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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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…
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"G-d wanted to give merit to the Jewish people; therefore, He increased for them Torah and mitzvoth". A Jewish way of life offers so many…
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"Rav Yirmiya ben Elazar said, there are three entrances to Gehenom: one in the desert, one in the sea, and one in Jerusalem" (Eiruvin 19a…
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"Four obligations were nullified in a [military] camp" (Eiruvin 17a). The Torah goes to great lengths to ensure that the Jewish army…
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It is well known that the halacha, with rare exceptions, follows the opinion of Beit Hillel over that of Beit Shammai. What is less well known…
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"When I [Rav Meir] came to Rabbi Yishmael, he said to me, 'My son, what is your occupation?' I told him, 'I am a scribe', and he…
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Traditionally, Jewish law allowed for a good deal of local autonomy in the application of Jewish law. While questions of national import were to be…
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The halachic system, like most other disciplines, has both a theoretical framework and a practical application--and the two do not always coincide.…
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It is impossible, at least from a Jewish perspective, to understand the Bible without the tools to interpret the text. It is this "reading…