Daf 26

1) R' Meir says that there are three times a year that Kohanim Duchen four times a day; by Shachris, Musaf, Mincha and Neila. The three times are: by fasts, Mamados (Yisraelim who have their shift to fast and Daven for Hashem to accept the Korbanos), and Yom Kippur. R' Yehuda says that you can only Duchen during Shachris and Musaf, but not by Mincha and Neila. R' Yossi says that you Duchen during Neila, but not by Mincha. R' Meir says: the reason you don't Duchen usually by Mincha is a concern for drunkenness at that time in the afternoon, and you can't Duchen drunk. [Tosfos says: although, the Gemara in Shabbos says that we don't need to worry about drunkenness by Mincha time, it's only compared to the drunkenness found by Maariv time, since it's more common to have drunkenness by Maariv than by Mincha. However, it's more common to find drunkenness by Mincha time more than by Shachris and Musaf time.] However, on these days, (where you can't eat or drink), we don't need to be concerned that they'll be drunk. R' Yehuda holds that they decreed not to Duchen by Mincha and Neila since, usually at that time, it's common to find people drunk. R' Yossi holds: they only decreed this by Mincha, since it's a Tefila they have every day. However, they didn't decree it by Neila since they didn't Daven it every day, (and you don't need to worry they'll confuse it with other days).

2) Rav says that the Halacha is like R' Meir, I.e., we Darshen it in the Shiur. R' Yochanan says that the people are accustomed to do like R' Meir, i.e., we don't Darshen it in Shuir, but if asked, we Paskin like him.. Rava says the custom is like R' Meir, i.e., we don't Paskin like him, but if someone does like him, we don't make him go back and do it correctly. R' Nachman says that the Halacha is like R' Yossi, and the Gemara concludes that it is the true Halacha.

3) The Kohanim nowadays Duchen by Mincha of a fast since they Daven then close to sunset, (and not like a usual Mincha where they Daven earlier), so it gets the status like Neila (that we don't need to worry we'll confuse fast days for regular days by uncommon Davenings). [Tosfos explains: therefore, we're not accustomed to Duchen Yom Kippur by Mincha, since we Daven it earlier in the day (i.e., not near sunset).]

4) A drunk can't rabbinically Duchen, but they have an Asmachta that the Parsha of the Kohanim Duchening written next to the Parsha of Nazir to tell you; the same way that a Nazir is forbidden to drink wine, also, a Kohain that Duchens is forbidden with wine. Although a Nazir is forbidden in grape seed, a Kohain Duchening is permitted with grape seed since it also has a Hekish to a Kohein doing Avodah who may eat grape seed. Although you can't have a blemished Kohein for the Avodah, the blemished Kohain can Duchen because of the Hekish to Nazir. We make the Hekish to give leniencys since it's only an Asmachta. [Tosfos says: a Kohein who strays from our religion (and comes back) may Duchen and receive the first Aliya like a regular Kohein who never strayed. The proof to this: we say that those Kohanim who served in Beis Chonav (which some say is a house of idols) may not serve in the Mikdash, but can receive a portion and eat Kodshim like blemished Kohanim. This seems to say that he may do any service that a blemished Kohain may do, and a blemished Kohain may Duchen.]

5) The Mamados were enacted since the Pasuk says; “command the Jews to bring the Korbanos,” and how is it possible that someone should bring a Korban when he's not there? (So, if all the Jews jointly brought the Tamid, how can it be that it was brought without their representatives being there?) Therefore, the earlier prophets enacted twenty-four shifts. There was representatives from the Kohanim, Leviyim and Yisraelim in each shift.

6) There is an argument whether the main part of the Shira was done by the Leviyim singing with their mouths or playing with their musical instruments.

7) The Kohanim and Leviyim go up to Yerushalayim, and the Yisraelim gather in their cities and they read Parshas Breishes in the Torah. (This is besides the Yisraelim in the shift who lived in Yerushalayim who actually was present by the Korbanos.) They Daven so that the Jews' Korbanos should be accepted. They fasted four days, from Monday to Thursday. They didn't fast on Friday because of the honor of Shabbos, and, of course, they didn't fast on Shabbos itself for that reason. They didn't fast on Sunday; R' Yochanan explains: because of the Christians (who keep Sunday as their holiday, so we don't want to show doing anything special that day). R' Shmuel b. Nachmeini explains: it's the third day from the creation of man (which was on Friday), so there is usually a weakness associated with the third day, similarly to what was said by the people of Shechem when they had their Milah. Reish Lakish says: since we had an extra Neshama for Shabbos (i.e., you are comfortable to eat a lot, and it's dangerous to go straight from that to fasting).

8) The first day they read Breishes and “Vayhi Rakia.” Breishes has two Alios and “Vayhi Rakia” has one Aliya. Although the first Parsha only contains five P'sukim and you can't read from the Torah (for an Aliya) less than three P'sukim, Rav says that you should skip (by reading three P'sukim, then go back a Pasuk and read the three P'sukim to the end of the Parsha). Although we don't usually allow this because of those entering and leaving in the middle of Leining, but when left with no choice, it's permitted. However, it's not an option to split the third Pasuk in half, since it's forbidden to stop in a place where Moshe didn't place a stop. Shmuel says that you split the middle Pasuk in half. Although you can't do it regularly, but here you don't have a choice, so it's like we allow splitting it to teach young children since you don't have a choice. However, it's not an option to skip in the middle, since we don't allow this because of those entering and leaving in the middle of Leining.

9) However, we don't usually allow skipping. Therefore, if you have a Parsha of five P'sukim, you read it in one Aliya. If you did stop in the middle, the Tanna Kama says that you read the next two P'sukim, and a third one from the next Parsha. Other say that he needs to read three more P'sukim from the new Parsha.

10) They read from the Torah during Shachris, Musaf, but by Mincha they read by heart like we read by Shma. However, they can't read by heart in a Minyan.

11) There was no Mamud by Shachris when they said Hallel (because of being busy saying Hallel). The Gemara concludes: when they brought the Korban Musaf, they didn't say Mamud by Neila (and, of course, by Mincha, that was closer to the Korban Musaf). After all, the Yisraleilim in Yerushalayim would be busy chopping wood and drawing water for the Korban. On a day they dedicated wood in the Mikdash, they didn't have a Mamud by Neila. [Rashi they didn't have a Maamud for Neila. Tosfos explains: since they were very busy bringing the Musaf, they didn't have time to Daven Mincha or Neila.]

12) The difference between the two [Rashi: that the donations of the wood only pushes off the Maamud of Neila, but not the one for Mincha. Tosfos explains: the difference between the Korban Musaf and the wood donation that Musaf pushes off the Maamud of Mincha and the wood donation doesn't push off Mincha; Rashi explains] since this (Mincha) is from the Torah (i.e., our forefather, Yitzchok, enacted it). The other (Neila) is only rabbinic. [Tosfos explains: since Musaf is based on the Torah, it pushes off Mincha that's based on the Torah. However, the wood donation, which is only a rabbinical enactment, only pushes off Neila that is a rabbinical enactment, but not Mincha that's based on the Torah.]

13) R' Yossi says that Musaf only knocks off the Maamad for Musaf, but not Mincha and Neila.

14) Hallel on Rosh Chodesh is not an obligation but only a custom; therefore, it doesn't supersede the Maamad. As we say that an individual finishes Hallel eighteen times a year. The eight days of Sukkos, the eight days of Chanuka, and the first day of Pesach and Shvuos. In the Diaspora, it's twenty one days; nine days of Sukkos, eight days of Chanuka, the two first days of Pesach and the two days of Shvuos.

15) Rav visited Bavel. He saw them saying Hallel on Rosh Chodesh. He thought to stop them (since they're adding on to the enactment). When he saw that they skip some parts, he figured out that this was the custom of their fathers.

16) [Tosfos brings those who hold that you don't make a Bracha on a custom. As we also see this concept by an Arava (for Hoshana Rabbah) that we don't make a Brachasince we hold that taking this Arava is only a custom instituted by the prophets. Thus, we see, you don't make a Bracha on customs. However, R' Tam Paskins to make a Bracha on customs. After all, if we don't make a Bracha, then why did it take Rav until they started skipping to realize that it's only a custom? After all, he should have realized that it's only a custom when they didn't make a Bracha on the outset. You only don't make a Bracha on a custom like by the Arava that the custom (is such a weak action) of just moving the Arava. Therefore, you need to make sure not to talk in the middle of Hallel since you made a Bracha over it, or it would be a Hefsik.]

17) We learned: an individual (doesn't need) to start saying Hallel (on Rosh Chodesh), but if he started, he must finish it. [Tosfos says: if he wants to obligate himself, he may, and he can make a Bracha.]

18) We fast on Tisha B'av, even though the bulk of the Mikdash's burning happened on the tenth; but we follow when the tragedy started, which was on the ninth.

19) When the month of Av comes, we minimize our joy. When Adar comes in, we maximize our joy. Therefore, if someone has a court case against a non-Jew, he should avoid having it during Av, [Tosfos since they bring punishment at a time for punishment], but make yourself available during Adar.

20) On the week that Tisha B'av falls out on, you can't take a haircut and launder. However, you're permitted on Thursday for the honor of Shabbos. If you didn't launder on Thursday, you may launder on Friday (even on Tisha B'av itself) from Mincha time and up. However, Abaya, or R' Acha b. Yaakov, cursed someone who relies on this.

21) (Someone who doesn't have but one shirt may launder it on Chol Hamoed (though we prohibit it regularly). [Tosfos says: the Gemara in Moed Katan says: this is because the belt of the shirt proves to everyone that he only has one shirt that's girded on his outer-cloak instead of on a shirt. If so, this (Heter) should only apply to them in those days, but to us, it's forbidden to launder even if we don't have any other shirt, since we don't gird our shirts with a belt to prove we have only one shirt. However, women can launder the young children's clothing. After all, it's as if they only have one shirt, since they are constantly changing their clothing, and they always need all the clothing they own.])

22) Bavel's rubbing the garment with glass balls is the same as Eretz Yisrael's laundering. (Therefore, our laundering is permitted as long as we don't also rub the garment.) Linen garments don't have (a prohibition to) rub with glass balls, but you can't wear them that week that Tisha B'av falls out in, but leave it for afterwards).

23) Rav says that it's only regarding that part of the week before Tisha B'av, but not afterwards. Shmuel forbids it (the whole week) even after Tisha B'av. Really, it's a Taanaic argument. As R' Meir says: it's forbidden to take a haircut or launder clothes from Rosh Chodesh until Tisha B'av. R' Yehuda forbids the whole month. R' Shimon b. Gamliel says that it's only forbidden that whole week. Rava says that the Halacha is like R' Shimon b. Gamliel and like R' Meir. He means to be lenient on both accounts. It's only forbidden that week and not from Rosh Chodesh, and only until Tisha B'av.

24) The Tanna Kama says that you only have three Aliyos on Tisha B'av when it falls out on Monday and Thursday, but the other days, there is only one Aliya and one Maftir. [Tosfos says that this is a proof that we Paskin that you can count the Mafir as one of the seven Aliyos on Shabbos.] R' Yossi says that it always has three Aliyos.

25) Tisha B'av that falls out on Shabbos, or if Erev Tisha B'av was on Shabbos, you may eat as much as you want and you can place on your table (a feast) like Shlomo did in his heyday.

26) On Erev Tisha B'av, you may only not eat two cooked foods. It's only if it's eaten after the sixth hour (i.e., midday), but it's permitted before the sixth hour. It's also only by the last meal before you stop eating for the fast, but if it won't be your last meal, it's permitted. [Tosfos says: we shouldn't forbid to eat a cooked dish that's made from onions, cheese and eggs. Although people don't eat onions raw, (and it wouldn't be a Heter that it's not considered a cooked dish if it's eaten raw like by Bishul Akum), since people can't make a dish out of onions by itself, it's not considered a separate cooked item to forbid eating the eggs cooked with them. Also, you don't need to have concern for the cheese since it can be eaten raw.] You can't eat meat, nor drink wine.

27) R' Shimon b. Gamliel says that you only need to change (your eating habit). If you're used to eating two cooked items, you should only eat one. If you're used to eat with ten people, eat with five.[Tosfos- i.e., you should minimize your honor.] If you're used to drink ten cups (of wine), drink only five. The Chachumim say: he should curb his meat and wine intake. If he usually eats a litter of meat, he should eat a half of liter. If he usually drinks a Lug of wine, he should drink a half of Lug. If he's not accustomed to eat them usually, it's totally forbidden.

28) R' Shimon b. Gamliel says: if you're used to eat radishes or salted items after your meal, you may do so now too.

29) the Tanna Kama says: any meal that's eaten for Tisha B'av (i.e., the last meal before Tisha B'av), it's forbidden to eat meat and drink wine, and it's forbidden to wash. However, if it's not for Tisha B'av (an earlier meal, or a meal for a communal fast), you may eat meat and drink wine, but it's forbidden to wash. R' Yishmael b. R' Yossi quoted his father that, whenever it's permitted to eat, it's permitted to wash.

30) It's forbidden to eat, drink, smear, wear shoes, and have relations. It's forbidden to read Tanach and to learn Mishnayos, Gemara, Medrish, Halacha and Agadita. However, you may read from P'sukim that you're not used to reading (and you're not familiar with), and learn Mishnayos that you're not used to learning. This is because the Pasuk says: “Hashem's laws are just, the give pleasure to the heart.” However, you can read Eicha, Iyuv and the sad parts of Yirmiya. R' Yehuda says: you can't read from P'sukim that you're not used to reading or learn Mishnayos that you're not used to learning.

31) The school children do convene to learn. R' Yehuda says they don't

32) He may eat (at the last meal) salted meat that's salted as long as you can eat a Shlomim (two days and a night. Since it says by them “you burn the meat,” so it's still called meat. Past that time, we don't find it's still called meat.) [However, Tosfos says: it's forbidden for us to eat it since we're used to eating it salted (and it's not a change of our eating habit).] You can drink wine from the vat as long as it's still fermenting, which is within three days, (and it also doesn't have a problem by being left uncovered).

33) The custom of R' Yehuda b. Ilay on Erev Tisha B'av, they brought him dried out bread with salt and he sat between the stove and oven and ate and drank a jug of water, and it was like his dead relative was laying there before him (i.e., right after death before the burial). [Tosfos says: therefore, you should also change the place where you usually eat like R' Yehuda b. Ilay's custom.]

34) In a place where the custom is to do work on Tisha B'av, you can do work. If it's a place where the custom is not to work, you can't work. However, a Talmid Chachum shouldn't work either way. R' Shimon b. Gamliel says that someone, (even laymen), should make themselves like Talmidai Chachumim (and not work). R' Akiva says: anyone who does work on Tisha B'av will never find a blessing [Tosfos explains: a person is obligated to pain himself and to minimize his honor and pleasure. If someone usually sleeps on one pillow, he should only sleep on one pillow. However, pregnant and nursing women are not obligated in these things too much since they can't handle to pain themselves.]

35) All who mourn over Yerushalayim will see its happiness. Those who don't mourn over Yerushalayim will not see its happiness. We learned similarly: anyone who eats meat and drinks wine on (the last meal before the fast of) Tisha B'av, the Pasuk says on him “you'll have your sins fall on yourselves.”

36) The Chachumim in the Mishna hold you don't overturn beds, and R' Yehuda requires people to overturn their beds and the Chachumim of the Braisa disagrees to a point. Everyone agrees that pregnant and nursing women don't need to do this since it would be terribly uncomfortable for them and they can't handle it. Everyone agrees that those who are able to handle it, must. They argue about other types of beds (that are not meant for sleeping). The Halacha is like the Chachumim in our Mishna who don't agree to R' Yehuda at all. (This is not like the Chachumim in the Braisa who agree that all who can handle it should overturn their bed.) [Tosfos explains: nowadays, where we're concerned about being effected by witchcraft, we don't overturn our beds even during the mourning period (for a dead relative).]

37) [Tosfos says: you needs to stop your last meal Erev Tisha B'av while it's still day. However, even when you stop the meal, you may continue eating until night.]

38) They enacted to say Hatov U'meitiv because of those who were killed in Beitar. [Tosfos adds: this is why they enacted it on wine, since they were made into a fence around the vineyards and they never rotted.]