EQUIVALENT AMOUNTS OF NESACHIM
The Pasuk says O la'Ayil... all Nesachim of an Ayil are the same.
O la'Seh... no distinction in the Nesachim of a Nekeivah (Rachel).
O va'Izim... all Izim are the same (3 Lugim).
THE DAY ON THE TICKET TO PREVENT FRAUD
Question: But he'll wait until the same day next week.
Answer: We also write the name of the Mishmar.
Question: Then he'll just wait another half year!?
Answer: We write the day, the Shabbos and the month, as well.
HALACHAH 4: TWO ROOMS FOR TZEDAKAH
There were two rooms in the Mikdash:
The "quiet" room.
Donations were made there secretly.
Gifts were distributed from there secretly.
The room of utensils.
Donations of Keilim were collected there and surveyed every thirty days.
The ones which are needed for Bedek Ha'Bayis are retained while the rest are sold for the benefit of Bedek Ha'Bayis.
KEEPING TZEDAKAH SECRET
An incident is recorded wherein the Gabai Tzedakah used an intermediary to get Tzedakah to needy, but modest, people.
A related incident in which people falsely accused a man of taking Tzedakah which he did not need, only to find after his death that he was secretly distributing these as well as his own funds to Tzedakah.
R. Chinenah would distribute at night and had an encounter with the evil spirits of the night.
FINDING CLEVER WAYS TO GIVE
(R. Yonah): Fortunate is the one who surveys the situation carefully to determine how to give without shaming the recipient.
One approach was to claim that the recipient had inherited funds...
Certain scholars would only accept between Rosh Hashanah and Yom ha'Kipurim (after which they would only rely on their divinely ordained allocation).
BEWARE WHEN PERFORMING MITZVOS
Nechemyah considered the guilt in the death of the poor man to whom he gave meat rather than fowl.
Similarly, Nachum Ish Gamzu who took upon himself enormous affliction in such a case.
R. Akiva bemoaned seeing him in a such a state.
Nachum wished such a state upon R. Akiva.
R. Akiva questioned why Nachum should curse him.
Nachum questioned R. Akiva's attitude towards earthy affliction (Yisurim).
R. Hoshayah explained to his son's sightless tutor why he had not invited him to dine that particular night.
The tutor, when appeased, gave the remarkable blessing to R. Hoshayah: You have appeased one who is seen but does not see; may you be well received by the One Who sees but is not seen.
R. Hoshayah asked him for his source for this wonderful B'rachah.
He cited a similar incident regarding R. Eliezer b. Ya'akov.
SPENDING PRIORITIES (COMPLEX EDIFICES vs TORAH SCHOLARS)
Two accounts are recorded wherein critique is proffered for building great Synagogues and adornments for houses of study at the expense of poor Torah scholars.
PROCEEDS TO BEDEK HA'BAYIS OR TO THE MIZBEACH
The Beraisa teaches that items such as animals and stones fitting for the Mizbeach, if donated to Bedek ha'Bayis, may be taken for the needs of the Mizbeach.
If the animal was donated to the Mizbeach, its funds may not be used for Bedek ha'Bayis, rather only for the Mizbeach.
Question: But our Mishnah, by only mentioning Bedek ha'Bayis, indicates that the funds may not be used for the Mizbeach.
Answer: Both are meant.
The Beraisa teaches that we may only increase the Kedushah of that which was donated, or, the donor was specific, (i.e. for the Heichal) we must retain that level of Kedushah.
Question: But we see that the Mishnah allows conversions!?
Answer: The items are sold and the money is recycled into the Lishkas Bedek ha'Bayis as "new" unallocated funds.
NUMBERED ITEMS IN THE MIKDASH
There were 13 Shofaros, 14 Shulchanos, 13 bowings (14 for the house of R. Gamliel).
There was a tradition that the spot where the wood for the Mizbeach was checked was above the interred Aron ha'Kodesh (and one Kohen paid with his life for this information).
THE SHOFAROS
The Beraisa teaches that the Shofaros were narrow at the neck and wider below.
This was to prevent theft/fraud.
IS THE ARK INTERRED OR WAS IT EXILED?
The Beraisa teaches that the Aron was exiled with them to Bavel (as the Pasuk [Melachim II 20:17] indicates).
Resh Lakish taught that it is hidden in its place (also based on a Pasuk [Divrei ha'Yamim II 5:9]).
The Gemara goes on to expound that Pasuk.
It describes the Badim of the Aron, seen and not seen.
Rabanan taught that the Aron was hidden below the wood room (as indicated by the incident of the Kohen there, and the manner in which the flame consumed him).
MORE ABOUT THE ARON
There is a dispute regarding the Aron:
(R. Yehudah): There were two Aronos, one with the Luchos and one with the broken Luchos; the latter going out to battle with the People.
(Rabanan): There was only one Aron, which went out once during the time of Ayli ha'Kohen.
The Pasuk in Shmuel I (7:8) appears to support the Rabanan (this was a unique event).
The Pasuk in Shmuel I (14:18) appears to support R. Yehudah (for how could Shaul have asked for the Aron which was, at the time, in Kiryat Ye'arim?!).
Rabanan respond that Shaul was asking for the Tzitz (i.e. all the Bigdei Kehunah, so that he might inquire of the Urim v'Tumim).
The Pasuk in Shmuel II (11:11) appears to support R. Yehudah (refers to the Aron with the people at the battle, not in Tzion, where Dovid ha'Melech had taken it from Kiryat Ye'arim).
The Rabanan explain that Uriah meant that the Aron does not have a proper home (Beis ha'Mikdash).