Shiur summary (draft from the recording)
Eclipses as Simanim; Four Sets of Four Aveiros
בזמן שהחמה לוקה
Sukkah 29b · Monday, March 2, 2026
The sugya
The shiur continues the Braisos about the sun and moon being diminished and what they signify: for whom, where, what color, and when. It then goes through the four sets of four aveiros that cause the sun to be diminished, the me'oros to be diminished, property to be handed to the malchus, and property to be lost. It ends with gasus haruach being k'neged kulan, the pasuk about anavim, and Hadran Alach HaYashen, followed by a full review of the four sets.
Step by step (shakla v’tarya)
- GemaraTanu Rabbanan: when the sun is diminished it is a siman ra for the ovdei kochavim, and when the moon is diminished it is a siman ra for Yisrael. This is because Yisrael count by the moon and the ovdei kochavim count by the sun.
- GemaraIf it is diminished in the East, it is a siman ra for those who live in the East. If in the West, it is a siman ra for those in the West. If in the middle, it is a siman ra for the whole world.
- GemaraThe Rebbi says this part is about the sun. If it looks reddish, the sword comes to the world. If blackish (sak), arrows of famine come. If both, it is both sword and famine.
- GemaraIf it is diminished as it rises, punishment is delayed in coming. If as it sets, punishment comes fast. Yesh omrim it is the opposite.
- GemaraNo nation is struck without its god being struck with it, as it says ובכל אלהי מצרים אעשה שפטים.
- GemaraWhen Yisrael do the ratzon of Hashem, they need not fear any of these, as it says אל דרך הגוים אל תלמדו ומאותות השמים אל תחתו כי יחתו הגוים מהמה. The Rebbi notes that the pasuk ends at 'meheima'.
- Introduction to the home stretch: the Braisos come in categories of four, four sets of four.
- GemaraThe sun is diminished because of four things. First, an av beis din who dies and is not eulogized properly.
- A short discussion about whether the diminishing is itself a punishment. The Rebbi suggests it is a siman: when you see the sun diminished, it was caused by this, and it is a siman ra. Much of this is unclear in recording.
- GemaraSecond, a naarah hameorasah who was raped and screams in the city, and no one saves her. Third, mishkav zachar. Fourth, two brothers who are killed together.
- The RebbiThe Rebbi saw somewhere a connection to the sun: it is so obvious, she is screaming, like the sun is out there, so how could you not notice?
- GemaraThe me'oros are diminished because of four things. First, kosvei plaster (forgers).
- RashiThe Rebbi brings Rashi on kosvei plaster: it is like writing lashon hara, posting in public made-up things people did. The Rebbi adds an example: forging a document claiming a rabbi said such and such when he never said it.
- GemaraSecond, those who give false testimony. Third, those who raise behemah dakah in Eretz Yisrael, because it is impossible to stop them from causing damage. Fourth, those who cut down good trees, meaning fruit trees.
- KashaWhy specifically behemah dakah?
- TeirutzThe bigger animals are easier to rein in. Alternatively, behemah dakah come in flocks of a hundred and destroy the land.
- The RebbiWe have this halacha today: one may not cut down a fruit tree.
- GemaraThe property of baalebatim is handed over to the malchus because of four things. First, those who hold on to paid shtaros. Second, those who lend with ribbis.
- The RebbiIn those days, when a debt was paid the lender had to give back the shtar. If he held on to it, he could technically collect again.
- GemaraThird, those who had it in their ability to protest and did not protest. Fourth, those who pledge tzedakah publicly and do not pay it.
- RashiRashi: there are certain baalebatim who are able to protest against aveiros. Their words are heard because they are rich and people are afraid.
- The RebbiWhen people listen to what you have to say, an achrayus comes with that.
- Amar Rav: some girsaos take out 'Amar Rav', because the statement just follows the pattern of the four sets of four.
- GemaraBecause of four things, the property of baalebatim yotzin l'timyon. This does not mean the government takes it; it means the person loses his money.
- GemaraFirst, kovshei sechar sachir: those who delay workers' wages. Second, oshkei sechar sachir: those who hold back the wages completely. Third, those who remove the yoke from their own necks and place it on their friends, shirking their responsibilities. Fourth, gasei haruach: baalei gaavah, 'inflated with ruach' with nothing there.
- The RebbiThese four make more sense because they are monetary: a person who does not pay his workers loses his money, which is more middah k'neged middah.
- ChazarahThat makes sixteen bad things in total today.
- GemaraGasus haruach is k'neged kulan; this last middah carries the weight of all of them. The Rebbi is unsure whether this refers to all sixteen or only the last four.
- GemaraOn anavim it is written וענוים יירשו ארץ והתענגו על רוב שלום. Their money will not disappear, they will inherit the land, and they will delight in an abundance of peace and tranquility.
- Hadran Alach HaYashen.
- ChazarahFull review from line 39 of all four sets of four: sun, me'oros, property given to the malchus, and property lost. It ends with the pasuk on anavim.
Kashas
- Why does the Braisa specify behemah dakah?
- Does gasus haruach k'neged kulan refer to all sixteen or only the last four? The Rebbi leaves it open.
Teirutzim
- Bigger animals are easier to rein in. Or behemah dakah come in large flocks that destroy the land.
Rashi & Tosafos
- Rashi: Kosvei plaster is like writing lashon hara, posting made-up things about people in public.
- Rashi: Those with the ability to protest are baalebatim whose words are heard because they are rich and people are afraid of them.
Mareh mekomos
- Pasuk ובכל אלהי מצרים אעשה שפטים: no nation is struck without its god being struck.
- Pasuk אל דרך הגוים אל תלמדו ומאותות השמים אל תחתו: Yisrael need not fear these signs when doing ratzon Hashem.
- Pasuk וענוים יירשו ארץ והתענגו על רוב שלום: the reward of the anavim, as the flip side of gasus haruach.
The Rebbi’s chiddushim
- The diminishing of the sun is not itself the punishment but a siman that it was caused by one of these aveiros.
- Naarah hameorasah and the sun: she screams openly, like the sun out there for all to see, so how could no one notice?
- Holding on to a paid shtar lets one technically collect again.
- Being listened to brings an achrayus to protest.
- Yotzin l'timyon means the money dissipates, not that the government takes it.
- The last set is monetary, middah k'neged middah: one who withholds wages loses his own money.
- Structure of the Braisos: four sets of four, sixteen things in total.
Unclear in recording
- Discussion of whether the cause applies to all the sets or only these four, and what is siman versus punishment. Largely unclear in recording.
- A remark about Rashi's comment applying only to the first four. Unclear in recording.
- A question about two different banks. Unclear in recording.
- Review question whether something about sechar sachir is in Mishpatim or Ki Seitzei. Unclear in recording.
Drafted from the recording of the shiur, for chazarah. Torah terms follow the Rebbi’s own words; anything that could not be made out is marked “unclear in recording”. Tap a time to hear that point. Corrections welcome.