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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON GEMARA AND RASHI

prepared by Rabbi Eliezer Chrysler
Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Jerusalem

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Avodah Zarah 18

1)

(a) We learned in the Mishnah in Sanhedrin that someone who denies that Torah is min ha'Shamayim or that Techi'as ha'Meisim is mentioned in the Torah, receives no portion in Olam ha'Ba.
What does Aba Shaul add to that list?

(b) We reconcile Rebbi Chanina ben T'radyon (who did in fact do that) with the Mishnah, by citing a Beraisa.
What does the Tana learn from the Pasuk in Shoftim (in connection with the various practices of the Nochrim) "Lo Silmad La'asos ... "?

(c) In that case, why was Rebbi Chanina punished?

(d) According to the alternative explanation, to which area of Halachah will we then apply the Heter of "Lo Silmad La'asos ... "?

2)
(a) How did Resh Lakish explain the Pasuk in Tehilim "Avon Akeivai Yesubeini"?

(b) With regard to the current episode, who said the Pasuk in Ha'azinu ...

  1. ... "ha'Tzur Tamim Pa'alo ki Chol Derachav Mishpat"?
  2. ... "Keil Emunah ve'Ein Avel"?
(c) And who said the Pasuk in Yirmiyahu "Gadol ha'Eitzah ve'Rav ha'Aliliyah Asher Einecha Pekuchos al Kol Darkei Ish"?

(d) What did Rav comment in connection with these quotations?

3)
(a) When Rebbi Yossi ben Kisma was sick, Rebbi Chanina ben T'radyon went to visit him.
What did the former have to say ...
  1. ... about the latter's public Torah teaching?
  2. ... when the latter replied that Hashem would have mercy on them? What did he foresee?
(b) When Rebbi Chanina's asked him whether he would go to Olam ha'Ba, what did he reply?

(c) What did Rebbi Chanina then relate to Rebbi Yossi ben Kisma that prompted him to reply 'me'Chelkecha Yehei Chelki ... !'

4)
(a) When Rebbi Yossi ben Kisma died, who attended his Levayah and even eulogized him?

(b) What did they find Rebbi Chanina ben T'radyon doing upon their return?

(c) What did they do with him?

(d) What did they do ensure that he died a slow, painful death?

5)
(a) What did Rebbi Chanina reply when ...
  1. ... his daughter expressed pain in seeing him that way?
  2. ... his Talmidim asked him what he saw?
  3. ... they advised him to open his mouth and let in the fumes, so that he would die more quickly?
(b) What did the executioner ask him ...
  1. ... initially? What deal did he strike with him?
  2. ... after he had already replied in the affirmative?
(c) Rebbi Chanina ben T'radyon died soon afterwards.
What did the executioner do at the time of Rebbi Chanina's death?

(d) What did Rebbi declare after the bas-Kol announced that both Rebbi Chanina and the executioner were ready to go to Olam ha'Ba immediately?

6)
(a) Why was Rebbi Meir's wife B'ruryah, concerned about the shameful situation of Rebbi Chanina's daughter?

(b) What did she do about it?

(c) Rebbi Meir payed his sister-in-law a visit in the brothel, incognito.
How did she react when he ...

  1. ... accosted her?
  2. ... told her that he was willing to wait for her?
(d) What conclusion did he draw from that episode?

(e) What was Rebbi Meir's motive for doing this? What was he trying to ascertain?

7)
(a) He then approached the guard.
What did Rebbi Meir reply when, initially, the latter refused to allow Rebbi Chanina's daughter to go with him? What was the purpose of the three Kav of golden Dinrim that he took with him?

(b) What did he advise him to say when the money ran out?

(c) The guard was naturally sceptical about that.
How did Rebbi Meir prove to him that those words were really effective?

(d) What happened subsequently, that necessitated the guard to make use of Rebbi Meir's strategy? What happened there?

Answers to questions

18b---------------------------------------18b

8)

(a) When the guard divulged all that had transpired, the authorities put up a wanted notice at the gate of Rome.
What form did the wanted notice take?

(b) When one day, he was spotted, and the chase was on, where did he run, in order to put off his pursuers?

(c) Alternatively, he began to eat Bishul Akum.
What did he really do?

(d) According to others, he met Eliyahu. How would that have convinced his pursuers that he was not Rebbi Meir?

(e) According to some, it was a result of this episode that Rebbi Meir fled to Bavel.
What do others say?

9)
(a) The Beraisa talks about someone who goes to watch the Itztadin (the bull-fights described in our Mishnah) or Karkom.
What is 'Karkom?

(b) What does the Tana say about watching ...

  1. ...the Nachshim and Chaverim (entertainers who perform there different forms of witchcraft concerning animals)?
  2. ... Bukyon, Mukyon, Mulyon and Lulyon ... ?
    What do all of these have in common?
(c) Which Pasuk in Tehilim serves as the source for the prohibition of watching these entertainments?

(d) Another Beraisa permits attending both Itztadin and Karkom.
Under what circumstances does the Tana allow attending ...

  1. ... 'Itztadin'?
  2. ... 'Karkom'?
10)
(a) We reconcile the two Beraisos regarding Karkom, by establishing the former Beraisa when one is 'Mis'chashev Imahen'.
What does this mean?

(b) Whereas the discrepancy regarding Itztadin we resolve by establishing the second Beraisa like Rebbi Nasan.
Which reasons does Rebbi Nasan give in permitting attending a session of bull-fighting (besides the one mentioned earlier [of saving Jewish captives from fighting the bulls])?

11)
(a) In another Beraisa, Rebbi Meir forbids attending 'theaters and circuses' because these occasions were used to arrange the needs of Avodah-Zarah and collect donations on its behalf (see also Tosfos DH 'she'Mezavlin Sham').
What do the Chachamim say?

(b) Seeing as both opinions forbid it anyway, how does Rebbi Chanina from Sura explain the ramifications of the Machlokes?

(c) What problem do we have with the Pasuk "Ashrei ha'Ish Asher Lo Halach ba'Atzas Resha'im, u've'Derech Chata'im Lo Halach, u've'Moshav Leitzim Lo Yashav"?

(d) How does Rebbi Shimon ben Pazi resolve the problem?

(e) What does the Pasuk in Mishlei mean when it says "Im Chakamta Chakamta Lecha, ve'Latzta Levadcha Tisa" (see Agados Maharsha)?

12)
(a) What does Rebbi Elazar learn from the Pasuk in Yeshayah "ve'Atah Al Tislotzetzu Pen Yechezku Moserchem"?

(b) What did Rava beg of his Talmidim?

(c) According to Rav Ketina, Letzim are destined to go short of food.
How does Resh Lakish explain the Pasuk in Mishlei "Zeid Yahir Letz Sh'mo, Oseh be'Evras Zadon"? Which location is described as "Evras''?

(d) Rebbi Oshaya explains the Pasuk in the same way, but in connection with the "Zeid Yahir" mentioned there.
Who is a "Zeid Yahir"?

13)
(a) In the opinion of Rebbi Chanila'i bar Chanila'i (or bar Tanchum), the repercussions of Letzanus are more disastrous still.
How does Letzanus affect the world, according to him?

(b) And according to Rebbi Elazar, how does Letzanus begin and how does it end?

(c) Rebbi Shimon ben Pazi Darshens the above Pasuk in Tehilim "Ashrei ha'Ish Asher Lo Halach" with reference to the Nochri's 'theaters and circuses' and "u've'Derech Chata'im Lo Amad", to 'Kenigyon'.
What is 'Kenigyon'?

(d) From where do we know that conforming with these instructions by lying under one's covers and sleeping one is still deficient?

Answers to questions

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