Shabbat

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

Shabbat 31: Awe and Fear

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your G-d demand of you but l’yirah, to revere the Lord your G-d, to walk only in His paths, to love Him, and to serve the Lord your G-d with all your heart and soul” (Devarim 10:12).…
Article
Apr 22, 2020

Shabbat 25: Who is Wealthy

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Who is wealthy? One who is happy with his lot!” (Avot 4:1). This teaching of Ben Zoma is undoubtedly one of the best known, most difficult and least-observed teachings in rabbinic literature. Man, by his very nature, is never satisfied…
Article
Apr 7, 2020

Shabbat 17: Murder in the Beit Midrash

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Talmud quotes some 316 debates between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. “Since both these and those are the words of the living God”, the Talmud (Eiruvin 13b) asks, “why was the law established in accordance with Beit…
Article
Apr 2, 2020

Shabbat 17: Murder in the Beit Midrash

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Talmud quotes some 316 debates between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. “Since both these and those are the words of the living God”, the Talmud (Eiruvin 13b) asks, “why was the law established in accordance with Beit Hillel…
Article
Apr 2, 2020

Shabbat 13: Fasting or Feasting

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When it was still forbidden to write down the Oral Law, one of the very few written texts was that of Megillat Taanit, the scroll of fast days. This Megillah lists 35 days on which it was forbidden to fast, as they were days commemorating joyous…
Article
Mar 30, 2020

Shabbat 10: A Special Gift

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rava bar Machsseya said in the name of Rav Chama bar Gurya in the name of Rav: One who gives a gift to another must inform him” (Shabbat 10b).  As the Tosafists (Shabbat 10b, s.v. hanoten) note, this law applies only if the…
Article
Mar 25, 2020

Shabbat 4: Praying Alone

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the hardest mitzvot to properly fulfil is that of rebuke, “hocheiach tocheech et amitecha” (Vayikra 19:17). We are commanded, when necessary, to “prove” to our fellow Jews that what they are about to do is…
Article
Mar 16, 2020

Shabbat 2: From Place to Place

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“The carrying out on Shabbat are two that are four [for one] inside [a home] and two that are four [for one] outside [the home]” (Shabbat 2a). The Mishna discusses who violates Shabbat, and under what circumstances, when an object is…
Article
Mar 12, 2020

Shabbat 157: Some Concluding Thoughts on Masechet Shabbat

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Masechet Shabbat deals primarily with the 39 forbidden activities on Shabbat--especially that of carrying. Yet, as is the norm for Talmudic discussion, one subject leads to another, so that we have a wide range of discussion. As we go through its…
Article
Mar 12, 2013

Shabbat 151: Waiting for Mashiach?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Since at least the time of the Rambam, Jews have yearned for the coming of the Mashiach. Many Jews went to their deaths asserting the twelfth principle of faith of the Rambam: Ani Maamin, I believe with complete faith in the coming of the…
Article
Mar 10, 2013