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There is a lot of debate around guns and gun laws. On our daf today, we see that no one who might use weapons to threaten others, or entertain themselves (this is on tomorrow’s daf), should have access to deadly weapons. One may not sell weapons to gentiles or the auxiliary equipment of weapons, andContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 15”

Another day, another gem. On our daf today, Rav Hisda refers to an interesting tradition that teaches that Abraham, who grew up in an idolatrous environment, had four hundred chapters of mishnah concerning the laws of idolatry. Rav Ḥisda said to Avimei: It is learned as a tradition that the tractate Avoda Zara of ourContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 14”

How much do Jews value learning? How much do we value love? More than almost anything. On our daf today we see that the rabbis permit leaving Israel to find an ideal teacher or an ideal partner. (Wow!) The baraita continues: And a priest may become ritually impure and leave Eretz Yisrael in order to study Torah or in order to marry a woman. RabbiContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 13”

Today’s gem is the irony of a tractate against idol worship warning us not to pee at night, but if we do, a special incantation to say against the evil spirits! The Sages taught: A person should not drink water at night. And if he drank, his blood is upon his own head, due to the danger. TheContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 12”

One of the greatest translators (if not the greatest) of the Torah was Onkelos. His translation is the primary Aramaic translation of the 5 books of Moses and every rabbinical student becomes familiar with his work. Some students may know he is a famous convert to Judaism, but even fewer know how many he inspiredContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 11”

Another interesting daf! What a tractate! Today we learn about how some of the Roman leadership secretly visited and was advised by the rabbis. Antoninus once said to Rabbi Yehusay HaNasi: It is my desire that my son Asverus should reign instead of me and that Tiberias should be declared a Colony. Were I toContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 10”

2,000 is the magic number of the day. The Tanna debe Eliyyahu taught:  The world is to exist six thousand years; the first two thousand years are to be void;  the next two thousand years are the period of the Torah, and the following two thousand years are the period of the Messiah. Through ourContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 9”

Today’s daf has two of the best stories about Adam! The first is Adam establishing Chanukah before Chanukah ever happened! With regard to the dates of these festivals, the Sages taught: When Adam the first man saw that the day was progressively diminishing, as the days become shorter from the autumnal equinox until the winter solstice, he did not yet knowContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 8”

Today’s gem reminds me of a kid who asks one parent permission to do something and gets a “no” who then goes and asks the other: The Sages taught: In the case of one who asks a question of a Sage with regard to an issue of ritual impurity and the Sage rules that the item is impure, he may not ask the same question ofContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 7”

Beauty tips! R. Judah says, A woman must not smear lime on her face on the festival  because it disfigures her; R, Judah, however, admits that if the lime can still be scraped off during the festival, it may be applied on the festival for though she is troubled by it for the while, itContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 6”