1)

(a)A Beraisa writes that the Chilazon bears some resemblance to the sea (perhaps in color). Shape-wise - it resembles a fish.

(b)It appears - from under the ground (see Gilyon ha'Shas).

(c)One produces the Techeiles - from its blood.

(d)It is so expensive - because it only appears once every seventy years.

2)

(a)According to Rebbi Nasan in a Beraisa - even the smallest Mitzvah (an Asei [see Agados Maharsha and Rashash]) is rewarded both in this world and in the World to Come.

(b)To illustrate the reward for Mitzvos in this world, the Beraisa cites the story of a man and a prostitute. When the man heard about a prostitute in a distant land who charged four hundred gold coins for her services - he sent her the money in advance and booked a date to visit her.

(c)When he arrived, he gained entry to her room - via her maidservant, who informed her of the arrival of her client.

(d)When the prostitute invited him to join her, he found seven tiered beds, ready made, six of silver, the seventh of gold, with ladders leading from one to the other. On the top bed lay the prostitute waiting for him.

3)

(a)After he undressed and climbed to the top bed to join her - his Tzitzis miraculously struck him on the face ...

(b)... because he kept the Mitzvah of Tzitzis with great care.

(c)When he promptly climbed down and sat on the floor - the prostitute did likewise.

(d)She thought that he had changed his mind - because he found a blemish on her, and she challenged him to show it to her.

4)

(a)He swore - that he had never seen such a beautiful woman as her ...

(b)... but that his G-d had commanded them a Mitzvah by the name of Tzitzis, in connection with which the Torah writes twice "Ani Hash-m Elokeichem" - once as a warning that G-d will punish those who sin, and once as a promise that He will reward those who keep His Mitzvos.

(c)The four Tzitziyos now appeared to him - in the form of four witnesses.

(d)She was so impressed, that, before allowing him to leave, she demanded from him in writing his name, his city - the name of his Rebbe and of the Beis ha'Medrash where he studied Torah.

5)

(a)Before leaving Rome, she sold her property and divided it into three parts - one third for the state, one third for charity and one third she took with her to Eretz Yisrael.

(b)She needed to leave one third for the state - because otherwise they would not have given her permission to convert to Judaism.

(c)Having sold all her property, the only household article that she took with her to Eretz Yisrael (over and above the third that she took in the form of money) was - the sheets that she had spread for her client.

6)

(a)At first, Rebbi Achya (see also Tosfos DH 'le'Beis Medrasho') was hesitant to accept her as a Ger - because he suspected that she was motivated by the love of a Jewish man, and was not therefore, sincere.

(b)He changed his mind however - when she produced the note that the man had written her, and told him the story behind it, convincing him that her Geirus was le'Shem Shamayim (because, on account of the miracle that had occurred, she acknowledged Hash-m's greatness).

(c)He reacted to that - by converting her and giving her his blessings to marry the man.

(d)Regarding the sheets, he told her that - for the same man for whom she had spread them be'Isur, she could now spread them be'Heter.

(e)For his dedication to the Mitzvah of Tzitzis - the man received in this world the sheets (plus the woman who came with them [see also 'Tzon Kodshim']). As for the World to Come, Rebbi Nasan concluded that - he had no clue as to the extent of the reward there.

7)

(a)Rav Yehudah rules that a borrowed Talis - becomes subject to Tzitzis only after thirty days.

(b)A Beraisa corroborates this ruling. The Tana there states that someone who dwells in an inn in Eretz Yisrael or who rents a house in Chutz la'Aretz - is Patur from fixing a Mezuzah for the first thirty days, but becomes Chayav from then on. The latter is not Chayav immediately, because up to thirty days, a person is liable to retract at any time.

(c)Someone who rents a house in Eretz Yisrael however - is Chayav to fix a Mezuzah immediately, to encourage him to remain, due to the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael (inhabiting Eretz Yisrael).

(d)This is based on the Halachah that someone who leaves a house is forbidden to take down the Mezuzah. Consequently, the bother of replacing the one that he fixed, will encourage him not to leave. And even if he does, the fact that there is a Mezuzah on the door will attract tenants to replace him.

(e)In any event, we see from this Beraisa that - up to thirty days, people tend to change their minds regarding what they rent or borrow, but more than that, not, thereby supporting Rav Yehudah's initial ruling concerning a borrowed Talis (see also Tosfos DH 'Talis).

8)

(a)Rav Chisda initially qualifies our Mishnah Tefilah shel Yad Einah Me'akeves es shel Rosh ... - by confining it to where he actually possesses both Tefilin.

(b)He later denied having said it - because it is not feasible that Chazal would stop a person from performing one Mitzvah, because he is unable to perform two.

(c)And the reason that he initially said otherwise is - because he thought that they would nevertheless have prohibited him from laying the one, to encourage him to obtain the other (which he might otherwise not bother to do).

9)

(a)According to Rav Chisda, someone who fails to lay Tefilin negates - eight Mitzvos Asei.

(b)This might refer to "Vehayah l'cha le'Os" (in 'Kadeish'); "Vehayah le'Os, u'le'Totafos" (in 'Vehayah ki Yevi'acha'); "Ukeshartem le'Os", "Vehayu le'Totafos" (in 'Sh'ma'); "Ukeshartem le'Os", "Vehayu le'Totafos" plus "Vesamtem" (in 'Vehayah im Shamo'a'). The advantage of replacing "Vesamtem" with "u'le'Zikaron bein Einecha" in Kadeish is that - then there are two Asei in each Parshah.

(c)Rav Chisda also lists five Mitzvos Asei that someone who wears a four-cornered Beged without Tzitzis transgresses. Four of them are contained in the Parshah of Tzitzis in Sh'lach-l'cha: "Ve'asu", "Venasnu", "Vehayah" and "Ure'isem". The fifth is - "Gedilim Ta'aseh lach" (in Ki Seitzei).

(d)Finally, he lists three Mitzvos Asei that a Kohen transgresses if he fails to go to 'Duchen' when he is called, and two for someone who fails to fix a Mezuzah on his door. The ...

1. ... three Asei that the Kohen transgress are - "Ko Sevarchu", "Amor lahem" and "Vesamu es Sh'mi" (all in Naso).

2. ... two Asei that someone who lives in a house (a room) without a Mezuzah transgresses are - "Uchesavtam" (in 'Sh'ma') and "u'Chesavtam" (in 'Vehayah im Shamo'a')

(e)Based on a Pasuk in Yeshayah, Resh Lakish states that someone who lays Tefilin - will live long.

10)

(a)Our Mishnah rules that the flour and oil of a Minchas Nesachim, on the one hand, and the wine, on the other - are not Me'akev each other.

(b)When the Tana says that the Matanos on the Mizbe'ach ha'Chitzon are not Me'akev one another, he is referring - to the four Matanos of the Chatas (because as long as the Kohen performs one Matanah, the Korban is Kasher).

(c)The source for this ruling is - the Pasuk in Re'ei "ve'Dam Zevachecha Yishpoch (implying one Matanah) al Mizbach Hash-m Elokecha".

11)

(a)The Beraisa discusses the order of the Menachos and the Nesachim. Whereas ...

1. ... the Tana Kama there learns from the Pasuk in Pinchas "u'Minchasam ve'Niskeihem" that - the Minchah of a Minchas Nesachim precedes the Nesachim ...

2. ... Rebbi learns from the Pasuk in Emor "Zevach u'Nesachim ... " that - the Nesachim follow the Zevach, and only then does one bring the Minchah.

(b)And whereas ...

1. ... Rebbi learns from "u'Minchasam ve'Niskeihem" that - even though one brings the Zevach by day, one is permitted to bring the Minchah and the Nesech by night or even the following day (see Tosfos DH 'Minchasam ve'Niskeihem' [though this does not seem to explain why the Torah places "Minchasam" before "Niskeihem"]) ...

2. ... the Tana Kama learns from "Zevach u'Nesachim ... " that - the Nesachim only become sanctified with the Shechitah of the Zevach (and not before).

(c)The ramifications of this latter ruling are that - prior to the Shechitah of the Zevach, one may transfer the Nesachim that one designated for that particular Korban, to another Korban, but not afterwards.

12)

(a)The Minchas Nesachim can only be sacrificed on the following day if a. it was not originally brought together with the Zevach - and b. it was not placed in a K'li Shareis prior to nightfall (because if it was, it becomes Pasul be'Linah with the advent of nightfall).

(b)We reject the Beraisa's interpretation of the Machlokes between Rebbi and the Rabbanan however - on the grounds that the respective Pesukim are needed for the D'rashos that we just presented.

(c)The Chachamim therefore learn from the Pasuk in Emor "Olah u'Minchah" that - the Minchah follows immediately after the Zevach, and then comes the Nesech ...

(d)... and Rebbi agrees with that.

13)

(a)This forces us to conclude that Rebbi and the Chachamim are not arguing over a Minchas Nesachim that comes together with the Zevach, but over a Minchas Nesachim that is brought independently.

(b)The Rabbanan now give the Minchah precedence over the Nesachim - because it has precedence over it when it is brought together with a Zevach.

(c)Rebbi disagrees with them, because he maintains that one should give precedence to the Nesachim - because it is when one brings them that one sings Shirah.

(d)And the reason that the Torah gives the Menachos precedence in the case of Minchas Nesachim when it comes together with the Zevach is - in order to juxtapose what is eaten next to what is eaten.

14)

(a)Our Mishnah rules that - the bulls - are not Me'akev each other, neither are the rams nor are the lambs.

(b)According to Rebbi Shimon, in a case where there is sufficient money to purchase many bulls and rams, but not their Nesachim - the Kohanim should rather purchase one bull together with its Nesachim.

(c)The Tana Kama cannot be referring to the bulls and lambs of the Musaf of Succos - since the Torah writes there "ka'Mishpat" or "ke'Mishpatam", implying that all the animals are Me'akev each other (see Tosfos DH 'ka'Mishpat ke'Mishpatam').

(d)So he must be referring - to those of the Musaf of Rosh Chodesh and Shavu'os (see Tosfos DH 'Ela de'Rosh Chodesh').