Makkot

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

Makkot 24: A Heart of Gold!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“A song to David; G-d, who will live in Your tent, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He [who] speaks truth in his heart” (Tehillim 15:2, Makkot 24a). The Gemara, explaining what it means to speak truth in one’s heart, has a…
Article
Nov 29, 2017

Makkot 24: 11+6+3+1= 613!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“’And now let Me go, so that I may destroy them and make you a great nation’ (Shemot 32:10). Rav Abahu said: If the verse had not been written, it would not be possible to say it. It teaches that Moshe grabbed the Holy One, Blessed…
Article
Nov 28, 2017

Makkot 23: It's Great To Do Nothing!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Almost by definition, news—at least most of it—is of the less-positive variety, often causing us to think the world is a lot worse than it really is. What makes the news are the aberrations: tragic murders, terrorist attacks, financial…
Article
Nov 26, 2017

Makkot 22: Please Stand Up!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rava said: How foolish are the rest of the people who stand before a sefer Torah, but do not stand before a great person!” (Makkot 22b). Walk into any shul when the sefer Torah is being taken out, or even when the…
Article
Nov 23, 2017

Makkot 12: It's Not My Fault

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Torah takes justice very seriously: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot” (Shemot 21:24). The death penalty is a common refrain in the Torah; one who causes monetary damage to his fellow must…
Article
Nov 20, 2017

Makkot 5: Don't Quote Me

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When I first started learning Gemara – and as we prepared for tests – we were told not to worry if we got the names of the rabbis wrong. What was most important was to understand the content and the logical arguments put forth. I…
Article
Nov 19, 2017

Makkot 5: A Fatal Mistake

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“And you shall do to them as they sought to do to others” (Devarim 19:19). Edim zomimim, plotting witnesses, are punished by receiving the punishment the victim of their false testimony would have suffered…
Article
Nov 15, 2017

Makkot 5: I Don't Believe You

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“The witnesses do not become zomimim, ‘plotting witnesses’, unless they falsify themselves” (Makkot 5a). The law of edim zomimim is a unique subset of invalid witnesses. In a “standard” case of…
Article
Nov 12, 2017

An Introduction to Makkot

Rabbi Jay Kelman

  In the standard editions of the Talmud Bavli in vogue today, there are 63 tractates of Mishna, 37 of which have a corresponding Gemara. The other masechtot dealt with issues that, by and large, were no longer relevant –…
Article
Nov 9, 2017