Whether exploring a new twist on a favorite topic, debating a taboo subject, or learning Jewish history on our heritage tours, Torah in Motion constantly seeks to expand the horizon of Jewish thought.
Bava Kama Aug 23, 2016

One of the beautiful features of the Land of Israel is its wide-ranging topography. The lowest point on earth some 1,300 feet below sea level is…

Bava Kama Aug 21, 2016

  “The disciples of Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai asked him ‘why was the Torah stricter regarding a ganav, thief than a gazlan…

Bava Kama Aug 17, 2016

  “Al pi [1], according to the testimony of two or three shall something be established.” (Devarim 19:15) With so much power…

Bava Kama Aug 10, 2016

While there are 613 categories of mitzvoth they are not all created equal. Saving a life is more important than observing Shabbat, Shabbat is more…

Bava Kama Aug 9, 2016

  One of the greatest causes of damage to public property is that of fire. Forest fires cause damage to millions of acres of every year and we…

Bava Kama Jul 18, 2016

  “The ox of a Jew who gores the ox belonging to the Temple or the ox of the Temple that gores the ox of the Jew they are exempt from…

Bava Kama Jul 11, 2016

  Correlation does not imply causation - though it may be just that. It is not always easy to distinguish between two events that, while…

Bava Kama Jul 8, 2016

Slow down. Such would be good advice for those trying to navigate a busy street. Running down the street in any major urban area is not recommended…

Bava Kama Jul 5, 2016

  In our previous posts we discussed the difference between an ox classified as a tam, a domesticated animal who is not at risk of…

Bava Kama Jul 3, 2016

“The victim and the perpetrator share in the [payment] of damages.” (Bava Kamma 14b) Being a victim of an accident is never pleasant…

Bava Kama Jun 27, 2016

One would not expect to connect Miriam’s speaking negatively against Moshe, read (at least in the Diaspora) this past Shabbat, with the laws…

Bava Kama Jun 26, 2016

One of the basic differences between the religious and civil laws of the Torah is while the former are mandatory the latter are not necessarily so…

Bava Kama Jun 9, 2016

  Arba avot nezikin, there are four primary categories of damages, the ox, the pit, the man and fire." (Bava Kamman 2a) As …

Bava Kama Jun 4, 2016

   "There are four primary categories of damages - the ox, the pit, the man and the fire...the common denominator of them is that…

Bava Kama Jun 2, 2016

"One who wants to sharpen his mind should involve himself in monetary law as there is no section of the Torah larger than them; they are like an…

Kiddushin Jun 1, 2016

One of the most important life decisions we make is the choice of a career. As Judaism is most concerned with so many of the minor decisions we make…

Kiddushin May 31, 2016

  "Do not judge a person until you are in his place." (Avot 2:5) We unfortunately live in a very judgmental (Jewish) world where…

Kiddushin May 30, 2016

One of the rules of Rashi's commentary to the chumash, made famous by Nehama Leibowitz z"l, is that Rashi brings a second explanation…

Kiddushin May 25, 2016

  One of the fascinating, exciting even suspenseful aspects of learning Gemara is how a detailed discussion on the minutiae of Jewish law can…

Kiddushin May 23, 2016

In our last post we discussed the unusual situation, to say the least, of a father or even the daughter herself being unable to recall to…

Kiddushin May 19, 2016

  You have to wonder sometimes about the strange relationships between parents and children. While parents may not always know where their…

Kiddushin May 17, 2016

A poor person who is examining a piece a cake and another comes and takes it from him is called evil.” (Kiddushin 59a) All legal systems…

Kiddushin May 15, 2016

If you are going to have someone do work for you it's probably best to ensure they have your best interests at heart. "One who says to his…

Kiddushin May 13, 2016

"The signature of G-d is truth." (Shabbat 55b) As beings created in the image of G-d we too are expected to be the epitome of integrity.…