One of the foundational laws of Shabbat is that only productive acts are prohibited; “all who destroy are exempt” (Shabbat 105b). At times, a…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/_alephbet_STaM.jpg?itok=4ChbWlLs)
Shabbat 104a: Alphabetical Order
The Latin alphabet, used in many languages of today (including English), is a phonetic system where each letter—or combination thereof—represents…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/120229064206-basket-ball-sabbath-story-top.jpg?itok=x-fS9eqB)
Shabbat 99b: Three Rabbis, One Opinion
James Naismith is credited with inventing basketball, but a primitive version seems to have existed in Talmudic times. “Rav Mordechai asked Rava: […
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-04/shutterstock_768347788.jpg?itok=H0uR6yjV)
Shabbat 96b: Human Revelation
Of all the 39 Melachot, it is carrying that, by far, occupies the most pages of Talmudic discussion. In the midst of discussing this prohibition, the…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/chickenegg1.jpg?itok=Pcu3xf7i)
Shabbat 91b: Talmudic Toys
It seems that the toy industry in Talmudic times was quite different than the one we have today. Lacking the technological gizmos so popular today,…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_2295973225.jpg?itok=bP5lSsbM)
Shabbat 89b: Yitzchak to the Rescue
Abraham is the founding father of Judaism, Yaakov is the founding father of the Jewish people, and Yitzchak is the link between them. His role was…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_2392039003.jpg?itok=mPF1Y--e)
Shabbat 89a: Sinai and Sin'ah
Years ago, I heard Dennis Prager note that, while the Talmud spends six double-sided folio pages discussing the permissibility of eating an egg laid…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/article-new_ehow_images_a08_7p_ta_sew-rip-hand-800x800.jpg?itok=XSfycfII)
Shabbat 75: Sewing and Science
It is the 39 melachot that define the observance of Shabbat. Yet a listing of the melachot does not appear until midway through the seventh chapter…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/PCH8778.jpg?itok=MXKCAEKK)
Shabbat 63: Battle Clothes
The sixth chapter of Shabbat begins with the issue of what ornaments a woman—and to a lesser extent, a man—may or may not wear on Shabbat in a place…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_1986315206.jpg?itok=ForGc0Lb)
Shabbat 56: Rabbinic Cover-Up
Interpreting Scripture is no easy feat. One of the difficulties in understanding biblical literature is to figure out what parts are to be taken at…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/iStock_000007396244XSmall.jpg?itok=iG7d6qYW)
Shabbat 54b: Minding Others' Business
“The cow of Rav Elazar ben Azaria used to go out on Shabbat with a strap between its horns, against the will of the rabbis”. Shabbat is the day of…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_2378296663.jpg?itok=UeKUMS9R)
Shabbat 46a: Going Barefoot
One of the inspiring things we see in the many stories found in the Talmud is the realistic portrayal of our great sages. We see not only much…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/iStock_000005133247XSmall.jpg?itok=cMDoRq24)
Shabbat 49a: The Wrong Reason
The Talmud teaches that everything is dependent on mazal, “even the Sefer Torah in the ark”. Some sifrei Torah are used week in and week out, while…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/No%20Cursing%20Sign.jpeg?itok=LKwRT9Nn)
Shabbat 33: Let's Talk
One of the differences between Talmudic rabbis and those of the post-Talmudic era is the “ability” of the former to link “crime and punishment”, or…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/iStock_000001947799XSmall.jpg?itok=90AE4xqO)
Shabbat 31b: One-Foot Judaism
One of the most famous Talmudic stories is that of the potential convert who conditioned his conversion on whether or not he could be taught the…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/taking%20test.jpg?itok=m0NWHdd8)
Shabbat 31: No Need to Cram
Having the questions of an exam in advance would seem to be a big advantage. Yet often, such advantages are frittered away as we are apt to work a…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/simchatorah11.jpg?itok=T0aktizv)
The Joy of Mitzvoth: Shabbat 30
Rav Moshe Feinstein noted that one of the tragedies of American Jewish life was the common notion that it is difficult to be a Jew. Children saw…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/4063369973_b23f19f7b6.jpg?itok=BWcYKE4z)
Alive in Our Memories: Shabbat 30
“The rabbis wanted to bury the book of Kohelet, as its words contradict one another” (30b). The Talmud notes that, in addition to contradicting…