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 31b: One-Foot Judaism

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the most famous Talmudic stories is that of the potential convert who conditioned his conversion on whether or not he could be taught the Torah while standing on one foot. Shammai, bothered by the chutzpah of this non-Jew (imagine going to a…
Article
Nov 12, 2012

Shabbat 31: No Need to Cram

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Having the questions of an exam in advance would seem to be a big advantage. Yet often, such advantages are frittered away as we are apt to work a little less hard-thinking that, with questions in hand, it will be easy to do well. “Rava said…
Article
Nov 8, 2012

The Joy of Mitzvoth: Shabbat 30

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Rav Moshe Feinstein noted that one of the tragedies of American Jewish life was the common notion that it is difficult to be a Jew. Children saw their parents struggling, and even if they meant it as a display of dedication, such affirmations of the…
Article
Nov 6, 2012

Alive in Our Memories: Shabbat 30

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“The rabbis wanted to bury the book of Kohelet, as its words contradict one another” (30b). The Talmud notes that, in addition to contradicting itself, the book by Shlomo HaMelech contradicts the words of his father, David.As an example, it quotes…
Article
Nov 6, 2012

Shabbat 22: Lights Out!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In an age before electricity, having light at night was no simple matter. While various forms of lamps were in use, their effectiveness was limited. Simply put, most people went to bed at nightfall and were up by the crack of dawn. Of course, on…
Article
Nov 2, 2012

To Forget Is Human: Shabbat 12

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Human nature is to be forgetful, even in the midst of doing something. This human frailty is what leads the Mishnah (11a) to rule that a tailor may not go into the street with his needle nor may a scribe go out with his quill on Friday afternoons…
Article
Oct 24, 2012

Shabbat 10: In Your Court

Rabbi Jay Kelman

While the prelude to the giving of the Torah is the establishment of a court system (see Shemot 18), it would seem that having to actually use the justice system is less than ideal. In a perfect society, people would be honest, forgiving, and not…
Article
Oct 19, 2012

Shabbat 10a: Stop Praying Already

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Two of our most fundamental mitzvoth are those of Tefillah, prayer and Talmud Torah, the study of Torah. Yet there has long been a tension regarding which is of primary importance. The view that "if only one would pray the entire…
Article
Oct 18, 2012

Shabbat 6: The Hidden Scrolls

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When discussing the transition of torah sheba’al peh from knowledge that was transmitted orally to knowledge that is primarily studied via texts, we tend to think of the mishnah as the first text to record the oral law. Yet, a comment recorded on…
Article
Oct 16, 2012

Shabbat 3: Timely Questions

Rabbi Jay Kelman

I had the privilege of learning in Rav Herschel Schachter’s shiur at Yeshiva University for four years, in the days before he was universally recognized as one of the outstanding Torah sages. His impact on my learning is immeasurable. One of the…
Article
Oct 15, 2012