Up until this point in Masechet Sanhedrin, we have been discussing the role of the court in…
Sanhedrin 8: We Want Justice
Moshe Rabbeinu was about to die. Like many before him, he wanted to bless his “children…
Devarim: Heading Home
The narrative portion of the Torah has come to an end. The last book of the Chumash, that…
Sanhedrin 7: The Wisdom of the Simple Man
“Rabbi Chaninah says: I learned much from my teachers, and from my colleagues more than my…
Sanhedrin 6: Truth or Peace?
“Thus said the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth [month] (17 Tammuz ), and the fast…
Sanhedrin 5: Professional Courtesy
How much would you be willing to sacrifice for the honour of another? Some money, a little bit of…
Sanhedrin 4: Please Read it Out Loud
“Rav Yochanan said: The Holy One, blessed be He, established the covenant with the Jewish…
Massei: Don't Forget the Details
“And the Egyptians were burying all their first born, who had been killed by G-d” (…
Sanhedrin 3: Please Lend Me Some Money
“Dinei mammonot, monetary law [is adjudicated] with three [judges]; gezeilot vechavalot…
An Introduction to Sanhedrin
The opening Mishna of Masechet Sanhedrin explains the workings of a three-tiered court system. One…
Bava Batra 165: "I Don't Hold by the Eiruv"
In his 17th century collection of responsa (#93), the Chacham Tzvi, Rav Tzvi Ashkenazi, discusses…
Pinchas: Idolatry for Adultery
"And they called the people to their religious sacrifices, and the people ate and worshipped…
Bava Batra 145: I'm Coming to Your Wedding
“The brothers who were groomsmen, shoshbanim, during the lifetime of their father…
The Tuition Crisis: Let's Work Together
On Tuesday, June 20, the Toronto Jewish community joined together in a wonderful display of Jewish…
Bava Batra 144: Not in Heaven
Two of most central pillars of Jewish faith, G-d’s foreknowledge of all that will occur and…
Chukat: Unbelievable!
It is truly astounding how people can actually believe the most ludicrous of claims.
Bava Batra 141: I Love My Sister
There is something very special about being pregnant with one’s first child. One has…
Bava Batra 139: From Father to Daughter
One of the great disparities between the modern Western mode of thought and traditional Jewish…