Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah
Jews around the world study the same page of Talmud each day as part of the 7-year cycle of the Daf Yomi. Join Rabbanit Dr. Tamara Spitz each week as she reviews the key topics of the previous week’s seven pages, gaining an overview of the entire Talmud while also doing a deeper analysis of one of the core issues in that week’s text. We will combine breadth and depth to gain insights into each Tractate being studied, and enjoy the benefits of moving through topics at a quicker pace.
Whatever your background in Talmud, this shiur will allow you to connect to the worldwide phenomenon of Daf Yomi study, whether you learn the daf each day or just want to gain an overview of the entire Gemara. For the previous tractate, masechet Nazir, please visit HERE. For the next masechet, Gittin, click HERE.
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 1: Daf 2-6
As we start a new Masechet, we will learn who is considered a Sota, a woman suspected of adultery. The first Mishna teaches us that to do the Sota ceremony in the Temple, the husband needed to warn his wife, in front of witnesses not to seclude with a particular man. Then she is seen secluding with that man. The Gemara will explain what constitutes “seclusion”.
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 2: Daf 7-13
This week the Gemara discusses the steps the husband takes to bring his wife to the Temple as a Sota. When they arrive there is a very degrading ceremony meant to pressure the woman to confess. The Gemara describes what happens if she is innocent and what the consequences are if she is guilty. The Mishna then teaches the concept of a Measure for a Measure, for bad actions, and for good actions.
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 3: Daf 14-20
After finishing the first chapter of Masechet Sotah, we will learn about the Sotah ceremony in the Temple this week. The ceremony is meant to pressure the woman to admit her guilt, if she is really guilty, or give her the opportunity to clear her name if she is innocent.
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 4: Daf 21-28
This week we will learn that if the Sota woman has merit, her punishment can be delayed. However, not everyone agrees that this is correct. We will then learn the fourth chapter which deals with women who cannot drink the bitter water and don’t get their ketubah money when they get divorced.
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 5: Daf 29-34
This week we will learn how many witnesses one needs to make the woman drink the bitter waters and how many can disqualify her from drinking the water. The first Mishna in the 7th chapter enumerates things that can be said in any language and things that must be recited in Hebrew. The Sota ceremony must be done in a language that the woman understands and doesn’t need to be conducted in Hebrew.
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 6: Daf 35-41
Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Sotah: Lesson 7: Daf 42-49 + Siyum
This week we will learn what the Jewish people did before going out to battle. A special Cohen would address the army and send home certain groups of people. We will learn who these people are and why they couldn’t go to war. We will then complete the Masechet by learning about a ritual that was done if a dead body was found between two cities.
Rabbanit Dr. Tamara Spitz is the Rosh Beit Midrash and Mashgicha Ruchanit of Midreshet Torah v'Avodah. She lectures on various topics in Gemara, including Daf Yomi, Halacha, and Tefilah. Dr. Spitz has held academic and administrative positions at various Midrashot and served as the Jewish Studies Principal of Instituto Yavne, one of the main Jewish day schools of Montevideo, Uruguay. She also runs a Chiropractic practice specializing in Women’s Health in Gush Etzion and is a Hip-Hop dance teacher.