2012-09-24

The term am ha'aretz has come to mean an ignorant Jew, and is generally used in a pejorative manner. However, in Talmudic literature, an ignorant…

2012-09-20

A common feature of Talmudic editing is to group together a series of statements made by the same person. Generally, it is that person making a…

2012-09-20

We human beings are naturally biased. Products of our environment, we are influenced by our cultural milieu, by our background, our life experiences…

2012-09-13

A striking feature of Talmud study is how it seamlessly moves from subject to subject; and how, almost out of the blue, one finds oneself discussing…

2012-09-12

Jewish law prescribes not only that we make a blessing on food, but that we do so in the correct sequence. Thus, to cite a very basic example, we…

2012-09-11

As the Talmud is, at its core, an oral tradition—with the words before us a summary of “classroom”” discussion—it is…

2012-09-09

The opening Mishnah of the sixth chapter of Brachot discusses the various blessings one makes on different types of food. The Talmud attempts, but is…

2012-09-09

In Talmudic times, the norm was that the chazzan literally prayed on behalf of the congregation. The people would listen and answer "amen," thus…

2012-09-04

One of the exciting aspects of Talmud study is the range of ideas presented, and the openness to expressing radical ideas—including those…

2012-09-04

The Talmud spends a good deal of time discussing the proper frame of mind for prayer. In a rather obvious remark (yet, much easier said than done),…

2012-09-04

The Gemara (Brachot 27a), in discussing the propriety of making an “early Shabbat”, records that Rav Yirmiya davened just behind his…

2012-08-02

"Mei’emati korin et hashema b’arvit, from what time may one begin reciting the evening shema?" So begins the Talmud Bavli, the…