Mishnah 1
Hear the Mishnah

1)

(a)Everyone agrees that, when a husband, who suspects his wife of infidelity, warns her not to seclude herself with another man, he must do so in front of two witnesses. What if he chooses not to warn her?

(b)According to Rebbi Eliezer, she becomes a Sotah even if one witness testifies that she ignored her husband's warning. What if he herself catches her with another man?

(c)What does Rebbi Yehoshua say?

1)

(a)Everyone agrees that, when a husband, who suspects his wife of infidelity, warns her not to seclude herself with another man, he must do so in front of two witnesses. It is an obligation to do so - and he is not permitted to overlook his wife's actions (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)According to Rebbi Eliezer, she becomes a Sotah even if one witness testifies that she ignored her husband's warning - even if that witness is the husband himself (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)Rebbi Yehoshua maintains - that she only becomes a Sotah on the testimony of two witnesses (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

2)

(a)What are the ramifications of the witnesses' testimony?

(b)What if the husband is a Kohen?

(c)Like whom is the Halachah?

2)

(a)The ramifications of the witnesses' testimony are that - intimacy with her husband is forbidden and that she becomes obligated to drink the 'Mei Sotah'.

(b)If the husband is a Kohen - she becomes forbidden to eat T'rumah (See Tos. Yom-Tov, end of Mishnah 2).

(c)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Yehoshua.

3)

(a)The Gemara rules that nowadays, a man should not issue his wife with a warning not to seclude herself with another man, based on the opinion of Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah. What does Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah say?

(b)What problem would warning her therefore create?

3)

(a)The Gemara rules that nowadays (See Tos. Yom-Tov), a man should not issue his wife with a warning not to seclude herself with another man, based on the opinion of Rebbi Yossi b'Rebbi Yehudah, who says that - the warning does not require two witnesses ...

(b)... in which case, if, following her husband's warning a woman secludes herself with the man concerned, (even if nobody else is present) she becomes forbidden to be intimate with her husband until she drinks the water, which is not possible nowadays.

Mishnah 2
Hear the Mishnah

4)

(a)What is the Din regarding a man who warns his wife not to talk with Ish P'loni and she does?

(b)What if she then secludes herself with him?

(c)Then when will she become a Sotah?

(d)And she only becomes a Sotah if they are secluded for the duration of Shi'ur Tum'ah. How do we gauge the Shi'ur Tum'ah?

4)

(a)If a man warns his wife not to talk with Ish P'loni and she does - she is not a Sotah ...

(b)... even if she then secluded herself with him.

(c)She will only become a Sotah - if her husband warns her not to seclude herself with the man in question and she does.

(d)And she only becomes a Sotah if they are secluded for the duration of Shi'ur Tum'ah - the time it takes to roast a chicken's egg and eat it.

5)

(a)What if her husband subsequently dies before he had a chance to make her drink the Mei Sotah?

(b)How do we learn this from the Pasuk in Ki Seitzei "Veyatz'ah Vahaysah le'Ish Acher"?

(c)Why does she nevertheless require Chalitzah?

5)

(a)If her husband subsequently dies before he had a chance to make her drink the 'holy water' - she performs Chalitzah but not Yibum.

(b)We learn this from the Pasuk in Ki Seitzei "Veyatz'ah Vahaysah le'Ish Acher" - which implies "le'Ish Acher", 've'Lo le'Yavam'.

(c)She nevertheless requires Chalitzah - just as she would have required a Get (before becoming permitted to marry another man) had her husband still been alive.

Mishnah 3
Hear the Mishnah

6)

(a)What does the Mishnah say regarding the following cases: A woman who admits that she is Tamei, if witnesses testify to that effect and a Sotah who declares that she will not drink the water?

(b)What is the difference between the latter case and a regular Sotah?

(c)Why if, despite the fact that witnesses testified that she was guilty, the Sotah drank the water and nothing happened to her, does she remain forbidden to eat T'rumah?

(d)How do we learn this from the Pasuk "Venist'rah ve'Hi Nitma'ah, ve'Eid Ein bah"?

(e)What if the witnesses are overseas and did not manage to return in time to testify?

6)

(a)The Mishnah rules that A woman who admits that she is Tamei, if witnesses testify to that effect and a Sotah who declares that she will not drink the water - are forbidden to eat T'rumah forever ...

(b)... whereas a regular Sotah who drank the water - is permitted to eat T'rumah.

(c)If, despite the fact that witnesses testified that she was guilty, the Sotah drank the water and nothing happened to her, she remains forbidden to eat T'rumah - because once witnesses declare her guilty, the water will no longer take effect on her.

(d)We learn this from the Pasuk "Venist'rah ve'Hi Nitma'ah, ve'Eid Ein bah" - which implies that the water will only take effect if nobody knows about her guilt, but not if there is somebody who does ...

(e)... even if the witnesses (See Tos. Yom-Tov) are overseas and did not manage to return in time to testify.

7)

(a)The Tana discusses a case where the husband refuses to make his wife drink the Mei Sotah or if he was intimate with her on the way to the Beis-ha'Mikdash. How does that effect the Sotah?

(b)What about eating T'rumah?

(c)What do we learn from the Pasuk (in connection with the Sotah drinking the water) "ve'Nikah ha'Ish me'Avon"?

7)

(a)The Tana discusses a case where the husband refuses to make his wife drink the Mei Sotah or if he is intimate with her on the way to the Beis-ha'Mikdash - in which case the water will not effect her either.

(b)Consequently - she too is forbidden to eat T'rumah forever.

(c)We learn from the Pasuk (in connection with the Sotah drinking the water) "ve'Nikah ha'Ish me'Avon" that - the water will only take effect if the husband himself is not guilty of sinning.

8)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, Beis-Din send two Talmidei-Chachamim to ensure that they are not intimate on the way. Why specifically Talmidei-Chachamim?

(b)On what basis does Rebbi Yehudah maintain that the husband is believed?

(c)How do the Chachamim counter Rebbi Yehudah's argument?

(d)Like whom is the Halachah?

8)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, Beis-Din send two Talmidei-Chachamim - who know how to warn him, to ensure that they are not intimate on the way.

(b)Rebbi Yehudah maintains that we trust the husband - Kal-va'Chomer from Nidah.

(c)The Chachamim counter this - by differentiating between the more stringent sin of Nidah and the lighter sin of being intimate with a Sotah.

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

Mishnah 4
Hear the Mishnah

9)

(a)Once in Yerushalayim, where does the husband take his (Sotah) wife?

(b)We learn this from the Gezeirah-Shavah "es Kol ha'Torah ha'Zos" (Naso) "al-Pi ha'Torah asher Yorucha" (Parshas Shoftim). In which context is the latter written?

(c)To what does the Mishnah compare the warning that the Sanhedrin issue her?

(d)What is the objective of the warning?

9)

(a)Once in Yerushalayim, the husband takes his (Sotah) wife - to the Beis-Din ha'Gadol.

(b)We learn this from the Gezeirah-Shavah "es Kol ha'Torah ha'Zos" (Naso) "al-Pi ha'Torah asher Yorucha" (Parshas Shoftim) - written in connection with a Zakein Mamrei.

(c)The Mishnah compares the warning that the Sanhedrin issue her - to the warning that one issues to a defendant who is facing the death-penalty (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)The objective of the warning is - to induce her to confess that she sinned.

10)

(a)The warning begins with the mention of wine, jest, youth and neighbors. What common point do the Sanhedrin make that applies to all four?

(b)On what grounds do they implore her to confess?

(c)And they tell her things that she is unworthy to hear (she and her paternal family [See Tiferes Yisrael]). What is the Tana referring to?

10)

(a)The warning begins with the mention of wine, jest, youth and neighbors - all of which lead a person to sin

(b)They implore her to confess - so as to prevent the Name of Hash-m from being erased in the water.

(c)And they tell her things that she and her paternal family are unworthy to hear (See Tiferes Yisrael) - such as how the Tzadikim Yehudah and Reuven confessed to their respective sins (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

Mishnah 5
Hear the Mishnah

11)

(a)What does the Mishnah say about the Kesubah of a Sotah who confesses that she is guilty?

(b)What happens next

(c)Where do they take her if she insists that she is innocent?

(d)Why there?

(e)What is the significance of that particular location?

11)

(a)The Mishnah rules that a Sotah who confesses that she is guilty - must write a receipt declaring that she has received her Kesubah ...

(b)... after which - her husband gives her a Get (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)If however, she insists that she is innocent - they take her to the gate known as Sha'ar Nikanor, at the eastern entrance to the Azarah (See Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

(d)... because that is where Sotos were given the Mei Sotah to drink ...

(e)... since it is considered "lifnei Hash-m" (where the Torah requires the Sotah to stand).

12)

(a)Who else, besides a woman who has given birth and a Metzora, stand there?

(b)What group do all of these comprise?

(c)What do they do there?

(d)It is called 'Sha'ar Nikanor' on account of the man who donated the gates. What is the story?

12)

(a)Besides a woman who has given birth and a Metzora - a Zav and a Zavah stand there too (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)They all comprise - the group of Mechusrei Kaparah ...

(c)... and they stand there - in order to stand by the respective Korbanos that they are about to bring.

(d)It is called 'Sha'ar Nikanor' on account of the man who donated the gates. He brought them from Alexandria with great Mesiras Nefesh, accompanied by miracles on the way.

13)

(a)What does the Kohen do?

(b)What if he tears her clothes in the process?

(c)What might 'Nifr'mu' mean besides larger tears that 'Nikr'u'?

(d)With regard to the Pasuk in Naso "u'Para es Rosh ha'Ishah", what do we learn from ...

1. ... "u'Para es (Rosh) ha'Ishah"?

2. ... " u'Para es Rosh"?

13)

(a)The Kohen then - grabs hold of the Sorah's clothes at the neck and pulls them down until her breasts are exposed ...

(b).. too bad if he tears them in the process.

(c)Besides larger tears that 'Nikr'u, 'Nifr'mu' might also mean - a horizontal tear, as opposed to 'K'ri'ah', which is a vertical one.

(d)With regard to the Pasuk in Naso "u'Para es Rosh ha'Ishah", we learn from ...

1. ... "u'Para es (Rosh) ha'Ishah" that - the Kohen is obligated to uncover part of the Sotah's body.

2. ... " u'Para es Rosh" that - he must also uncover her hair.

14)

(a)How does Rebbi Yehudah qualify the previous rulings?

(b)Why is that?

(c)Like whom is the Halachah?

14)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah qualifies the previous rulings - by restricting them to where her breasts and her hair are not particularly beautiful, but not otherwise (See Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

(b)... in case she turns out to be innocent and the young Kohanim (See Tos. Yom-Tov) will subsequently be tempted to harass her (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

Mishnah 6
Hear the Mishnah

15)

(a)What does the Mishnah say about a Sotah who is wearing white clothes?

(b)On what condition will the same apply if she is wearing black clothes?

(c)The Tana now discusses a Sotah who is wearing Katla'yos, Nezamim and Taba'os'. If 'Taba'os' are rings that are worn on the fingers, what are ...

1. ... 'Katlayos'?

2. ... 'Nezamim' (See Tos. Yom-Tov)?

(d)Why does the Mishnah see fit to mention this?

15)

(a)The Mishnah requires changing the clothes of a Sotah who is wearing white clothes to black ones ...

(b)... whereas if the black clothes she is wearing look particularly nice on her, then she should change into white ones.

(c)The Tana now discusses a Sotah who is wearing Katla'yos, Nezamim and Taba'os' (rings that are worn on the fingers) ...

1. ... 'Katlayos' - are bracelets that a woman wears tightly around the neck, to accentuate the shape of her breasts, and ...

2. ... 'Nezamim' - are nose or ear rings.

(d)The Mishnah sees fit to mention this - because otherwise, we would have thought that she should be allowed to wear them, since a woman whose clothes have been disheveled looks ridiculous wearing ornaments (like a naked person wearing shoes).

16)

(a)Following that, the Kohen brings an Egyptian rope. What does he do with it?

(b)Why specifically an Egyptian one?

(c)If all men are invited to come and see the Sotah in disgrace, what about the women (based on the Pasuk in Yechezkel "Venivasru Kol ha'Nashim")?

(d)Why is that?

(e)And why are her male and female slaves precluded from this ruling?

16)

(a)Following that, the Kohen brings an Egyptian rope - which he uses to tie her clothes back on her upper body (to avoid them falling down to the ground) ...

(b)... specifically an Egyptian one - because she behaved like the Egyptians who were notorious for their immoral behavior (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)If all men are invited to come and see the Sotah in disgrace (based on the Pasuk in Yechezkel "Venivasru Kol ha'Nashim"), the women - are obligated to do so ...

(d)... so that they will not take their cue from her (as the Pasuk concludes).

(e)Her male and female slaves are precluded from this ruling - since she feels secure in their company and will feel good (rather than embarrassed, by their presence (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

Mishnah 7
Hear the Mishnah

17)

(a)What important principle does the Mishnah learn from the fact that, because the Sotah adorned herself for the adulterer, Hash-m makes her look ugly?

(b)What is the Tana referring to?

(c)By the same token, what did Hash-m command, based on the fact that she ...

1. ... revealed herself to him?

2. ... sinned first with her thighs and then with her stomach?

(d)And what does the Tana mean when he concludes that the remainder of her body does not escape?

17)

(a)The Mishnah learns from the fact that, because the Sotah adorned herself for the adulterer, Hash-m makes her look ugly that - Hash-m punishes 'Midah ke'Neged Midah'.

(b)The Tana is referring - to the demeaning procedure that she must undergo at the Sha'ar Nikanor, as we just learned.

(c)By the same token, Hash-m ordered, based on the fact that she ...

1. ... revealed herself to the adulterer that - the Kohen uncovers her hair and tears her clothes.

2. ... sinned first with her thighs and then with her stomach that - the water affects first her thighs, then her stomach.

(d)And when he concludes that the remainder of her body does not escape, he is referring - to the fact that her entire body is subsequently affected by the water, after her thighs and her stomach (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

Mishnah 8
Hear the Mishnah

18)

(a)Where do we find 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' in connection with ...

1. ... Shimshon?

2. ... Avshalom?

(b)What happened to the latter for having been intimate with his father's ten concubines?

(c)Who actually struck him with their spears?

18)

(a)We find 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' in connection with ...

1. ... Shimshon - whose eyes were poked out, because he went after his eyes (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... Avshalom - who was left suspending by his hair (See Tos. Yom-Tov), because he boasted about his hair (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)And because the latter was intimate with his father's ten concubines - he was pierced by ten spears ...

(c)... at the hands of (David ha'Melech's lieutenant) Yo'av 's ten armor-bearers).

19)

(a)The Tana (citing the Pasuk in Shmuel) refers to three hearts that Avshalom 'stole'. To which incident is he referring?

(b)What exactly did he do?

(c)Whose three hearts did he 'steal'?

(d)When did Hash-m subsequently apply 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' in this case?

19)

(a)The Mishnah (citing the Pasuk in Shmuel) refers to three hearts that Avshalom stole - with reference to the trick that he played in order to gain a large following (in his rebellion against his father).

(b)He asked his father to write him a note authorizing him to appoint any two men to accompany him. Then, having obtained his father's signature, he showed the note to two people at a time, all of them heads of Sanhedrin, until he had an impressive following of two hundred accompanying him wherever he went.

(c)The three hearts that he stole were - those of his father David, the Beis-Din and Yisrael (who were taken in by his retinue).

(d)Hash-m subsequently applied 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' - when they killed him by shooting three darts into his heart.

Mishnah 9
Hear the Mishnah

20)

(a)What does the Mishnah say about 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' regarding reward?

(b)What distinction can we nevertheless draw between the two?

(c)How did 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' apply to Miriam? Why did the whole of Yisrael wait for her for seven days when she became a Metzora?

20)

(a)The Mishnah states that - 'Midah ke'Neged Midah' applies to reward as well (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)In fact - it applies even more extensively there, based on the principle 'Midah Tovah Merubah mi'Midas Pur'anus (the measure of good always exceeds the measure of bad)!'

(c)'Midah ke'Neged Midah' applied to Miriam - when the whole of Yisrael waited for her for seven days when she became a Metzora - because she waited a short while for Moshe when their mother hid him among the bull-rushes in the River Nile.

21)

(a)What was Yosef's reward for personally seeing to his father Ya'akov's burial?

(b)In what way was Yosef greater than his brothers?

(c)What was the connection between Yosef and Moshe in this regard?

21)

(a)Yosef's reward for personally seeing to his father Ya'akov's burial was - that Moshe Rabeinu personally looked after his coffin in the desert.

(b)Yosef was greater than his brothers - in that he was the viceroy of Egypt ...

(c)... and Moshe who in turn, was the greatest man in Yisrael - also bore the title 'king'.

22)

(a)What reward did Moshe receive for personally looking after the bones of Yosef?

(b)What does the Tana conclude with regard to all Tzadikim, based on a Pasuk in Yeshayah?

22)

(a)Moshe's reward for personally looking after the bones of Yosef was that - when he died, Hash-m personally saw to his burial (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)Based on a Pasuk in Yeshayah, the Tana concludes that - Hash-m is involved in the burial of all Tzadikim (See Tiferes Yisrael).