1)

(a)When the Tana says ...

1. ... that three times in the year the Kohanim Duchen four times on one day, he is referring to - Ta'aniyos, Ma'amados and Yom-Kipur.

2. ... four times a day, he is referring to - Shachris, Minchah, Ma'ariv and Ne'ilas She'arim (the closing of the gates [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(b)They actually Duchen on Ta'aniyos and Ma'amados only three times ...

(c)... not four, since there is no Musaf on those days, and ...

(d)... when he says 'Three times a year ... ', he means to say that on those three occasion they Duchen at every Tefilah, and it is only on one of those days (Yom Kipur) that they Duchen four times.

(e)The men of the Ma'amados fast - four times a week (As will be explained at the end of the Perek).

2)

(a)We establish the Mishnah like Rebbi Meir. The reason that one does not normally Duchen at Minchah is - in case the Kohanim have drunk wine, in which case he is forbidden to Duchen.

(b)Rebbi Meir extrapolates from there - that on a Ta'anis, when eating and drinking is forbidden, the Kohanim are permitted to Duchen at Minchah, seeing as drunkenness does not come into the question.

(c)Rebbi Yossi forbids Duchening at Minchah even on a Ta'anis, on account of the prohibition on the other days of the year.

3)

(a)To explain the continuation of the Mishnah 'L'fi she'Ne'emar ... ', we must interpret the Tana's statement 'Eilu hein Ma'amados as - 'Why did they institute Ma'amados?'

(b)The Mishnah then learns from the Pasuk in Pinchas "Tzav es B'nei Yisrael ve'Amarta aleihem es Korbani Lachmi ... (See Tos. Yom-Tov)" - that the early Nevi'im (See Tos. Yom-Tov) instituted twenty-four Ma'amados corresponding to the twenty-four Mishmaros of Kohanim ...

(c)... because 'How can one bring a person's Korban (the entire community in this case) without him standing by his Korban.'

(d)The Ma'amados comprised - Yisre'eilim.

4)

(a)Each Mishmar had its own Ma'amad. When the turn of a particular Mishmar of Kohanim and Levi'im (See Tos. Yom-Tov) arrived to serve in the Beis-ha'Mikdash - they would go to Yerushalayim, where they were joined by the Anshei Ma'amad who lived close by.

(b)The Anshei Ma'amad who lived too far away from Yerushalayim to stand by the Korban - gathered in Shul in their respective cities ...

(c)... where, besides fasting and Davening - they (See Tos. Yom-Tov) Leined from Ma'aseh Bereishis ...

(d)... to demonstrate that the world stands on the merit of the Avodah in the Beis-ha'Mikdash.

5)

(a)The Anshei Ma'amad fasted on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

(b)They did not fast on Friday - so as not to enter Shabbos in a state of hunger (and how much more so on Shabbos itself).

(c)The reason the Mishnah gives for not fasting on Sunday is - so as not to go from rest and joy to weariness and fasting.

(d)There are two other reasons (See Tos. Yom-Tov) as to why they did not fast on Sunday (See Tos. Yom-Tov), the first, because - as a result of the fact that he was created on Friday, he (and his descendents) are weak on Sunday, the third day after his creation.

(e)The source for this reason lies in Parshas Vayishlach - where Shimon and Levi slew the men of Sh'chem on the third day after they circumcised, because that was when they were particularly weak.

6)

(a)The second reason is based on the Neshamah Yeseirah - which Adam received on Shabbos and which departed on Motza'ei Shabbos (leaving a vacu'um which has in it an element of danger).

(b)The special Tefilah that the Anshei Ma'amad Davened each day was - Ne'ilah (See Tos Yom-Tov DH 've'Lo be'Echad be'Shabbos').

7)

(a)As we learned earlier, the Anshei Ma'amad would Lein each day from Ma'aseh Bereishis. On each day ...

1. ... they Leined - two days of the Creation (See Tos. Yom-Tov)

2. ... three people were called up to the Torah.

(b)Seeing as two people were called up to one day of the Creation and one to the other - two would Lein from whichever Parshah was larger.

(c)Where even the larger Parshah (such as 'Bereishis' and Y'hi Raki'a', which they Leined on Sunday) contained less than six Pesukim - the Levi/Yisrael would repeat the last Pasuk which the Kohen/Levi had Leined before him.

(d)The daily Leining was progressive from the first day of the Creation through to Shabbos. On Monday, they repeated - "Y'hi Raki'a" and added "Yikavu ha'Mayim".

8)

(a)When the Tana continues ...

1. ... 'be'Shachris u'va'Musaf u'va'Minchah Nichnasin ve'Korin al Pihen', he means - that it is for Shachris and Musaf that one Leins Ma'aseh Bereishis from a Seifer-Torah. But at Minchah, they would Lein it by heart ...

2. ... 'ke'Korin es Sh'ma' - like one reads the Sh'ma.

(b)The reason for ...

1. ... this ruling is - to minimize the Tircha on account of the fast (which tires people as the day draws on).

2. ... for the ruling that at Minchah on Erec Shabbos they did not gather at all is - tp allow the Anshei Ma'amad to prepare for Shabbos.

(c)To reconcile the current ruling which requires the Anshei Ma'amad to Lein Ma'aseh Bereishis when there is a Korban Musaf, with the next Mishnah, which exempts them - we establish the current ruling by the Anshei Ma'amad in their respective cities, where they were not too busy, since they were not involved in bringing the Korban Musaf.

9)

(a)When the Tana says that on a day on which Hallel is recited (but not Musaf), there is no Ma'amad at Shachris, he means - the Anshei Ma'amad in Yerushalayim do not Lein from Ma'aseh Bereishis ...

(b)... because there is not enough time for both, and Hallel overrides the Ma'amad.

(c)An example of a day when Hallel (but not Musaf) is recited is - Chanukah.

(d)Rebbi Akiva initially says that on a day on which there is a Korban ...

1. ... Musaf (See Tos. Yom-Tov) - there is no Ma'amad, even at Ne'ilah (and certainly not at Musaf itself or at Minchah).

2. ... Eitzim (See Tiferes Yisrael) - there is no Ma'amad at Minchah, but there is at Ne'ilah (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

10)

(a)ben Azai quotes - Rebbi Yehoshua who disagrees with Rebbi Akiva in two points.

(b)The latter rules that on a day when there is a Korban Musaf they do not Lein at Minchah (exclusively [See Tiferes Yisrael]). But on a day on which there is a Korban Eitzim - there is no Ma'amad even at Ne'ilah.

11)

(a)Rebbi Akiva responded to ben Azai - by retracting from his original stance.

(b)He finally concede that ...

1. ... Korban Eitzim pushes away the Ma'amad of both Minchah and Ne'ilah - because Korban Eitzim is only de'Rabbanan, and Mitzvos mi'de'Rabbanan need to be reinforced, whereas ...

2. ... Korban Musaf, which d'Oraysa, and does not need reinforcing, pushes only away Minchah but not Ne'ilah.

(c), In his explanation to this Mishnah, the Rambam states that the Anshei Ma'amad inserted an additional Tefilah each day - between Shachris and Minchah (which they called 'Musaf').

(d)The problem with that is - that it has no source, either in the Bavli or in the Yerushalmi (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

12)

(a)The Mishnah discusses the dates of 'Atzei Kohanim ve'ha'Am' - a donation of wood - which various families first donated when they arrived in Yerushalayim from Bavel shortly after the Beis ha'Mikdash was rebuilt, and found a shortage of wood in the Lishkas ha'Eitzim.

(b)The Chachamim subsequently instituted - that these families would be privileged to donate wood each year on the same date that they donated the first time ...

(c)... even if the Lishkas ha'Eitzim was full and no more wood was needed.

13)

(a)'Atzei Kohanim' mentioned is mentioned - in Seifer Nechemyah.

(b)Together with their gift of wood the respective donors brought - Korban Nedavah.

(c)They treated that day - like a personal Yom-Tov.

14)

(a)The family of Arach ben Yehudah brought on Rosh Chodesh Nisan and that of David ben Yehudah - (alias David ha'Melech) on the twenty-seventh of Tamuz.

(b)'ben' in the current context, means - from 'the tribe of'.

(c)The Korban Eitzim was brought on five different dates in Av. Par'osh ben Yehudah brought on the fifth, Yonadav ben Reichav (See Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'b'nei Orach ... ') on the seventh, San'ah ben Binyamin on the tenth and Zatu ben Yehudah on the fifteenth, as well as the 'b'nei Gonvei Eli Kotz'ei Ketzi'os', who acted during the evil decree (that took place in the era of the second Beis-ha'Mikdah) - forbidding the people to bring Bikurim.

(d)An 'Eli' is - a chopping-board (used to cut-up dried figs).

15)

(a)The title ...

1. ... 'b'nei Gonvei Eli' - was conferred upon these righteous men who made their way to Yerushalayim with baskets of Bikurim which they covered with dried figs, and with chopping-boards on their shoulders, whereas they were called ...

2. ... 'Kotz'ei Ketzi'os' - because they tended to cut the cakes of dried figs with a special implement called a 'Miktzo'a'.

(b)When the guards stopped them and questioned them, they replied - that they were on their way to grind the couple of figs that they were carrying in the baskets, using the mortar that was not far from there, on the chopping-board that they were carrying on their shoulders.

(c)They were also called 'b'nei Salma'i he'Sutzisi' - because on another occasion, in similar fashion, they informed the guards that the ladders they were carrying was in order to fetch some young doves a little further along.

(d)This time, they were circumventing a decree - which forbade them from bringing wood for the Mizbe'ach.

16)

(a)Besides Kohanim and Levi'im - people who were not sure to which tribe they belonged brought a Korban Eitzimon on the fifteenth of Av.

(b)Finally, the b'nei Pachas Mo'av ben Yehudah brought the Korban Eitzim - on the twentieth of Av (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)b'nei Adin ben Yehudah brought on the twentieth of Ellul. The b'nei Par'osh brought again on Rosh Chodesh Teives.

(d)They obtain the honored - by means of a lottery (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(e)There was no Ma'amad on Rosh Chodesh Teives - because it Hallel was said on it and both the Korban Musaf and the Korban Eitzim were brought on it.

17)

(a)Five calamities occurred on Shiv'ah-Asar be'Tamuz - and five on Tish'ah be'Av.

(b)The first calamity that occurred on Shiv'ah-Asar be'Tamuz was - the smashing of the Luchos.

(c)We know that - since the day after the Aseres ha'Dibros were given (on the seventh of Sivan, Moshe ascended Har Sinai to receive the rest of the Torah), and he remained there for forty days, which terminated on Shiv'ah-Asar be'Tamuz.

18)

(a)Besides the cessation of the Tamid and the breaching of the walls of Yerushalayim - Apostumus burned the Seifer-Torah (See Tiferes Yisrael) and an image was set-up in the Heichal.

(b)According to some, the image that was set up in the Heichal took place in the era of the first Beis-ha'Mikdash, and was set-up by King Menasheh.

(c)Others say that it was set up by the same Apostamus who burned the Seifer-Torah - a Greek general who lived in the time of the second Beis-ha'Midkash (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)They stopped bringing the Tamid on Shiv'ah-Asar be'Tamuz - - because, due to Yerushalayim coming under siege, they ran out of lambs.

19)

(a)The first calamity that occurred on Tish'ah be'Av was - the decree on our fathers in the desert that they would not enter Eretz Yisrael (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)Besides the destruction of both Batei-Mikdash (See Tos. Yom-Tov DH 've'Charav ha'Bayis ... ' and 'u'vi'Sheniyah'), the two other calamities occurred on that day were - the capture of t Beitar (See Tos. Yom-Tov) and the plowing of Yerushalayim (into a field).

20)

(a)During the week on which Tish'ah be'Av falls - the Mishnah prohibits having a hair-cut and washing one's clothes (See Tos. Yom-Tov) until after the Ta'anis.

(b)The Tana - permits both on Thursday in honor of Shabbos.

(c)The case is where Tish'ah-be'Av fell on Friday (when Rosh Chodesh fell according to the sighting of the new moon [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

21)

(a)The Tana Kama adds a number of stringencies regarding Erev Tish'ah be'Av. Besides meat and wine - he also forbids eating two cooked dishes.

(b)The definition of cooked dishes is - food that cannot be eaten raw (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)Examples of a cooked dish that can be eaten raw are - milk, cheese and legumes that are moist.

(d)These two things are permitted - if either it is not the Se'udah ha'Mafsekes (the final meal beffore the fact) or if it eaten before Chatzos (midday).

22)

(a)When, with regard to the last stringency of the Tana Kama, Raban Shimon ben Gamliel says 'Yeshaneh', he means - that he should one cooked dish or one cup of wine less than usual.

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

(c)Rebbi Yehudah adds - turning one's bed on its end to the list of stringencies. The Chachamim disagree.

(d)The Halachah is like the Chachamim.

23)

(a)Raban Simon ben Gamliel said 'Lo Hayu Yamim-Tovim be'Yisrael - ka'Chamishah-Asar be'Av u'ke'Yom-ha'Kipurim'.

(b)The first of the four things that occurred Chamishah-Asar be'Av was - that the last batch of people following the sin of the Meraglim died (in the fortieth year [See Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(c)They also nullified the border-guards that Yerav'am ben N'vat set up - to stop the ten tribes from going thrice annually to Yerushalayim.

(d)Besides the fact that they were at long last permitted to bury the dead of Beitar - they also stopped cutting wood for the Mizbe'ach (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

24)

(a)Yom Kipur of course, is the day of forgiveness. Moreover - the second Luchos were given to Mosheh when he came down from Har Sinai for the last time (See Tos. Yom-Tov), turning it into a Yom-Tov.

(b)On these two days, the maidens of Yerushalayim used to - go into the vineyards and dance.

(c)The Tana states - that the clothes that they wore were borrowed ...

(d)So as not to embarrass those who did not have pretty clothes.

25)

(a)The advice they would give the young men who came to look for a wife was - not to look for beauty, but rather for Yichus.

(b)And they supported this with the Pasuk in Mishlei "Sheker ha'Chein ve'Hevel ha'Yofi, Ishah Yir'as Hash-m Hi Tis'halal" (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)They also quoted the Pasuk in Shir ha'Shirim "Tze'enah u'Re'enah B'nos Tziyon (See Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

1. ... "be'Yom Chasunaso" - Matan Torah.

2. ... "u've'Yom Simchas Libo" - the day on which the Beis-ha'Mikdash was completed.

(d)The ...

1. ... meaning of ' Matan Torah' in this context is - Yom Kipur (the day the Luchos were returned).

2. ... connection between the latter and the Binyan Beis-ha'Mikdash is - the fact that the Beis-ha'Mikdash was inaugurated on Yom-Kipur (See Tos. Yom-Tov).