used to say about different types of people.

(b)

A Beraisa talks about reciprocity in mourning: The more one mourns and eulogizes (etc.) others, the more these will be done for him when the time comes.

(c)

A Beraisa tells the story of the death of R. Yishmael's sons and the consolations offered by his four great teachers.

5)

MORE ETIQUETTE FOR MOURNERS AND COMFORTERS

(a)

(R. Yochanan): The consolers should not say anything until the mourner begins the conversation.

(b)

(R. Avahu): The mourner should sit at the head of the table. This is derived from a Pasuk.

1.

(R. Chama bar Chanina): A groom should also sit at the head of the table. This is derived from a Pasuk.

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