New On Alfasi Blog: Index By Daf

I realized that it was virtually impossible to find the post you were looking for on the Rif blog - that is, if you wanted to find a certain daf in the Rif, or if you wanted to locate the Rif on a specific daf of gemara.

Archives by date were uninformative, since they did not correspond to the daf, and so, once posts scrolled off the main page, they were basically inaccessible.

Therefore, I spent a few hours and created an Index by daf, linked to on the sidebar. It is a table with links to each daf of the Rif, and underneath each link is a description of which pages of gemara that daf covers.

While on the topic of Rif, Hirhurim has started a series about vomiting in halacha, and begins with vomiting in terms of fasting on Yom Kippur. Gemara Shabbat has a discussion of the permissibility of vomiting on Shabbat, and during the week as well, which the Rif discusses. Rif Shabbat 62b cites the Mishna on Shabbat 147a:

MISHNA:
ONE MAY OIL AND [LIGHTLY] MASSAGE [THE BODY]. BUT NOT KNEAD {=massage strongly} OR SCRAPE {with a scraper, to invigorate the circulation}.

YOU MUST NOT GO DOWN TO A PILOMA {Jastrow: WRESTLING GROUND. alternative manuscripts: the clay ground (of a brickyard). Rashi considers this the name of a river. See below for Rif's explanation.} OR INDUCE VOMITING {via an emetic}, OR STRAIGHTEN AN INFANT['S LIMBS] {by manipulation}, OR SET A BROKEN BONE.
IF ONE'S HAND OR FOOT IS DISLOCATED, HE MUST NOT AGITATE IT VIOLENTLY IN COLD WATER BUT MAY BATHE IT IN THE USUAL WAY, AND IF IT HEALS, IT HEALS.

and then on 63a in the Rif cites the gemara Shabbat 147b, and adds an analysis and mention of Rav Tzemach bar Palti Gaon:

"ONE MAY NOT INDUCE VOMITING ON SHABBAT":
Rabba bar bar Chana cited Rabbi Yochanan: They learnt this only [when it Is effected] by a drug, but it may be done by hand.

They learnt {in a brayta}: Rabbi Nechemia says: It is forbidden even during the week, because of the waste of food.

And it is reasonable to say that these words are said in an instance when there is no pain involved, but when there is pain, and when he vomits the food in his belly he is healed, it is permitted. And so too says the Baal Halachot citing Rav Tzemach bar Palti Gaon z"l.

There is also a possible reference to causing an infant to vomit on Shabbat, mentioned on daf 47a in the Rif, going on Shabbat 122b. It depends on how you translate the phrase, but if so, it is permitted:

Causing a new-born babe to vomit {by inserting the finger in its mouth in order to relieve it of its phlegm -- so Jastrow. Rashi renders: To manipulate and ease a child's limbs} on Shabbat, Rav Nachman forbids and Rav Sheshet permits.
And we have established that the halacha is like Rav Nachman with regard to dinim and like Rav Sheshet in prohibitions {and so the halacha is like Rav Sheshet}.

On Rif Shabbat 5a, going on Shabbat 12a, there is a discussion about propriety, and an opinion cited lehalacha by Rif that one must not cause oneself to vomit in public:

The Sages learnt {in a brayta}: One must not search [his garments] in the public domain out of decency. Similarly Rabbi Yehuda, and some say Rabbi Nechemia, said: One must not cause himself to vomit in the public domain, out of decency.

I read through Rif Yoma over Rosh HaShana, and he does not mention anything about vomiting, so nothing to add on that account.

Of course, one does not necessarily rule like the Rif in any of this. Consult you local orthodox Rabbi. I look forward to further entries of this topic at Hirhurim.