1)

(a)When they asked Rav Chisda, whether someone who ate or drank without reciting a B'rachah (Rishonah), should continue eating, or whether he should perhaps make a B'rachah in the middle of the meal, he commented - 'Should someone who has eaten garlic and reeks, eat garlic again and reek even more? (i.e. 'Two wrongs don't make a right!')

(b)Ravina added to Rav Chisda's ruling that, if need be - he is obligated to recite the B'rachah even after the meal.

(c)And he based this ruling on a Beraisa, which rules - that a Ba'al-Keri recites the B'rachah over Tevilah after he emerges from the water.

(d)We reject Ravina's proof however - due to the fact that whereas the Ba'al-Keri is unfit to recite the B'rachah, te person who forgot to recite the B'rachah Rishonah was fit, and not having recited the B'rachah in its time, he can no longer recite it afterwards.

2)

(a)We learned in a Beraisa that 'Aspargus' - (a beverage that they used to drink each morning as a cure), that is drunk regularly is good for the eyes and the heart, and certainly, for the intestines.

(b)We know that the Tana is referring to wine-Aspargus - because he says that it is good for the heart.

(c)Aspargus is bad for the entire body - if one drinks enough to become inebriated.

3)

(a)Another Beraisa states that Aspargus is good for 'L'A'T' but bad for 'R'M'aT'. The 'Lamed' and the 'Alef' of 'L'A'T' stand for Leiv and Ayin - the 'Tav' stand fors for - 'T'chol' (the spleen).

(b)And if the 'Reish' and the 'Mem' of 'R'M'aT' stand for Rosh and 'Me'ayim', what does the 'Tav' stand for 'Tachtoniyos' (the bowels)?

(c)The problem with the earlier Beraisa is - its statement that Aspargus is good for the intestines, which clashes with the current one.

(d)To resolve the discrepancy, we establish the earlier Beraisa by smoked wine, and this is based on a Mishnah (as we shall now see).

4)

(a)The Mishnah in Nedarim discusses someone who declares a Neder on wine - because, he claims that it is bad for the intestines.

(b)When they informed him that smoked wine is good for the intestines - he reacted with silence.

(c)The Tana there concludes - that he is forbidden to drink regular wine, but permitted to drink smoked wine.

5)

(a)The Beraisa lists - six things regarding Aspargus.

(b)The first of these are 'Chai' and 'Malei' (that the cup should be full). 'Chai' mean -that it should be undiluted.

(c)One receives the cup that one is handed with the right hand, but drinks it holding it in the left.

(d)What one should one not do ...

1. ... after drinking it is - talk.

2. ... whilst drinking it - is interrupt (one drinks it in one go).

6)

(a)The Beraisa rules that, after having drunk the Aspargus, one returns the cup - to the person who handed it to him.

(b)After drinking it - one should spit.

(c)When the Tana concludes 've'ein Somchin oso Ela be'Miyno', he means - that immediately after drinking it, one eats a food of the same species as that from which the Aspargus was made.

(d)To reconcile this Beraisa with the Beraisa 'Ein Somchin oso Ela be'Pas', we establish the latter by Aspargus made from wine; whereas the former Beraisa is talking about - Aspargus that is made from beer ...

(e)... which can be made either from figs or dates (o barley?).

7)

(a)To reconcile the Beraisa that we learned earlier 'le'L'A'T' Yafeh, li'R'M'aT' Ra', with the Beraisa which inverts the two lists (li'R'M'aT Yafeh, le' L'A'T' Ra') - by establishing one by Aspargus that is made from wine, and the other, by Aspargus that is made from beer ...

(b)... the former, by wine-Aspargus, the latter, by beer-Aspargus.

(c)And we give the same answer -to reconcile the above Beraisa, which says that one should spit after drinking it, with the Beraisa which states that it is bad to do so.

8)

(a)Rebbi Yishmael ben Elisha ...

1. ... Kohen Gadol cites three things that ...

2. ... Suriel, the celestial 'Minister of the Interior' taught him.

(b)He taught him that one should not ...

1. ... accept one's clothes from one's valet when getting dressed in the morning.

2. ... to allow him to wash his hands when washing 'Neigel-Vasser'.

3. ... to return the cup of Aspargus after having drunk its contents to anyone other than the person who handed it to him.

(c)Some say that the reason for these things is because of Tachs'fis (a group of demons); others, because of Istalgis - a group of damaging angels ...

(d)... which eagerly declare - 'When will somebody transgress one of these things and fall into our clutches?'

9)

(a)The Angel of Death taught Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi three things, two of them corresponded to two of the same things that Suri'el taught Rebbi Yishmael ben Elisha (not to take one's clothes from the valet, not to allow him to wash his hands for Neigel-Vaser) - and not to stand in front of the women when they return from burying a dead person ...

(b)... because the Angel of Death himself, who sword in hand, dances in front of them, has a mandate to do as he pleases.

(c)Someone who did should jump four Amos from his place, leaving him with three options; to cross a river, to change to another route - or to hide behind a wall.

(d)If all this is not possible, he should turn round and recite the Pasuk (in Zecharyah) - "Vayomer Hash-m el ha'Satan, Yig'ar Hash-m b'cha ha'Satan ... ") ...

(e)... and keep on repeating it - until the group has passed.

10)

(a)Rebbi Zeira Amar Rebbi Avahu (or a Beraisa) now discusses 'Kos shel B'rachah' - the cup of wine over which one ecites Birchas ha'Mazon, Kidush or Havdalah ...

(b)... requires - ten things.

(c)The first four are Hadachah, Sh'tifah' Chai and Malei. 'Chai' and 'Malei' (which we have already discussed) are - undiluted and a full cup respectively.

(d)To reconcile 'Chai' with the Mishnah, which rules that one does not recite a B'rachah over undiluted wine, we explain that after pouring the undiluted wine into the cup, one adds water. Alternatively - one brings the jar full from the barrel, and dilutes it immediately in the cup.

(e)The Beraisa defines ...

1. ... 'Hadachah' as - washing it from the inside, and ...

2. ... 'Sh'tifah' as - washing it from the outside.

11)

(a)Besides Itur and Ituf, which will be discussed shortly, the Kos shel B'rachah must also be taken with both hands - before placing it in the right hand.

(b)It should be held - at a height of one Tefach from the table.

(c)Whilst reciting Birchas ha'Mazon one should look - at the Kos.

(d)Yesh Omrim adds -that one should send the Kos shel B'rachah to one wife.

12)

(a)Rebbi Yochanan brings it down to four - (the first four listed ('Hadachah, Sh'tifah, Chai and Malei').

(b)He also said, based on the Pasuk in ve'Zos ha'Berachah "u'Malei Birchas Hash-m Yam ve'Darom Yerachah", that anyone who recites a B'rachah over a full cup of wine - will be given an unlimited inheritance.

(c)According to Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Chanina, he will inherit two worlds (as hinted in the Pasuk [See Tosfos DH 'Zocheh ... ') - This world and the world to come.

(d)To fulfill 'Itur', Rav Yehudah would surround the Kos with Talmidim, whereas Rav Chisda surrounded it - with Kosos.

13)

(a)According to Rav Sheishes, one add water to the Kos shel B'rachah - when one reaches Birchas ha'Aretz.

(b)In order to fulfill 'Ituf', Rav Papa would wrap himself in his Talis before taking the Kos shel B'rachah. Rav Asi used to - don his Sudar (headgear worn by Talmidei-Chachamim).

(c)Still in connection with the Kos shel B'rachah, Rebbi Chin'na bar Papa learn from the Pasuk in Tehilim "Se'u Yedeichem Kodesh u'Varchu es Hash-m" - that one should hold it with both hands.

(d)The 'Rishonim' cited by Rebbi Chiya bar Aba Amar Rebbi Yochanan asked - whether one is permitted to hold the Kos in one's right hand, but to support it with one's left.

(e)Bearing in mind that the Rishonim posed a She'eilah which went unanswered - Rav Ashi Paskened le'Chumra (that one should refrain from doing so).

14)

(a)Which did Rav Acha bar Chanina cite as the source for raising the Kos shel B'rachah (a Tefach) the Pasuk in Tehilim - "Kos Yeshu'os Esa u've'Shem Hash-m Ekra".

(b)The reason we give for the obligation of looking at the Kos whilst reciting Birchas ha'Mazon is - in order not to take one's mind off it.

(c)One send the Kos shel B'rachah to one's wife - for her too to share in the blessing.

15)

(a)When Ula, who was a guest of Rav Nachman recited Birchas ha'Mazon after the meal, sent the Kos shel B'rachah to his host, the latter requested that he also send some of it to Yalsa - his (Rav Nachman's) wife.

(b)Ula responded by citing Rebbi Yochanan, who said, based on the Pasuk in Eikev "u'Veirach P'ri Bitn'*cha*" - that a person's wife is automatically via the blessing of her husband.

(c)We support this with Rebbi Nasan in a Beraisa - who said the same thing.

16)

(a)When Yalsa heard about their conversation - became furious and broke four hundred barrels of wine.

(b)They attempted to pacify her - by sending her a cup of wine from the same barrel with instructions to drink it since all the wine in the barrel is considered Kos shel B'rachah.

(c)She replied 'mi'Mahaduri Mili (from people who have nothing to do comes out empty talk) u'mi'Martuti Kalmi' - (and from worn out clothes come out lice) ...

(d)... by which she meant that - their words were empty and meaningless, since it is only the cup of wine over which they actually recited Birchas ha'Mazon that is considered the Kos shel B'rachah.

17)

(a)When Rav Asi says 'Ein Masichin Al Kos shel B'rachah' - he is referring (not to talking during Benching, which ii obvious, but) to not talking from the time the Mevorech picks up the filled cup until he actually begins Benching.

(b)And from the Pasuk in Amos "Hikon Likras Elokecha Yisrael", he learns - that one does not use as Kos shel B'rachah a cup of punishment ...

(c)... which Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak interprets as 'a second cup' (See Rosh - Si'man 35 and Ma'adanei Yom-Tov 3).

(d)And we support this with a Beraisa - which says the same thing.

18)

(a)According to Rebbi Avahu (or a Beraisa), someone who ate whilst ...

1. ... walking - Benches standing.

2. ... standing - Benches sitting, and so does a person who ate ...

3. ... leaning.

(b)The Halachah however is - that one always Benches sitting (See Tosfos DH 've'Hilch'sa').

19)

(a)The first of the differences cited by the Mishnah regarding the differences between Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel is that according to Beis Shamai, Kidush precedes the B'rachah over the wine for two reasons; one of them, because it is the day that causes the wine to be brought, the other - because Shabbos comes in before the wine does.

(b)Beis Hillel too, give two reasons as to why the B'rachah over the wine comes first; one of them, because were it not for the wine, there would be no Kidush, the other - because the B'rachah over wine (which, in those days, was the regular drink) is more common than Kidush.

20)

(a)Besides Ner and Besamim of Nochrim and of Meisim - one may not use for Havdalah, those of Avodah-Zarah.

(b)One is permitted to recite a B'rachah over Ner - provided one benefits from its light (This will be explained in the Sugya).

(c)In the event that one changed one's location after forgetting to Bench, Beis Shamai - one to return to one's place and Bench.

(d)Beis Hillel - permit one to Bench where one is.

21)

(a)One permitted to still Bench - as long as the food has not yet digested.

(b)According to Beis Shamai, if a cup of wine arrives at the end of the meal and it is the only one available, one first recites a B'rachah over the wine and then Birchas ha'Mazon. Beis Hillel say - first Birchas ha'Mazon and then the wine.

(c)When the Tana states that one answers 'Amen' to the B'rachah of a Yisrael - he is referring to a person who only heard the end of the B'rachah, but not the beginning.

(d)One is not similarly permitted to answer 'Amen' to the B'rachah of a Kuti - in case he began the B'rachah by mentioning (not the Name of Hash-m, but) Har Gerizim (which housed the god that they worshipped).