Judaism has long understood that politics and religion are a dangerous mix. Political office was…
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The First Day of School - on Nehama's Birthday
For thousands of children, not to mention parents, the day after Labour Day marks the unofficial…
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Let's Have a Party!: Bava Kamma 87
In our last post we discussed Rabbi Yehuda’s (rejected) view that the blind are exempt from…
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The Death Penalty?: Bava Kamma 86
Rav Yaakov Ettlinger in his collection of responsa (Binyan Tzion #172) discusses the powerful and…
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Take Five:Bava Kamma 85
Masechet Bava Kamma begins by describing one’s responsibility to pay for damages caused by…
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A Perfect Ten: Bava Kamma 82
“Rav Yossi said: It would have been proper for the Torah to be given by Ezra had Moshe not…
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Eikev: Lots of Love
The Talmud declares that wisdom depends on the ability to make distinctions. It is for this reason…
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Only One Chance: Bava Kamma 80
When opportunity knocks, answer – you may not get a second chance. Or to quote the language…
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Man and G-d: Bava Kamma 79
“The disciples of Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai asked him ‘why was the Torah…
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VaEtchanan: World Leaders
Attempts to understand the rationale behind the mitzvoth of the Torah have generated much debate…
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Talking too Much: Bava Kamma 72
“Al pi [1], according to the testimony of two or three shall something be…
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Tisha B'Av: Doing Nothing
"Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza Jerusalem was destroyed.” (Gitin 55b) So begins the most famous…
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Devarim: Nation Building
“Eicha esa, how can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?” (Devarim…
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It's Almost Chanukah: Bava Kamma 62b
While there are 613 categories of mitzvoth they are not all created equal. Saving a life is more…
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Fire! Bava Kamma 62
One of the greatest causes of damage to public property is that of fire. Forest fires…
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Reflections from Frankfurt, Germany
Often when we think of Frankfurt we think of Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch. And for good…
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Pinchas: New Leadership
The illustrious "career" of Moshe Rabbeinu is coming to an end. G-d has told him that he will not…