Skills › The commentaries · lesson 19 of 20

Approaching Tosfos

Find where Tosfos' words come from, then work out what is bothering him, even when he doesn't say.

In his words

A Tosfos is learned in parts, each with its words, translation and comprehension, then an explanation. The key comprehension skill is locating the problem: He doesn't ask it as a formal question, but he sets out to set it straight. 4:36 Sometimes he'll explain something and you have to extrapolate what's bothering him 4:47.

Approaching a Tosfos1 Where do his words come from?Tosfos quotes a Braisa (R' Shimon ben Elazar)2 Read, translate, in partspart 1, then part 2: words, translation,comprehension3 What is bothering him?the Mishnah: many items, no announcing; theBraisa: number is a sign4 His resolutionthe Mishnah is about things that fell; the Braisa,things put down5 Explanation sheetwrite it so it's clear without the Hebrew
Diagram drawn from the classes linked on this page.

Worked example from a class

JLE, Apr 7, 2019 (from the start): Tosfos quotes a Braisa that two items must be announced, because number is a sign. But our Mishnah lists many plural items you may keep. What bothers Tosfos is that the Mishnah seems to say number is not a sign (3:10). His answer distinguishes the cases (see the next lesson).

Hear him teach it

108 moments found so far in 88 transcribed classes; more appear as transcription continues. Tap one to play from that moment.

  1. Westwood · Beginner class, Dec 7, 2011 · 8:09“there is a toaster on Davkhof Aleph that talks about this”Brings Tosfos's underlying question: what led Rabbi Yitzchak to read the Mishnah as the threshing floor? Answer: he holds like Abaye.
  2. Encino, May 8, 2012 · 27:20“Okay, that's Tosfos' question. That's a very, very good question. That's the last Tosfos' on the page asked that question.”A student's question turns out to be the Tosfos question; he then gives Tosfos' first answer (a person views the whole unit).
  3. Westwood · Beginner class, Jul 4, 2012 · 1:04:31“Tosa says it is, abayin Rava. Related. Tell you why. This is so amazing.”Explains Tosfos: the orphans question applies only according to Abaye, since according to Rava future yiush counts.
  4. Westwood · Beginner class, Oct 24, 2012 · 44:07“Tosias points out, the very, very last Tosias on the page here, on the tomorrow, points out that Rava”Explains what bothers Tosfos: where Rabbah got the idea that the owner is a pessimist.
  5. Encino, Nov 13, 2012 · 28:35“So Thosis discusses this question. Why is it that Rav Yitzchak chose to speak about the Bridesau as opposed to the Mishnah”Presents the question bothering Tosfos and its two answers: the quick time frame and money with a siman.
  6. Westwood · Beginner class, Nov 21, 2012 · 29:42“That's the way Tosses describes why Rav said it. You know what? Rav is not happy.”Shows what bothers Tosfos: Rabbah would prefer Rava's approach but is forced because he cannot use makom.
  7. Westwood · Beginner class, Dec 17, 2012 · 19:31“So, Va'od, in Tosfis language, when it says Va'od, it means, and furthermore, it means, and another question.”Locates the line in Tosfos, explains Tosfos' keyword 'v'od' and what is bothering Tosfos.
  8. Westwood · Beginner class, Dec 19, 2012 · 38:32“And Tosfos asks, le rava nami yiksheh? To Rava also, it can ask.”Working out what bothers Tosfos and how he answers with big loaves.
  9. Encino, Jan 8, 2013 · 9:34“his main salient point that he points out in that toast list is,”Draws out the key point of the long Tosfos: why the owner gives up hope.
  10. Westwood · Intermediate class, Jul 8, 2013 · 1:07:07“Tosfas is more a challenge with an answer, with a question. More like the Gemara does.”Introduces Tosfos as a separate skill, structured like a miniature Gemara, unlike Rashi's running commentary.

Try it

Read a Tosfos and stop after the dibbur hamaschil and first line. Write: where are these words from? What would make someone uneasy here? Then read on and see if you were right.