No community start suggestion yet.
Why did the Torah (תורה) use goral (lottery) when Moshe already knew each tribe's portion through divine prophecy? The shiur develops the principle that goral establishes corporate ownership - every tribe owns sovereignty in all of Eretz Yisrael while receiving private ownership only in their specific portion. This explains why women have no Biblical obligation to bench since they lack land ownership, while Kohanim and Leviim retain their obligation through corporate ownership.
The shiur opens with a Gemara (גמרא) in Brachos 20a regarding whether women are obligated in birchas hamazon from the Torah (תורה) or rabbinically. Rashi (רש"י) explains that since women received no portion in Eretz Yisrael, their obligation is only rabbinic. However, Tosafot challenges this logic: if land ownership determines the obligation, then Kohanim and Leviim should also only have a rabbinic obligation, which seems untenable. Rabbi Zweig addresses this difficulty by analyzing the seemingly contradictory pesukim about dividing Eretz Yisrael. The Torah states both that larger tribes should receive larger portions and that the land should be divided equally by lottery. The Ramban (רמב"ן) explains that each tribe received equal-sized portions, while individuals within larger tribes received smaller shares. Rashi argues the opposite - that each individual received equal portions, necessitating different-sized tribal territories.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Brachos 20a
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Gemara
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Up Next in this Series
Why does seeing a sotah inspire one to become a nazir? The nazir's abstention creates a pre-sin state where body and soul exist in perfect harmony. This 30-day period corrects the internal contradiction that led to his original transgression.
What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
How can sinas chinam lead someone to harm himself even more than his enemy? The shiur develops that sinas chinam requires self-hatred first — only someone alienated from himself will damage himself to hurt others. The Bar Kamtsa host and R. Zecharya ben Avkulas both exhibited this self-alienation, showing that proper anava restores love of both self and others.
When an animal damages crops, the Torah prescribes a unique payment formula based on multiplying the damaged area by sixty. Does this formula redefine the actual loss, or does it merely create a payment mechanism that still acknowledges the full damage sustained? The Gemara explores whether someone who ate in doubt should pay the higher-quality amount, examining how the principle of motzi me-chaveiro alav haraya applies when payments fall within the range of actual loss.
What makes testimony valid when different witnesses testify to different parts of the same event? The Gemara debates whether the principle of "davar v'lo chatzi davar" (complete testimony, not partial) disqualifies witnesses who testify separately to theft and slaughter. Rashi's approach reveals that the issue is not merely combining elements, but whether each witness's statement is independently meaningful.
Why is a ganav who sells a stolen animal on Shabbos exempt from the fourfold/fivefold payment? The shiur analyzes whether this exemption stems from kam lei b'derabbah or from the absence of a valid mechira. The Rashba's principle that matana resembles mechira when it is "nishtarish b'chet" is explored, along with the Rambam's position on hekdesh and the distinction between giving to bedek habayis versus mizbe'ach.
When a ganav shechts a stolen animal l'avodah zarah, why isn't he patur from payment since it's already isur hana'ah? The shiur explores the fundamental machloket Rashi-Tosafot on whether the isur derives from the act of shechita or from the din shechita itself. The Gemara's application of davar garem be'mamon ke'mamon domi extends the analysis to when borrowed animals become niskal.