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 37: Designer Matzah

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Matzah is the most basic of foods. Mix some grain with water and bake ASAP, and presto! We have the most important course for the most important meal of the year.  The simple nature of matzah can be seen in the ruling that matzah may not be a…
Article

Pesachim 35: Sleeping Through Class

Rabbi Jay Kelman

I imagine I am not the only one who has dozed off during a lecture. While I might manage to pick up a point or two, surely such dozing limits my ability to contribute to the discussion at hand. Yet there are some who can sleep and learn at the same…
Article

Pesachim 34: Land of Darkness

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Soon after the editing of the Mishna in the land of Israel, Jewish life and learning started slowly shifting towards Bavel. This was set into motion by Rav and Shmuel two of the leading students of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi - the editor of the Mishna -…
Article

Pesachim 30a: Economic Intervention

Rabbi Jay Kelman

On the first page of the laws of Shabbat, the Mishnah Berurah discusses the problem of price gouging by fishmongers. Knowing the desire of observant Jews to eat fish on Shabbat, the merchants would raise the price—confident that with a…
Article

Pesachim 22: Time Well Spent

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Shimon Ha'amsoni—and some say, Nechemia Ha'amsoni—used to derive [laws] from all the etim (plural of et) in the Torah. When he got the verse et Hashem Elokecha tirah, ‘and you shall fear G-d’ (a verse we read…
Article

Pesachim 11: Telling Time

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The halachic legal system is much more than a set of abstract principles or technical details. It incorporates factors such as human psychology (something that is so impactful during the mourning process), human error, and probability…
Article

Pesachim 9a: When In Doubt...Eat

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Two verses that contradict each other, until a third verse is found and reconciles between them". This 13th and last of the interpretive principles of Rabbi Yishmael highlights the many contradictions inherent in the Torah. Torah mirrors…
Article

Pesachim 7a: Who Carries Your Water?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Rav Yisrael Salanter, the 19th century founder of the mussar movement, was asked by his students what the most important concern is when baking matzah. With the severe prohibition against eating chametz and the haste needed to ensure that the flour…
Article

Pesachim 4a: The Rent is Too High

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Landlord-tenant disputes are the bread and butter of many a lawyer. No law can account for any eventuality, and the inherent conflict of interest whenever money is involved makes such disputes commonplace. "They asked of Rav Nachman bar…
Article

Pesachim 3b: Story of a Bigmouth

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Great leaders are great strategists. The Talmud (Pesachim 3b) relates that a certain non-Jew was bragging of how he used to travel to Jerusalem to eat the korban pesach. Under ordinary circumstances, that would be very…
Article