Eruvin

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Eruvin resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Eiruvin 80b: Fighting Over a Crust of Bread

Rabbi Jay Kelman

For thousands of years, a meal was defined by the eating of bread. Not only as did bread serve as an appetizer, the main course itself was consumed with bread. The term lelafet et hapat, to spread the food on the bread, is a fair indication of how…
Article
Jun 10, 2013

Eiruvin 69b: Following in Parents' Footsteps

Rabbi Jay Kelman

I dedicate the thought below to the memory of my mother, Rachel bat Chaim (Ruth Kelman) z”l, whose yahrzeit we observe today. May we celebrate smachot.    Based on the extensive discussion in the Talmud, it would appear that…
Article
Jun 6, 2013

Eiruvin 69: One Big Happy Family

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 a common area, and all are welcome to come and eat. The area within the eiruv must be enclosed, and…
Article
Jun 3, 2013

Eiruvin 65: Extracurricular Reading

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 texts are from the Torah; at times from Nevi’im; and at times from Ketuvim. At all times, they…
Article
May 29, 2013

Eiruvin 64a-65a: L'Chaim, Yom Kippur, and Sin

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 concept. By linking the new with the known, we increase our capacity to retain that new information.…
Article
May 27, 2013

Eiruvin 63a: May We Debate?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 relate to his teacher as a parent. The Talmud even rules that one must return the lost object of one…
Article
May 22, 2013

Eiruvin 60b: He's Only a Prophet

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 tough indeed, and those who can meet them are certainly most worthy of praise (see Maimonides, …
Article
May 20, 2013

Eiruvin 54b: Over and Over and Over

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 determine how much time and effort one puts into learning Torah; but how much one actually knows includes…
Article
May 13, 2013

Eiruvin 53a: A Great Speaker

Rabbi Jay Kelman

As is well known, our tradition places great importance on proper speech. While we generally view this as a moral imperative -- avoiding unnecessary negative comments about others, gossip, and slander -- it is also a necessary ingredient for…
Article
May 12, 2013

Eiruvin 46b: Ignoring the Rules

Rabbi Jay Kelman

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 Jewish law. The legal analysis, the range of views, the tendency to move from one topic to another, and…
Article
May 6, 2013