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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Eiruvin 46b: Ignoring the Rules
While the basis of Jewish law (and much more) is to be found in the Talmud, the Talmud, in and of itself, is not a very good text for determining…
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Eiruvin 43a: Too Busy for Mashiach
One of the educational goals of the Sages--especially as the exile wore on--was was to instill a belief in the coming of the Mashiach. …
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Eiruvin 41b: The Face of Gehenom
We have often discussed the terrible tragedy of poverty. Without changing that perspective, there does appear to be at least somewhat of a…
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Eiruvin 41b: Going Out of Your Mind
Poverty is a terrible curse, one that has been the unfortunate lot of many Jews over the years. While we are blessed to live in the wealthiest…
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Eiruvin 36b: My Teacher, My Friend
The Daf Yomi thought is dedicated by the family of Dr. Solomon Burack, ob"m in observance of his Yahrzeit. May his memory be for…
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Eiruvin 31a: Home Sweet Home
Both an eiruv techumim, which allows one to walk an additional 2,000 cubits (approximately 1 kilometre) outside of the city limits, and an…
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Eiruvin 32a: Time to Sin
At times, what seems like a very technical debate on some (even no longer relevant) aspect of Jewish law is, in reality, part of much larger and more…
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Eiruvin 26b: Rules Are Made to Be Broken
The Talmud as a whole, and especially the Mishna, is first and foremost a vast corpus of Jewish law. Yet in studying this wide-ranging text, one…
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Eiruvin 21b: Rabbi Akiva's Water
It is hard to imagine one more dedicated to Torah than Rabbi Akiva. Despite the fact that he did not start learning until the age of forty (or more…