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Today’s daf was very picayune in trying to figure out exactly what blessing is said over various food items. It discussed what it eatable, what is enjoyable, what counts as the main source of blessing from a plant and what a secondary source. All of this had me thinking about the beauty of nature andContinue reading “Berakhot 36”

One gem for Shabbat: “Any item from which one derives benefit requires blessing.” Today’s daf discusses what blessings we say over certain foods, and if we are to say blessings before, after, or both before and after eating that item. And then this gem comes – that anytime we derive benefit from an item, weContinue reading “Berakhot 35”

Three gems for today: “One may only pray in a house with windows.” What a powerful requirement. Windows show us the outside world and remind us of the needs of the world around us. We should not pray without an eye towards the world outside. (this reminds me of a wonderful story about a richContinue reading “Berakhot 34”

There are two gems I love on today’s daf. The first: Someone goes to lead prayer while Rabbi Ḥanina is in attendance. He extended his prayer and said: “God, the great, mighty, awesome, powerful, mighty, awe-inspiring, strong, fearless, steadfast and honored.” The Talmud says that Rabbi Ḥanina waited for him to finish his prayer andContinue reading “Berakhot 33”

There are a few lines on this daf that indicate that we are often more powerful than we think we are. That sometimes, we are in the place we are supposed to be – even if we don’t like being there. That perhaps, even if things don’t come easy, we need to try again, becauseContinue reading “Berakhot 32”

Today’s daf gives some good advice such as: when you end a class, leave them with a little teaching. Then, every time they use that teaching, they will think of you. this reminds me of Rick Warren’s advice, “Give them something Sunday that they’ll use on Monday.” It also reminds me of backwards design inContinue reading “Berakhot 31”

Today’s daf introduces an interesting discussion around psalm 2:11 that says, “Serve the Lord in fear and rejoice with trembling.” The rabbis ask: what does it mean to rejoice with trembling? “Rav Adda bar Mattana said that Rabba said: One may not experience unbridled joy; even where there is rejoicing, there should be trembling.“ ThisContinue reading “Berakhot 30”

Three gems from today’s daf: Jews recite the same prayers from the prayer book each time we go to pray. “Rabbi Eliezer says: ‘One whose prayer is fixed, his prayer is not supplication (it’s as if he hasn’t prayed).’ What is fixed? Rabbi Ya’akov bar Idi said Rabbi Oshaya said, ‘anyone who prayer is aContinue reading “Berakhot 29”

So many gems on one page! A rabbi gets the opportunity for a promotion, but his wife is scared that they won’t let him keep this new position. He says: Let a person use an expensive goblet one day and let it break tomorrow. Meaning, we can’t go through life not taking chances! Enjoy whatContinue reading “Berakhot 28”

A student asked the same question to both Rabbi Yehoshua and then Rabban Gamliel with the same question. (Which reminds me of my kids who ask my husband and if he says no come to me thinking I might contradict him- foolish boys.) Long story short, Rabban Gamliel feels slighted by Rabbi Yehoshua and soContinue reading “Berakhot 27”