Pesachim

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

Pesachim 64b: You're Out of Here!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Akavya ben Mehalelel is best known for the teaching, “Focus on three things, and you will not come to the hands of sin: know from where you come, to where you are going, and before Whom you will give a reckoning and accounting” (Pirkei…
Article
Aug 30, 2013

Pesachim 62: To Teach or Not to Teach

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Rav Simlai came in front of Rav Yochanan and asked him to teach him Sefer Yuchsin, the Book of Lineage. He [Rav Yochanan] asked him where he was from. 'Lod,' he replied. 'And where do you live?' 'In Neharda'. 'We […
Article
Aug 28, 2013

Pesachim 60: The Forest and the Tree

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Some of the most fundamental mitzvoth of the Torah are stated in the vaguest of terms, with few clear guidelines as to how they are to be fulfilled. The central mitzvah of Sefer Vayikra, and perhaps of the entire Torah, is to "be holy",…
Article
Aug 26, 2013

Pesachim 56: Medical School

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The greatest blessing one can have is that of good health. And aside from the three cardinal sins of adultery, idolatry, and murder, no law is as important as that of pikuach nefesh, the mandate to prolong life. Some of our greatest sages and…
Article
Aug 25, 2013

Pesachim 54: The Heart of Darkness

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Man, unique amongst all creations, was blessed by G-d with a soul. We are not just physical creations, doomed to death in due course, but spiritual beings whose souls can live forever. The distinction between something physical and something…
Article
Aug 22, 2013

Pesachim 50b: The Wrong Reason

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Our tradition has long taught that it is a great mitzvah to do the right thing, even if for the wrong reason. “A person should, leolam, always be engaged in Torah and mitzvoth even if sheloh lishma, not for its own sake; as from doing them not…
Article
Aug 20, 2013

Pesachim 50: Custom-Made

Rabbi Jay Kelman

This Daf Yomi Thought is dedicated in honour of the upcoming wedding of Yonah Dorfman to Laurel Dayan. May they have many years of good health and happiness together. Mazal-Tov!  Almost by definition, there can be no laws…
Article
Aug 18, 2013

Pesachim 49b: Shul Weapons

Rabbi Jay Kelman

To produce excellence, a certain degree of elitism is required. We are influenced by those around us; and if those who surround us are average, then it becomes much harder to produce greatness. It is to be expected that many great Torah scholars are…
Article
Aug 16, 2013

Pesachim 49a: A Pesach Wedding

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Getting married is a very big deal, and a mitzvah that supersedes almost all else. And like all mitzvoth, this is something we should do at the earliest possible opportunity. Our Sages recognized that, unlike other mitzvoth, twelve or thirteen…
Article
Aug 13, 2013

Pesachim 47: Eating on Yom Kippur?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Yomim Tovim celebrate monumental events in Jewish history. The focus of these days is on bringing Jews together as a people and as friends. Shabbat, on the other hand, is first and foremost focused on recognizing G-d as the Creator of the…
Article
Aug 12, 2013