Imagine if the Torah had not been given. While for many, such a thought is unthinkable—“for they are our life and the length of our days…
For the Sake of Heaven
I often ask my high school students what they consider the most difficult mitzvah to observe. The two most common answers I receive are keeping…
Eiruvin 65: Time to Laugh
“Rabbi Elai said: A person is recognized through three ways: b’koso, b’kiso, u’b’kaaso” (Eiruvin 65b).…
Eiruvin 65: Davening Less, Learning More
Two of the most fundamental mitzvot are those of prayer and Talmud Torah. Observant Jews pray three times a day, and for those who daven with a…
Eiruvin 53: Curriculum Planning
“One cannot compare one who learns the chapter 100 times to one who learns it 101 times” (Chagiga 9b). The mitzvah of Talmud Torah…
Eiruvin 30: Eating Together
One of the hardest hit industries of the pandemic has been the restaurant industry. Many restaurants have permanently closed; surely, many more will…
Eiruvin 2: A Holy Home
The focus of masechet Shabbat is the definition of the parameters of the 39 prohibited melachot, creative activities prohibited on Shabbat. Of the 39…
Eiruvin 95b: Tefillin for Women
In Talmudic times, it was common for one to wear tefillin all day long. As the Torah does not limit its observance in any way, there would seem to be…
Eiruvin 81b: Cash Cow
As more and more of our economy runs on credit, as we increasingly pay for purchases with debit cards or even smartphones, the necessity—or…
Eiruvin 80b: Fighting Over a Crust of Bread
For thousands of years, a meal was defined by the eating of bread. Not only as did bread serve as an appetizer, the main course itself was consumed…
Eiruvin 69b: Following in Parents' Footsteps
I dedicate the thought below to the memory of my mother, Rachel bat Chaim (Ruth Kelman) z”l, whose yahrzeit we observe today. May we celebrate…
Eiruvin 69: One Big Happy Family
The concept behind an eiruv is that the people making it join together as one large household. Each household contributes some food, which is put in…
Eiruvin 65: Extracurricular Reading
One of the key components of the legal discussions of the Talmud is the bringing of proof texts to support a given position. At times, the proof…
Eiruvin 64a-65a: L'Chaim, Yom Kippur, and Sin
One of the methods used to help people remember those whom they meet is the mnemonic device of associating the person with some easy-to-remember…
Eiruvin 63a: May We Debate?
The teacher/student relationship is a most special one. A teacher must treat his student as he would treat his own child, and a child must…
Eiruvin 60b: He's Only a Prophet
To tell someone that his words are those of prophecy would seem to be the highest compliment one can give. The prerequisites for being a prophet are…
Eiruvin 54b: Over and Over and Over
The mitzva of Talmud Torah consists of both learning Torah, and knowing Torah. And of the two, it is the former that is more important. One can…
Eiruvin 53a: A Great Speaker
As is well known, our tradition places great importance on proper speech. While we generally view this as a moral imperative -- avoiding unnecessary…