One of the most important life decisions we make is the choice of a career. As Judaism is most concerned with so many of the minor decisions we make…
The Rabbi Who Wanted to Sin: Kiddushin 81
"Do not judge a person until you are in his place." (Avot 2:5) We unfortunately live in a very judgmental (Jewish) world where…
I Love Converts: Kiddushin 70
One of the rules of Rashi's commentary to the chumash, made famous by Nehama Leibowitz z"l, is that Rashi brings a second explanation…
What a Story: Kiddushin 66
One of the fascinating, exciting even suspenseful aspects of learning Gemara is how a detailed discussion on the minutiae of Jewish law can…
I Don't Know You: Kiddushin 65
In our last post we discussed the unusual situation, to say the least, of a father or even the daughter herself being unable to recall to…
Who Did I Marry?: Kiddushin 63
You have to wonder sometimes about the strange relationships between parents and children. While parents may not always know where their…
Come Work for Me: Kiddushin 59
A poor person who is examining a piece a cake and another comes and takes it from him is called evil.” (Kiddushin 59a) All legal systems…
Let Him Have It: Kiddushin 59
If you are going to have someone do work for you it's probably best to ensure they have your best interests at heart. "One who says to his…
Becoming a Tzadik: Kiddushin 49
"The signature of G-d is truth." (Shabbat 55b) As beings created in the image of G-d we too are expected to be the epitome of integrity.…
Delegate It Yourself: Kiddushin 41
"If you want something done right do it yourself" is a nice idea in theory but one with limited applications. It is not possible for any…
Good Habits: Kiddushin 40
We are creatures of habit. We tend to do what we have done in the past, which is why it is so important to get things right the first time. Learn it…
This or the Other: Kiddushin 39
There is no more tragic figure in Talmudic literature than that of Acher, the Other. Destined for greatness, the teacher, colleague and friend of…
A Strange Song: Kiddushin 31
In our last post we discussed the extraordinary efforts to which Dama ben Netinah went to honour his father including his willingness to…
Let Your Parents Sleep: Kiddushin 31
There are few mitzvoth more important than that of kivud av veim, honouring parents. “Our Rabbis taught: There are three partners…
Pass the Pepper: Kiddushin 30
Our evil inclination is most powerful and capable of causing so much harm. So much so that when G-d saw “that the inclination of man is bad…
Where is Mommy?: Kiddushin 29
Practice what you preach is always sound advice, especially if one hopes to have any influence on others. This axiom is more than a moral…
I Don't Know: Kiddushin 25
"More than the calf wants to suck, the cow wants to give milk.” (Pesachim 112a) So said Rabbi Akiva to…
Where is it Written: Kiddushin 24
One of the best-known "facts" about the Torah is that it contains 613 mitzvoth. Even Jews who are not very learned tend to…