A beautiful tribute to teachers/rabbis on the daf, using the Song of Songs to sing the praises of those who teach, and a reminder that we should share our knowledge with others. Rav Naḥman, son of Rav Ḥisda, interpreted a verse homiletically: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Your ointments have aContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 35”
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Avodah Zarah 34
One of the consistent things I ask couples as we prepare for their wedding is to tell me the story of their engagement. They usually have beautiful stories with elaborate planning that went into the best surprise with a photographer hiding close by and a ring that the woman already chose. (Not like when IContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 34”
Avodah Zarah 33
How do you make something kosher? We have learned that metal can be put into fire. But what of other materials? Clay: Rabbi Yoḥanan says: With regard to jugs belonging to gentiles that one returned to the furnace, once their tar has disintegrated they are permitted. But what of wine skins? They can’t be putContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 33”
Avodah Zarah 32
Two great short gems today. The first is magic pottery from the Hadrianic monarchy that so absorbed wine that it can be used like a tea bag to produce wine that tastes better than any the rabbis had in their day. The mishna teaches: And Hadrianic earthenware is prohibited. The Gemara asks: What is HadrianicContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 32”
Avodah Zarah 31
Know the book, If you give a mouse a cookie . . . It was stated: For what reason did the Sages prohibit the beer of gentiles? Rami bar Ḥama says that Rabbi Yitzḥak says: It is due to the concern that Jews will befriend gentiles while drinking with them, which might lead to marriageContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 31”
Avodah Zarah 30
When my grandfather was older and declining, nothing would give him more energy then asking him a halakhic question (a question about Jewish law). This seen on today’s daf made me think of him. When Rabbi Yannai bar Yishmael became ill, Rabbi Yishmael ben Zeirud and other Sages went to him to inquire about hisContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 30”
Avodah Zarah 29
A great gift my parents gave me was taking me to shows as a child. I remember watching the musical Sweeney Todd as an elementary school student. If you don’t know the story, a barber wants revenge on a judge and so makes a deal with a baker where he will kill the judge andContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 29”
Avodah Zarah 28
Today’s daf gives a lot or “cures” for illnesses (and makes me so grateful for our current healthcare system). One of them some still swear by today! You may not guess what it is at first, but the daf give three methods of the “cure” for ear troubles. The Gemara adds: And if this isContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 28”
Avodah Zarah 27
As a rabbi, I get rare insights into the lives of others. In my congregation, I have seem a woman in her early 60s forgo any breast cancer treatment because she didn’t want to suffer the effects of treatment while a woman in her 90s just had surgery and and is in treatment to fightContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 27”
Avodah Zarah 26
My father’s parents were survivors of the Holocaust. They lost their homes, their lives . . . in the case of my grandpa, he lost his first wife and daughter. They met in a DP (Displaced Persons) camp, married, and my grandmother became pregnant. When it was time to deliver the baby, she was takenContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 26”
2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day. 