The Weekly Daf - #50 Bava Basra 93-99 Week of 17-23 Shevat 5755 / 18-24 January 1995 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions =========================================================================== Jerusalem Greats There were two great customs in Jerusalem: 1. If someone offered to cook the food which his friend had prepared to serve guests and he spoiled the food he was required not only to compensate the host for the damaged food but also for the embarrassment suffered by him and his guests. 2. In a home which welcomed guests a tablecloth was hung at the entrance to the house as a signal that guests were invited. Once the tablecloth was removed it was understood that guests could no longer be accommodated. These are referred to as "great" customs, explains Maharsha, because the mitzvah of hospitality, which is the subject of these customs, is considered a "great" mitzvah, surpassing even the welcoming of the Divine Presence as we learn from Avraham Avinu who excused himself from the Divine Presence, which had come to pay him a sick visit, in order to welcome his guests. Bava Basra 93b =========================================================================== Poetic Justice and Pretenders Wine turning sour, says Rabbi Chiya bar Yosef, is a case of Heavenly justice of measure for measure. The man who haughtily pretends to be what he is not finds that what he thought was wine was only vinegar pretending to be more than it really is. Such a haughty pretender, adds Rabbi Mori, ends up being rejected even by his own wife. The Talmud in Masechta Sotah (47b) notes that many women were attracted to many men who had the outward appearance of being pious scholars because they judged people only superficially. When they eventually discovered that their husbands were only haughty pretenders they lost all respect for them as Rabbi Mori warned they would. Bava Basra 98a =========================================================================== MATAN TORAH got you mixed up? Rabbi Gavriel Reuven and Ohr Somayach present Rashi's explanation of the Chronology of the Giving of the Torah The chain of events surrounding the giving of the Torah is very difficult to follow, because, according to Rashi's understanding, the verses are not arranged chronologically. This file lists the events in correct chronological order so that you can easily understand how the Torah was given to the Jewish People. This file is available from the following sources: o The Jerusalem1 Gopher under the heading "Religious Institutions" and the sub-heading "Ohr Somayach" o CompuServe Religion Forum, Judaism Library (3), filename TORAH.TXT o Sent via E-Mail for those without access to one of the above. Send your request to newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il. To speed processing, set your subject to "SEND ME TORAH" and do not include any other topics in your message. =========================================================================== Dedication opportunities are available for The Weekly Daf Please contact us for details. =========================================================================== Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il =========================================================================== (C) 1995 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample of an issue.