Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Tuesday's Thoughts on the Daf - Makkos 11

Makkos 11 is one of those dapim with something for everyone. While I can't possibly touch on all the points I would like to write about tonight, I would like to briefly address two portions of the daf that I found particularly interesting.

Towards the bottom of Makkos 11a, the gemara mentions the statement of R' Yehuda in the name of Rav who states that the curse of a chacham will always be effective. The gemara brings a proof from a story involving David Hamelech. When David was digging the foundation of the Beis Hamikdash he found a pottery shard. Rashi (quoting the Yerushalmi in Sanhedrin) explains that the shard told David not to pick it up because it had been placed there at the time that the Torah was given to prevent the waters of the deep from rising up and flooding the world.

The gemara then gives the rest of the story of David's work in excavating the area. David ignored the shard and the water began bubbling up. He then asked his court - what can I do, can I write Hashem's name on a new shard and toss it down there? No one answered. He then swore - whomever knows the answer and does not tell me should be strangled. Achitofel made a mental calculation (a kal v'chomer) that since Hashem allows his name to be written and then erased to make peace in the home (i.e. the Sotah test) then certainly it would be allowable to write Hashem's name on a pottery shard and throw it back down and thus prevent the water from bubbling up. David took Achitofel's advice and the water did not come up.

On Makkos 11b, the gemara discusses how a niddui (excommunication) which is done conditionally still requires a formal declaration that it is void, even if the conditional event which would have triggered the niddui never happens. The gemara uses the example of Yehuda and his deal with Ya'akov wherein he guarantees Binyomin's safety. The gemara explains that although Binyomin was reunited with Ya'akov, Yehuda was still forced to endure a punishment. The gemara writes that while the Jews were traveling in the desert after leaving Egypt, they carried the coffin of each of the sons of Ya'akov who died in Egypt. While all of the bodies rested comfortably, Yehuda's bones were rolling around until Moshe prayed to Hashem and Hashem allowed the bones to reset in place.

I heard a vort from R' Mansour which demonstrates Yehuda's fear of niddui for not keeping his promise to Ya'akov. The first pasuk in Vayigash reads "Vayigash eilav Yehuda, Vayomer Bi Adonee..." The trup on those words are kadma v'azla rive'ee zarka munach segol. As explained by R' Mansour, the trup demonstrates Yehuda's fear as it reads - The fourth (i.e. Yehuda the fourth son) got up and went because he was afraid that he would not rest with am segula.

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2 comments:

Yaakov said...

L"N Pesia bas Rav Yaakov(Boby Polsky) on her yortzeit Rabbi Elefant brings Rav Yaakov Kamentzky what was David question there is pechuach nefesh in this case he answers over here it is a case of kidush Hashem which beats pekuach nefesh

Rabbi Elefant brings a case about tefillin being burned(causing Hashem name to be erased) in a hospital when someone has a contagious disease Chubiner Rav and Rav Moshe say tefillin should not be brought to him but Rav Elyashiv says he can wear tefillin that day the poskim are stringent by burning tefillin but if they are left to rot they are lenient

shasdaf said...

This vort by R' Monsour is really said by the Gr"a in Kol Eliyahu.