Saying You're Part of a Daf Yomi
QUESTION 55: SAYING YOU'RE PART OF A DAF YOMI
When Agudat Yisroel started selling tickets for the Siyum Hashas
(celebration after finishing the Talmud), they said that the
initial tickets were only for those involved in a Daf Yomi
Shiur (daily Talmud learning group). Two weeks later the
tickets were to go on sale for everyone else. Let's say that
someone was not involved in a Daf Yomi Shiur, but had heard that
many groups of tickets were being bought by shuls, etc., for
people who were not involved in a Daf Yomi Shiur. Should one
still hold back and not buy a ticket until the after the two week
'private' period was over? (It turned out that after the two
week 'private' period, Madison Square Garden was already sold
out.)
RABBI BELSKY
It's hard to say. At the time, people asked me this
question, and I gave them the following advice: Join
a Daf Yomi Shiur and stay in it for one whole tractate,
for Brochos (the first book in the Talmud). Then, when
Shabbos (then second book in the Talmud) comes around,
you can quote. "Bo'oh Shabbos bo'oh menucha." (When
Shabbos comes one can rest). At least you'll be a
legitimate Daf Yomi man and entitled to the ticket, and
of course you might stay on indefinitely.
QUESTIONER
Is it legitimate even if you haven't done it in the
past, only in the future?
RABBI BELSKY
Yes. In the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) it is
written that if a person goes every erev Shabbos (Friday
afternoon) to the mikveh (ritual bath), he can go on erev
Shabbos Chazon, which is during the "9 days" when bathing
is not normally permitted. A talmid (student) once asked
R' Aharon Kotler, "What if I never went until now, but
from now on I'm going to go?" R' Aharon said, "If you
really mean it, and you accept upon yourself the responsibility
to go, then it's permitted." But it has to be a real
commitment, and a person can't simply nullify the pledge
the next week.
QUESTIONER
Let's say someone is not attending a Daf Yomi Shiur,
but his shul bought a large block of tickets, let's
say 50 tickets, but only 20 people from his shul had
attended the Daf Yomi Shiur? Since the tickets were
bought already, can he buy one of the 30 extra tickets?
RABBI BELSKY
If the practice is known and accepted by the Agudah,
then it is acceptable for him to take one of those tickets.
Otherwise, no. It is very important for the people who
actually participate in the shiur to attend the celebration --
they have first rights, because it is their celebration --
they are the mechutanim ("members of the family"). It's
immoral to take it away from them.
QUESTIONER
If a shul buys a large block of tickets, knowing they only
have smaller number of people who attend their Daf Yomi
Shiur, is the shul doing something wrong?
RABBI BELSKY
The shul is doing nothing wrong if it's within reason.
Perhaps if they have 30 people in their Daf Yomi Shiur,
and they buy 35 tickets, the extra tickets for people who
might join the shiur. Even if they buy 40 tickets, perhaps
many new people will join their shiur -- that was really one
of the points for having the Siyum, to inspire new people to
join a Daf Yomi Shiur.
QUESTIONER
But what if the shul buys 50 and there are only 20 people
currently in their shiur, and the shul knows it is buying
a lot extra?
RABBI BELSKY
If the Agudah says, "Yes, we know this is being done, and
we don't mind", then that is their policy. The thing to
remember is that we shouldn't take things from others.
NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION 56: FIXING A LIBRARY BOOK
If my child tears a few pages in a book that I've taken
out from the library, can I scotch tape the pages back
myself, or must I tell them first to see if that's OK with
them? Once I showed them such a book and they said "Oh, that
can't be fixed", and I paid for it, but I feel that I could
easily have fixed it.
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