[Avodah] Studying Daf Yomi and complex Gmarot

[Arie Folger]

RSB wrote:
> The Daf Yomi program members are studying Yevamot right now.

Let me answer as someone who gives such a shiur. 

> This masechet is filled with complex issues; issues which raise serious
> moral and halachic implications.  Issues that should truly be dealt with
> intensively and not during the 30+ minutes assigned to Daf Yomi.

Typically, a DY shiur takes an hour.

> Most Daf Yomi teachers have barely enough time to explain the daf
> literally.

Absolutely correct. Especially with Yevamot.

> My question addresses 2 aspects:
>
> a) When the question raised is b/c of a horrible action taken prior to the
> event under discussion and the g'mara only discusses a certain specific
> result, do you mention/discuss/raise the moral problem with the original
> act?

I do. HOW MUCH time I use depends on the kind of moral issue and the time 
available. Otherwise, one would - at best - lose the mussar sefer embedded in 
the gemara.

> b) If not, does this lead people to think that Torah supports these
> actions? How can they learn that force is wrong if all that is discussed is
> (for example) the yibum issues with relation to the issue of the forceable
> action?

Actually, that yibum works ba'al korcha is a profound issue in its own right. 
I made sure to make some comment about the matter, but it is too complex to 
study in less than a few hours dedicated to this one question.

> c)Do you think that the Daf Yomi schedule should be reset to include an
> extra day (or more) of discussion on the actions connected to these
> masechtot, instead of glossing over the problematic issues?

No, it won't work. However, I would really like for the DY schedule to be 
relative to the difficulty of the massekhet. Or for the Mif'al haShas 
programs to become as widespread as DhY. There are so many deep issues that 
we can't cover. The stronger shiur communities out there add a weekly shiur 
to deal with 'iyun issues of the daf. That is a good idea IMO.

> Or do you think that there is no problem at all, that the original actions
> are permitted, perhaps even supported?

That is a general statement. Generally, I am of the opinion that if the Torah 
permits something, it cannot be as bad as the prohibited equivalents. Thus, 
as rape is prohibited (Rabbi Dratch collected sources on this IIRC last year 
before Shavuot, in consultation with this list, and then offered to make the 
sources available), and generally is not effective in establishing a marital 
bond, except in the case of yibum, that implies that, while objectionable, it 
is somewhat less objectionable in the case of yibum than generally. It isn't 
good, it isn't permissible, but relatively less objectionable.

Of course, many people have difficulty with the word "relatively" and 
relativize its impact. Let the reader of this post beware of reading such 
relativizations in my use of the word "relatively". ;-)
-- 
Arie Folger
http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com