1)

(a)Rebbi Yirmiyah ben Elazar says that the curse of Bavel - extends to all its neighbors.

(b)He learns it from the Pasuk in Yeshayah "ve'Samtihah le'Morash Kipod ve'Agmei Mayim ... " - which actually refers to Bavel's neighbors.

(c)It is based on the principle - 'Woe to the Rasha, woe to his neighbor!'

(d)The same Chacham says that - when Shomron are cursed (as expressed in the Pasuk in Michah). Its neighbors are blessed.

(e)Shomron - is the capitol of the Ten Tribes.

2)

(a)Rav Hamnuna rules that someone who sees Uchlusei Yisrael - (incorporating a group of six hundrefd thousand people) recites the B'rachah 'Baruch ... Chacham ha'Razim' ...

(b)which means - that Hash-m knows all that is in in the heart of each of them.

(c)And one recites 'Bushah Im'chem Me'od ... ' (a Pasuk in Yirmiyah) - upon seeing the equivalent number of Nochrim.

(d)A supportive Beraisa gives the reason for Rav Hamnuna's first ruling - in that although each of their minds and their faces is different, Hash-m recognizes each and every face and knows what each one is thinking.

3)

(a)When ben Zoma he recited the B'rachah 'Baruch ... Chacham ha'Razim', he was standing - on the steps of Har ha'Bayis.

(b)To that, he added the B'rachah "Baruch ... she'Bara Kol Eilu le'Shamsheini".

(c)The advantage he had over Adam ha'Rishon (after the curse) when it came to eating and obtaining clothes to wear was that - the latter had to prepare all his own food and make his own clothes himself, whereas he found everything already prepared for him.

(d)After ...

1. ... plowing, sowing, reaping, gathering into a pile, threshing and winnowing, Adam ha'Rishon still had to - select, grind, sift, knead and bake before he had bread to eat.

2. ... shearing the wool, bleaching and combing it, he still had to - spin and weave before he had clothes to wear.

4)

(a)ben Zama obtained all his needs - by all sorts of people (or craftsmen) arriving at his door with their wares.

(b)They all came to him and not vice-versa - because he was extremely wealthy and could afford to pay for dod to door service.

5)

(a)According to ben Zoma ...

1. ... a good guest says - that all the meat, wine and loaves that the host took the trouble to prepare were all in his honor, whereas ...

2. ... a bad guest says - that seeing as he only ate one piece of bread and one piece of meat and drank only one glass of wine, the host went to all the trouble on account of his wife and children.

(b)The Pasuk in Iyov therefore says ...

1. ... "Z'chor, ki Sasgi Pa'alo asher Shor'ru Anashim" - about a good guest, and ...

2. ... "Lachein Y'rei'uhu Anashim Lo Yir'eh Kol Chachmei Leiv" - about a bad one.

6)

(a)The Pasuk in Shmuel writes "ve'ha'Ish bi'Yemei Shaul Zakein Ba ba'Anashim" - about Yishai (the father of David ha'Melech).

(b)According to the Beraisa, the minimum number of people that qualifies as an Uchlusa is - six hundred thousand.

(c)Consequently, Yishai - (about whom the Tana uses the word 'Uchlusa') therefore went out, come in and Darshened - at the head of six hundred thousand followers.

(d)The Beraisa also says - that there is no 'Uchlusa in Bavel'.

7)

(a)One should recite, upon seeing ...

1. ... Chachmei Yisrael - the B'rachah 'Baruch she'Chalak (or she'Nasan) me'Chaochmaso li'Yere'av'.

2. ... Chachmei Akum - 'Baruch she'Nasan me'Chochmaso le'Biryosav' (or 'le'Basar va'Dam').

(b)And a person should recite upon seeing ...

1. ... a Jewish king - 'Baruch she'Chalak mi'Chevodo li'Yere'av'.

2. ... a gentile king - 'Baruch she'Nasan mi'Chevodo le'Biryosav' (or 'le'Basar va'Dam').

(c)Rebbi Yochanan said that - one should run in order to see ...

1. ... a Jewish king, and even to see ...

2. ... a gentile king.

(d)The reason for the latter is - so that, should one merit to see Mashi'ach, one will be able to appreciate the difference between them.

8)

(a)When everybody went to greet the king, Rav Sheishes, who was blind - went along too.

(b)When that Tzedoki saw him, he remarked to Rav Sheishes - that if whole barrels go down to the river to be filled, why should broken barrels go?

(c)Likewise, he was hinting to him - why does a blind go to see the king?

(d)Rav Sheishes replied - that he was more acquainted with the royal protocol than he (the Tzedoki) was, as he would soon discover.

9)

(a)When, as the first group of the king's men arrived amidst a fanfare, the Tzedoki remarked that the king had arrived, Rav Sheishes said - 'not yet'.

(b)Thus happened - one more time.

(c)When the third group arrived amidst silence, Rav Sheishes remarked - that now the king had arrived.

(d)His initial reply to the Tzedoki's query how he knew was - that Divine protocol follows the same pattern as that of a human king.

10)

(a)The Pasuk in Melachim (that Rav Sheishes quoted in reply to the Tzedoki) says that - Hash-m was not in the storm-wind, the noise or the fire that passed before the Navi, as he stood on the mountain ...

(b)Hash-m passed - when a small thin voice was heard.

(c)The name of the Navi was - Eliyahu.

(d)When Rav Sheishes recited the appropriate B'rachah, the Tzedoki asked - how he could recite a B'rachah when he couldn't even see the king?

(e)Some say that the Tzedoki's friends poked out his eyes. According to others - Rav Sheishes turned him into a pile of rubble by merely looking at him (See also Mesores ha'Shas).

11)

(a)Rebbi Shilo - gave Malkos to the man who had relations with an Egyptian woman

(b)The latter reacted to that - by informing the king that Rebbi Shilo was administering corporal punishments without a permit.

(c)When the group of king's men who came to fetch him asked him why he gave the man Malkos, he replied - that he had performed an act of bestiality.

(d)When he told the men that he had a witness who would testify to that effect - Eliyahu came in the form of a human-being and testified as to the veracity of Rebbi Shilo's statement.

(e)And when they asked him why he did not then sentence him to death, he replied - that, since they went into exile, they did have permission to issue the death sentence.

12)

(a)Whilst they were looking into the matter, he recited the Pasuk in Divrei ha'Yamim - "l'cha Hash-m ha'Gedulah ... ".

(b)And when they asked him what he was saying - he replied that he was blessing Hash-m for having placed on earth whose judgements were comparable to Divine justice, and who granted them (the Persians) power and a love of justice.

(c)When the king's men heard how appreciative Rebbi Shilo was of their judicial system - they issued him with a judicial club with which to punish the malcreants, and authorized him to punish them and to issue the death-sentence.

13)

(a)He explained to the man who asked him why Hash-m would perform miracles with someone who tells lies - that indeed, the Pasuk in Yechezkel refers to Nochrim as donkeys ("... asher Basar Chamorim Besaram ... ").

(b)That Rasha intended to - report to the king that Rebbi Shilo had referred to them as Nochrim.

(c)Rebbi Shilo therefore felt justified in killing him, based on the principle that - 'If someone comes to kill you, beat him to the draw and kill him first!'

(d)He did just that - with his judicial club.

14)

(a)Rebbi Shiloh then began to Darshen the Pasuk "L'cha Hash-m ha'Gedulah ... " - since a miracle had just occurred on account of it.

(b)According to his explanation, based on ...

1. ... the Pasuk in Tehilim "Oseh Gedolos ad Ein Cheiker", "Gedulah" refers to - the Creation.

2. ... the words "ha'Yad ha'Gedolah" (in the Pasuk in Beshalach "va'Yar Yisrael es ha'Yad he'Gedolah") - ''Gevurah" refers to Yetzi'as Mitzrayim

3. ... the Pasuk in Yehoshua "va'Yidom ha'Shemesh", 'Tiferes" refers - Matan Torah.

(c)Based on the Pasuk in Yeshayah "ve'Yeiz Nitzcham al Begadai", "Netzach" refers to the downfall of Rome. Based on the Pasuk ...

1. ... in Chukas "Al kein Ye'amer be'Seifer Milchamos Hash-m es Vahev be'Sufah", "Hod' refers to - the battle of Nachalei Arnon (against the Cana'anim who were hiding in the caves).

2. ... in Shoftim "Min Shamayim Nilchamu ha'Kochevim mi'Mesilosam ... ", "Ki Chol ba'Shamayim u'va'Aretz" refers - to the battle against Sisra.

(d)And based on the Pasuk ...

1. ... in Ki Seitzei "Ki Yad al Keis Kah ... ", "L'cha Hash-m ha'Mamlachah" refers - to the battle against Amalek.

2. ... in Yechezkel "Hin'ni eilecha Gog ... ", "ve'ha'Misnasei" pertains to the battle against Gog.

(e)What all the above cases have in common is - the fact that they were all fought by the 'Ish Milchamah' without any human participation.

15)

(a)Rav Chanan bar Rava amar Rebbi Yochanan (or Rav) explain the words "le'Chol le'Rosh" with reference to - (even) a foreman of laborers who are digging a water-pit.

16)

(a)A Beraisa, citing Rebbi Akiva explains "Gedulah" with reference to K'ri'as Yam-Suf, "Gevurah" with reference to Makas Bechoros and "Tif'eres" in connection with - Matan Torah

(b)If, according to him, "Netzach" refers to Yerushalayim, "Hod" refers to - the Beis-ha'Mikdash.

17)

(a)The Beraisa now discusses the B'rachah that one had to recite over houses in Eretz Yisrael - after returning to the land during the period of the second Beis-ha'Mikdash.

(b)One recited 'Baruch Matziv G'vul Almanah' - over the houses of Yisrael that were rebuilt.

(c)If one saw them in their state of destruction, one recited - 'Baruch Dayan ha'Emes'.

(d)One recited the Pasuk ...

1. ... in Mishlei "Beis Ge'im Yisach Hash-m" - over houses belonging to Nochrim that were inhabited, and the Pasuk ...

2. ... in Tehilim "Keil Nekamos Hash-m ... " - if they were destroyed.

18)

(a)Ula queried Rav Chisda, who sighed upon seeing the house of Rav Chana bar Chanila'i, based on a statement of Rav, who, based on the Pasuk in Yechezkel "ve'Atah ben-Adam, He'anach be'Shivron Masnayim", stated - that sighing breaks half of one's body.

(b)Whereas Rebbi Yochanan, based on another Pasuk there - maintained that it breaks one's entire body.

(c)The outstanding Midah of Rav Chana, that caused Rav Chisda to involuntarily sigh at the sight of his house was - that of Chesed.

19)

(a)Sixty bakers were busy in Rav Chana bar Chanila'i's house both by day and by night to bake for the needy ...

(b)... and his hand was always on his purse - in case a poor man of good Midos would come for help, and by the time he pulled out his purse he would retract on account of embarrassment.

(c)His house had - four entrances, one on each side (like Avraam'Avinu's tent), to encourage the hungry to enter from whichever direction they approached the house.

(d)Rav Chisda said that anybody who entered Rav Chana's house hungry - left satisfied.

(e)He used to throw wheat and barley into the street - so that people who were embarrassed to fetch food by day could come and come and collect it by night.

20)

(a)Ula quoting the Pasuk in Yeshayah cited by Rebbi Yochanan, explained the strange phenomenon of such a Tzadik's house having become a ruin - by ascribing it to a Divine decree that the houses of Tzadikim should be destroyed.

(b)Rebbi Yochanan also says, based on the Pasuk in Tehilim "Shir ha'Ma'alos le'David, ha'Botchim ba'Hashem ke'Har Tziyon" - that Hash-m will restore them just as He will restore Har Tziyon.

(c)Rav Chisda - was not comforted by Ula's attempt to raise his spirits.

(d)When Ula concluded 'Dayo le'Eved Lih'yos ke'Rabo', he meant - that Rav Chana bar Chanila'i's house, just like that of His Divine Master, was destroyed.

21)

(a)The Beraisa cites the B'rachah 'Baruch ... asher Yatzar eschem ba'Din ... ' - with regard to someone who sees the gravesite of Jewish graves.

(b)The B'rachah continues ve'Zan eschem ba'Din ve'Kilkel eschem ba'Din ve'Asaf eschem ba'Din". The first half of the B'rachah ends - 've'Asid le'Hakimchem ba'Din'.

(c)Mar b'rei de'Ravina in the name of Rav Nachman adds "ve'Yode'a Mispar Kulchem, ve'Hu Asid le'Hachayoschem u'Lekayem eschem". The B'rachah ends - 'Baruch ... Mechayeh ha'Meisim'.

(d)The Tana cites the Pasuk in Yirmiyah "Bushah Imchem Me'od ... " - in connection with what a person should say when he sees the graves of Nochrim.

22)

(a)Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi says that one should recite. upon seeing one's friend after a break of ...

1. ... thirty days - the B'rachah of 'Shehechiyanu'.

2. ... twelve months - the B'rachah of Mecheyeh ha'Meisim'.

(b)Rav proves from the Pasuk in Tehilim "Nishkachti ke'Meis mi'Leiv Hayisi ki'Cheli Oveid" - that one tends to forget one's deceased after a year ...

(c)... just as one tends to forget about objects that one lost.

(d)We can also learn it from the Halachah regarding a lost article - on that after a year of announcing an article that one finds one is no longer obligated to announce it.

23)

(a)Rav Papa and Rav Huna b'rei de'Rav Yehoshua told Rav Chanina b'rei de'Rav Ika when they met him - that they had recited the B'rachos of 'asher Chalak me'Chochmaso li'Yere'av' and 'Shehechiyanu' upon seeing him.

(b)He tell them that he had also recited - 'Baruch ... Chacham ha'Razim' when he saw them ...

(c)... because he considered them like six hundred thousand people of Yisrael.

(d)At which they said to him - 'You are so wise!'

(e)They then looked at him and he turned into a pile of bones (See eitz Yosef).

24)

(a)Which B'rachah Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi requires someone sees an albino to recite - 'Baruch ... Meshaneh ha'Beriyos'.

(b)We query this from a Beraisa however, which says that one recites, upon seeing someone who ...

1. ... is black, red or very white-skinned, who ...

2. ... appears squashed on account of his fatness (or who is extremely tall and his face protrudes from his head), a dwarf or someone who is covered with warts (or who has a twisted mouth) - 'Baruch ... Meshaneh es ha'Beriyos'.

(c)And he prescribe. upon seeing someone ...

1. ... whose hands have been cut off, who is blind, whose hair is completely matted ...

2. ... who is lame, who is a leper, or someone who is covered with freckles - the B'rachah 'Baruch ... Dayan Emes'.

(d)We reconcile Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi with the Beraisa - by establishing him by someone who is born an albino and the Beraisa by someone who became one after birth.

(e)We prove the answer - from the case of someone whose hands have been cut off, which appears in the same list.

25)

(a)The Beraisa require someone who sees an elephant or a monkey to recite - 'Baruch Meshaneh es h'Beriyos'.

(b)Included in the list is a 'Kifof' - an owl.

(c)The Tana also says that, upon seeing beautiful creatures and nice-looking trees, one should recite - 'Barcuch ... she'Kacha Lo be'Olamo'.

(d)Shmuel describes the 'Zikin' in our Mishnah over which one recites 'Baruch ... she'Kocho u'Gevuraso Malei Olam' as shooting-stars. He commented - that he was as well acquainted with the paths of heaven as he was with those of Neherda'a - except for the shooting-stars, which he could not explain.

26)

(a)We reconcile the fact that shooting-stars seem to pass Mazal K'sil with the tradition that it never does such a thing - by ascribing what we see to the brightness of the shooting-stars, and not of the stars themselves.

(b)If they did pass K'sil - the world would come to an end.

(c)Rav Huna b'rei de'Rav Yehoshua explains that - shooting-stars are the heaven called Vilon splitting, allowing a view of the heavedn above it in the shape of a sword.

(d)Rav Ashi reconciles the Kashya from the tradition on the fact that the shooting-stars seemingly pass Mazal K'sil - by explaining that one star moves from its place on one side of K'sil, and its opposite number on the other side of K'sil gets a fright and moves too.

27)

(a)The problem Shmuel had with the two Pesukim "Oseh Ash u'Kesil ve'Kimah" (Amos) and "Oseh Kimah u'Kesil" (Iyov) is - why they switch the order of the two Mazalos?

(b)His basic answer was - that it is because they are both of equal importance (as we shall now see).

(c)

1. ... K'sil governs - in the summer, and ...

2. ... Kimah - in the winter.

(d)Were it not for ...

1. ... the heat of K'sil - the cold of Kimah would destroy the world, and were it not for ...

2. ... the cold of Kimah - the heat of K'sil would destroy it.

28)

(a)Another name for 'Kimah' (which is part of Mazal T'leh) - is Akrav (scorpio).

(b)'Nahar di'Yenur' - the river of fire ...

(c)... which weakens the power of Kimah/Akrav - whose tail is placed in it (thereby warming it up a little and taking the sting out of it).

(d)Otherwise - anyone bitten by a scorpion would die.

(e)When Hash-m said to Iyov "Did you tie up the bonds of Kimah, or did you unbind the cords of K'sil", He was referring to - the equal standing of Kimah and K'sil (as we explained earlier).

29)

(a)According to Shmuel, 'Kimah' is the acronym of - 'k'Me'ah Kochavim' (of which Kimah is comprised).

(b)Some say that this is referring to stars that are bunched together closely. Others say - that they are scattered over a distance.

(c)Rav Yehudah connect explains that "Ash" (mentioned in the Pasuk that we cited earlier) - is synonymous with 'Yuta'.

30)

(a)Bearing in mind that the first two Mazalos are T'leh and Eglah, if some say that 'Yuta' is part of the tail of Mazal T'leh, whereas according to others - it is part of the head of Mazal Shor.

(b)The significance of 'the tail of T'leh' is - that it is a cluster of stars that forms the shape of a tail.

(c)We prove from the Pasuk there "ve'Ayash al Banehah Tanchem" - that it must be the former, because it indicates that it is missing some of its stars (which T'leh is, as we shall see shortly) ...

(d)... and when we say that it resembles a 'Tarfa de'Mitrif', we mean - that it looks as if there was an empty space which one filled in by banging with a hammer (or that something has been stuck on to it).

(e)Ayash therefore follows Kimah - in order to ask it to return its children (as we will explain in the next question).