Kiddushin 40 - September 22, 7 Tishrei

Today's daf is sponsored by Heather Stone in loving memory of her mother Ellie, Esther Bina bat Avraham v’Rachel Leah on her 12th yahrzeit. "I learned to be strong and resilient from mom. She used strength and resilience to serve the Jewish community of NJ for decades." Today's daf is sponsored by Shira Dicker in honor of Ari's 74th birthday. "To Ari, my life partner, may your love of learning and Judaism grow and deepen and may all who engage in the study of the sacred books of our tradition find strength and sustenance therein. Mazel tov!!!!!" Anyone who is tempted to sin and then refrains from committing the transgression receives a reward as one would have received for doing a mitzva. Three stories are given to illustrate this concept. Rava raises a difficulty on the Mishna in Peah 1:1 which mentions all the mitzvot for which one receives a reward in this world and in the next world - why is the sending of the mother bird not mentioned there as well? Rav Nachman answers that this refers only to mitzvot that are good for heaven (God) and good for others (humans), which is not the case with sending the mother bird, which is only a commandment that relates to God. The reward of a mitzvah is greater than the punishment for transgressions in several matters - in rewards there is a principle and fruits (extra/bonus) and in punishments only a principle, except for offenses that include blasphemy. By performing a mitzva, one is rewarded even for the thought of performing a mitzva even if in the end one is unable to fulfill the mitzva, and in punishments, one is not punished for the thought alone. However, there are some exceptions – a premeditated sin that one commits will come with a more severe punishment. One who thinks to worship idols is punished. According to Ulla, one is punished for the thought of committing an offense after one has already committed the same sin twice and it became thought of as permitted in one’s mind. There is power in one mitzvah to tip the scales - both personally and for the whole world. A righteous person who rebels at the end of his/her days or a wicked person who repents is judged by the end. On what does this depend? What is greater - learning Torah or actions? Rabbi Tarfon and Rabbi Akiva disagree on the matter and the sages decided that the Talmud is greater because it leads to actions.