Ketubot 31-33
We were previously taught in Ketubot 31b about the punishment of lashes, while much of Ketubot 32b focuses its attention…
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We were previously taught in Ketubot 31b about the punishment of lashes, while much of Ketubot 32b focuses its attention…
What daf am I to study today?Since today is Tisha B’Av, the study of today’s daf yomi (Ketubot 32) must…
Today’s daf (Ketubot 30a) quotes a verse from Mishlei 22:5 which states: צִנִּים פַּחִים בְּדֶרֶךְ עִקֵּשׁ שׁוֹמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְחַק מֵהֶם…
The primary focus of discussion in today’s daf (Ketubot 29) is the financial penalty for those who have committed the…
The Mishna (Ketubot 2:10) in today’s daf (Ketubot 28a) lists the realms of testimony where an adult is relied upon…
Today’s daf (Ketubot 27b) recounts how the brother of Mari bar Isak, who had spent his early years with Mari…
In the first few lines of today’s daf (Ketubot 26a), reference is made to a fascinating halachic principle called מסיח…
Today’s daf (Ketubot 25a) references the mitzvah of חלה (challah) – which is the portion of dough given to Kohanim…
Given that today’s daf (Ketubot 24a-b) discusses the reliability of someone who claims they are a Kohen in terms of…
Do you know what is going on in the life of your close neighbour?There are some people who presume that…
‘We cannot control what others say or do, but we should strive to do what we can so that others…
Today’s daf (Ketubot 21b) relates how Rabbi Abba taught that a witness can become a judge. In response, Rav Safra…
Amidst its wide-ranging discussion about evidence, testimony and memory, today’s daf (Ketubot 20a) draws a fascinating distinction between the concept…
Embedded in its discussion concerning the dangers of holding onto already paid-up notes of indebtedness, today’s daf (Ketubot 19b) quotes…
Within today’s daf (Ketubot 18b), reference is made to the principle of אין אדם משים עצמו רשע – ‘a person…
Basing himself on today’s daf (Ketubot 17a), the Rambam (Hilchot Avel 14:8) rules that: ‘in a situation where someone is…
In general, I am averse to making generalizations about any groups of people, and I am particularly averse to making…
Given that today’s daf (Ketubot 15a-b) includes a substantive discussion about fundamental principles of halachic doubt – such that Moshe…
Early on in today’s daf (Ketubot 14a), reference is made to the position of Rabban Gamliel who – as I…
A curious phrase is used in a Mishna (Ketubot 1:6) found in today’s daf (Ketubot 13a) – which is also…
Today’s daf (Ketubot 12b) references the halachic principle of ברי ושמא ברי עדיף – which literally means ‘certain and possible,…
Today is the (postponed) fast of the 17th of Tammuz which commemorates five tragic events that occurred on this date…
Today’s daf (Ketubot 10b) tells a story where a halachic question is asked by a husband to Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi…
Mazal Tov! Today, those studying Daf Yomi complete their study of Massechet Yevamot which has spanned 4 months! and which…
If you have ever walked around the national cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, you may have noticed the memorial…
Amid a discussion seeking to resolve an apparent contradiction between a Mishna in Massechet Yevamot (16:3) and a Mishna in…
I previously explained in my commentary to Yevamot 99a (see https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/yevamot-99/ how the seemingly improbable case described in that Mishna…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 118a), while discussing the laws of testimony about the death of a husband by co-wives where one…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 117a) contains a stunning insight about our relationship with Torah – as derived from a verse in…
A story is told in today’s daf (Yevamot 116b) which is the basis for an important Talmudic rule:‘It occurred at…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 115a) states a principle that people don’t lie about facts that are likely to become known in…
The Mishna (Yevamot 15:1) in today’s daf (Yevamot 114b) discusses the circumstances where a woman testifying to the death of…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 113a) informs us how ‘there was once a certain deaf-mute who was living in Rav Malkiyo’s neighbourhood.…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 112a) quotes a Mishna from Massechet Nedarim (11:12) that uses a very powerful phrase. Specifically, in the…
Oftentimes, instead of writing a commentary to the Mishna and Gemara, I simply just try and listen to the emotions…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 110b) touches on a topic that I have addressed every year in my ‘Jewish Moral Dilemmas course’,…
In today’s daf (Yevamot 109a), Bar Kapara teaches a Beraita which states how: ‘A person should always cleave to three…
Three dapim ago (Yevamot 105b) we read the dramtic story which Jeffrey L. Rubenstein calls, ‘The Shaming of Abdan’ (see…
Early on in today’s daf (Yevamot 107a), in seeking to provide a rationale for Beit Shammai’s position who asserts –…
The final lines of today’s daf (Yevamot 106b) elaborate upon Devarim 25:10 which informs us, concerning the Yavam who refuses…
Today I would like to elaborate on my commentary to Rosh Hashanah 18a (see https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/rosh-hashanah-18/) and address the teaching found…
A review of Yevamot 103-104 informs us that the Halitzah ceremony must involve the removal of a shoe from the…
Six months ago in my commentary to Megillah 16a (see https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/megillah-16/) I spoke about the importance of us being prepared…
A few weeks ago the Jewish world mourned the death of Rabbi Nota Greenblatt (1925-2022) who, aside from being the…
We are taught in today’s daf (Yevamot 100a) how Rava changed his Beit Din prioritisation policy in response to hearing…
Sometimes all it takes is a few words to help make sense of what seems to be an unnecessarily confusing…
I would like to share what I believe to be an original reading of a cryptic story in today’s daf…
Following the discussion initiated on Yevamot 96b about the importance of attributing Torah insights to their original composers, today’s daf…
The Mishna (Yevamot 10:5) in today’s daf (Yevamot 96a) begins by telling us about a man who, having been informed…
Yevamot 95a-b examines the human cost of forbidden sexual relationships, and specifically, how a marriage is halachically impacted when the…
In response to the interpretation given by Rabbi Elazar ben Matya in Mishna Yevamot (10:3, 92a) to Vayikra 21:7, our…
Much of the focus of today’s daf (Yevamot 93a) concerns the question of אדם מקנה דבר שלא בא לעולם, i.e.…
While I generally endeavour to write an individual post on every page of daf yomi, in very rare instances –…
There is a lovely phrase used repeatedly in today’s daf (Yevamot 88b) that I feel is a wonderful message for…
The Mishna (Yevamot 10:1) in today’s daf (Yevamot 87b) describes one of those terrible ‘what-if’ cases, where a woman whose…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 86b) quotes a verse (Ezra 8:15) describing an event which ostensibly only took place because of a…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Yevamot 9:3, 84a) that marriages forbidden by Torah law (eg. a Kohen Gadol…
Among the various cases recorded in the Mishna (Yevamot 9:2) in today’s daf (Yevamot 84a) are cases of women ‘who…
In today’s daf (Yevamot 83a), reference is made to Mishna Shevi’it 2:6 which discusses the permitted timeline for planting and…
One of my favourite films is Cast Away which tells the story of Chuck Noland, a systems analyst for Fedex…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 81b) makes reference to a fascinating halachic principle of כל דבר שבמניין אינו בטל – literally ‘any…
Much of today’s daf (Yevamot 80a-b) addresses the physical סימנים (signs) indicating how a woman or a man have reached…
For some people, Yevamot 78-79 (i.e. yesterday and today’s daf) are simply more of the same technical halachic debates relating…
There is a remarkable halacha discussed in today’s daf (Yevamot 78a) that if a pregnant woman immerses in a mikveh…
One of the most frequently quoted verses in Orthodox girls’ schools and Seminaries are the words of Tehillim 45:14: כָּל…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 76b) informs us that while the mistreatment of Bnei Yisrael by the male Amonites and Moabites led…
Much of today’s daf (Yevamot 75b) deals with the laws of a פצוע דכא – someone with wounded or crushed…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 74a) focusses on the restrictions of various individuals such as an אונן (someone whose close relative has…
For reasons which I’ve yet to fully understand, many Jews don’t consider the terrifying statistics of assimilation as being something…
There is a remark in today’s daf (Yevamot 72b) which serves as a powerful reminder about the need for time,…
I previously noted in my commentary to yesterday’s daf that those who are ערלים (uncircumcised) are not permitted by Torah…
Today we begin Chapter 8 of Massechet Yevamot titled הערל which is often translated as ‘an uncircumcised person’, and it…
If I had to pick a theme that emerges from our study of Yevamot 68 & 69, it would be…
Throughout today’s daf (Yevamot 67a), reference is made to the laws of inheritance, and specifically, to the laws of inheritance…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 66b) quotes from Mishna Terumot 11:9 to teach us that a cow rented by a Israel from…
In today’s daf (Yevamot 65b), Rabbi Abba quotes from Mishlei 9:8 which states, אַל תּוֹכַח לֵץ פֶּן יִשְׂנָאֶךָּ הוֹכַח לְחָכָם…
The Mishna (Yevamot 6:6) in today’s daf (Yevamot 64a) states that if a couple are married for ten years and…
Many of us – myself included – worry. Still, among the various teachings from the Book of Ben Sira that…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 62a) tells the story of the death of Rabbi Akiva’s students, and while I have previously attempted…
Of those who read my daily daf insights, they differ significantly in terms of age, background, and location. Yet beyond…
Early on in today’s daf (Yevamot 60a) an attempt is made to understand the reasoning of one of Rabbi Eliezar…
Much of today’s daf (Yevamot 59a) focusses on the laws of marriage for a Kohen Gadol about whom the Torah…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 58b) discusses the complex halachot concerning a woman who is a בת כהן (the daughter of a…
While various cases are presented in today’s daf (Yevamot 57a) relating to Kohanim, I would like to focus on just…
Three years ago I attended a conference where Rabbi Dr. Rafi Feuerstein spoke about a topic close to his heart;…
The Torah’s model of yibum, which our Massechet has discussed at length, involves a woman marrying her deceased husband’s brother…
Amid the various complex and – at times – startling cases discussed in today’s daf (Yevamot 54a), Rav Ashi teaches…
If you’ve been following my commentary on Massechet Yevamot (and especially my remarks on Yevamot 3 – https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/yevamot-3/, Yevamot 8…
Today is Yom HaZikaron LaShoah VeLaGevurah, and though – as every day – my task is to study today’s daf…
Early on in our study of Massechet Yevamot (see for example my commentary to Yevamot 8b) we explained that though…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Yevamot 4:13, 49a) that ‘if a man’s wife died, he is permitted to…
In most houses and apartments, the glass used in toilet and bathroom windows differ from those in the rest of…
The final teaching in today’s daf (Yevamot 48b) states that once a non-Jew has decided to convert to Judaism, they…
One of the most profound perspectives in the teachings of Rav Soloveitchik is his examination, in ‘Kol Dodi Dofek’, of…
The final teaching in today’s daf (Yevamot 45b) was said by Rav Chama bar Gurya, quoting Rav, stating that: ‘If…
Throughout my posts on Massechet Yevamot I have emphasised how the mitzvah of Yibum is fraught with moral and ethical…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Yevamot 43b) we find a Beraita listing what may or may not be done…
A Beraita is cited in today’s daf (Yevamot 42b) which makes reference to a ruling מפי חכמים בכרם ביבנה –…
Embedded in the Mishna (Yevamot 4:10) in today’s daf (Yevamot 41a) is a fascinating remark reflecting – at least according…
As we are in the midst of the festival of freedom, and having just had our Pesach Seder, it seems…
In my commentary to Yevamot 3a (see https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/yevamot-3/), I referenced Yevamot 39b, because it is here where Abba Shaul teaches…
While not the only example, it is rare for a Mishna to appear verbatim as a Mishna in two different…
I have often said that halachic sayings and teachings contain and seek to convey Jewish values and philosophy, and upon…
The final lines of today’s daf (Yevamot 36b), continuing onto tomorrow’s daf (Yevamot 37a), raises an oft-overlooked and highly misunderstood…
A principle discussed in today’s daf (Yevamot 35b) and stated explicitly in a later Mishna (Yevamot 4:10, 41a) is that…
In today’s daf (Yevamot 34b) we find a curious teaching of Rav Yochanan that: כל ששהתה אחר בעלה עשר שנים…
Both in today’s (Yevamot 33b) and yesterday’s (Yevamot 32b) daf, reference is made to the level of transgression committed by…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 32a) makes reference to the biblical verse (Devarim 25:9) describing the halitzah procedure where the woman makes…
Much of today’s daf (Yevamot 31) explores the difference between קידושין (marriage) and גירושין (divorce) and, specifically, the differences between…
The first Mishna (Yevamot 1:1) in Massechet Yevamot (2a) discusses the situation where a man with more than one wife…
The Mishna (Yevamot 3:5) in today’s daf (Yevamot 29a) describes a case of three brothers, where two of the brothers…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Yevamot 3:1, 26a) about a case of four brothers, where two of them…
Earlier on in Massechet Yevamot (14b-15a) we learnt a Beraita where we were informed of Rav Yochanan ben Nuri’s attempt…
The Mishna (Yevamot 2:9) in today’s daf (Yevamot 25a) informs us that if a man brings a Jewish divorce bill…
I have previously explained that Massechet Yevamot contains much material about conversion, and given this, I would like to make…
In previous posts I have spoken about my method of learning and writing my thoughts on the daily daf, and…
A topic that is regularly addressed in Massechet Yevamot which, as those currently studying it have come to discover, is…
We are taught in Massechet Moed Katan 28a that Rav Chisda was blessed with good Mazal, and this is affirmed…
As part of its discussion about the various biblically and rabbinically prohibited relationships, today’s daf (Yevamot 20a) quotes a remarkable…
As we know, almost all of Massechet Yevamot is about relationships, and specifically, the closeness or distance of relationships that…
A week ago the Jewish world lost a beacon of Torah dedication and Torah scholarship, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt’l, who…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 17a) contains a brief teaching which, depending on how it is interpreted, has radical implications.The question posed…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 16a) records an exchange between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yonatan ben Harkinas – who was a student…
It is possible that you have an accent that clearly informs those who speak with you about the location where…
As we know, the Gemara is replete with over 300 disagreements between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. However, what we…
Within its discussion about the different Yibbum and Halitzah policies of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai as recorded in the…
Today’s daf (Yevamot 12a) contains a teaching of Rebbi which, though said with respect to the laws of Yibbum and…
The Beraita towards the end of today’s daf (Yevamot 11b) tells us about a very particular situation where a couple…
Purim Sameach! Yesterday’s daf (Yevamot 9a) contained an insult said by Rebbi about his student Levi – כמדומה לי שאין…
Today we finish our study of Massechet Chagigah and consequently our study of all of Seder Moed! And to say…
Today’s daf (Chagigah 26a) – the penultimate page in Massechet Chagigah – contains an exquisite teaching about the way people…
We were taught in the Mishna (Chagigah 3:4, see Chagigah 24b) that wine and oil brought by those who are…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Chagigah 3:2) that ‘with regard to teruma (priestly food), if one of one’s…
Today’s daf (Chagigah 23a) informs us of an unsettling story: ‘There was an incident involving a certain person who was…
An age-old question in the world of rabbinics is what should be the right psak and policy when at least…
We were previously taught in Mishna Chagigah 3:1 (20b) about a variety of stringencies concerning the laws of spiritual purity…
What happens if someone plans to travel to a particular destination and, given their excess luggage, they hire donkey drivers…
In today’s daf (Chagigah 19a) we are taught the principle of אין מטבילין באויר – ‘we do not do immersion…
One of the first questions that a gym instructor or personal trainer might ask a new client is what is…
Basing itself on Devarim 16:7, we learn in today’s daf (Chagigah 17a-b) that having come to Jerusalem and consumed the…
While evil which is witnessed by others can be testified about by others, today’s daf (Chagigah 16a) raises the question…
Almost all of today’s daf (Chagigah 15a-b) examines the personality of Elisha ben Ayuva – otherwise known as ‘Acher’ (literally,…
Today’s daf (Chagigah 14b) informs us how four different Torah scholars – Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher and Rabbi Akiva…
Much of today’s daf (Chagigah 13b) compares and seeks to interpret the prophetic visions of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) and Yechezkel (Ezekiel).…
Reflecting on how God uses the name “I am El Shaddai” (Bereishit 35:11), today’s daf (Chagigah 12a) records the opinion…
There are some subjects which are so delicate, and so open to misunderstanding, that they should only be taught in…
Having reached Mishna Chagigah 1:8 in today’s daf (Chagigah 10a) which, though it does refer to the laws of the…
What choices of your past that you cannot fix do you most regret?This, fundamentally, is the question posed in the…
The Mishna (Chagigah 1:5) in today’s daf (Chagigah 8b) states that someone with many dependents and a more limited budget…
Today’s daf (Chagigah 7a) repeatedly references Mishlei 25:17 which states: הֹקַר רַגְלְךָ מִבֵּית רֵעֶךָ פֶּן יִשְׂבָּעֲךָ וּשְׂנֵאֶךָ – ‘Let the…
Today’s daf (Chagigah 6a-b) explores a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai referenced in the first daf of Massechet…
We all know that there is a prohibition called לשון הרע (Lashon HaRa, whose primary biblical prooftext is Vayikra 19:16),…
There are times when an item or experience that we want is, for various reasons, not available to us. There…
According to Rambam’s 8th ‘Principle of Faith’, it is essential to consider every word of the Written Torah to be…
The first daf of Massechet Chagigah (2a) focusses on the mitzvah of ראייה, meaning the ‘appearing’ and ‘being seen’ at…
Mazal Tov! Today we complete our study of Massechet Moed Katan which, over the past month, has taught us a…
This Shabbat we will be reading Parshat Tetzaveh, which teaches us about the various בגדי כהונה (priestly clothes), and it…
Sometimes you can read about an incident that took place in the past and not fully appreciate the impact that…
Today’s daf (Moed Katan 26a) informs us that קריעה should be performed not only on the death of one’s mother…
Early on in today’s daf (Moed Katan 25a) a ‘suggestion’ is made that children die young because their parents did…
The Mishna (Moed Katan 3:7) at the end of today’s daf (Moed Katan 24b) states that only the seven closest…
We are taught in today’s daf (Moed Katan 23a-b) that there was a dispute between בני יהודה (the Judeans) and…
Today’s daf (Moed Katan 22b) speaks about קריעה – the tefach-long tear that a mourner rips into their clothes upon…
Today’s daf (Moed Katan 21b) informs us that a mourner is forbidden בשאילת שלום (which is generally translated as meaning…
It is a concept which I began exploring many years ago, and one that is explicitly discussed by a range…
The Mishna (Moed Katan 3:3) in today’s daf (Moed Katan 18b) lists a variety of procedures and actions that may…
The Mishna (Moed Katan 3:3) in today’s daf (Moed Katan 18b) lists a variety of procedures and actions that may…
Today’s daf (Moed Katan 17a, and also repeated in Chagigah 15b) contains an oft-cited yet nevertheless cryptic teaching about the…
Sometimes you can look at the same text many times, each time thinking that you have understood it, but then…
Today is International Holocaust Memorial Day when many people around the world will learn about, and reflect upon, the horrors…
We are taught by Rav Yosef in today’s daf (Moed Katan 14b) that the Sanhedrin would try capital cases on…
A topic that arises in today’s daf (Moed Katan 13a) relates to the types of business deals and other work…
We are taught in today’s daf (Moed Katan 12b) in the name of Rav that it is permitted to cut…
Massechet Moed Katan, which spans three chapters, primarily addresses the laws of Chol HaMoed. However, much of its third chapter…
Today’s daf (Moed Katan 10) addresses a range of activities that people may want – or feel that they need…
It happens twice in our daf (Moed Katan 9b). A son is encouraged by his father to receive a bracha…
We are taught in the Mishna (Moed Katan 1:7) that weddings may not be held on Chol HaMoed. However, as…
The Mishna (Moed Katan 1:5) and the subsequent discussion in today’s daf (Moed Katan 7a), contains what I believe to…
Having been taught in the Mishna (Moed Katan 1:2) that ויוצאין אף על הכלאים – ‘[agents of the court] also…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Moed Katan 1:2) that it is permissible to fix markers on an unmarked…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Moed Katan 1:2) that ומתקנין את המקולקלת במועד – ‘we may repair a…
Much of today’s daf (Moed Katan 3a-b) explores the various activities which are prohibited during the Shemitta year, and it…
To be a ‘Shaliach’ is generally translated, at least in the purely halachic sense, as a ‘messenger’ whose task it…
Mazal Tov! Today we completed our study of Massechet Megillah, and in the final daf (Megillah 32a) we are taught…
Today’s daf (Megillah 31b) contains a pithy teaching that conveys a lesson derived from an episode in Sefer Melachim (The…
We were taught in the Mishna (Megillah 3:4) that on the second of the series of the four special Shabbatot…
Much of today’s daf (Megillah 29a) explores the concept that, even absent of the Temple, God’s presence (Shechina) remains with…
Much of Megillah 27b-28a is filled with the responses of various elderly Talmudic masters to the question posed to them…
Sometimes we can learn a text and do a double-take because either we suspect that we haven’t understood the text…
We generally assume that once an item has been sanctified for sacred purposes, it is then considered to be sacred.…
Today’s daf (Megillah 25a-b) contains two Mishnaic teachings that – on first glance – are contradictory, while – at the…
A fascinating discussion in today’s daf (Megillah 24b) relates to a verse in Devarim 28:29 which warns the Jewish people…
There are times when the word ‘Torah’ is used to exclusively refer to the Pentateuch (חמישה חומשי תורה), times when…
Today is Rosh Chodesh Shvat, and today’s daf (Megillah 22b) teaches us that on Rosh Chodesh there is an extra…
We are taught in today’s daf (Megillah 21a) that one must stand when reading the Torah for a congregation, and…
The Mishna (Megillah 2:4) in today’s daf (Megillah 20a) lists a variety of mitzvot that need to be performed in…
The Mishna (Megillah 2:3) in today’s daf (Megillah 19a) records a debate between Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yosi…
We are taught in today’s daf (Megillah 18b) that a Megillah or, in fact, even one letter of the Megillah,…
Today’s daf (Megillah 17a) contains many fascinating and profound teachings. But since the daf opens with a teaching – echoed…
In recent weeks I’ve been listening to the podcast ‘A Slight Change of Plans’, and when I studied a particular…
Today’s daf (Megillah 15a) includes the teaching of Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Chanina that the blessing of…
Much of today’s daf (Megillah 14a-b) teaches us about the שבע נביאות – the seven biblical prophetesses (Sarah, Miriam, Devorah,…
Today’s daf (Megillah 13b) provides us with a stark reminder that the Jewish people are in danger when those with…
Today’s daf (Megillah 12b) decodes the information that we are told about Mordechai in the beginning of the Megillah (Esther…
Throughout the Tanach we find people or groups of people who presume that they can know, with both precision and…
While not experienced by all those who had the displeasure of COVID, nevertheless one of the oft-discussed side effects of…
In today’s daf (Megillah 9a-b) we are taught that beyond a Torah scroll being written in the classic כתב אשורית,…
Today’s daf (Megillah 8a-b) contains many of the Mishnayot in the first chapter of Massechet Megillah where each of them…
Today’s daf (Megillah 7b) includes the oft-quoted teaching of Rava that: ‘It is the duty of a man to intoxicate…
Today’s daf (Megillah 6b) contains a blunt yet important teaching by Rabbi Yitzchak that I often cite:‘If someone tells you…
In one of his stand-up performances, British comedian Ashley Blaker speaks of those Jews who go to synagogue just twice…
Today’s daf (Megillah 4a) records a fascinating rule taught by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi which, though codified by many of…
Today’s daf (Megillah 3a-b) records how those serving in the Beit HaMikdash must temporarily cease doing so in order to…
Today we begin Massechet Megillah whose opening Mishna informs us that while residents of walled cities (כרכין המוקפין) read Megillat…
Rabban Gamliel was a remarkable Torah scholar and religious leader. He was a direct descendent of Hillel, and he was…
Today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 24a-b) explores what witnesses must see in order for their testimony about the new moon be…
Today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 23a) contains a teaching by Rav Yochanan that ‘whoever learns Torah and does not teach it…
Having discussed some laws relating to testifying about a new moon, the Mishna (Rosh Hashanah 1:8) in today’s daf (Rosh…
The Mishna (Rosh Hashanah 1:6) found in today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 21b) describes a fascinating situation concerning the halacha which…
The sole focus of our daf today (Rosh Hashanah 20a-b) are the laws pertaining to Rosh Chodesh and the various…
The theme of much of today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 19a) is the Jewish Calendar and the sanctity of the festivals,…
We are taught a profound idea in today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 18a) that Torah study, together with acts of kindness…
Much of the discussion in today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 17a) relates to God’s final judgement of our deeds at the…
Today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 16b) contains many profound theological teachings, including many associations with Parshat Vayera that we just read…
We have previously learnt (Sukkah 35a) that one of the reasons why an Etrog is referred to with the word…
Today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 14b) quotes an oft-cited Beraita – capturing a unique period in Jewish history where personal halachic…
In today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 13a), as part of a broader discussion about the time it takes for fruit to…
Almost every year, at some point on January 1st, we read of a similar story highlighting one of the most…
Every Friday night, as part of the Kiddush, we recite the words of Bereishit 2:1-3 which begins with the phrase:…
Today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 10a-b) explores the question of whether periods shorter than a year can, in particular circumstances and…
Much of Massechet Rosh Hashanah explores the concept of time, and in today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 9a) we encounter a…
We are taught in today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 8a) that Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said that the first of Tishrei…
Many years ago I read a unique book which unfortunately has few parallels before or since. Titled ‘One People, Two…
Much of today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 6a) explores the laws of נדרים (vows), and it is here that a Beraita…
Yesterday, the 7th of Cheshvan, was the 88th yartzheit of Rav Meir Shapiro (1887-1933) who is regarded by many as…
Today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 4b) contains a rabbinic aphorism that I regularly invoke which, though mentioned in our daf as…
There is an interesting phrase used in today’s daf (Rosh Hashanah 3b) in relation to Daryavesh (Darius) who, as is…
Having been taught in the Mishna (Rosh Hashanah 1:1) that the first of Nissan is the New Year for kings,…
When considering what should be my thought for today’s daf (Beitzah 40b) – the final in the Massechet – I…
Having previously explained how the laws of ‘techumin’ (i.e. the prohibition of walking more than 2,000 amot beyond a town…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 38a-b) contains one of the most confusing and cryptic exchanges in the entire Gemara.We are told that…
A fascinating principle relating to ‘techumin’ (boundaries) is taught in the Mishna (Beitzah 5:4) found in today’s daf (Beitzah 37a)…
The Mishna (Beitzah 5:2) in today’s daf (Beitzah 36b) lists a variety of activities which our Sages forbade on Shabbat…
The Mishna (Beitzah 5:1) in today’s daf (Beitzah 35b) informs us that “We may put a vessel under dripping water…
In today’s daf (Beitzah 34a) we are taught a Beraita which describes an unusual situation where a number of people…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 33b) makes reference to woods with a fragrance, noting that ‘we may handle fragrant woods [on Shabbat]…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 32b) informs us of a halacha that we may be מוחט a wick on Yom…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 31b) raises the question of whether food may be taken on Yom Tov from a room that…
The Mishna (Beitzah 4:1), as cited in today’s daf (30a), rules that in order to distinguish between Yom Tov and…
Today is Isru Chag (in Israel) which is when we reflect on the Yamim Tovim that we have experienced throughout…
Having been taught in today’s daf (Beitzah 28a) that the only difference between the Shabbat and Yom Tov laws is…
Quite often, while explaining a particular halachic ruling, the Gemara will make a statement which is rich with theological meaning…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 26b) records a question posed by [the Amora] Hillel to Rava concerning יש מוקצה לחצי שבת –…
Having just read the Kriat HaTorah this morning of VeZot HaBracha, it was lovely to see one of the beautiful…
Much of today’s daf (Beitzah 24a) explores the prohibited melacha of ציד (trapping) on Shabbat and Yom Tov, during which…
Early on in today’s daf (Beitzah 23a) we are taught that ‘inverting a fragrant cup on silk garments on Yom…
We were previously taught in the Mishna (Beitzah 2:6, 21b) that on three matters Rabban Gamliel ruled strictly in accordance…
In today’s daf (Beitzah 21a) we read that Rav Avya the Elder asked Rav Huna a technical and theoretical question…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 20a) recounts a dramatic story where the elderly sage and disciple of Shammai, Baba ben Buta, prevented…
Early on in today’s daf (Beitzah 19a), we are introduced to a fascinating Talmudic principle of מחשבתו נכרת מתוך מעשיו…
In today’s daf (Beitzah 18a-b), reference is made to the mitzvah of immersing in a mikvah where the Gemara raises…
I remember the first time I learnt today’s daf (Beitzah 17a) because through the journey I went on then, I…
It is just over an hour after Yom Kippur has finished. I’ve had something to eat with the family, and…
It is Erev Yom Kippur, and I am looking at today’s daf (Beitzah 15b) which informs us that what we…
In seeking to explain the distinction drawn by Beit Hillel in the Mishna (Beitzah 1:7) in today’s daf (Beitzah 14a)…
We learn in today’s daf (Beitzah 13a) that the obligation to take terumah only begins once grain, fruit and vegetables…
In today’s daf (Beitzah 12b), reference is made to terumah – which may not be separated on Yom Tov, and…
The Mishna (Beitzah 1:5) in today’s daf (Beitzah 11a) notes how Beit Hillel permitted placing an animal hide on Yom…
Today’s daf (Beitzah 10a) explores the Talmudic principle of ברירה (‘Bereira’ – meaning ‘clarification’) which concerns an ambiguous situation…
Among the laws discussed in the two dapim we studied over Rosh Hashanah (Beitzah 7-8) is the mitzvah of כיסוי…
While learning yesterday (Sukkah 10) and today’s daf (Sukkah 11) over Shabbat (given that today was Tisha B’Av), I was…
As our study of Massechet Shekalim draws to a close, the final lines of Shekalim (22b) refer to the fact…
In explaining the position of Rabbi Yosi in the Mishna (Shekalim 8:1), today’s daf (Shekalim 21b) quotes a Beraita describing…
Today’s daf (Shekalim 20a) records a curious exchange between Rabbi Mana and Rabbi Yosi about the mitzvah of Hashavat Aveida…
Today we begin Chapter Seven of Massechet Shekalim (Shekalim 19a) whose opening Mishna (Shekalim 7:1) addresses the question of how…
In today’s daf (Shekalim 18b), and basing itself on the seemingly superfluous word קרבן in the verse ‘if a person…
Today’s daf (Shekalim 17a) begins with a Mishna (Shekalim 6:3) and it specifies the location by each of the gates…
Much of today’s daf (Shekalim 16) explores the dimensions and manufacture of the Aron (Ark), and it is here where…
While the Gemara’s method of communicating various teachings and rulings often involves lengthy dialogues and discussions, as well as detailed…
We were previously taught (see Mishna Shekalim 5:1) that the House of Garmu were responsible for the production of the…
The Mishna (Shekalim 5:1) in today’s daf (Shekalim 13a) tells us about Petachiah – better known to use as Mordechai…
The Mishna (Shekalim 4:6) found in today’s daf (Shekalim 12a) informs us of a dispute between Rabbi Akiva and Ben…
Having made reference in the previous Mishna (Shekalim 4:2) to the special ramp that was built for the transportation of…
The Mishna (Shekalim 4:2) found in today’s daf (Shekalim 10b) begins by listing three items that were purchased מתרומת הלשכה…
Having informed us of the importance of being “נקיים (literally ‘clean’, but generally understood to be ‘free from sin and…
We are taught in the Mishna (Shekalim 3:2) found in today’s daf (Shekalim 8a) that someone who withdraws money from…
A central theme in both yesterday’s (Shekaim 6) & today’s daf (Shekalim 7) is the status of מותר – (surplus)…
The Mishna (Shekalim 2:1) found in today’s daf (Shekalim 5a) informs us that just as there were half-shekel donation boxes…
Today’s daf (Shekalim 4) informs us that donations for the upkeep of the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) should not be sought…
The Mishna (Shekalim 1:1) quoted in today’s daf (Shekalim 3a) informs us that the Beit Din in each city were…
As part of its discussion about the contribution of the half-shekel for the maintenance of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later…
Every day I endeavour to share a thought on the daf that is thoughtful and meaningful. Here is a video…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 121b) – the final page of Massechet Pesachim – concludes with a discussion about Pidyon HaBen (the…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 120b) records a disagreement between Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah and Rabbi Akiva concerning the time up to…
Shavua Tov! Towards the end of today’s daf (Pesachim 119b) the Gemara quotes and discusses the Mishna (Pesachim 10:8) which…
Among the excerpts from Tehillim which form the Hallel is chapter 116 which begins with the words אהבתי כי ישמע…
We often think of Hallel as merely being a collection of joyous songs of praise. However, today’s daf (Pesachim 117a)…
The Mishna (Pesachim 10:5) found in today’s daf (Pesachim 116b) contains the remarkable teaching – which was to then become…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Pesachim 115b) we are informed that early on in the Pesach seder, the table…
As part of the Gemara’s explanation (Pesachim 114a) for the position of Beit Hillel (see Mishna Pesachim 10:2) that text…
Whenever we read a written record of spoken words, it should be clear to us that a dimension of those…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 112a) contains a stunning expression that exquisitely captures the passion and emotions of a teacher. To give…
There are many Jewish practices which evolve from considerations expressed in Jewish texts, and in general, the more those texts…
In order to make sense of today’s daf (Pesachim 110), we must begin by taking a moment to reflect on…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 109a) informs us that ‘a person is obligated to bring joy to his children and to the…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 108b) cites a Beraita which informs us that the wine used at the Seder ‘must have the…
Have you ever had the experience of really wanting to consume a certain food or drink, but afterwards coming to…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 106a) records how those who did not hear Havdalah on Motzei Shabbat may do so up until…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Pesachim 105b) we are told that there is a difference between bringing in Shabbat…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 104b) tells a story that contains many layers and many messages:We are told how the great Ulla…
Almost all of today’s daf is concerned with one question – namely, the order of the Havdalah.For example, Pesachim 103a…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 102b), while discussing a situation where a meal has been held just prior to the onset…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 101b) focuses its attention on the association between eating, reciting brachot before and after eating, and the…
Pesachim 100a relates a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yossi. According to Rabbi Yehuda, if someone has started a…
The opening Mishna of Chapter ‘Arvei Pesachim’ (Pesachim 10:1) which is found in today’s daf (Pesachim 99b) informs us that…
The Mishna (Pesachim 9:9) found in today’s daf (Pesachim 98b) describes a situation where a group of people who intend…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 97a) addresses the laws pertaining to a lost Korban (sacrifice), and it is here where we are…
“What is the difference between the Pesach celebrated in Egypt (פסח מצרים), and the Pesach celebrated in subsequent generations (פסח…
The Mishna (Pesachim 9:3), at the beginning of today’s daf (Pesachim 95), informs us about two rules regarding the recitation…
You’ve probably heard the idea that if something non-kosher is mixed with a kosher dish that is hot, then if…
We are taught in a Beraita in today’s daf (Pesachim 93a) that someone who converted to Judaism between Pesach and…
The Torah informs us that “if any person is ritually impure from contact with the dead” אוֹ בְדֶרֶךְ רְחֹקָה –…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 91) begins and ends with Mishnayot (Pesachim 8:6, 8) which each start by referring to an אונן…
When Bnei Yisrael were first commanded in Egypt about the Korban Pesach, they were told that it should be slaughtered…
Although it may sound oxymoronic, I generally avoid generalisations – especially when contrasting women and men. Moreover, while – on…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 88a) references how each of the three patriarchs referred to Mount Moriah – which was to become…
As many of you know, aside from being blessed to learn directly from Rabbi Sacks zt’l on a number of…
The offering and the consumption of the Korban Pesach while Bnei Yisrael was in Egypt was a bold theological statement…
In response to the Mishna’s discussion found in today’s daf (Pesachim 85b) about the boundaries of Jerusalem within which the…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 84a) records an apparent disagreement between Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish highlighting their different approaches to the…
The most significant thesis of the author of the Sefer HaChinuch, which he repeatedly promotes in that magnificent work, is…
We were taught in the previous Mishna (Pesachim 7:8) that if part, or all, of a Korban Pesach became טמא…
As previously explained in yesterday’s daf, טומאת התהום (literally “the impurity of the deep”) refers to a situation where, notwithstanding…
The Mishna (Pesachim 7:7) in today’s daf (Pesachim 80b) discusses various cases where a Korban Pesach was offered in the…
We have previously discussed the law of פסח שני which states that individuals who are טמא (impure from contact with…
While addressing the relationship between the offering and the eating of the Korban Pesach, today’s daf (Pesachim 78b) cites a…
In general, I am a very time-conscious person, and though I don’t think I can speak much about high fashion,…
Halacha teaches that when two foods are cooked together then there is a transfer of flavours between them. Given this,…
Last Shabbat we read Parshat Beshalach which concludes with the story of Bnei Yisrael’s battle with Amalek, and this Shabbat…
During the discussion in today’s daf (Pesachim 74) about the ways in which the Korban Pesach should be cooked, we…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 73a) cites two rules about the Korban Pesach based on the principle of עלו לא ירדו (once…
How would you feel if you suddenly discovered that you weren’t who you thought you were? For example, if you…
Throughout rabbinic literature, the Hebrew word אַךְ is understood to be a word of “exclusion” – meaning that whenever it…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 70b) we are told about Yehuda Ben Dortai and his son who, one year when the…
Among the many different responsa volumes on my shelves is ‘Melumdei Milchama’, in which Rabbi Dr. Nahum Rabinovitch addresses questions…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Pesachim 68b) we are told how Rav Sheshet (who, we should recall was blind…
Toward the end of yesterday’s daf (Pesachim 66b), reference was made to the law of ‘Pesach Sheni’ concerning which we…
Twice in today’s daf an exquisite phrase is used which, since the time of the Gemara, has been invoked in…
There are times when the Gemara records a halachic opinion that is supported by proof, or a halachic opinion that…
Within today’s daf (Pesachim 64b), we read of a disagreement between Abaye and Rava concerning the events that occurred in…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 63b) we read of a disagreement concerning the efficacy of התראת ספק – which has been…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 62b) reference is made to a now-lost work called the ספר יוחסין (literally, ‘a book of…
The Mishna (Pesachim 5:3) in today’s daf (Pesachim 61a) teaches us that the Korban Pesach may not be offered before…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 60a) we are introduced to a fascinating halachic rule of מקצת אוכלין לא פסלא (literally ‘if…
We are taught in the Mishna (Pesachim 5:2) in today’s daf (Pesachim 59b) that the Korban Pesach must be slaughtered…
Given the commandment that the Korban Tamid be offered every day in the morning and afternoon (see Bemidbar 28:4), the…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 57a) contains a number of stinging critiques towards spiritual leaders – including Kohanim Gedolim (High Priests) and…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 56a) we encounter the interpretation of Rabbi Yehuda on the Mishna (Pesachim 4:8) who explains that…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 55a) refers to the halachic concept of יוהרא (hubris) – which is the word used to describe…
We are taught in today’s daf (Pesachim 54b) that שבעה דברים מכוסים מבני אדם – ‘seven things are concealed from…
The Mishna (Pesachim 4:4) in today’s daf (Pesachim 53a) notes how there were divergent customs concerning the eating of roasted…
Until COVID, I visited different communities around the world as a scholar-in-residence – with the Chag where I was almost…
Chapter 4 of Massechet Pesachim is called מקום שנהגו (“In a place where it is the custom to…”), and it…
Much of the final lines of the third chapter of Massechet Pesachim is dedicated to exploring the difference between עולם…
The Mishna (Pesachim 3:7) lists a number of places where a person may find themselves on the fourteenth of Nissan…
As we know, any act of baking dough on Pesach runs the risk of it rising and becoming chametz especially…
There is a beautiful rabbinic aphorism, based on the words of Mishlei 31:14 (הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ –…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 46a) tells us about the (literal) lengths that one should go to in order to perform a…
We are taught in the Mishna (Pesachim 3:2) in today’s daf (Pesachim 45a) that dough which has become stuck in…
Much of today’s daf (Pesachim 44) explores the halachic principle of טעם כעיקר – which is the idea that we…
The previous Mishna (Mishna Pesachim 3:1, see Pesachim 42a) listed a number of different chametz-based products including ‘kutach’ – which…
We are taught by Rabbi Yehuda in today’s daf (Pesachim 42a) that ‘a woman should only knead [the dough for…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 41) deals with the Korban Pesach, and specifically, how the Korban Pesach must be cooked. This is…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 40) makes reference to halachic strictures on Pesach which, though not demanded by halacha, are encouraged to…
In addition to eating Matzah on Seder night, we also eat Maror, with this requirement being derived from the Torah…
‘A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots…
When is bread not bread? This is, in effect, the question addressed in today’s daf (Pesachim 37) while considering which…
Devarim 16:3 describes matzah as לֶחֶם עֹנִי, and in today’s daf (Pesachim 36a), two different explanations are offered as to…
‘Demai’ is the term given to produce grown in the Land of Israel where a doubt exists whether Terumah and…
Much of today’s daf (Pesachim 34) discusses the halachic principle of היסח הדעת (i.e. diverting or ceasing to focus one’s…
Within today’s daf (Pesachim 33b) we find a curious discussion about the spiritual status of the juice squeezed from grapes…
Undoubtedly, the most referenced Torah law in all of Massechet Pesachim is the prohibition of eating Chametz on Pesach. However,…
Having discussed the prohibition of owning, eating or benefiting from chametz on Pesach, the Mishna (Pesachim 2:3) in today’s daf…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 30a) we are informed of Rav’s position that earthenware dishes which previously absorbed chametz flavour may…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 29b) presents a variety of opinions about the status of non-chametz food into which biblically prohibited chametz…
We were previously taught in Mishna Pesachim 2:1 (see Pesachim 21a) that while Rabbi Yehuda ruled that ביעור חמץ may…
Among the different topics addressed in today’s daf (Pesachim 27b) is whether consecrated items which have been burnt nevertheless maintain…
As part of the Gemara’s ongoing discussion about הנאה (deriving benefit) from a forbidden object or substance even when this…
Having spent much of the past few dapim discussing the halachic concept of הנאה (benefit) and the situations when it…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 24b) contains an important halachic principle which has numerous practical applications, but which also teaches us about…
This Sunday* I will be speaking alongside a number of other disciples about Rabbi Sacks zt’l, and while preparing my…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 22b) makes reference to one of the most fascinating mitzvot in the Torah which has, unfortunately, been…
Shavua Tov & Chanukah Sameach! In today’s daf (Pesachim 21b) two different Amoraim offer a biblical prooftext for the prohibition…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 20b) returns to the question – previously examined earlier on (see Pesachim 14a) – regarding the disposal…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Pesachim 19b) the Gemara uses a curious phrase with reference to objects whose spiritual…
The biblical word that sits at the centre of much of the discussion in today’s daf (Pesachim 18a-b) is יטמא,…
A central element of the Chanukah story is that the oil that was used in the Beit HaMikdash was spiritually…
The topic of much of today’s daf (Pesachim 16a) concerns the extent to which liquids are susceptible to טומאה which,…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 15b) quotes a Beraita which informs us of a fascinating qualification which has a significant impact on…
There is a rule, as derived from Devarim 12:4, that we may not destroy the name of God which is…
A major idea in Judaism, one that I particularly focus on in my (upcoming) book on the Shehecheyanu blessing and…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 12) discusses time-precision in halacha, and the extent to which margins of error are or are not…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 11a-b) we are taught that אדם בהול על ממונו – ‘a person is in turmoil about…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 10a-b) expends much time discussing the laws of searching for chametz and specifically, the chance that mice…
In today’s daf (Pesachim 9a), we consider the case where chametz has certainly entered a property but may possibly have…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 8a) invokes one of the most fascinating yet misunderstood principles relating to mitzvah performance, namely שלוחי מצוה…
Much of today’s daf (Pesachim 7a-b) explores the various formulae used in the brachot that we recite, beginning with the…
‘It was taught in a baraita: One asks about and teaches the halachot of Pesach thirty days before Pesach’ (Pesachim…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 5a) contains a cryptic aggadic teaching which, upon first glance, seems almost impossible to make sense of.…
Today’s daf (Pesachim 4a) draws a comparison between the laws of בדיקת חמץ (searching for chametz) in a rented home,…
Much of today’s daf (Pesachim 3a-b) is dedicated to the topic of using refined language, and by citing Bereishit 7:8…
Dear friends, Over the past 104 days we have studied Massechet Eruvin. During this period, we have examined the…
Having reached the penultimate daf of Massechet Eruvin (nb. I hope to share something special tomorrow to celebrate our completion),…
Sometimes you can read a text in one way, while nevertheless feeling that there is more to it than meets…
The first Mishna in Massechet Pesachim (1:1, 2a) teaches us that we perform the mitzvah of bedikat chametz (checking for…
The Mishna at the end of today’s daf (Eruvin 10:13, 102b) informs us that ‘one may tie up a string…
Much of today’s daf (Eruvin 101) is interested in doors, keys and locks, with Mishna Eruvin 10:9 (101a) focussing its…
Today’s daf (Eruvin 100b) contains what I believe to be one of the most enigmatic passages from the entire Talmud:‘Said…
Yesterday, for the first time in over five months, I did not post a Daf Yomi thought, and this is…
Shana Tova! In April of this year, while reflecting on the severe impact of the Coronavirus pandemic as well as…
Today, after 157 days, we reach the final page of Shabbat, and with this, the final lines of this Massechet…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 156), which is the penultimate page of Massechet Shabbat, primarily focusses on two quite different themes: i)…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 155b) we are told that Rabbi Yona shared a biblical exposition at the entrance of the…
In yesterday’s Mishna (Shabbat 24:1, 153a) we were taught that if someone arrives at a city once Shabbat has commenced,…
Having already spent much of the past few pages presenting various philosophical teachings relating to the preciousness of life and…
This morning I will be delivering my penultimate shiur on Sefer Mishlei (The Book of Proverbs) to a fabulous and…
While much of today’s daf (Shabbat 151b) considers the halachot pertaining to what may and may not be done for…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 150a) explores the halachic implications of the verse ממצוא חפצך ודבר דבר – “[Refrain] from pursuing your…
Much of the 23rd Chapter of Massechet Shabbat concerns permitted and forbidden actions and expressions that may lead to, or…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 148b), reference is made to the rabbinic decree, originally stated in Mishna Beitzah (5:2, 36b), that…
Having made reference to the exceptional wine that was produced in Phrygia (a small kingdom in Asia Minor), along with…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 146a) teaches us a key principle about the biblical melacha of מכה בפטיש (literally ‘one who strikes…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 145b) cites a heartrending verse from Sefer Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) 9:9 describing the emptiness and loneliness of the…
In yesterday’s daf, the Mishna (Shabbat 22:1, 143b) stated that ‘we may not squeeze (סוחטין) fruits [on Shabbat] to extract…
Today’s Mishna (Shabbat 21:3, 143a) discusses the treatment of seemingly purposeless small crumbs of food that remain on a table…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 142a-b) discusses a number of questions concerning various forms of בורר (selecting/separating). Firstly, it addresses the words…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 141a-b) discusses the question of whether it is permissible to scrape mud/clay from shoes with a sharp…
Two brief incidents recorded in today’s daf (Shabbat 140a) raise the important question of finding the right balance between loyalty…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 139a) we are told that members of the community of Bashkar sent a question about creating…
As someone who spends much of their life either learning, writing or teaching Torah, it is difficult to express the…
While we often presume that the text that we have in our Gemara is a perfect rendition of what was…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Shabbat 136b) Ravina testifies that he had heard Rava render a particular halachic ruling…
TRIGGER WARNING: MY ANALYSIS OF TODAY’S DAF ADDRESSES STILLBIRTH & INFANT DEATHEarly on in today’s daf (Shabbat 135a) we are…
Not long after Abaye was conceived his father sadly died, and during childbirth, his mother tragically died (see Kiddushin 31b).…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 133b) cites a Beraita presenting two approaches to the verse זה אלי ואנוהו – ‘this is my…
Much of today’s daf (Shabbat 132a) is dedicated to identifying a suitable biblical prooftext to support the halacha that a…
In the Mishna (Shabbat 19:1) found in yesterday’s daf (Shabbat 130a) we were introduced to the halachic principle, conceived by…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 130a) we are taught a principle that ‘any mitzvah that [the Jewish people] accepted upon themselves…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 128b) contains a ruling with respect to the laws of childbirth on Shabbat which provides us with…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 127b) contains three stories relating to the virtue of הדן את חבירו לכף זכות – judging your…
The Mishna in today’s daf (Shabbat 18:1, Shabbat 126b) informs us that the moving of boxes of straw or grain,…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 124b) contains a fascinating teaching about the laws of Mukzeh and how we indicate our intentionality towards…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 123a), reference is made to the previous Mishna (Shabbat 17:1-2, 122b) beginning with the words כל…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 122b) returns to the topic of ‘Mukzeh’, i.e. objects that are ‘set’ aside as having no purposeful…
For many years I have worked in the field of curriculum development, and around 12 years ago I was invited…
The Mishna (Shabbat 16:3) found in today’s daf (Shabbat 120a) informs us that if a fire is consuming a home…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 119b) we find 8 different teachings attempting to answer the question of why Jerusalem was destroyed,…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 118a) examines the duty to eat three meals on Shabbat, and among the sources it brings in…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 117b) teaches us about the duty to have two loaves of bread for each of our…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 116a) makes reference to ‘The House of Avidan’ which was a location where scholars of various nations…
As we know, the Jewish people have been referred to as ‘the people of the book’, and since the beginnings…
Having previously been discussing Shabbat clothes, today’s daf (Shabbat 114a) relates a story about a form of clothes as well…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 113a-b) informs us that a person should wear different clothes (מלבוש) on Shabbat than those that they…
Whenever a halachic decisor is approached by someone with a halachic question, their task is to listen very carefully to…
When reading the first few lines of the Mishna (Shabbat 15:1) in today’s daf (Shabbat 111b), I was reminded of…
Today we continue the exploration of the rabbinic prohibition on healing on Shabbat. The mishnah on Shabbat 109b informs us…
Today we continue the exploration of the rabbinic prohibition on healing on Shabbat. The mishnah on Shabbat 109b informs us…
Bathing in salt water has long been considered to have medicinal benefits, and bathing eyes in salt water has long…
Amid our discussion concerning the prohibition of ‘trapping’ an animal on Shabbat, today’s daf (Shabbat 107a) explores the Shabbat prohibition…
The Mishna (Shabbat 13:5) on today’s daf (Shabbat 106a) presents a fascinating debate concerning the melacha of צוד – trapping.…
The Mishna (Shabbat 13:3) in today’s daf (Shabbat 105b) discusses the forbidden melacha of weaving, and in doing so it…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 104a) contains some of the most exquisite Torah insights that can be found throughout the Gemara –…
The Mishna (Shabbat 12:3) in today’s daf (Shabbat 103a) informs us that the melacha of כותב (writing) is contravened when…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 102b) begins the 12th Chapter of Massechet Shabbat titled ‘HaBoneh’ (one who builds), and having reached this…
Much of today’s daf (Shabbat 101b) discusses the case mentioned in the Mishna (Shabbat 11:5, 100b) involving two boats that…
Towards the end of today’s daf (Shabbat 99b) and continuing into tomorrow’s daf (100a) is a fascinating halachic discussion about…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 98a) we find a debate about whether carrying in a covered public area is prohibited since…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 97a) makes reference to an important principle about the pursuit of good vrs. bad which has significant…
At the end of today’s daf (Shabbat 96b), Rabbi Akiva – on the basis of a gezera shava (where identical…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 95a) tells a story of which variations have sadly been repeated many times since and which illustrates…
Sometimes when reading a Talmudic story it seems quite clear that there is more to the story than meets the…
Much of today’s daf (Shabbat 93a) is dedicated to examining the debate introduced in yesterday’s daf (see Shabbat 92b) concerning…
One of the 39 melachot is הוצאה (carrying from one domain to another), and in today’s daf (Shabbat 92a) our…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 91b) contains a fascinating philosophical discussion about the extent to which individual items remain distinct within, or…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 90b) reference is made to locusts and how carrying a locust in a public domain contravenes…
Among the many fascinating aggadic teachings found in today’s daf (Shabbat 89a) is a cryptic and curious story which I…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 88a) contains one of the most challenging aggadic insights in the entire Talmud. We are told that…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 87a) cites a Beraita informing us of three decisions, each on first glance seem hard to justify,…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 86b, as well as the first few lines of Shabbat 87a) records a debate between the Sages…
Unfortunately, due to a variety of work pressures as well as the need to prepare a number of shiurim I…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 82a) begins with a record of a conversation that took place between the 3rd century Amora Rav…
Continuing the theme of this chapter concerning the measure of an item/items that is deemed to have inherent purpose, value…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 80b) we find fascinating story about a Galilean who came to Babylon, likely in the late…
Among the various items previously listed in the Mishna (Shabbat 8:2, see Shabbat 78b) as having inherent purpose, value and…
As previously explained in my comments to Shabbat 76a-b, ‘if a product is of sufficient value or use to a…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 77b) contains a number of fascinating aggadic (non-legal) passages but one which particularly stood out for me…
Towards the end of yesterday’s daf (Shabbat 75b) was a Mishna (Shabbat 7:3) outlining the general rules (כללים) pertaining to…
To my mind, the most intriguing of all the 39 prohibited Shabbat melachot listed in the Mishna (Shabbat 7:2) is…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 74b) discusses some of the 39 prohibited melachot listed in the Mishna (Shabbat 7:2) including the melachot…
Within today’s daf (Shabbat 73a) is the Mishna (Shabbat 7:2) listing all of the 39 prohibited Shabbat Melachot. Yet rather…
Having discussed the spiritual liabilities of someone who unintentionally transgresses the melachot of Shabbat, today’s daf (Shabbat 72b) considers the…
There are times when the biographical background of Talmudic scholars should not be presumed to frame their particular position on…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 70a) we are taught that there are 39 ‘melachot’ (i.e. creative acts) that are prohibited by…
In his book ‘Faith in the Future’, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains that ‘the clearest contrast between communal faith and an…
The opening Mishna of Perek Klal Gadol (7:1, 67b) informs us that השוכח עיקר שבת – anyone who “forgets the…
Mishna Shabbat (6:10, 67a) lists a number of curious objects which Rabbi Meir allows to be carried on Shabbat and…
There are times when a curious or cryptic Gemara beckons its learner to dig beyond its initial reading, and a…
Having been taught in the Mishna (Shabbat 6:6-7, Shabbat 65a) that a woman may use a stone, nut or coin…
Continuing its discussion of various ornaments that may be worn on Shabbat, the Mishna (Shabbat 6:5, 64b) informs us that…
The Mishna (Shabbat 6:4) in today’s daf (Shabbat 63a) opens with a clear statement that a man may not go…
While I endeavour to learn, understand and appreciate the significance and symbolism of the mitzvot that I perform, there are…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 61a) begins by relating how Rav Yochanan, whose tefillin (like all right-handers*) were worn on his left…
While our clothes and shoes may have a functional purpose to provide us with protection from the elements, our clothes…
Among the head and hair ornaments discussed in today’s daf (Shabbat 59b) that according to rabbinic law may or may…
I have always thought that the reason why bells are often attached to the Torah cover and atop of a…
Whenever halacha as codified does not allign with halacha as lived I am fascinated to explore why this is the…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 56a) we are told that an edict was made during the period of King David that…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 55a) records an incident that I wish I could say has not been repeated since. It describes…
In our previous Mishna (Shabbat 5:2, 52b) we were taught that ewes may go out in a public domain on…
In our previous Mishna (Shabbat 5:2, 52b) we were informed that rams may go out in a public domain while…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 52a) continues its discussion of the previous Mishna (5:1, 51b) concerning the use of a halter or…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 51a) Rav Huna cites a teaching of Rebbi (i.e. Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi) that הטמנה (insulating) of…
Today’s daf (50a) records a debate whether date-palm branches intended for firewood may be used as a seat on Shabbat.…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 49a) we are taught in a Mishna that it is permitted to insulate a hot pot…
Towards the end of yesterday’s daf (Shabbat 47b) we started our study of Chapter 4 with the question: ‘With what…
The final Mishna in Perek Kirah (Shabbat 47b) – as understood by the Gemara – states that it is permissible…
As previously mentioned, Mishna Shabbat (3:6, see Shabbat 44a) records a debate whether an unlit lamp is mukzeh on Shabbat.…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 45a) continues its examination of the laws of mukzeh, but rather than examining items that are mukzeh…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 44a) discusses the question of whether a lamp – which in this case would have been an…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 43a-b) focusses its attention on the laws of mukzeh and the situations that may justify infractions of,…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 42a) addresses a very practical question that arises in my house every Friday night, but to explain…
Having discussed the prohibition of cooking with fire on Shabbat as well as any act that manipulates an already lit…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 38a) we encounter a rabbinic disagreement with significant halakhic ramifications – especially for those who are…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 37a-b) intensely debates the implications of the case presented in the opening Mishna of Perek Kira: Does…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 36a-b) ends our study of Perek BaMeh Madlikin (i.e. the 2nd chapter of Massechet Shabbat primarily focussing…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 35b) cites a Beraita recording a custom of how the shofar was blown six times in…
Moadim LeSimcha! Today’s daf (Shabbat 34a) continues its discussion about Shabbat eve preparations and it reviews the checklist provided in…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 33b) we are told the story of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Rabbi…
Much of today’s daf (Shabbat 32b) is very hard to digest since its discussion attempts to attribute specific spiritual transgressions…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 31a) is the source of the famous story of the prospective convert who approached both Hillel and…
In today’s wide-ranging daf (Shabbat 30a-b) Rav Tanchum from the town of Navi poses the question whether a candle…
Shavua Tov! In today’s daf (Shabbat 29b) we continue the discussion concerning which lamps, wicks and oils may or may…
While yesterday’s daf explored some of the laws pertaining to tzitzit, today’s daf (Shabbat 28b) addresses a number of laws…
Having previously made reference to liquids that are susceptible to spiritual contamination (tum’ah), today’s daf (Shabbat 27a-b) begins by…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 26a) continues the discussion of the Mishna (see Shabbat 24b) listing the fuels that may not…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 24a) reference is made to an ancient and discontinued custom of reciting a Haftarah following…
While the word ‘Triage’ is most often used to describe the difficult decisions that need to be made when…
As part of its ongoing discussion about the laws of Chanukah lights, today’s daf (Shabbat 22a) cites a fascinating…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 21b), which outlines laws of kindling Shabbat candles, is also the primary Talmudic source discussing the…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 20b) concludes the end of the first chapter of Massechet Shabbat and begins our study of…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 19a) we are taught a Beraita stating that a person may not board a ship…
Shabbat 18a continues to explore questions concerning the initiation of a melacha on Erev Shabbat that continues on Shabbat.…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 17b) includes Mishnayot (Shabbat 1:5-9) listing numerous disputes between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel about the…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 16b) tells a story which appears to imply that the rabbinic leadership at the time of…
In today’s daf (Shabbat 15b) we continue our discussion relating to the enactments made by our early sages concerning…
Mishna Shabbat (1:4), found on Shabbat 13b, informs us that there were 18 rulings that the Rabbis enacted which…
We previously studied the Mishna (see Shabbat 11a) listing a variety of acivities that should not be done on…
Today’s daf (Shabbat 12a) addresses the question of whether one should go to console mourners (Nichum Aveilim) or visit…
We previously discussed the Mishna (Shabbat 9b) which listed a range of activities that we should not start just…
Having previously noted (see Shabbat 9b) that one should not start a Torah tribunal just prior to the time…
Brachot 64a, the last page of Massechet Brachot, contains a number of fascinating teachings. In one teaching Rav Avin informs…
Brachot 63 contains a variety of rabbinic teachings on the beauty and importance of Torah study – which is a…
While I endeavour to learn, understand and appreciate the significance and symbolism of the mitzvot that I perform, there are…
In today’s daf (Brachot 61b) we encounter a profound teaching of Rava who, while addressing the spiritual potential of each…
In today’s daf (Brachot 60b) we are taught about the ‘Asher Yatzar’ bracha which is recited after going to…
We were taught in Chapter 9 of Mishna Brachot (see Brachot 54a) that if someone sees a comet in the…
Today’s daf (Brachot 58b) includes an exquisite rule about my favourite bracha – that if we are overcome with heartfelt…
While learning today’s daf (Brachot 57) I had a bit of a revelation which I think is deserving of sharing.…
Today’s daf (Brachot 56) contains a curious collection dreams along with a wider discussion about the relationship between dream…
Today’s daf (Brachot 54a) opens with the full text of the final chapter of Mishna Brachot which both begins and…
Today’s daf (Brachot 53b) makes reference to what I believe is one of Chazal’s most exquisite metaphors describing the collective…
Chapter 8 of Mishna Brachot (Brachot 51b) lists a series of disputes between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai concerning the…
So the story, as recorded in our daf (Brachot 49a), begins with Rav Zeira asking his mentor and teacher Rav…
In today’s daf (Brachot 48b) Rabbi Nachman informs us that the first bracha of Birkat HaMazon – otherwise known as…
Today’s daf (Brachot 47b) describes an encounter between Rami bar Chama and Rav Menashya bar Tachlifa that led to a…
In today’s daf (Brachot 46b) we find a series of discussions about the section of Birkat HaMazon, known as ‘HaTov…
Today’s daf (Brachot 45b) records a fascinating episode where Yehudah bar Mereimar, Mar bar Rav Ashi and Rav Acha…
In today’s daf (Brachot 44a-b) we explore the laws of the ‘Borei Nefashot’ bracha (which is recited after consuming a…
In his book ‘The Upside of Irrationality’ Professor Dan Ariely describes one of his research projects which sought to understand…
Today’s daf (Brachot 41a-b) contains a fascinating halacha which, embedded in it, communicates an exquisite message. On Brachot 41a we…
Brachot 37a-b contains a series of detailed debates about the brachot to be recited on foods eaten during the Talmudic…
There is a famous story – made even more famous by Rav Yehuda Amital – about the founder of Chabad…
Today’s daf (Brachot 34a-b) includes a discussion about the spiritual significance of errors in prayers by those leading prayers and…
‘And now, Israel, what does God your Lord ask of you? Merely to fear God your Lord, to walk in…
I recently had use of a rental car which had an indicator on the dashboard that lit up when any…
Some years ago I gave a shiur on ‘Why we face towards Jerusalem in Prayer’ (see http://bit.ly/2UjbzpY). In the shiur…